Ask The Mountains-Adirondacks [Morgan]

[Krys Robin]

Krys strolled out onto the porch of the cabin that she was currently residing in, and had been for the last three weeks since her suicide attempt. Despite the time in between what had happened, that awful day where everything had come crashing down and had changed, she still felt it. Though the wounds were 'healing' from beneath the bandages that still were wrapped around her wrists. Even so, despite all that went through her head, there was something surprisingly tranquil about the moment. Perhaps it was the environment. The Adirondack Mountains of Upstate New York.

The residence, a small modest cabin, had been paid for by the Bureau in an attempt to 'pay her back' for all of her hard work and service. It went appreciated, though Krys didn't exactly jump for joy. Come to think of it, she did very little bouncing lately. Not since that day. But a week ago she had been able to leave the area, to drive out into town with her sisters (even Julia!) and her brother Keith and go out to dinner and to a movie. It seemed trivial, but it was actually a big step. It was late evening now and they were all sleeping (so she thought). Her siblings had come for a prolonged visit (this arranged by Hayley), something Krys appreciated greatly. It was nice to have some normalcy.

She had sent Matthew pictures. He did like to check up on her afterall, make sure that she was progressing. She knew that he'd share the photos with Hayley, maybe Kate, probably Jack... Little did she know that Hayley would show other people. The pictures were simple enough, yet they showed a magnitude of emotions. In one were all four Robin kids, in the park, different volumes of a smile shared between four. In another Krys was by herself at the shore of the lake near her cabin, staring at the water as the wind blew her messy hair. In another Keith and Krys tried to drag in a fish. In another Laura, Julia, and Krys watched from a distance as a deer and fawn grazed. Perhaps the last of many was most prominant. Krys' arms wrapped around her brother's mid section (though younger he was taller than her -as were all of her siblings-), Julia and Laura both on either side of her tugging at Keith as well but she was smiling. A genuine smile.

But a smile didn't mean that everything was perfect, though she was getting better. She still missed him. Though she convinced herself that her leaving was for the best she still couldn't keep away the ache of being away from him. She loved him. She loved him with all that she had and all that she was and it was such a feeling that kept her awake on nights like these, even in such a peaceful location.

A soft breeze rustled her hair and she tucked strands of brown hair behind her ears in an attempt to keep them at bay. That's when she heard the sound of car tires against pebbles and looking up she saw a familiar, dark figure emerge. Her brow furrowed at first with surprise, not to say that she wasn't excited to see him. "Agent Morgan?"

[Derek Morgan]

Yesterday morning, Derek Morgan's phone had gone off - twice. The first had been a text message from Counter Terrorism's media liaison. His heart had pounded - he'd heard that Krys Robin was doing better, but he still dreaded opening that message and finding the worst sort of news.

But the news hadn't been bad. In fact, it had been relatively good - the picture she'd sent him was of the four Robin kids at ht ecabin. It'd brought a smile to his face, a much needed one. However, he couldn't help but feel the anger that he'd kept at bay all this time - she hadn't spoken to Reid. Morgan couldn't help but feel that overprotective urge towards the youngest member of the BAU, and he was hurting - because of Krys. He didn't resent her, not really - it wasn't her fault. She was hurting, and she needed to get well. He hadn't been able to look at the photo that Hayley had sent him for more than a moment before his phone rang again.

This time, it was Garcia.

"Hey baby girl - you bringing good news or bad news?"

"Neither, my chocolate adonisis." She'd answered, and he'd smiled. He suddenly remembered the conversation that he'd had with Reid - it seemed like a long time ago, but in reality, it had only been a few months. The conversation had taken place the morning after he and Matt had busted Reid and Krys in Reid's apartment when Reid hadn't shown up for work. He'd given Reid advice back then - advice he himself had never taken. "I'm asking you a favor. How'd you like to spend a few days up in the mountains?"

"I'd love to - who am I going with?"

"Krys Robin?"

