Title: The Tickets
By: LoraLee2
Pairing: JJ/Reid
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Usual disclaimers, I do not own any CM characters, I'm just borrowing them and will return them in the same condition as I found them.
AN: Spoilers for Plain Sight.
Note: All dialoge in the first and third section are directly from the episode as aired, the thoughts are mine. The second section is all mine. Thank you.
Summary: It's Reid's birthday.

***

Reid walks over to where Gideon is standing watching a television monitor while keeping an eye on the small birthday partythe others had planned for Reid

Gideon asks, "You having fun?"

Reid replies, "Yes, definitely. I'm definitely having fun."

"Make a wish?"

Reid looks up at the birthday hat that someone had plopped on his head, "Can I take this hat off?"

Gideon shakes his head and responds, "I wouldn't."

JJ calls out, "Hey, Spence, first piece for the birthday boy."

Reid starts back to his desk and the group waiting there, but turns back to Gideon, "Do you know she's the only person in the whole world who calls me 'Spence'?" Reid chuckles and leaves, Gideon's looks back to the television monitor, but his brain whirs. He's just heading to his office when Hotch announces "Party's over."

&&&&&&

After the briefing Gideon slipped into his office, ostensibly to get a few things from his desk, but he had another goal altogether in mind. He sat at his desk and picked up his phone and dialed from memory. "Hey, Joe, this is Jason Gideon. I need you to get some tickets for me."

"Sure, Jason. Any concert in particular or just whatever I can find?" Through the years Gideon had found the ticket agent to be an invaluable friend. With the type of schedules the BAU kept, it was practically impossible to stand in lines for tickets for concerts that he may be called out of town for and never see. Joe could find tickets for just about any event not only in the DC area, but also had contacts throughout the US and could get tickets to almost any venue imaginable.

"Actually I need two tickets to the next Redskins game. Get me the best seats you can?"

"Your wish is my command. Should I have them couriered over to your office?"

"Actually, I'm on my way out of town. Could you overnight them to me at," Gideon opened the file in front of him and gave Joe the address to the police station in San Diego. "I may be a little pressed for time, is there any chance you can get them gift-wrapped for me?"

"For my best customer? Anything."

&&&&&&

Gideon looked at the young man sitting across the chess board from him, the time feels right, he pretends to suddenly thing of something and reaches towards his bag, "Oh, I almost forgot. I have something for you."

Reid seems mildly curious, "Oh, yeah?"

"Forgot to give it to you at the party." Gideon takes out the gift-wrapped package that had been delivered to the San Diego police station for him. Watches as Reid looks at the box. Surprised.

"But you don't give birthday presents."

Gideon just smiles.

Reid opens the box and looks at the tickets inside. He looks pleased. "Wow. The Red -- Skins."

Gideon tells him, "It's a VIP box."

"Wow. Thank you so much."

Gideon can tell Reid doesn't quite get something, maybe he dislikes football? He probes. "Ever been to a pro football game?"

"No, I honestly didn't even know this was football."

So, that was the confusion, that was okay, "You're gonna love it."

"We are. You're coming with me, right?" Reid liked the idea, this was something coworkers, friends, did. Go to sporting events. He enjoyed new experiences, but he hadn't realized Gideon was even into football, he talked about baseball frequently, but never football.

Gideon shook his head slightly, "No. Someone else on the plane is a huge 'Skins fan."

Reid's confused, why would Gideon give him tickets and then … want him to go with someone else?

"Who?

"Only person in the world who calls you 'Spence'."

Realization dawned on him, "JJ?"

"She's a huge Redskins fan."

Reid turns and looks at JJ sitting at the back of the plane. "Wh-what should I say?" As soon as he asks, he realizes he needs to do this on his own. Gideon had provided the opportunity, but he needed to take the next step. He puts the tickets in his shirt pocket as starts to get up. He pauses, looks at the chess board between him and his mentor, and makes his move, "Checkmate."

Gideon frowns slightly, he hadn't even seen that coming, then he smiles and chuckles as he watches his young friend pluck up his courage and make his way to the back of the plane for a much more important move. No matter what happened, things would never be quite the same again.

***