Chapter Text
The door opened, and Gayle smiled over at Melody.
“Come on, girl, get in the car, we’re going for food, on me.” Melody chuckled, and carefully lowered herself into the passenger seat, turning and dropping her cane into the backseat as Gayle shut the door, rounded the car, and climbed into the driver’s seat.
“So I take it…you got everything in order?” she asked, looking over.
“Definitely. He faked his death, he didn’t get a divorce…so I sold everything that is now mine. The house, his car, his truck, his computer…anything the police haven’t kept has been sold.”
“Good for you. I hate to say it, but I did try to tell you – you were too good for him.”
“I think it’s more that he was too psychotic for me,” Gayle said, shaking her head and pulling into the road. “I don’t wanna talk about him. Let’s just go eat with the team,” she added sheepishly, grinning as she drove down the street.
She pulled the car into the lot, and shut it off, glancing over at Melody.
“Who all is supposed to be here?” Melody asked, reaching into the back for her cane.
“Reid…Morgan…Hotch…and Prentiss. Garcia and Rossi said they had…some other plans, I don’t know,” she said, shaking her head in uncertainty. She moved to Melody’s door, helping her from the car, and looked around the lot. “And I believe they are all there – that car is Reid’s…that’s Hotch’s…the bike is Morgan’s,” she said, which caused Melody to whistle.
“Nice bike.” Gayle laughed, and locked the doors, pocketing her keys.
“Come on, let’s go in.”
Reid sat back in his chair, looking down at the chopsticks at his right hand, and the fork at his left.
“I’m just glad to see a fork already on the table,” he chuckled, eliciting laughter from the others at the table. He reached to his right, and picked up the chopsticks, tossing them across to Morgan.
“Ya know, Reid, you can do more with these than just eat.”
“Like what?” he asked, eyebrow raised. Morgan eyed the sticks for a second, before taking one in each hand.
“Girls wear ‘em in their hair, but I wouldn’t recommend these in your hair,” he laughed. “Or you could drum,” he finished, tapping the sticks rhythmically against the table top. Gayle stopped a few steps behind him, smiling.
“Usually the ones who wear them wear ones specially made for that use. And the ones who make music with them have a better sounding beat,” she teased, pulling out a chair for Melody. “Sorry we’re late. You guys remember Melody? Mel, this is Morgan, Prentiss, Hotch, and…you remember Dr. Reid.” A smile crossed Melody’s face as she nodded to each name, and, since he was closest, she reached a hand over and patted Reid’s arm as it rested on the table.
“How could I forget Reid? He came to see me in the hospital, and helped me relax by reading to me…” Reid chuckled, and nodded sheepishly. Morgan raised an eyebrow, but smiled, before moving and sliding out the empty chair next to him for Gayle.
“Thanks,” she said, lowering herself to the chair as he slid it in for her. “Have you ordered yet?”
“Not yet…we were waiting for you two.”
“Then let’s order – I know I’m starved,” she chuckled, pushing her hair off her face and looking at the menu at her place on the table.
The food was gone. The clutter was minimal, as the waiter strolled off with a good portion of the plates and utensils that had been surrounding them. Gayle looked around the room, and pushed her hair behind her ear.
“I would like to make a small toast, if I may,” she said, picking up her glass, and standing. The table quieted, and she blushed slightly when she felt their eyes on her.
“What’s up, Gayle?” Prentiss asked, looking across the table.
“I wanted…to thank you, for saving our lives. For stopping a man who was far too sick to stay in society…and for helping me remember who I was,” she said, nodding. “Had it not been for you and your team, Agent Hotchner, this dinner wouldn’t be so lovely.” Hotch lifted his glass towards her, smiling and nodding.
“It’s our job, Gayle, we’re happy to help.”
“And I know I’m thankful for it. I want to thank you, Agent Prentiss, for taking me to the hospital, and ensuring that I was healthy.” She lifted her glass, smiling.
“Not a problem.” Gayle turned to Reid, a grateful smile curling at her lip.
