#geniuscharacters

Spencer Reid x fem oc

Chapter 1 - 4K

This is my very first fanfiction, so I'm still learning as I go. I've always loved creating stories, but I never had the courage to publish one until now.

A quick heads-up: this story blends the Criminal Minds canon with my own original storyline. Some episodes will be adapted, some events will be changed, and others will be completely original. Because of that, there may be spoilers for the series, so read at your own risk.

I'd also like to mention that English isn't my first language. If you notice any mistakes in names, words, or expressions, feel free to let me know kindly in the comments. I'd really appreciate it, and it'll help me improve.

Comments, theories, and constructive criticism are always welcome. I hope you enjoy reading this story as much as I'm enjoying writing it.

Contents: 4k words, FLUFF, slow burn, Spencer Reid X Oc, awkward flirting, found family, elevator scene, enemies to friends, friends to lovers.

Synopsis: At first glance, Olivia Hayes seems like nothing more than a pretty, spoiled rich girl. But behind her polished appearance lies a brilliant mind with an exceptional talent for analyzing patterns and human behavior. As she joins the BAU, she'll have to prove that first impressions can be deceiving while taking on increasingly complex cases alongside the team.

The elevator doors slid open, revealing an office filled with desks buried beneath stacks of papers, folders, and closed case files scattered in every direction. The place seemed to exist in a permanent state of organized chaos, as though every pile of documents held its own meaning that only the people who worked there could understand. Among all those cluttered desks, only one stood empty—almost unnaturally tidy compared to the rest.

Olivia adjusted her jeans once more, more out of habit than necessity, then shifted the strap of her bag higher on her right shoulder as she walked toward the vacant desk. She kept her eyes fixed on it the entire way, trying to ignore the countless glances she knew were following her. Even without looking directly at anyone, she could feel the curiosity radiating from the people around her, as if they were all silently trying to figure out who the new agent was.

The few seconds it took to cross the room felt much longer.

When she finally reached the desk, Olivia took a quiet breath before glancing around. Most people had already returned to their own work, but one person was still watching her.

A lanky young man with light brown hair that nearly brushed his shoulders sat a few desks away. His gaze was curious and attentive, as though he were studying something he hadn't quite figured out yet.

Olivia held his gaze for a few seconds.

Then he looked away.

Before either of them could say anything, a voice rose above the office chatter.

"Olivia Hayes."

She turned immediately.

Standing before her was a tall, slightly pale man with black hair and equally dark eyes. His hand was already extended, waiting for her to shake it.

Olivia hadn't even noticed him approaching. Her attention had still been fixed on the long-haired young man. Not because he was especially handsome or familiar, but because he looked to be about her age. Before arriving, Olivia had imagined she'd be working alongside agents much older than herself—seasoned FBI veterans with years of experience. Seeing someone her own age brought an unexpected sense of relief.

Maybe she wouldn't be the odd one out after all.

"Olivia?" the man prompted again.

She blinked a few times, realizing she was still looking at the young man, who had now returned her gaze.

"I'm sorry. I'm still getting used to the environment," she said at last, shaking his hand. "You must be Agent Aaron Hotchner, am I right?"

"You are. It's a pleasure to meet you." He gestured toward the young man she'd been staring at moments before. "This is Dr. Spencer Reid."

It took Reid a few seconds to realize they were talking about him. Once he did, he stood a little awkwardly and looked back at Olivia, now on his feet, clearly making an effort to appear more engaged in the conversation.

"Hello. I'm Olivia Hayes. It's nice to meet you."

She smiled warmly—the kind of smile that perfectly matched the deep burgundy lipstick she was wearing—and held out her hand, repeating the same greeting she'd given Hotch.

But anyone who had known Reid for more than a week already knew exactly what was about to happen.

Olivia's hand remained outstretched for several long, increasingly awkward seconds. When it became obvious he wasn't going to move, she slowly lowered it, tilting her head slightly as a curious expression settled across her face, touched with just the faintest hint of sarcasm.

The silence became uncomfortable.

Hotch finally stepped in.

"Dr. Reid doesn't shake hands. It's... kind of his thing."

Trying to ease the tension, Spencer simply lifted one hand in a small wave and offered her a shy smile—probably the goofiest smile Olivia had ever seen.

She raised an eyebrow.

"Germs?"

Reid seemed immediately delighted to answer.

