[CM] THE CASE

Happiness is not in things, but in ourselves. —Richard Wagner

When Griffith returned to the office, he clearly felt the stabbing eyes from all directions.He has been sensitive to other people's eyes since he was a child, and even if it has improved now, "being in the spotlight" still tops his "scary event" list.So in just a few steps, he walked hurriedly with his head buried, for fear that he would accidentally make eye contact with someone.

Seeing his frown, Reid couldn't help but ask, "What happened? You don't look happy?"

Griffith said lazily, "I sold myself."

Morgan whistled loudly: "To whom? How much?"

Griffith waved his hand: "Sold to Nelson, no money."

"It's such a good deal? Why don't you consider me?"

Griffith didn't take his joke.He thought for a while, and suddenly asked, "Am I famous?"

Morgan and Reid looked at each other, Emily simply nodded: "Yes."

So she got the attention of three men.

"Why, none of you know?"

Griffith shook his head. BAU spends more time traveling than sitting in the office, and Griffith is not a gossip guy.Moreover, the forensic and behavioral analysis teams were not on the same floor. Even if he was well-known in the forensic department, BAU might not have moved.

"I don't know the details." Emily rubbed her chin. "It is said that you solved a murder case by yourself and helped your boss's daughter to avenge her revenge?"

"It's not that exaggerated, it's just a coincidence." Griffith didn't know whether to laugh or cry, "The murderer happened to live downstairs from me, and he was a little crazy in the past few days. Everyone felt suspicious, especially my house was in the neighborhood where the corpse was dumped, so it was more sensitive."

"The murderer was too cautious, and the corpse didn't have too many clues. From the perspective of forensics, I can only infer the murder weapon through the shape of the wound, and simulate the scene with my CSI colleagues to get clues such as height and weight. But the more special point is that The murderer is left-handed." Griffith didn't want to reveal too many details, so he hurriedly concluded, "It's not that amazing, and many people helped. In the end, there was a long quarrel in court because some evidence channels were illegal."

Morgan was amazed: "This is too coincidental, like making a movie."

"Art comes from life." Griffith smiled, "The gossip time is over, next week will be officially on holiday, Morgan, did you pass the report?"

It's okay not to mention this, but when Morgan's face is mentioned, his face is pulled down: "No, Hotch just called back and asked me to change the part where Ware died in the line of duty, so don't be so 'emotional'."

When the deceased was involved, everyone shut up wisely. Emily turned to Reid: "By the way, weren't you called in by Hotch just now?"

Reid's depression was exactly the same as Morgan's: "Report. Hotch told me to cut out a few paragraphs, it's too long."

This is Reid's old problem. I guess he was often criticized by the professor when he went to school.However, Reid's thesis has always been well-founded and logically rigorous. Deleting any part would destroy the effect of the thesis, so the professors just turned a blind eye and let him pass.But the people who review the reports are not professors, they are keen to find faults in all aspects.

Emily and Griffith's report was over, gloating without pressure.

"Don't talk about these disappointing things, go to the bar at night?"

Garcia passed by with a donut in her arms, and was deeply attracted by "bar clubbing": "When is the bar clubbing? Tonight?"

Morgan cast a wink. "Come on, baby?"

Garcia shyly said: "Oh my sweet chocolate, are you inviting me?"

Morgan didn't answer but instead asked, "Would you like to dance with me, my dear princess?" After that, he made an exaggerated and romantic dance invitation gesture as if he was not satisfied.

Garcia giggled at him.

"No problem tonight." Emily said, "Do you want to call Hotch and JJ? Gideon didn't come last time, so I don't know if he's interested this time."

JJ was recruited by Garcia as soon as he came out of the office. Hearing that they wanted to go clubbing, he nodded cheerfully: "Okay, last time I was interrupted halfway and didn't enjoy myself. Anyway, it's a holiday, so it's time to celebrate. Remember to open the champagne."

"Is Hotch coming?"

"I don't know, I'll ask. There just happened to be something that he needs to sign."

"By the way, ask about Gideon!"

JJ is far more than an "OK".

As it turned out last time, Gideon was not interested in the activities of these young men. The Hotch couple can come, but they have to go back early, after all, little Jack is still at home waiting for them to take care of them.

After get off work, the ladies had to go back to change clothes, so they left after making an appointment.

Before December, every household in the streets and alleys can't wait to dress up.There are still two weeks before Christmas, and the whole city is already filled with a strong Christmas atmosphere.Even Griffith, who wasn't around for Christmas, got a friendly gift from the neighbors: a wreath with a cute Santa Claus in the center, holding a "Merry Christmas" sign and smiling silly at everyone.He hung on the door, listening to the sound of the bell as the door opened and closed, feeling uncontrollably alone.

The apartment was pitch-black. I don't know if it was a psychological effect. He felt that the house was a few degrees colder than the outside.

However, he was short on time and had no time to think about it, so he changed his clothes and left.

Garcia danced with Morgan and went back to watch him dance while drinking. Griffith was instigated by Morgan for a long time and refused to do so, so he sat drinking and chatting with Garcia. Reid didn't go to find someone to start a game of gambling, but got the wine for them. Watching Emily and JJ smashing a group of old men with darts together, he applauded from time to time.

