Escaping to the Genius

Chapter 23

Chapter 23

"Spencer! Spencer!"

Spencer looked up as Celeste bounded into the room and jumped down next to him on the couch. "Good morning to you too," he smiled. She wasn't comfortable calling him Dad yet, and he was completely fine with that, as long as she didn't start acting strange because of it. He didn't care if she never used the term; he just wanted her to be happy, and she was, so he didn't push her.

She smiled so big her eyes crinkled. "I just took my final exam, and I passed!"

He smiled brightly. "That's great!" He hugged her. "I go back to work today, otherwise we'd go out to celebrate. Hey, you know what, why don't you come with us? You have a degree now, so it'll be harder for Strauss to keep you back if she finds out."

She smiled. "I would, but that means talking to people, probably guys too. I still don't think I'm up for that."

"That's okay. Meanwhile, you can enroll in the Academy to get your badge." He closed his computer and put it in his bag. "It isn't that far away, and you've had your driver's permit for what now, four months?" She nodded. "Which means in another two, when classes start, you can get your license."

She smiled. "Great! Let's go, so I can tell Penny!"

He chuckled and stood. "Celeste, look down."

She had showered, but she wasn't completely dressed yet. Quickly she dashed back to her room and threw on a pair of black slacks and a plum colored top with a modest neckline. Running back out, she pulled the strap of her bag over her head. "Ready!"

~

The security guards recognized Celeste by this point, so when she raced in ahead of Spencer, they didn't try to stop her. She darted to the elevators, pressing the close door button.

"Sorry, slowpoke!" she mocked Spencer as he made it just as they closed. He chuckled and pressed the button again.

Celeste tapped her foot and rocked on the balls of her feet, waiting to spring into the office as soon as the doors opened.

But Strauss was standing right there. Instantly Celeste calmed down and stood still. "Good morning, ma'am," she said.

"Good morning. Where's Dr. Reid?"

"He's on his way up." She stepped out and stayed clear of her.

"Good." She kept walking past the elevators, and Celeste breathed a sigh of relief when it wasn't in the same direction as her.

Once Strauss was gone, the smile reappeared and she bounced into the office, spotting Hotch, Morgan, and Rossi talking, and Garcia talking to Prentiss. She saw JJ in her office, probably getting a case together.

"Penny!" Celeste exclaimed, making the redhead look over. "Penny, I finished! I got the degree!"

Garcia squealed and grabbed her in a hug. "That's fantastic, sweetie!"

Then Celeste turned to Prentiss. "I'm enrolling in the academy, so I can spend a couple years there and become a BAU field agent. Oh! I should have Aaron write a recommendation letter; I don't want to be stuck with a bunch of idiots who don't know a diddly-darn thing. Be right back!"

She approached the men more slowly; she hadn't spoken to Rossi very much, and he was still intimidating for her to be near.

"Morning, Mia," Morgan said. "What's up?"

"I got my criminal justice degree, and I'm about to enroll in the academy," she grinned. "I was hoping that Aaron could write up something in my favor? Honestly, I could skip about a fourth of the work, and I don't want to be denied because of my age."

Hotch nodded. "That would be extremely unfair, and a loss to the bureau."

"Good job, Celeste," said Rossi. She smiled uncomfortably, but accepted the compliment.

"Thank you."

Spencer finally made it in, and he glared at Celeste half-heartedly. She gave him a little wave, which consisted of a small twitch of her fingers from an uplifted hand.

He rolled his eyes and walked over. She was okay around the team's male counterparts, but having her dad there made her comfortable around them, so she relaxed a bit more. "She's already told you, hasn't she?" he laughed.

"And we're all proud," Rossi stated, smiling at her.

She smiled back, just as JJ emerged, brandishing a file. "Hey, guys."