And that's how he'd ended up driving to the Adirondacks. All he knew was that Garcia wanted Krys to have some company, and she was sending him - he was pretty sure that the CT's tech analysist had no clue, but that perhaps Hayley had also had a hand.

The cabin was finally in the distance - he'd just stopped the car when he realized that he was able to make out Krys' figure among the back drop of mountains. She turned as he shut the car door behind him, and he caught the recognition in her eyes.

"Hey, kiddo." He opened his arms to the girl, wondering if she'd accept a hug.

[Krys Robin]

"Hey, kiddo." He opened his arms to the girl, wondering if she'd accept a hug.

The vocal confirmation of who it was gave her some relief, but she didn't run right toward him either. To the contrary. For a moment she stood still, eying him from the distance before finally a soft smile spread across her lips (though it could easily be lost in the darkness). No. It was him. She was sure of it. And after a moment more of hesitation she made a few hurried steps toward him, closing the gap between them as she moved to wrap her arms around his midsection much like a child would do.

The bandages on her wrists were still there despite the time, perhaps she had been afraid to remove them out of fear of what she would find there. Either way her touch was gentle, her hold was firm, and she was glad to see a familiar face. "You found me." She declared with a hint of a smile, looking up at him like an adoring fan before giving another knowing smile and biting the bottom of her lip demurely. "Penelope sent you to check on me, huh?" Still sharp as ever, this was Krys Robin and definitely more parts of her remained than were there weeks earlier. This was partially because, surprisingly, for a brief moment she wasn't thinking about Spencer. This of course would all come crashing down later.

"I'm really glad to see you." Krys admitted gently finally releasing him as she took a step back. Though she was getting better she was growing sick of being so isolated and only seeing her siblings (as wonderful as that had ben) and the occasional strange townie. CT now held her cellphone and her sister Laura had given her a new one from her work (which was how she was putting herself through college) but there were no numbers in it. Her laptop was shoved under a couch in the cabin's living room, untouched. Of course all of Spencer's calls and emails littered both venues but Krys had distanced herself from both means of recieving them. And to her knowledge: It was for the best.

"You look good." She added for good measure with a nod, a bit breathless before tilting her head in question. "How is everyone?" She purposely kept the question as vague as possible. Some answers or names were better left not had.

[Derek Morgan]

When Krys wrapped his arms around him, he grinned, his teeth flashing white in the darkness; from far away it was the grin of the chesire cat. Seeing her with a smile on her face and not pale, the color of death, was one of the biggest reliefs Morgan had had in his life. He returned the hug carefully, resting his chin on top of her head.

"You found me. Penelope sent you to check on me, huh?"

He pretended offense, pulling back to look her in the eyes, feigning a look of shock. "You think I can't find you on my own? You'd be surprised, kiddo. I map-quested my way here like nobody's business." His grin returned. "Yeah, the Great Planner of all Trips sent me - but I found my way here all by myself. No GPS or anything." He ruffled her hair and watched as she stepped back.

He couldn't help but wonder what she'd be like if she let certain people help her through this - people like Spencer Reid. If she'd let him past the defenses, would they both be different right now? Would they both be even happier, even more recovered than they were? He couldn't help but wonder. Maybe they both still wouldn't be one hundred percent - but better than they currently were? Morgan couldn't help but not ponder it.

"I'm realy glad to see you. You look good."

His grin returned again. "I can barely see you in this dark, so see might not be the operative word." He teased her, the smile spreading to his eyes. "But you, kiddo, look good yourself.""I've brought provisions." He said, nodding his head towards the car. "How do smores sound? Hot chocolate?"

"How is everyone?" He could hear the hesitation in her voice, at the term everyone, and his answer refused to come for just a moment, before he could post the stupidity blocking his own voice and he managed to speak.

"Pretty good, actually. Everyone misses you - Pen's had to actually play solitaire and verse the computer for once." He'd get around to mentinoing the others - but in the moments that were golden, the moments that had the minimal amount of pain in them, he couldn't stand to ruin them.

