Silent Evidence ~ Spencer Reid

Evelyn sat at her desk, fingers flying across the keyboard as she tried to ignore the throb of exhaustion humming at the base of her skull. It was her first day back since everything, since the explosion, since the recovery, since she convinced everyone, including herself, that she was "fine." She hadn't even stepped into the lab yet, choosing instead to bury herself in paperwork, half-finished reports, and the illusion of normalcy.

The knock at her door barely registered, then it creaked open.

"Evy!"

She looked up just in time to see Caleb sweeping into the room like a tornado. His arms were overflowing, tote bags hanging off both shoulders, a bouquet of tulips tucked under one arm, and a leaning tower of tupperware threatening to collapse in his hands.

"Caleb?" she blinked. "I thought you were still in Oregon."

"Got back last night," he said, breathless, nudging the door shut behind him with his hip. "And I wasn't about to wait another second. Are you okay? How are you feeling? And don't say 'fine,' because you look like a sick Victorian child who's been cursed by the plague."

Evelyn gave a slow blink, her eyes drifting toward the small mountain of supplies he was unloading across her desk.

"...What is all this?"

"Provisions!" Caleb beamed. "Meal-prepped lunches for the week, color-coded by day, your favorite couscous salad, protein bars, lavender tea, sea salt cookies, and..." He pulled the tulips from beneath his arm like a magician. "Floral joy."

"Caleb..."

"Don't argue," he said, waving a hand. "I'm on a mission and the mission is you not starving to death because you forget how meals work when you're stressed."

Before she could respond, the door creaked open again and Jonah stepped inside, one brow raised.

"I came to make sure you weren't smothering her," he said dryly, glancing at the scene. "But it's too late. You've already built her a shrine."

"She needs nutrients and moral support," Caleb replied without looking up, still sorting containers by mealtime. "Also, I missed her."

"You've been back less than twelve hours," Jonah reminded him, crossing his arms as he leaned against the doorframe.

"Exactly. That's like, at least ten hours too long without checking in."

Jonah exchanged a look with Evelyn, amused. "He's been vibrating with excitement since he landed. I tried to slow him down, but..." He gestured at Caleb's chaos. "This is what love looks like, apparently."

"I'm nurturing," Caleb defended, finally glancing up with a dramatic toss of his curls. "Some people are just jealous."

"Jealous of the fact you've turned her office into a farmers market?"

"She appreciates it," Caleb said pointedly.

"I do," Evelyn admitted, unable to hide her smile as she eyed the labeled containers. "Though I bet someone's glad you're home. Jonah's looking a little skinny."

"Hey, I cook!" Jonah protested. "Unlike you, you burn."

"Wow," Evelyn said, raising her brows and covering her mouth with her hand. "Burn jokes to the bomb victim? That's a new low, Jonah."

"WHAT!" Jonah exclaimed, trying to suppress his laugh. "You know I didn't mean it like that! Let's just all take a moment of silence for the countless innocent loaves of bread, cookies, cakes, meats, vegetables, basically anything that's ever been in your oven."