Chapter 4

Daniella wondered if they'd let her decide if she wanted a few more weeks off after Hotch gave her the month off. She confided in someone about her fear and everything else that kept her awake the majority of the time.

"Sweetheart, you will be relieved when your results," the doctor said with a smile. "Just relax. You've done great so far. You overthought this too much, and you were frightened by the same dream over and over again.

Someone came in with her results, and the doctor checked them over with a smile. She sat next to her.

"Insomnia is curable if you take care of yourself," she said. "When you have a night terror, talk to someone about it. Even though insomnia can be genetic, you don't have it. You were afraid it would happen to you, which caused you to stay awake. What you need is a good night's rest. Remember to always talk to someone or take a break when you need it."

She gave Daniella her results and she embraced the doctor in a hug. She was happy and relieved.

"Am I able to go back to work?" Daniella asked.

The doctor nodded with a smile and gave her the note to return to work. The next day, she returned to work feeling much better and much happier. She missed work, her friends, and her coffee shop walks.

"Oh, you look great," Prentiss smiled, giving her a hug when she walked in.

"Thank you," Daniella said as she walked away. "Is Hotch here?"

"In his office like always," Prentiss said, sitting down. "But first, talk to me."

She laughed softly, sitting down and talking to Prentiss about a few things. She told her about a few changes in her diet, and Prentiss was shocked.

"Okay, once we have some free time, I'll take you up on that offer for Greek food."

Daniella smiled, placing her bag down on her desk. She grabbed a few papers and went to Hotch's office, knocking before walking in.

"Hey, welcome back," Hotch said, giving her a hug. "How are you?"

Daniella smiled. "I'm feeling better, way better."

She handed him the doctor's note and a few other papers, and he signed them, putting them away in one of the drawers. She talked to him about a few things, and Hotch listened intently.

"I'm glad you're doing better," Hotch said. "Can you do me a favor?"

Daniella nodded. "Anything."

"Don't stress too muchm we were worried," Hotch said. "If you need a break, tell me."

She smiled a bit. "Duly noted."

She went back down to her office to see the paperwork. She sighed, not in disgust but in content, and she sat down, getting started.

Reid walked in, noticing her immediately. He smiled and walked up to her, putting a hand on her shoulder, and she turned to him.

"Hey," she smiled, getting up.

"You're back," he said, giving her a quick hug. "How are you?"

Daniella drank some of her water. "I'm good. I went to the doctor, and it looks like everything's okay. No insomnia, nothing. "

Reid nodded. "That's good. I'm glad you're back."

"I'm happy to be back," she smiled, blushing a bit. She looked away from him and went back to doing her work.

Reid looked at her and he checked her features. He liked how she kept to herself, and he admired how hardworking she was. He liked how she was nice to everyone, even after the terrible things she went through.

Rossi cleared his throat, and Spencer looked away, continuing his work.

It was soon dark and everyone gathered their things. Daniella crashed into Reid on her way out, and they both laughed.

"Sorry," they said in unison.

"It's fine," Reid smiled.

She tucked a loose strand of her hair behind her ear and grabbed her keys. She pushed the button on the elevator, feeling a bit flustered near him.

"Do you want to get some coffee?" Reid asked.

She nodded with a smile, and they both left the BAU.

"There haven't been many cases," Daniella said, eating her donut.

Reid nodded. "It's been calm these past weeks."

They made small talk about work, family, and themselves. There was a small tension, and he opened his mouth to say something when he was interrupted.

"Hi, my name is Jodie," the waitress said, smiling at Spencer. "Can I get you anything?"

Spencer looked at Daniella, and she smirked a bit as she drank her coffee.

"Uh, just another coffee with two tea spoons of sugar." He said, turning to her. "Do you want anything?"

She shook her off. "I'm fine, thank you."

She gave her a small smile before going back into the kitchen. Spencer looked at her funny, confused about the sudden playfulness.

"What was that about?" He asked, eyebrows furrowed.