[Krys Robin]

”S’mores?” She seemed to brighten a bit more though her grin didn’t exactly get any wider. She crossed her arms over her chest in mock skepticism, though she was careful of where she placed her bandaged wrists not wishing to cause any soreness, but still longing to be like the old Krys that she had once been. And yes, the old Krys would have crossed her arms at Derek’s promise of snack food. “Might want to keep those hidden. Keith goes through s’mores like nobody’s business.” She warned him, referring to the youngest Robin who she thought was asleep in the cabin. She figured that they all were. Little did she know Laura had woken up to get a drink and upon seeing a car with its bright lights approaching had woken the others to spy from the various windows into the darkness.

In a brief glimpse of shyness she briskly looked to the pebbles on the dark ground with an admittance. “It’s been great to have them here. We’ve been doing a lot of catching up. We’ve been able to do a lot of things we didn’t really do as kids.” There was no secret now that their family life hadn’t exactly been the best in the past. True no one knew to exactly what level, other than the horrors that you read in the files, but it seemed that they were trying to hold on and get past it. Make up for it the best that they could manage. “We went fishing, canoeing, went to a water park the other day, out to dinner… I sent pictures. Hayley made me.” She did her best to smile here as she looked right into Derek’s gentle, yet protective eyes. They always looked so welcoming, even despite how intimidating he could look. “Did you see them?” The ex analyst inquired, though really by this point she was just trying to make conversation so that there was no deadly lull of silence.

At the mention of Penelope’s newfound gaming ritual Krys gave a natural laugh. “Solitaire. Is that the point that she’s been driven?” There was a light teasing tone in her voice and to Krys, it actually was a good quality to have. “No wonder she sent you looking for me. GPS or not.” As her laugh trailed off she knew quite well what she wanted to ask, what Derek probably wanted her to ask. It was either ask it now or leave it silent. Look cold and uncaring, or actually give in to what she felt. Maybe this could be met in the middle. “How’s…” She cut herself short. Maybe she had overestimated herself. Something she rarely did. Biting down on her bottom lip carefully she released a sigh through her nostrils and instead moved toward the car trying to change the subject that she had nearly begun.

“Do you need help getting it out of the car?” She offered while walking. In reaching the car door she stared at the ground, not feeling forward enough to open the door of a vehicle that didn’t belong to her but still not wanting to face the inevitable.

[Derek Morgan]

There would be a time for answering Krys' unspoken question, but that time wasn't now. He'd only just gotten here - and if he pushed her too hard, he didn't know what the outcome would be. After all, it was the first time she was seeing him in awhile. It was the same whenever he had to have a serious talk to Reid. He'd always been able to get the truth out of the genius, be the safe person to talk to, the person who would give advice and not laugh in your face. He hoped she could view him as the same, becase he didn't intend to leave without having a heart to heart. He knew that was probably one of the reasons that Garcia had sent him there in the first place.

He could see it in Reid, now that they were living together - just how taken by Krys he had been, and still was. That was another one of the reasons he was here - Reid. Because he couldn't let this go on. When something hurt Reid, it hurt him too - and that now extended to Krys, whether she saw that or not.

He suddenly felt very much like a disturbed version of JJ - the liaison between their two worlds.

"I once caught her playing that online game where you morph the faces. You don't want to know what Angelina Jolie and Garcia mixed together look like." It'd been disturbing on one too many levels.

He turned back to the car and reached in, hoisting his back over his shoulder. "I've got it," He said to her question of needing help getting things from the car. "Though you can hold this -" Reaching into the car once more, he pulled out a baseball cap and stuck it on her head, grinning. "Chicago Cubs baseball hat. It's yours now. Enjoy." He reached in once more and grabbed the 'provisions' he'd previously speaken of. There were more secrets harbored in that bag of his, but they were to be found later.

"Don't worry, I'll guard the s'mores with my life - everyone sleeping in there, kiddo?" He asked, looking towards the house.