"Actually, the average human hand can carry around one hundred and fifty different species of bacteria, along with a significant number of other microorganisms that are easily transmitted through direct physical contact, especially in environments with heavy foot traffic—"

He stopped mid-sentence when he noticed Olivia was still looking at him with the exact same amused expression.

"...Never mind. Yes. Let's just say it's the germs."

Before the awkward moment could stretch any further, someone called for Hotch from the other side of the room.

"I'll catch up with you later. I hope you settle in quickly," he said before walking away.

Olivia was still processing everything that had just happened when a blonde woman stepped out of one of the offices carrying a box filled with what looked like office decorations. She wore several layers of brightly colored clothing, eye-catching accessories, and carried a blue handbag that was impossible to ignore.

"Gideon took everything except the photos."

The moment she noticed Olivia, she stopped dead in the middle of the bullpen and looked her up and down with open curiosity.

"Wait. Blonde. Green eyes. Burgundy lipstick. Who are you, and why are you in my unit?"

Olivia smiled immediately.

"Olivia Hayes, at your service." She extended her hand with a playful grin. "Do you shake hands?"

"I'm Penelope Garcia. Looks like you've already met Reid. Unlike him, I happen to love physical contact."

Garcia held out her hand, and Olivia shook it without a second thought.

Spencer watched the exchange for a few seconds before subtly taking two small steps backward, as if creating a safe distance between himself and the interaction.

Garcia rolled her eyes.

Olivia simply smiled, clearly amused by the whole thing, before saying,

"Dr. Reid, relax. I promise I didn't bring any deadly bacteria into the office today."

She let out a quiet laugh.

Reid looked at her with complete seriousness.

"So... you really take that seriously?" she asked.

He held her gaze for a moment, as though debating whether the explanation was worth giving.

Eventually, he decided it was.

"Statistically speaking, human hands can carry hundreds of different microorganisms, and physical contact significantly increases the probability of transmission."

"He's like this all the time," Garcia said, setting her purse on Olivia's desk. "You get used to it."

Before Olivia could respond, the sound of confident footsteps echoed through the bullpen.

"What's going on over here?"

The deep voice came from behind them.

"Oh, perfect timing!" Garcia exclaimed.

Olivia turned around.

The man walking toward them was tall, dark-haired, and had the kind of presence that made people look twice. Most people would probably call him incredibly handsome.

Olivia simply regarded him with mild curiosity.

He wasn't exactly her type.

Not that she really had one.

He stopped beside Garcia and looked at Olivia with interest.

"We got company?"

Garcia's smile widened.

"Derek Morgan, allow me to introduce the newest addition to our little behavioral circus."

Olivia raised an eyebrow.

"Circus?"

"You haven't seen anything yet," Garcia replied.

Morgan offered his hand naturally.

"Agent Derek Morgan."

Olivia shook it without hesitation.

"Olivia Hayes."

Morgan shot Reid a quick glance. The younger agent was still standing a respectable distance away, as though Olivia posed some kind of microbiological threat.

"Has Reid scared the rookie with statistics yet?"

"Not yet," Olivia answered with a grin. "But I think he was just about to."

Reid frowned slightly.

"I wasn't scaring anyone."

Garcia smiled.

"Sweetie, are you sure you want your first impression on the new girl to be a lecture about microorganisms?"

Morgan chuckled.

"So, Olivia, tell me something. Did you ask for a transfer here, or was this some kind of administrative punishment?"

Olivia crossed her arms and leaned casually against her desk.

"I'm still trying to figure that out."

A crooked smile spread across Morgan's face.

"Good answer."

Garcia let out a dramatic sigh, wearing an exaggeratedly sad expression.

"But seriously, guys... what am I supposed to do with Gideon's stuff?"

Reid stepped closer to inspect the box, still holding a small note in one hand as if he refused to let go of it.

"He said the photographs were of his family. It makes sense that those are the only things he took."

Olivia glanced at the box with quiet curiosity, but it felt too personal to ask about.

Before the conversation could continue, Hotch's firm voice echoed across the bullpen. He walked past them with a blonde woman Olivia hadn't been introduced to yet following close behind.

"Conference room. Now."

Everyone immediately started moving.

Olivia picked up her bag from her chair and followed the others toward the conference room. As she passed Reid, she slowed her pace ever so slightly.

"Hundreds of microorganisms, huh?" she said casually.

Reid looked at her, clearly surprised that she was still thinking about it.

