[CM] THE CASE

Don't just praise the tall things, the plains and hills are equally immortal. — Faye Bailey

After completing two cases non-stop, BAU finally got a stable weekend.

There was a light snowfall in Washington that day, and the ground was wet. Griffith was sitting in the bakery drinking coffee, looking down at the time from time to time, as if waiting for someone.

A plate of brownies was gently set aside.

Griffith raised his head and smiled at the visitor, "Long time no see, Elle."

"Long time no see." Elle sat down and cut a small piece of cake.

"I didn't expect you to open a store in Washington." Griffith said, "The rent here is high, right?"

"It's shared, and it's not expensive to share." Elle licked her fork, "It tastes good, would you like some?"

Griffith glanced at the price tag: "No, thank you."

"So, what are you doing here? Have a cup of coffee?"

"Visit old friends, support business."

Elle rolled her eyes: "Come on, you don't even buy a piece of cake."

"Buy, why not buy?" Griffith said mysteriously, "But I'm not the one who bought."

Before he finished speaking, he heard a series of "jingle bells" from the doorbell. Elle stood up quickly and walked towards the guests with a big smile on her face.

The man looks like he is in his 30s, wearing a casual suit from a certain brand, with a face that is as good as a popular star and mature and sexy that makes women crazy.In just a few steps, Elle admired the man from top to bottom, and thought regretfully: "It's a pity that he has an owner."

She greeted with a smile: "Hello, how can I help you?"

As soon as he entered the door, the man's eyes passed the countless tempting pastries, and stopped on Griffith. He lowered his head when he heard Elle's voice, and said regretfully, "Sorry, I'm here to find someone."

Griffith waved at him: "John!"

"Hi, Foster."

"Foster?" Elle said. "Griffith, your friend?"

"To be precise, it's my friend's fiancé." Walker laughed.

Elle raised her eyebrows: "So, you bought the cake? For your fiancee? Welcome."

"If you order a birthday cake here, when can you pick it up?"

"It can be done tomorrow."

Walker breathed a sigh of relief: "Great, Sally's birthday is tomorrow, and other cake shops need to make reservations two days in advance."

"John can't remember the days," Griffith laughed. "Anniversaries, birthdays... Sally loses her temper every year."

"It's not okay," Elle said. "Women value these days, and they have extraordinary meaning."

"It's my fault." Walker rubbed his hands embarrassingly, "It just so happens that Sally is getting treatment today, so I'll take her to the hospital and order a cake along the way."

Elle's store is opposite the hospital, and many young patients choose to order birthday cakes here.However, because of the opening of the new store, the reputation has not yet been established, so there are not many customers and orders, but the speed is fast.

Griffith was surprised: "Today? Treatment? I was going to visit Sally in the nursing home with you, but she came to Washington."

"Well, it's a follow-up consultation for skin transplantation. You know, Sally..." Walker gritted his teeth, unable to bear to continue.

Griffith changed the subject: "Well, I hope she removes the gauze sooner. By the way, Elle, do you have a menu?"

"Oh, yes." Elle pulled out a beautifully bound picture book from under another table.

"It's beautiful." Griffith admired.

Elle is very proud: "Of course, I designed this."

Walker browsed through the menu and said rather distressed: "Do you have any recommendations?"

"Fruit cake is recommended." Elle said, "There is not much cream. For women, less cream means less fat."

"You're not going to have a party, are you?" Griffith added, "That's a small portion."

"We don't have a party, just get together at our house." Walker said, "Mr. Nelson is rarely free. We plan to take Sally home for a day, and we have already asked for leave."

"Does Sally know?"

"I don't know, this is a surprise." Walker said helplessly, "She always wanted to leave the nursing home, you know."

Griffith laughed, "Of course, she's committed to getting me to convince you to release her."

"Sounds like a lovely girl," Elle commented.

"Yes, she's cute," Walker said softly.