[Derek Morgan]

There would be a time for answering the question that she hadn't spoken, but that time wasn't now. Morgan hadn't seen her for awhile, and feared what pushing her too far would do. He didn't want to see her crack. He knew that talking to her about everything was part of why Garcia had sent him here in the first place - he was a good listener, he'd proved so with Reid a dozen times.

Now that he was living with Reid, he could see how taken by Krys Reid had been, how taken he still was. That was another part of why he was here - Reid. When things hurt Reid, they hurt Morgan too, and that now extended to Krys, whether she saw it or not.

He suddenly felt like a very disturbed version of JJ; he was like the liaison between their two worlds.

"Garcia's even taken to morphing celebreties together. Ever seen Brad Pitt morphed with Barnie? Because, trust me kiddo, you don't want to. Ever." He shook his head and turned back to the car, hoisting his pack over his right shoulder. "Nope, I've got everything. Except for this," He said, turning back to the car and taking out a baseball hat, tucking it onto her head. "Chicaco Cubs. It's yours now. Enjoy." He grinned at her.

"And don't worry about Keith, I'll guard the S'mores with my life." He pulled out the bag with the provisions - and other things that he hadn't spoken of yet and wouldn't until later. Derek Morgan had plenty of surprises up his sleeves. "Everyone asleep back there, kiddo?"

[Krys Robin]

Krys couldn't help but give a proud, childlike smile as the baseball cap dipped right over her eyes (obviously not fitted for her). It was all too obvious to see how excited she was about it. For one it was rare that she recieved a gift, let alone from someone who was a 'family' figure of sorts. She didn't recieve many as a little girl so now that she was slowly seeing others who cared about her she always took a childlike wonder about how she dealt with things that somehow fit her despite the fact that she was in her twenties.

"My brother's a Yankees fan." She commented with a half little smile, though she noticably didn't move to take the cap off. No, in fact, even if she wasn't a cubs fan she found that she loved this hat. "Derek Jeter fan and all. I'm more a Jorge Posada fan myself." Of course she was. She would like the goofy guy with the large ears. Some things never really changed. Awkward people tended to find one another.

"Yep. As of an hour ago at least." Krys gave a nod before following behind the agent like an obediant pet. She never strayed too far, especially lately she preferred to keep in the presence of others, tripping about in their shadow. "Why?" Her brow furrowed and then her whole body stilled. She was a bright young woman afterall. "You're not just here to keep me company are you?" It actually seemed like he was worried about her making a scene. Was something wrong? Had something happened? Did they give her job away? Or was it involving someone back at the Bureau? Concern showed through Krys' pained features.

[Derek Morgan]

He stopped in his tracks, gritting his teeth and sighing. "Krys..." He was certain now that he was right not to throw anything about Reid on her until she was ready. The technical analyst was panicking at whatever she was finding in his voice, whatever he'd left unsaid.

"I only asked about your siblings because I didn't want to wake them up." He said, turning to look at her over his shoulder. Whether or not he was here to do more than keep her company was another story, for later if she was willing. He didn't want to push her - but he did need to talk to her. Someone needed to, and he felt th need to take that into his own hands. If he did nohing else with his life, he needed to help people. Just one person, if that was all he got to. If that person would be Krys, it wouldbe more than he could hope for.

"Nothing's wrong, Krys. Everything - and everyone is alright. It's alright."

[Krys Robin]

Both the tone in Derek's voice, both the softness an the measuredness to it, along with the sullen yet firm expression on his face caused her brown eyes and little bit of soul to sink within her. For a brief moment she felt stupid for even thinking that he was there for any other reason other than what he said. She had never known him to lie or make something up before, why now? Now she was doubting herself. It wasn't something that she enjoyed doing and in this particular situation she had actually been right. Still, she doubted it anyways.