"Technically... more than that."

Olivia laughed softly.

"I'll try to survive."

For a moment, Reid looked as though he was about to say something… but no response seemed technically correct.

The conference room was already almost full when Olivia walked in behind the others. The room was simple, dominated by a large table in the center and a whiteboard at the front, where several photographs had already been pinned alongside reports and quick notes written in black marker. A large television in one corner displayed a picture of one of the victims. The room had the familiar feeling of a place that was always in motion, as though each case left temporary traces before being replaced by the next.

Olivia chose a seat near the end of the table, trying to appear as natural as possible while discreetly observing the team's dynamic. Morgan leaned against the table with his arms crossed. On the other side of the room, an elegant brunette studied the photographs on the board with an analytical gaze.

Reid remained standing for a few seconds before finally taking a seat, arranging a few papers as though doing so helped him organize his thoughts.

The same blonde woman was placing case files on the table for everyone to review.

A few moments later, Aaron Hotchner entered the room carrying a folder. Without much ceremony, he spoke.

"I'd like to say something," he said to the blonde woman, and everyone's attention immediately shifted to him. "I imagine you're all wondering what happened. I've known Jason for a long time, but all I can honestly say is… I have no idea."

Olivia had no idea what was going on. She assumed that someone on the team—a longtime member—had decided to leave.

Hotch continued.

"But that doesn't matter. We're here, and we have to keep moving."

A heavy silence settled over the room.

Olivia couldn't help thinking this had to be the worst possible time to arrive. It was already uncomfortable enough being the new agent, but it was even worse to be the new agent when someone had recently left the team.

Hotch's voice pulled her from her thoughts.

"And this is the new agent Headquarters sent us. She won't be replacing Gideon—not yet. We're still deciding who will. For now, she's simply another member of the team. Her name is Olivia Hayes."

Olivia waved with the best smile she could manage. After being introduced as "just another member of the team," it felt like a blow to her self-esteem.

Without wasting another second, Hotch began presenting the case.

"The Portland Field Office discovered a mass grave containing three victims who had been dead for approximately six months. A second grave nearby contained another victim. Causes of death range from being burned alive to asphyxiation. No signs of sexual assault."

Morgan lowered the coffee cup he'd been drinking from.

"The torture is clearly sadistic."

Reid looked ready to speak, but Olivia beat him to it, sounding almost excited.

"But without a sexual preference, it's difficult to determine whether the unsub is male or female."

Reid looked at her with mild confusion—not because of what she'd said, but because of how quickly she'd said it.

Then the dark-haired woman with striking eyes crossed her arms.

"Most killers stick to the same method. This guy seems to like changing things up."

Still standing, Hotch pointed to the victim's photograph on the television.

"The most recent victim, Jenny Whitman, was found yesterday. Cause of death: asphyxiation."

Reid frowned at the image. Olivia was about to ask something herself, but he spoke first.

"How long had she been missing?"

"No missing person's report was ever filed," Hotch replied, walking closer to the table.

Olivia took advantage of the fact that Reid had asked the exact same question she had been thinking.

"What about the others?"

"Only one."

"One out of four?" she asked, now looking through the files.

Reid, still wearing a puzzled expression, looked at Olivia for a few moments before the blonde woman standing beside the television answered.

"Rick Holland was reported missing nine months ago, but the search was eventually called off."

"His family found his car at the train station," Hotch added. "More importantly, they said they kept receiving emails from him saying he needed some time to sort things out."

"And his family bought it?" Morgan asked, leaning back against his chair with the files in his hands.

"I think the alternative was simply too painful to accept," Hotch replied seriously.

Reid leaned forward slightly and looked at Hotch.

"Maintaining contact can be a sign of remorse."

Olivia subtly shook her head, making a point of not looking at Reid.

"Psychopaths don't usually apologize. He's covering his tracks."

Spencer immediately shrank back into his chair, clearly a little irritated, and looked at Olivia for several seconds before Morgan spoke.

"And it's been working."

He looked down at the files in frustration.

Without another word, the dark-haired woman stood up and walked over to the board displaying the victims' photographs and maps of the area.

"So, the first three victims were buried in the same grave, and then only Jenny Whitman was buried in the second one."

Olivia shifted in her seat, almost restlessly, before looking at the woman.

"Do you think it's a pattern?"

"It's hard to tell," the woman admitted, looking disappointed that she didn't have the answer.

