Hey, I do return to my stories!

Chapter Twelve:

Reid had read through all the files by two o'clock and was just taking notes when he heard the doorbell. He looked through the peephole to see a burly older man holding grocery bags.

"Hi, I'm Judd Hawkins. Call me Judd," he said after Reid opened the door.

"People call me Reid. I've seen your name pop up in the files a few times," Reid said.

"Yeah, I was in charge of trying to keep them in line while they lived in DC."

"What brings you hear with groceries?" he asked.

"I have seen the takeout boxes stacking up when I drop by," he said. "I figured they didn't keep food for a grown adult in here."

"They made muffins," he said with a shrug.

"Let's see what else they have."

Reid was so engrossed in the files he didn't have a chance to look through the fridge or the pantry.

Judd merely started packing fruits, vegetables, and meats away.

"I was right," he said with a sigh. "Only flour, eggs, and few other ingredients for muffins. There are also a bunch of frozen dinners. And lots of coffee for Sloane."

"That's in her file too," Reid said with a slight smile.

Judd smiled too.

"Everyone has a soft spot for her. Even Lia. They all treat her as the baby of the group even though, if she put her sweet brilliant mind to it, she could kill all of them in their sleep."

"I can't imagine what that's like," Reid said.

Judd looked him over.

"I bet you can't."

"I owe her my life," Reid said suddenly full of emotion.

"She'd give it to you again in a heartbeat. She was devastated when she lost who she thought was her half-brother. Sloane won't give up on you."

"I've been through a lot," Reid said. "I'm not sure how supportive I can be right now."

"I read up on you too Agent Reid," Judd said. "Your strength comes from your experiences. You're still processing them, but when you're done you will be better even as you feel rotten right now."

"I can't get past the feeling I am being watched everywhere by Shaw's men," Reid said shaking his head. "I know I'm being paranoid."

"You know it's the PTSD or PTSS, talking," Judd said. "You will get through it."

"How'd you get so good at pep talks?" Reid asked.

"My file has more black ink than you'll ever see," he said.

Reid merely let him finish packing the groceries away.

Judd nodded to him before leaving.

"I'll be seeing you around," he said.

"I look forward to it," Reid said.

Judd waved and left.

…

Reid decided he felt well enough to cook a pot of soup for his housemates.

Sloane bounced in first.

"You didn't have to cook for us!" she said.

"I felt like it," he said.

"You were bored," Michael said. "You got through our files quickly. I guessing Judd stocked our shelves and you took it upon your self to cook for what you think are some candy-spoiled recent non-minors."

"Nice to meet you too Michael," Reid said.

"I thought we weren't going to read our newest houseguest until after twenty-four hours," a young man Reid identified as Dean said.

"Rules are lame," Lia said as she appeared.

She pointedly sniffed the air.

"Better than Dean's last attempt at cooking."

"I followed Casey's uncle's recipe to the letter," he mumbled. "I swear he left something out on purpose."

"Excuses," Lia said.

"Can I make a pot of coffee for dinner?" Sloane asked.

"How many cups have you had already?" Reid asked.

"Only two," she said.

"At breakfast," Dean said. "Then another two at lunch."

"That's enough for today," Reid.

Sloane pouted slightly. Lia grinned.

"So, this is what it's like to have a proper adult living with us again. This should be interesting."

Reid didn't like the way she said that. At the same time, he realized putting up with four young adults might be the distraction he needed.