"I'm sorry." She let out on a sigh, looking to the ground in the dark. "You're the first one to come out here and visit. Heck, you're the only one to find me." Her brown eyes glanced up and she crossed her arms over her chest giving another half shrug. "I didn't expect people to come looking or anything. I didn't want them to... You're just the first." Perhaps he was one of the last ones she expected to see. Other than around Spencer Derek never really sought her out, so it was only natural for her to assume that he had some alterior motive.

She turned around as though to lead him back toward the cabin, then thought better of it and with a nervous shake of her head she brought her right hand through her brown hair before spinning on her heel to face him, haulted in her tracks. "I'm not going to go back to the Bureau, so if that's what you're here for I only think it's fair to tell you that I'm not going back." Biting down on her bottom lip she struggled to find the courage to continue speaking. Be that as it may her brown eyes darted back on Derek with a shakey firmness. She was waivering already. "Techinically, given guidelines I can't go back for another three months anyways..." Yes, if full denial didn't work facts always would. Was she already pondering going back despite her apparently firm desire to remain away and stay away? It seemed that she missed it. Of course she did.

"It's better this way. I was never meant to work in the Bureau anyways... It was just a way to keep out of trouble." She managed to force out in a quiet voice before giving another shake of her head. She truly believed herself to be correct. At a distance she couldn't hurt Spencer, she couldn't feel pain or rejection. Sure it hurt but it was best for him. She didn't want to drag him through the mud or cause him any unnecessary pain. Little did she know that she was doing exactly that, though inadvertantly. "Okay?"

[Derek Morgan]

"Okay?" She asked.

The night seemed to move around them, waiting for his answer - a swirling like the inky inside of a magic eight ball. Prinpricks of stars dusted the skies, settling on top of the mountains that surrounded them. The air was nothing like in Quantico, or Chicago, or anywhere else he'd ever been.

Derek Morgan looked at her for a moment, his face composed, before he inclined his head slightly, a ghost of a nod. "Okay."

Others might have pushed her - Reid might have tried to convince her it wasn't the right option, Matt might have, Garcia or Hayley, even - but not him. Though her eyes were sad and uncertain, and maybe her heart didn't know if that was the right answer, but her brain was convinced of it at the moment. Pushing her, forcing her to reconsider it at the moment, wasn't the right option. He couldn't force it on her - he couldn't push her to see that she was wrong, no matter what he felt - and she needed to trust him. Forcing her to be unsure of herself at this moment wasn't the way to do that, and he knew it. All he could do was help, give her the option and show her the reasons of why she could come back.

He held out his unoccupied arm, offering her to come closer. "But we miss you, kiddo. And I know the doors always open. When and if you're ready." He'd take it further if she decided to push the subject. Krys wasn't in the BAU offices as much as she was in New York, but things were always livened up when she was. And if she didn't rejoin... his mind flashed back to Reid, who certaintly wasn't the same since she left.

[Krys Robin]

Her brown eyes saw his offered arm but didn't take it. She did however not run away which was certainly a start given the actions she had taken a month ago. Suicide was the ultimate game of hide and seek, the ultimate form of running away. Now she was staying. Such a simple moment of stillness should not be taken for granted, especially given the circumstances.

"I miss everyone." She admitted in return, though deep down she really didn't believe what Derek said about other people missing her. They probably felt guilty for what had happened, which wasn't any of their faults, but they certainly didn't miss her. The mere notion seemed silly, even just in her head.

"Hayley told me that Spe-- That Reid moved in with you." She tried to bring up the subject as carefully as possible. Somehow 'How's the man I'm in love with' just wouldn't go over right. For now this would have to do. "Is he doing alright?" Her arms tucked themselves further around her body and she shifted ever so slightly. She couldn't help but be a bit worried, she naturally was over the young man that she cared so deeply for. Was there a reason he had moved out of his apartment?

[Morgan]

"I miss everyone."

When she didn't accept his offer, he let his arm fall back to his side, letting his fingers tap along his thigh restlessly. The other hand he ran across the top of his head, closing his eyes for a moment before turning back to her again. "You're missed." Came his soft response, looking her in the eyes through the darkness. "Alot, kiddo."

