Make It out Alive

"New case?" I asked JJ. I had been in the BAU for about a month now, and barely remembered what my house looked like.

She shook her head, going into the conference room. I grinned to myself. I walked back to my desk with coffee in hand to find Garcia lounging in my seat.

"What do I owe the pleasure to?" I asked her, perching on top of my desk.

"Just wanted to invite you out to dinner with Reid, Derek and I," she said, picking her nails.

"Sure," I replied.

She clapped her hands together. "Excellent, you should ride with Reid, no promises on that studmuffin and I behaving."

I chuckled. My car being totally wrecked, Reid, bless him, had been giving me rides to and from work.

From across the bullpin, I saw Gideon, we made eyecontact. We both knew that I'd eventually have to tell the team about my father.
*****

After dinner, I nearly dragged Reid into my still boxed house.

"You've been unpacking," he commented.

"I have a surprise!" I laughed, pulling him into my living room.

Sitting on the coffee table was a stack of Dr. Seuss books.
I forced him to sit on the couch, and when he tried to read one, I swatted his hand away. "The first time you read Dr. Seuss, you have to have it read to you!"

I picked up "And To Think I Saw It On Mulberry Street" and nudged him so he'd scoot over. I sat next to him, our legs touching.

"When I leave home to walk to school, Dad always says to me, 'Marco, keep your eyelids up and see what you can see.' But when I tell him where I've been and what I think I've seen, he looks at me and sternly says, 'Your eyesight's much too keen. Stop telling such outlandish tales. Stop turning minnows into whales.'" I glanced at him, and smiled to see him smiling.

"Now what can I say when I get home today? All the long way to school,and all the way back, I've looked and I've looked and I've kept careful track, but all that I've noticed, except my own feet, was a horse and a wagon on Mulberry Street."

He started to say something, but I hushed him and continued reading. "That's nothing to tell of, that won't do, of course... Just a broken-down wagon that's drawn by a horse. That can't be my story!That's only a start. I'll say that a ZEBRA was pulling that cart! And that is a story that no one can beat, when I say that I saw it on Mulberry Street. Yes, the zebra is fine, but I think it's a shame, such a marvelous beast with a cart that's so tame."

Again, Spencer opened his mouth, but I gently clapped my hand over his mouth. "It can wait," I chastised with a laugh, giving his shoulders a quick hug. He rolled his eyes playfully, chuckling.

"The story would be better to hear if the driver I saw were a charioteer. A gold and blue chariot's something to meet, rumbling like thunder down Mulberry Street! No, it won't do at all... A zebra's too small. A reindeer is better; He's fast and he's fleet, and he'd look mighty smart on old Mulberry Street." I even made a point to show Spencer the pictures, he rolled his eyes in reply.

"Hold on a minute! There's something wrong! A reindeer hates the way it feels to pull a thing that runs on wheels. He'd be much happier, instead, if he could pull a fancy sled. Hmmm... A reindeer and a sleigh... Say- ANYONE could think of THAT! Jack or Fred or Joe or Nat- Say, even Jane could think of THAT! But it isn't too late to make one little change. A sleigh and an ELEPHANT! There's something strange! I'll pick one with plenty of power and size, a blue one with plenty of fun in his eyes. And then, just to give him a little more tone, have a Rajah, with rubies, perched high on a throne. Say! That makes a story no one can beat, when I say that I saw it on Mulberry Street."

Spencer chuckled at my enthusiasm, but I continued on, ignoring his laughter. "But now I don't know... It still doesn't seem right. An elephant pulling a thing that's so light would whip it around in the air like a kite. But he'd simply look grand with a great big brass band! A band that's so good should have someone to hear it, but it's going so fast that it's hard to keep near it. I'll put on a trailer! I know they won't mind if a man sits and listens while hitched on behind. But now is it fair? Is it fair what I've done? I'll bet those wagons weigh more than a ton. That's really too heavy a load for ONE beast; I'll give him some helpers. He needs two, at least!"

Spencer is next to me shaking with laughter as he hesitantly moves a little closer to me. I went willingly, placing my head carefully on his collar. "But now what worries me is this.. Mulberry Street runs into Bliss, unless there's something I can fix up, there'll be an awful traffic mix-up! It takes Police to do the trick, to guide them through where's traffic's thick- it takes Police to do the trick. They'll never crash now. They'll race at top speed with Sergeant Mulvaney, himself, in the lead. The Mayor is there, and he thinks it is grand, and he raises his hat as they dash by the stand. The Mayor is there and the Aldermen too, all waving big banners of red, white and blue."

He shakes his head, and I nudge him gently, showing him the picture, which makes him laugh even more. "And that is a story that NO ONE can beat when I say that I saw it on Mulberry Street! With a roar of its motor an airplane appears and dumps out confetti while everyone cheers. And that makes a story that's really not bad! But it still could be better. Suppose that I add... A Chinese man who eats with sticks... A big magician doing tricks..." At that I nudged him gently, and he only shook his head. "A ten-foot beard that needs a comb... No time for more, I'm almost home. I swung 'round the corner and dashed through the gate, I ran up the steps and felt simply GREAT!"

At this point, my tabby, Shortcake had joined us, lying in Spencer's lap while he scratched behind her ear. I could hear my loud companion purring in delight.

"For I had a story that NO ONE could beat! And to think that I saw it on Mulberry Street! But Dad said quite calmly, 'Just draw up your stool and tell me the sights on the way home from school.' There was so much to tell, I just COULDN'T BEGIN! Dad looked at me sharply and pulled at his chin. He frowned at me sternly from there in his seat, 'Was there nothing to look at... No people to greet? Did nothing excite you or make your heart beat?' 'Nothing,' I said, growing red as a beet, 'But a plain horse and wagon on Mulberry Street.'"

"Children must love you. Why haven't you gotten married and had children?" He chuckled.

"Says Mr. Magic Trick," I teased.

"Kids must love you."

"My baby cousins do. The youngest is turning six in a few weeks, and she wants nothing more than Aunty Polly to read her a story, take her to the playground, and get ice cream with her," I chuckled. I glanced at the clock. "Whatcha say, wanna read me a story?"

He picked up the next book, Green Eggs and Ham, smiled, opened it and began to read.

At some point, I changed position, pulling my legs up and tucking them under me. As I listened to Spencer read Green Eggs and Ham, his voice lulled me gently to sleep.