Chapter 14

Reid walked back to the living room and found the doctor pulling on her jacket.

“I’m sorry, I planned to stay and talk after she fell asleep.” Sandy looked towards the bedroom. “If I hurry, I can get back before the nightmares start.”

Reid’s eyebrows went up. “Nightmares?”

Sandy nodded, picking up her purse. “I imagine she’ll relive those women’s last moments this time.” She shook her head with disgust. “It’s just one of the many prices she has to pay for an ability she doesn’t want.”

Reid ran his hand through his hair. “I can stay until you get back.”

She stopped as she reached for the door and gave him a hesitant look. “Oh, that would be wonderful, then I don’t have to try to rush through an emotional crisis with another patient.” She walked over to the table and picked up a notepad.

Brent held up his hand and then looked at Reid. “I’m going to get back to the station, I want to start checking Jac’s theories.”

Reid put his head down. He must be tired; he’d forgotten about the case completely. He looked at Brent and nodded. “Call me if anything turns up.”

Brent nodded and then turned back to the woman hovering by the door. “Can I catch a lift with you?”

Sandy smiled and nodded. Pausing, she studied Reid. “I’ve written down my numbers, they’re by the phone, and the tea she drinks is on the counter.” She paused for a second. “If she does wake up long enough, see if you can get her to eat or just drink some juice.”

Reid stuffed his hands in his pockets. “Will do.”

She looked at him a moment longer, smiled, then she and Brent went through the door.

Reid turned and looked around the room. He wasn’t quite sure what he was doing here, if he was honest with himself, he just felt he needed to stay. Sighing, he stuck his head in the kitchen and spotted the tea canister and cup on the counter. Straightening, he looked down the hallway. She’ll relive those women’s last moments this time… It kept running through his mind. He would bet money that Jac knew it would happen, but had moved forward to help them. Turning, he entered the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of juice from the fridge.

He walked into her room, and he went and sat down in the chair facing her bed. She was still sleeping exactly as he’d left her.

***

Reid sat watching her as small pieces from the last week started to fit together slowly. Little cues she had given away. Not once has she lied, just hadn’t filled in all the blanks.

The ability to look at something and not see the same thing everyone else does. She had said that when they first met in her office, it meant an entirely different thing to him now.

He sat perfectly still when she moved, barely breathing, not wanting to disturb her.

He didn’t believe in things like this. He’d heard all the stories and read about it often. Yet he couldn’t help but believe her. Some things you couldn’t fake, this was one of those. Knowing and actually believing made more sense now. She made more sense now. The little things she did aroused his suspicions. He smirked. You were right, detective, she was hiding something, and it was a hell of a something. He sighed and looked back at her, if his hormones weren’t constantly getting in the way, he may have figured a few more things out.

When the nightmares started, he watched her struggle against things he couldn’t see. He tried touching her, to bring her out of it, and that only seemed to make it worse. She cried out anytime he got too close. Was what he was feeling affecting her in some way?

When she calmed, he hurried to make the tea. Probably more to feel like he was actually doing something.

When they started again, watching her relive the moments was breaking his heart. No, that was not even close, it felt more like someone was pulling it out through his throat. Just watching her convulse and contorted in what looked like pain was more than he could take. She was incoherent and mumbling anytime he thought she was waking.

When she’d cried out ‘help me’ during one of the turbulent moments of unrest, he had been ready to drop to his knees beside the bed and beg her to let him know how he could do anything that would end this.

Reid sat beside the bed, he sat in the corner and kept moving the damn chair all over the room. When he couldn’t find a new place to put the chair, he stood and watched her. Sighing, he put the chair beside the dresser and sat down, leaning his arm against the dresser and watching her. How long before she would wake up? Why hadn’t he thought of these questions when the doctor was still here?

***

Jacinda woke up feeling sore and hungry. She frowned. It wasn’t the first time. She turned her head to see Reid slumped in a chair beside her dresser. Sitting up slowly, she looked around. There were two cups and a half bottle of apple juice on the table beside her. He had stayed. Why? Where was Sandy?

“You’re awake.”

She looked to see him pulling himself up in the chair. “Yeah.” She regarded the cups again. “Thanks for looking after me.” She brushed her hair away from her face. “Was it bad?”

Reid sat forward and grimaced as if his whole body objected to the movement. “Well, as this was my first watch, I’m not sure.” He stood up and stretched. “But you scared the breath right out of me a few times.” Walking over, he squatted down beside the bed as his eyes roamed over her face. “Do you remember it when you wake up?”