"Hayley told me that Spe --" He noticed her hesitation but let her continue her own way. "That Reid moved in with you. How is he?"

"He did move in." Morgan confirmed. "He misses you. He wishes you were back there." He offered a knowing smile. "He knows that you're healing here, though it doesn't change the fact that he misses you. And he doesn't know that I'm here, if you're wondering."

"He's doing alright." He added for good measure. What he hadn't told her was the way that Reid didn't laugh as much anymore, or have awkward little conversations about girls with Morgan. How he didn't smile as much.

But was Reid alright? Yes, he was - he was getting by.

Though Morgan couldn't help but notice the pain that was still in his eyes.

[Krys Robin]

"He's doing alright."

"That's good." The words had initially been difficult to force out into the night, but somehow she managed to push them. It hurt to think about the man that she had left behind. Her best friend. "I'm glad that he's doing... Well..." She thought about him every single day and it hurt her more than any blade hurt her flesh. Sometimes her insides felt like they might rot away. Her chest felt like it might cave in. But still she remained standing. She tried to get by, trying to convince herself that her being away and staying far from him was better for the young man in the end. He couldn't be hurt or disappointed if she stayed away. Then again who was she kidding? She didn't even know how he felt about her!

"I miss him too." Krys confided to the agent quietly as her brown eyes once again examined the ground. "But it's best if I don't go back." She managed to push out in a quiet, hoarse voice that she knew she needed to justify. "It's best if I just stay away." She missed her job. She missed him. She missed her friends. But she was the sort that was willing to give up what made her happy to spare the pain of others.

Giving her upper arms a bit of a squeeze she looked up, a sadenned expression on her face as a few loose strands of hair hung by the frame of her face. "I want him to be happy. He knows that right?" Her voice cracked with this question. She really was so desperate for an answer but she wouldn't hold it against Derek if he didn't give her one. "I know you probably think I'm crazy... I think I am too. I'm pretty sure I am, actually. But this is one thing I know... He's better off without me nagging him." She gave a weak laugh, nearly choking on it as she tried to push through her words. "And doing stupid things like I end up doing... Like I did.." It was no mystery what she was referring to. It was still evident by the bandages on her wrists.

Her voice trailed off into quiet she she stared hard at the ground. Luckily she had managed not to cry. This too, was probably also for the best. "I just wish I could go back in like, a time machine, and make it so we never met..." She meant this obviously from his angle. She would do anything to protect Spencer, to spare him from even the most minimal of pain that she blamed herself for.

[Morgan]

"That's good. I'm glad that he's doing ... well... I miss him too. But it's best if I don't go back."

With her words, he dropped his bags onto the ground, rolling his shoulder a bit as he heard them connect. He moved towards her slowly, not wanting to startle her by coming too close too quickly. "Krys, you know that's not right, don't you?"

"It's best if I stay away." She continued, and he shook his head, eyes gentle.

"Krys, it's your choice whether you want to go back to the FBI or not. But kiddo, you're wrong about what you're thinking right now. You're wrong that it's best for the team - or for Reid - if you stay away. What's right for everyone is what's right for you. Don't stay away from them because you think its best for them. That's not true, kiddo." He was surprised at his own narrative, but he'd kept true to his own motto - he wasn't going to force her, just show her what was true that she was missing.

"I want him to be happy. He knows that, right? I know you probably think I'm crazy... I think I am too. I'm pretty sure I am, actually. But this is one thing I know... He's better off without me nagging him."

He shook his head again, reaching out a hand tentativly and putting it on her shoulder. "Krys, they care about you. Everyone does - especially Reid. He misses you more than he'll even let on to me. And he tells everything to me. Krys - leaving those who care about you beause you think they'll be better off that way? It's not true. They're not better off like that."

He squeezed her shoulder comfortingly. "And he knows that, Krys. He does. But he'd be happier with you. And that is what I know."

"I just wish I could go back in like, a time machine, and make it so we never met..."

"No, kiddo. Don't wish that."