Hotch picked up his copy of the case file from the table and looked around at the team.

"If it is a pattern, then we're missing two victims. Everybody to the jet. Wheels up in thirty."

Everyone immediately got moving. Some grabbed folders, others picked up jackets and bags, and began filing out of the room. The only ones who stayed behind were the two women Olivia hadn't met yet. As Olivia gave the case one last look, they walked over to her.

"Hi! It's nice to meet you," the brunette said, extending her hand. "I'm Emily Prentiss."

"Olivia Hayes. The pleasure's mine."

"Hi, I'm Jennifer Jareau," the blonde said with a smile. "But you can call me JJ."

Before any of the three women could say anything else, Morgan appeared in the doorway.

"If you ladies don't mind… we're waiting on you."

The three women exchanged glances before gathering their things and following Morgan.

On the way to the elevator, Emily turned to Olivia.

"So, what division were you in before joining the BAU?"

"Actually… none. I finished my specialization recently and had been working in statistical analysis applied to criminal behavior. I guess someone decided that might be useful here."

JJ, who was walking beside Emily, turned to Olivia as well, wearing a puzzled but kind expression.

"That's not exactly common. You don't have any field experience, do you?"

"Not really. I don't even have a license to carry a firearm yet. Hopefully I'll get one in the next few months. Until then, you'd better not count on me to protect anybody."

Olivia smiled as she said it, and everyone chuckled softly.

As they approached the elevator, Olivia noticed Reid reading through a file, probably the case notes. He looked up as the others approached and closed the folder, noticing everyone laughing.

"What's so funny this time?"

"Our newest teammate," Morgan replied, patting Reid on the back as he walked past him and stepped into the elevator, which had just arrived.

Emily and JJ followed him inside, leaving Olivia next. She walked past Reid without any hesitation, meeting his eyes, but he looked away before following her into the elevator.

The elevator lurched gently as it began its descent, accompanied by the metallic hum that echoed through the enclosed space.

"I never get used to that," JJ commented, discreetly holding onto the side rail.

Reid subtly adjusted his position, putting a little more distance between himself and everyone else. It wasn't obvious, but it seemed completely automatic—a habit.

Morgan noticed immediately.

"Relax, man. Nobody's going to infect you with some superbug in the next thirty seconds."

Reid kept his eyes forward.

"You never know," he replied evenly. "Especially with people you don't know."

The silence lasted about half a second.

Then, almost simultaneously, everyone's eyes turned toward Olivia.

Morgan raised an eyebrow.

"Uh-oh…"

Emily looked away, trying to suppress a smile. JJ wasn't much more successful.

Olivia simply tilted her head, studying Reid.

"So I'm the problem?"

Reid blinked a few times, as though only then realizing what he'd just implied.

"No. That's not what I meant. I wasn't saying you—"

"Relax," she interrupted calmly. "I get it."

The atmosphere grew awkward for a brief moment.

Then, without warning, Olivia stepped forward and lightly touched Reid's arm.

A quick gesture.

Simple.

Entirely intentional.

"There," she said. "Now you'll find out."

Morgan immediately turned his head away, clearly trying not to laugh.

"I can't believe you just did that…"

JJ covered her mouth, stifling a laugh. Emily looked away, but the smile on her face was already impossible to hide.

Reid stood completely still for a second, staring at the spot where she'd touched him. It wasn't exactly panic—more like he was trying to process something completely unexpected.

"That doesn't…" he began, stopping halfway through the sentence. "That doesn't eliminate the variables."

"But it reduces them," Olivia replied, folding her arms.

He looked at her for a long moment, studying her more carefully now.

"Familiarity isn't determined by physical contact."

"But it helps," she shot back.

A brief silence settled between them.

Morgan shook his head, still smiling.

"This is going to be interesting."

"This is going to cause problems," JJ commented lightly.

"Oh, it definitely will," Emily added, watching the two of them.

The elevator began to slow.

Reid looked away for a moment, as though reorganizing his thoughts.

"Even so…" he said at last, his expression as serious as ever as he stared ahead. "I'd still prefer a warning first."

Olivia gave him a small smile.

"I'll keep that in mind."

The elevator doors slid open.

Morgan was the first one out, still shaking his head. JJ and Emily followed close behind, exchanging a discreet glance.

Reid hesitated for a brief second before stepping out as well, keeping what he considered a comfortable distance. Olivia was the last to leave.