"Okay, okay, I'm going to be jealous any more." Elle joked, "Pay the money to make up for my broken heart."

Walker smiled and followed Elle to the cashier to check out.

After placing the order, Griffith and Walker went to the bookstore, because Mr. Walker has not bought a gift for Sally so far.Originally, the fiancé planned to give Sally jewelry, but for the blind Sally, these invisible jewelry are not as meaningful as a song.So Griffith drags a distressed Walker into the bookstore.

Walker suggested: "I think it would be better to send a radio, or an MP3?"

Griffith didn't look back: "Sally has these in her room. By the way, does Sally like Japanese literature?"

"It's okay, but I don't like it." Walker frowned, "I think it's too heavy."

"Forget it, go over there and have a look."

Walker put down the book he was carrying: "But Sally can't see it."

"That's why you need to read to her," Griffith said. "Remember what I said? Sally needs company. Her sister grew up with her, and she's used to it. Now that her sister passed away suddenly, Sally must be very sad." Lonely. You left her in a nursing home, and she never had the chance to meet people or her former social circle. You deserve to be there for her, John, you're going to be husband and wife, aren't you?"

Walker was persuaded.

"You are usually busy, and the time you spend with Sally is very scattered. It is not suitable for novels. I recommend short stories. Is there any author you both like?"

"Yes, O. Henry."

"His short stories are really wonderful."

Walker sighed: "But we've all seen it."

"Well, that's a question. Willing to try unfamiliar authors?"

"Why not?" Walker sounded excited.

They spent an hour selecting three collections of short stories, all by different authors.When it came time to check out, Griffith paid for one of the books.

"Take it as a gift from me, please wrap it separately." Griffith smiled, "Don't blame me for being lazy."

Walker shook his head: "How come? It's too late for me to thank you! Your suggestion is really great! If you have a lover, he must be very happy."

The cashier who was packing couldn't help but glance at Griffith when he heard the unusual "he".

Griffith pretended not to see.

"Thank you for your help, Foster." Walker took the gift, "Want to pick up Sally together? Her treatment should be over by now."

The follow-up consultation for skin transplantation alone would certainly not take such a long time. Griffith guessed that Sally's treatment today should include psychological counseling.

Sure enough, they found Sally at the door of psychological counseling.Surprisingly, Sally was chatting with an acquaintance.

"Reid? What are you doing here?"

Reid was also surprised: "Griffith?"

Sally was even more surprised: "Foster?"

Then, the two said in unison in surprise: "You know him too?"

Griffith: "..."

Why do you find it a little funny?

It was Walker who was the first to react: "Is this Dr. Reid? I've heard his name for a long time."

"Hello." Reid said shyly.

"This is my friend, Sally. This is her fiancé, John." Griffith briefly introduced and continued, "Why are you here?"

"...I'm here to see Nathan."

Griffith was taken aback: "Nathan? Nathan Harris?"

"Yes, Nathan is recovering at this hospital."

"his hand……"

"His hand is fine, he didn't hurt his tendon, he just cut the artery." Reid looked terrified, "His mother finally decided to send him to the hospital for treatment, and now she won't easily agree to him leaving the hospital."

"It's a good thing," Griffith said. "You don't have to worry about it."

Reid said guiltily, "I know, I just took a look along the way."

Griffith knew he wasn't on the right track at all, but instead of poking him, Sally smiled: "It seems that Griffith's friends are as loving as he is. It was a pleasure chatting with you, Reid."

"Miss Nelson's insight on Woolf has also benefited me a lot." Reid said with satisfaction.

Sally blushed: "No, I'm just interested in stream of consciousness."

"Me too. Stream of consciousness is a very interesting genre..."

Then, the two had a deep conversation on literature.

Walker bumped into Griffith and whispered, "Why do I feel like an illiterate?"

Griffith said sympathetically, "Me too."

They exchanged a sympathetic look and continued to listen in on Reid and Sally's conversation.

All in all, it was a fun weekend.