Daniella smiled. "She was totally into you."

Reid shook his head with a smile. "Really?"

She nodded, and he started rambling.

Should I give her my number? Or is that too forward? Should I-"

Daniella laughed a bit. "Give her your number. I think she'll like that. "

Reid cleared his throat and nodded as he walked up to the counter. She watched him write down his number and she watched the waitress smile. She felt a bit weird, and she realized she was a bit jealous.

Reid came back with a smile and she had finished her coffee.

"She said she'd call me," he smiled, sitting down.

She smiled. "That's great."

She didn't like faking her act, but she was happy for Reid. She checked the time and looked up.

"Hey, I really have to get going. I need to get at least 8 hours of sleep. "

Reid nodded. "I'll walk you."

She shook her head with a smile. "It's fine."

She gave Reid a quick kiss on the cheek before taking a step back.

"Thank you for tonight," she said with a small smile as she left the cafe.

Reid was shocked by her action, and his heart rate slowly picked up. He didn't know what that meant. He got up and threw away his trash, waving a quick bye to Jodie.

Derek looked at Penelope and she frowned. Daniella was standing in the conference room alone with her hair extremely wet and a t-shirt and jeans. She was allowed into work dressed casually since she mostly does cases undercover. She looked down at the case set on the table and she tried to put it together. Her hair was dripping and she didn't have a sweater.

Derek and Penelope looked at the clock to see that it was 2 in the morning. Derek grabbed his sweater and walked into the conference room, wrapping the sweater around her shoulders. He stood next to her and looked at the note.

I'm coming for you very soon.

He looked at her and she started fixing the pictures.

"Where'd you get this?" Derek asked. "Garcia, call Hotch."

Daniella closed her eyes before opening the file again. It was pictures of her, Reid, her apartment, and things she did in her daily life.

"It was in my mailbox," she said. Even if it was a prank, this?

Hotch told them he'd be there as soon as possible. Daniella finished her coffee and Penelope looked at her.

"Are you okay?" Penelope asked.

She smiled, her eyes sad. "I'm fine."

"You look so sad," Penelope said, worrying. "Is it the file?"

She shook her head, and Derek took a seat next to them. "What is it?"

"I think I like Reid," she said with a small smile.

Penelope gasped, and Derek chuckled.

"I knew it!" Penelope smiled.

"Wait, that's what has you upset?" Derek asked. "Why? Reid likes you too! "

She groaned. "I went to the cafe with him after work last night and we were just talking. So the waitress was obviously into Reid and I pointed that out. He gave her his phone number and I guess I got jealous. "

Penelope smacked Derek's chest. "Awe."

She shook her head. "That's not even the worst part; I kissed his cheek before I left, and it got awkward."

Derek chuckled, and she rolled her eyes.

"Pretty boy may be a genius, but you have to tell him since he's obviously not understanding these hints," Derek said. "He's oblivious."

She nodded, and the rest of the team came in with the file. She noticed Hotch's stern look, and she let out a sigh.

"Daniella, my office," Hotch sighed.

She left with Hotch, Derek, and Penelope looking at each other as Reid walked in. Reid put the rubix cube on his desk when he solved it.

He looked up to feel them staring at him.

"What?" he asked.

Penelope gasped when she noticed his shirt was stained with lipstick.

"Is that?" Penelope asked.

Derek looked at him. "Lipstick?"

Reid groaned and excused himself in front of everyone, going to the restroom. Reid cleaned the lipstick off his neck and tried to clean it off his shirt. He started to slowly fade away, and he smiled a bit.

He walked back out to see Daniella having a stare down with Hotch. She looked more upset than tired. She walked back to her desk and she put her head down on her desk.

"What's going on?" Prentiss asked.

Rossi sighed, coming down the stairs. "We have bigger problems now."

Elle walked in through the door. "Hello, family."

Daniella tapped her fingers on the desk, and everyone turned to Elle.

"I'm back."

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