The walk to the jet was quiet.

Everyone boarded and quickly settled into their usual seats, leaving Olivia feeling slightly out of place once again.

As soon as she stepped inside, she noticed that, unlike the office, everything in the jet seemed to have its own place. It wasn't perfectly organized, but it was functional. Two rows of seats faced each other along the narrow aisle, with small tables between them already covered in case files and folders. The cabin was compact, yet comfortable enough for everyone to work during the flight.

Morgan was one of the first aboard. He headed straight for a seat in the middle of the cabin, dropped his file onto the table, and sat back comfortably, as if he were completely at home there.

Hotch had already boarded before everyone else. He sat in one of the seats near the middle of the aircraft, a table in front of him with an open case file and several photographs spread across it. He looked so focused on the case that he barely acknowledged the other agents as they came in.

Emily chose her seat without hesitation, as though she instinctively knew where she belonged. She sat across from Hotch, crossing one leg over the other and leaning lightly against the table while reading through the reports without losing awareness of everything happening around her.

Reid, on the other hand, headed straight to the back of the jet.

Without stopping.

Without hesitating.

As if he'd walked that path a thousand times before.

He chose one of the seats nearest the rear of the cabin, where there was less movement and the conversations were quieter, yet he could still hear everything related to the case. The moment he sat down, he opened the folder he'd been carrying, his fingers turning the pages with practiced familiarity. His eyes moved quickly, absorbing information with remarkable ease, as though the world around him simply ceased to exist whenever he started reading.

Not entirely, though.

Every so often, Reid would glance up for only a second or two—just long enough to register where everyone was, who was speaking, who had moved—before returning to the file.

The back of the jet wasn't just quieter.

It was where he could think.

Olivia remained standing for a few seconds after everyone else had taken their seats.

It wasn't because she didn't know where to sit.

She was simply observing.

By now, she'd already noticed the pattern.

Morgan in the middle.

Emily near Hotch.

JJ organizing the files.

…And Reid in the back, exactly where she'd expected him to be.

She could have taken a seat in the middle. That was probably what everyone expected.

But Olivia had never been one to do what people expected of her.

Without rushing, she walked down the aisle, passing everyone without saying a word.

As she reached the back of the cabin, she slowed her pace slightly, almost as if she were making up her mind.

She wasn't.

She sat down directly across from Reid.

Just like that.

A narrow table covered with files and a laptop separated them.

She didn't sit unnecessarily close to him, leaving a comfortable amount of space between them.

Not enough to seem accidental, though.

She opened her folder and began reviewing the case files, just like everyone else.

Reid noticed immediately.

She didn't even need to look at him to know.

It was something subtle—the way he lifted his eyes for a second longer than necessary, silently assessing the situation.

He didn't say anything.

But he didn't ignore it, either.

Olivia fought back a smile.

She'd already decided it would be fun to tease him.

Not because she was a bully or anything like that.

There was just something about the way he carried himself that caught her attention.

Maybe, deep down, she simply wanted to break some of the tension she'd felt since joining the team.

And somehow, she'd started with him.

At least, that's what she told herself.

She calmly turned another page, as though nothing had happened.

Across from her, Reid went back to reading.

But it was obvious it wasn't quite the same anymore.

Something had changed.

Maybe he was uncomfortable.

Or maybe it was simply the fact that he now had to share his space with someone he clearly hadn't chosen.

Olivia still didn't know exactly what his problem with her was.

But she already knew there was one.

And, honestly…

That only made everything a little more interesting.

Olivia had always been that way.

Whenever someone disliked her, she'd never felt obligated to like them back.

But she never let it go, either.

She enjoyed the challenge.

Maybe it was a little childish.

But it was fun.

Hotch's deep voice pulled Olivia from her thoughts.

"Let's review what happened in Portland."

"A woman and two men were found buried together in the same grave," JJ said, now seated near Morgan. "They were all between twenty-five and thirty years old, and they'd all been dead for about six months."

She finished and looked at Hotch.

"Looks like three different MOs to me," Emily suggested.

Reid looked up from the file in front of him.

"Gary Taylor, the Phantom Sniper, was just as eclectic as this unsub."

"He changed his methods depending on what gave him the most control over the situation. That makes sense," Olivia said, glancing at Reid with her head tilted slightly.

He looked back at her for a few seconds before turning away to stare out the window. His expression was almost angry.