Jac shook her head. “Rarely.” She smirked. “A few times, I’ve asked Sandy why she’s here, I thought she was going to hit me.”

He grinned. “From the awake person’s perspective, I’d understand if she did. It’s not like any kind of nightmare I’ve ever experienced; you were physically struggling and…” He shook his head. “I decided about three hours in, when we get this guy, I’m shooting him.” Her hand flew up to her mouth. He sighed. “I won’t, would like to, but won’t.”

She frowned at him for a moment. “Where is Sandy?”

“Suicide watch, or call, or something.”

“Ah.” Jac blew out a breath. “I need to get up and move around, I’m so sore.”

“Do you need a hand?”

She thought for a second. “Just don’t go too far. My body is running on nothing right now.”

Reid stood up and held out his hand to her. She sat there looking at it. Sighing, he bent down and pulled the sleeve of her sweatshirt down over her hand, then straightened, holding out his hand again. “You must love winter when it’s cold enough for gloves.”

She smiled. “Love it.” Reaching up, she placed her sleeve-covered hand in his as he pulled her to the edge of the bed. Standing slowly, she gripped his hand tightly. “Legs are really wobbly.”

Reaching, he carefully placed his other hand on her covered waist. “Let’s aim for the couch, okay?” She nodded as she took a few shaky steps.

Finally reaching the couch, she dropped down onto it. “Have you heard anything from Brent?”

Reid shook his head. “I called a few times last night; he was half asleep on his desk, waiting for the toxicology reports.”

She chewed her lip. “Let him sleep a bit then.”

Reid stood there looking at her. She was still pale. “You should try eating something.”

Jac sighed. “There’s oatmeal in the cupboard, it always goes down best.” She chewed her lip again. “I want to see if we can get a sketch of the man I saw.”

He nodded. “We can do that after you eat—I’ll be right back.”

***

Reid and Jac sat studying the picture sitting on the table. Jac hesitantly looked over at him, and quietly she spoke, “Thank you for getting someone that doesn’t know I’m unofficially helping on this.”

He shrugged. “I didn’t think you were up to going down to the station yet, and Rick owes me a few favors.” He looked at the picture again, studying it. “It’s too bad he had a hat on.”

Jac frowned at the drawing. “It was never quite clear enough to show me what color his hair was that the hat didn’t cover.”

He rubbed his hand over his face. “It’s clearer than the video, we can see his face.”

She smirked. “I guess my wiring is better.” Stretching, she looked at the picture again. “So, the best next step is to check the male profiles with this?” She yawned.

He glanced at the clock. “It’s our only option right now unless some new lead falls from the sky.” Leaning on the table, he searched her face. “Listen, it’s barely even ten yet, why don’t you grab a nap while I run home and grab a shower, then we’ll get some work done.”

“On a normal day, I’d argue, but not today.” Jac stood up. He watched her carefully. “Relax; my legs aren’t rubber anymore.” Her cell phone rang. Reid handed it to her before she had a chance to locate it. “Hello.”

“Jac. How are you doing?”

Jac rolled her eyes at Reid. “I’m okay, Sandy.”

“I’m just getting out of the hospital now. I have appointments, I’m so sorry I had to leave last night.”

Jac grinned. “It’s okay, you have a job. You’re not my babysitter.” She smirked when Reid pointed to himself. “Reid stayed and looked after me.”

“Really? And how’s that going?”

She could hear the wheels turning inside the doctor’s head. “Everything’s fine.”

“Not the details I was asking for. Listen, I have to run. You stay home today and keep your feet up, doctors’ orders.”

Jac laughed. “You’re a head doctor, Sandy.” She could hear the traffic in the background.

“Doesn’t matter I’m still a doctor. I’m not kidding, you don’t know what could happen after that stunt yesterday…”

Jac held up a hand. “Fine, I’ll take it easy. Now get off the phone, crazy lady, before you drive over someone.”

Sandy laughed. “Yes, mother. I’ll call you later.”

“Okay, talk to you soon.” She hung up the phone and looked at Reid. “I’ve been told to stay at home and relax today.” She rolled her eyes at him. “Sandy is worried.”

He frowned. “Okay, so we’ll look at profiles from here.” He shrugged. “There’s not much I can do at the office right now, it all comes down to finding him.” He pointed to the sketch again. Pulling out his wallet, he held out a card to her. “Call if you need me before I get back.” She took it and nodded.