“Dr. Reid. I don’t know that I can ever thank you enough. Twice you calmed me down and stopped the nightmares. You know how to enjoy a good book…even if you can enjoy it so much faster than I can,” she giggled, shaking her head. “You got her out safely,” Gayle continued, putting her hand on Melody’s shoulder, “and not once did I hear you object when I sort of stole your car.” Reid chuckled.
“You did what you had to do,” he replied, shaking his head and lifting his glass.
“So I say thanks to you, for all this and more, Dr. Reid,” she said, tipping her glass towards him. He tipped his towards her, clinking the glasses together. With a smile, Gayle turned to Morgan, and stood quietly.
“Ya know you don’t have to thank me,” he said, smirking and shaking his head. She smiled, and reached down, putting her hand on his shoulder.
“But I’m going to. Derek Morgan. You shot a man in the hand to stop him from killing me. You haven’t pressed the issue of me stealing Reid’s car and doing exactly what I was told not to do.” She glanced towards Hotch, who was chuckling and shaking his head. “You…gave you me your bed after I woke up screaming, and let me sleep with Clooney, which definitely kept me…well, sane, I guess.” He chuckled, and shook his head, lifting his glass and looking up at her. “Thank you.”
“Anytime, girl,” he said, tapping his glass against hers. She looked around the table, smiling, and patted Melody’s shoulder.
“I know it was your job to keep me safe, to save our lives, and to make sure she did not abandon her son…but I do see you all as my friends, and I feel safe knowing that.” The faces around the table smiled at her, tilting their glasses towards her.
“We are your friends, Gayle…yours too, Melody,” Prentiss said, reaching across the table and patting Melody’s hand. Melody blushed, but grinned, nodding a thank you.
“I am…glad to hear that. I also wanted to inform you all that, once I can get everything in order here…I’m going to be leaving Virginia,” she announced, only partly smiling.
“Leaving? Where are you going?” Reid asked, frowning.
“I haven’t decided yet,” she admitted, lowering her body into her seat and scooting closer to the table. “But because of everything that happened, I feel the need to get out, go somewhere far from here, so that I can put the missing pieces of my life back together.” The others looked at each other, before they raised their glasses.
“Keep in touch, Gayle – let us know where you plant your feet,” Hotch said, smiling.
“I promise.”
Gayle waved as Hotch left the parking lot, right behind Prentiss and Reid. She turned her head, and smiled as Morgan held the door for Melody as she climbed into the car.
“Thank you, Morgan,” Melody said, patting his hands.
“Not a problem…watch your feet,” he smiled, giving her hand a squeeze before closing the door. He walked around, glancing over his shoulder at Gayle as she followed from the back of the car.
“You didn’t hafta stick around, Morgan, you do know that,” she said, stopping as he opened the door for her.
“I know. I wanted to. You keep in touch – call or something, doesn’t matter how to me.” Gayle smiled, and moved a step closer, wrapping her arms around his shoulders.
“You saved my life, Derek Morgan, and I am incredibly thankful that it was you I crashed into that night.” He chuckled, and shook his head, cupping his hand against her hair.
“Don’t mention it, doll – it’s my job, but I’m glad you crashed into me too…most others would have pressed charges and ignored you asking for help.” Gayle held the embrace for a moment, and when she pulled back, she didn’t move out of his arms.
“Thank you. I know, I keep saying it, but I can’t say it enough. You are a truly wonderful man, and I’m lucky to know you.” She looked at him for a moment, and placed her hand on his cheek. “Never forget that.”
“And never forget you have friends out here, if you need anything,” he added, smiling. Gayle nodded, and leaned forward, planting a very light, very gentle, and very sweet kiss on his lips. After a few seconds, she moved back, and smiled.
“Drive safe, sleep well, and give Clooney a pat on the head for me?” she asked, lowering herself into the car. Morgan smirked, and nodded.
“Always, and not a problem, so long as you drive safe, sleep well, and keep in touch.”
“Promise…Good night, Derek.”
“Night, Gayle,” he said, waiting for her feet to be in the car before closing her door, and moving to his bike. She turned the key, smiling sheepishly at Melody, before backing out.
“Let’s get you home to your adorable little boy, Mel…” She took one last look over her shoulder, watching Morgan climb onto his bike, before pulling onto the road, and heading into the night.