Almost.

"And the more recent grave?" Hotch asked, his expression unchanged.

"A twenty-eight-year-old woman. She died about forty-eight hours ago. Cause of death: asphyxiation."

"Good thing the dump site was compromised," Morgan said from his seat.

"As soon as the unsub realizes that, he'll feel the pressure we're putting on him," Emily said, looking toward JJ. "He may make a mistake."

The cabin fell silent for a moment.

Then a voice came through the speaker on the table between Olivia and Reid.

"Hey, you guys down there."

"Oh, hi, Garcia," Olivia said, turning the laptop so everyone could see and hear.

"Hi, my gorgeous new friend."

Everyone got up and moved toward the back of the jet to hear what Garcia had to say.

"Attention, members of my favorite crime-fighting family: our killer keeps sinking lower and lower. He's been impersonating the victims, manipulating two families into believing everything was fine even after they'd reported them missing."

Garcia's face looked genuinely heartbroken. She was clearly a deeply empathetic person, Olivia realized.

"One of the fake emails was supposedly from their daughter. She claimed she'd met a guy who was taking her to Australia for a few weeks. By the time her family contacted the Australian authorities… it was already too late."

"The unsub has a lot of information about the victims," Morgan said, leaning against the seat beside Olivia.

"How did he get access to their email accounts?" Emily asked from the seat next to Reid.

"The usernames were the same, but the email domains were different. The families never noticed. I'll let you know as soon as I put more pieces of this puzzle together. Bye!"

Garcia ended the call.

Everyone turned toward Hotch, who already looked ready to hand out orders again.

"The guy's creative. Let's go over everything again and make sure we haven't missed anything."

Everyone returned to their previous seats.

The rest of the flight turned out exactly as Olivia had expected.

Quiet.

Peaceful.

It wasn't an awkward silence. It was the silence of people concentrating.

Pages turning.

Someone making notes in a case file.

The steady hum of the jet engines filling the cabin.

Every now and then someone made a brief observation about the case, but nothing that truly interrupted the rhythm.

Olivia tried to absorb everything.

It was her real first day.

Her first case.

Her first flight with the team.

And despite how calm she appeared, there was a pleasant restlessness inside her—a mixture of excitement and curiosity.

The feeling that she was exactly where she wanted to be…

Even if she still didn't know whether she truly belonged there.

From time to time, she looked up from the files.

Hotch remained completely focused on the case, as though nothing else around him existed.

Morgan alternated between reading and making quick observations.

JJ and Emily quietly discussed details from the reports.

Reid remained in the same seat, though now he seemed even more absorbed than before, almost as if he were deliberately avoiding looking in her direction.

Honestly, that only reinforced Olivia's theory that he genuinely didn't like having her around.

She just wanted to know why.

And she had a feeling she'd find out before the day was over.

The landing came sooner than it seemed.

As soon as the jet came to a stop and everyone began gathering their things, Hotch was already assigning vehicles.

"JJ, Emily, you're with me."

Morgan grabbed a set of keys almost immediately.

"That leaves you two with me."

He gestured toward Olivia and Reid.

Reid didn't look particularly pleased about the arrangement.

Once again, Olivia found herself wanting to ask what it was about her that bothered him so much.

The walk to the car was quick.

Morgan got in first, spinning the keys around one finger before sliding into the driver's seat.

Reid climbed into the passenger seat right after him, opening his case file on his lap almost in the same motion.

Olivia got into the back seat last, settling in and pulling the door shut with a gentle push.

The car pulled away.

For a few seconds, the only sounds filling the car were the engine and the traffic outside.

"You drive so calmly," Olivia said, looking out the window. "Now I'm curious to see what you're like in a high-speed chase."

"Oh, I don't think you'd—"

"He drives normally," Reid cut in flatly before Morgan could finish.

Olivia looked at him through the rearview mirror.

"I don't think I was talking to you."

"I know."

Morgan let out a low whistle and kept driving.

At first, Olivia had only been curious because she thought Reid simply didn't like her. She had even considered leaving him alone after a while.

Not anymore.

After that, he was doomed.

Little did Reid know what he'd just gotten himself into.

"Is your arm okay?" Olivia asked.

With the windows down, she could see Reid's reflection perfectly in the rearview mirror. He looked back at her.

"My arm?" he asked, confused.

"You know… where I touched you. I figured it would've fallen off by now."