Griffith fiddled with the bow tied to the bottle.In line with the Christmas theme, each bottle of wine is tied with a red and green bow, which is very popular with the girl Garcia.

They sat on the dance floor, Hotch and Haley chatted sweetly and toasted, and when they heard the dance music was changed, Haley's eyes flashed: "Hey! This song is really nostalgic!"

"Yeah, dancing queen." Hotch laughed and clinked glasses with his wife, "Would you like to have a dance, Your Lady Queen?" Haley took her husband's hand and walked into the dance floor with a smile.

Garcia envied in a tone like melting honey: "Oh, what a sweet couple!"

Griffith knocked on the table following the rhythm: "What, want to fall in love?"

"Yeah, where is my wishful man?" Garcia complained, "My real one! The man of my dreams! My soul mate!"

Griffith smiled. "Maybe it's not the right time."

Garcia didn't really complain, and didn't take Griffith's comfort to heart, instead she wentssiped: "By the way, why don't you two strike up a conversation? Especially you, cute Reid!"

In fact, Reid has been paying attention to their conversation. He glanced at Griffith guiltily when he heard the words. Seeing that Griffith was also looking at him with interest, he stammered for a while: "I, I, I, I will not..."

"Please! Morgan has taught you so much!" Garcia rolled his eyes, "You are timid, and you will blush when other girls come to strike up a conversation! Men should take the initiative!"

Reid subconsciously straightened his waist, intending to listen to the high-spirited talk of the technical geek.Who knew that Garcia just gave him a look of resentment, and brought the topic to Griffith: "What about you?"

Reid sat up straighter.

Griffith shook his head. "I don't like flirting." Then he drank the last of the bottle.

Garcia: "..."

Reid: "..."

Gone?

Garcia didn't give up: "And then?"

Griffith was at a loss: "Then?"

"For God's sake, Griffith, can you be a little gossip!" Garcia slapped the table, "You're going to kill the conversation like this, how can you hook up with a girl?"

Griffith said to himself that I wasn't going to pick up a girl.But Garcia obviously wouldn't let him go easily, after thinking about it, Griffith put down the empty wine bottle: "How about we play a game?"

Five minutes later, all BAU sat in the booth, holding their breath around the rotating wine bottle.

The wine bottle stopped slowly, and the mouth of the bottle happened to be aimed at Morgan.

Someone whistled, and Haley, who was in charge of asking questions, took the lead in applauding: "Okay, Morgan is ready! If you can't answer, you will be fined for drinking-how long has your longest relationship lasted?"

Morgan calculated solemnly: "...one year?"

Haley nodded: "Yes! It's time for you to spin the bottle."

Morgan turned around and Garcia was next.

For women, Haley is much more gentle: "What is the ideal man like?"

Garcia thought for a while: "Mature, reliable, romantic."

Morgan pointed to himself: "Like me."

"No, forget it." Garcia said disgustedly, "It's hard enough to be jealous all the time."

"Is it my fault for being handsome?" Morgan dissatisfied.

Everyone laughed and started the next round.

When the bottle was finally aimed at Griffith, Reid pulled himself together. Hotch was caught out about the embarrassment that he almost burned the garden when he was a child, Emily chose to drink when he asked about his first love, and JJ admitted that he had an office romance.So far, Haley has basically asked all the questions, and finally choked out a sentence: "How many times have you talked?"

Griffith didn't even think about it. "Once."

Everyone was in an uproar: "Once? It's better than Reid never talking about it."

Reid was lying on the gun, but he was in no mood to argue - he was full of curiosity about this precious "one time".

Of course he wasn't the only one who was curious, Garcia was equally interested and asked, "What kind of time?"

Griffith smiled: "That's another question. Continue." After that, he stretched out his hand and turned around without waiting for anyone to speak.

Maybe God was also curious, so the bottle stopped tremblingly in front of him again.

Griffith: "..."

Everyone burst into laughter, and Haley asked wittily, "What kind of first time?"

Griffith didn't hold back, and explained generously: "It's an alumni. We first met online, and we chatted quite well. But we broke up soon after meeting in reality."

"Didn't consider looking for it later?"

"Later, I was busy and didn't have time. And I can't force things that are not predestined." Griffith shrugged, "Next?"

Reid originally wanted to take the opportunity to find out what type Griffith liked, but the answer was too brief, and he couldn't even tell whether it was male or female.He was depressed, the mouth of the bottle was dangling, and it was pointing at him.

Haley had a good impression of this boy, and his tone unconsciously softened a lot: "Do you have a goal now, Reid?"

Reid's expression was blank, he didn't know what to think, and his ears were completely red.

Hotch sat next to him, naturally he didn't miss this detail: "Really?"

The deck instantly boiled.

JJ stepped past Morgan and punched him on the shoulder: "Yes, boy! Tell me, what kind of girl can be favored by our geniuses?"

Reid hesitated and couldn't speak, so he simply drank the wine.

He didn't want to say it, and the rest were even less willing to let him go.The game was also stopped, and they began to besiege Reid collectively. Reid resolutely refused, blushing and yelling no, I don't know if he was drunk or ashamed.

Griffith didn't participate, and watched with a smile as Morgan and Emily cooperated to extract a confession, playing the set in the interrogation room very well. JJ drinks him, ignoring Reid's begging glances at them.

However, only Reid knew whether he was asking for help or not.