Morgan let out a quiet chuckle.

A few minutes later, Morgan turned off the engine. Just as everyone was about to get out, he raised a hand, signaling for them to wait.

He looked at both of them with a serious expression.

"Look, I don't know what you two have going on, and honestly, it's none of my business. But we've got a case. Whatever problem you have with each other stays in this car—at least until we've solved it. Understood?"

They both gave small nods.

Once they arrived at the FBI field office in Portland, they met up with the rest of the team and headed straight for the office of the agent in charge of the case.

His name was Bill Calvert.

After JJ quickly introduced everyone, Hotch got straight to the point.

"I'd like to take a look at one of the victim's apartments. Jenny Whitman's."

Bill simply nodded and handed over the necessary information.

"Thank you."

Hotch was already getting to his feet when he added,

"Olivia and Reid, you're with me."

Before he'd even finished speaking, Olivia was already out in the hallway.

She walked with flawless posture, the sound of her heels echoing against the floor as she absentmindedly adjusted a loose strand of blonde hair.

Reid followed a few steps behind, carrying the case file.

"Wittman's apartment is on the fourth floor," he commented, watching Olivia press the elevator button.

The doors slowly slid open.

Olivia stepped inside without hesitation.

"Finally."

Reid followed her in, only to notice that Hotch was still standing outside.

"You're taking the stairs?" he asked, surprised.

"I'll meet you upstairs."

The doors began to close.

As soon as the elevator started moving, Olivia frowned.

"This elevator feels… weird."

She gave a couple of small bounces on the balls of her feet, trying to figure out whether the elevator was actually moving.

Reid sighed.

"Could you please not do that?"

"What? I'm just trying to figure out if this thing's actually moving or if we've been scammed."

"I honestly don't know."

Olivia looked up at the control panel.

"Oh, you know what?"

She began repeatedly pressing the "Open Door" button.

"Don't do that!" Reid said, already sounding genuinely concerned.

She raised an eyebrow.

"And why not?"

"Because elevators cause around six fatalities every year. On top of that, more than ten thousand people are hospitalized annually due to elevator-related accidents."

Olivia slowly turned to face him.

"Dr. Reid…"

A crooked smile spread across her face.

"Are you scared?"

"I just don't want to get stuck in an elevator with you."

"Wow. Rude."

Even so, she kept pressing the button.

"Olivia…"

She ignored him completely.

Without thinking, Reid reached out and grabbed her wrist to stop her.

She froze.

So did he.

Olivia lowered her gaze to his hand wrapped around her wrist before looking back up into his brown eyes.

It took Reid a full second to realize he was still holding her.

Before either of them could say anything—

The elevator jolted violently.

Both of them lost their balance.

Reid stumbled forward, instinctively bracing one hand against the wall to keep from crashing into her completely.

Even so, he ended up pinning Olivia lightly against the side of the elevator.

Their faces were suddenly much too close.

For a brief moment, neither of them spoke.

Olivia could feel his breath.

Reid blinked several times, clearly having no idea what to do.

Then, as though he'd finally come back to reality, he quickly stepped away.

"I'm sorry."

Olivia remained still for a few seconds.

Strangely…

Her heart was beating much too fast.

She lifted a hand to her face.

"Oh, great…"

she muttered under her breath, taking a slow breath as she tried to regain her composure.

It's just an elevator.

You're not going to lose it over an elevator…

Or because Spencer Reid just fell on top of you.

Then she noticed one very important detail.

They were still stuck.

Reid repeatedly pressed the emergency button even after the alarm had already started ringing.

The two of them stood on opposite sides of the elevator.

The silence lasted only a few seconds.

"Hotch!" Reid called loudly.

Olivia crossed her arms, visibly annoyed.

"I knew this elevator looked suspicious."

She sighed.

"If my hair gets ruined because of this, somebody's paying for it."

Reid gave her an incredulous look.

"Seriously? That's what you're worried about right now?"

"Spencer, I spent almost forty minutes doing my hair this morning. It was my first day with the BAU."

Before Reid could answer, they heard footsteps outside.

The elevator doors finally began to slide open.

Slowly.

Both of them stepped out almost at the same time.

At the end of the hallway, Hotch had just finished climbing the stairs. When he saw the two of them walking out of the elevator, he gave them only a brief glance.

"Problems?"

Olivia discreetly smoothed her blazer and answered as naturally as if nothing had happened.