Spencer closed his eyes listening to the jazz music play. The drugs mixed with the music was the best mixture ever made. He was over exaggerating, but still...he felt good. The artist was playing a cover of one of his favorite songs. He wasn't as good as the man himself, but who was better than Hendrix? No one could play with as much as passion.

"Well if it isn't my sweet little genius. What are you doing in a place like this?"

Spencer lazily opened his eyes to see the one and only Penelope Garcia. He smiled a little. "Garcia."

"You didn't answer my question, Junior." She sat across from him, looking up at the man playing the guitar. "Didn't figure you to be a Jimi fan."

"If it wasn't for bad luck, I wouldn't have no luck at all." Spencer mused, reciting some lyrics before looking back up at man.

Garcia chuckled. "I don't think I've ever seen you so relaxed."

Spencer looked at himself. He was in a a brown plaid button up and jeans. Converses. He was comfortable. He shrugged. "Can't show up at a place like this in a suit and tie."

Garcia nodded. "Very true."

"What are you doing here?" He asked, sipping his drink.

"I was on a date. It didn't go well. You?"

He closed his eyes again, the drugs flowing through him. He shrugged again. "I'm hiding."

Penelope leaned in, resting her elbows on the table. "Hiding from what, sweetie?"

"My thoughts." He murmured as the man finally finished his set. The MC announced another man with a guitar and Spencer sighed as they started to play Stevie Ray Vaughn.

"Ruining the classics tonight, aren't they?" He muttered.

"Spencer."

He opened his eyes again to look at the woman. Her amused look had been replaced with a look of concern. "Are you okay?"

He pushed his hair out of his face. "I'm fine."

"You've been..."

"I said I'm fine, Penelope."

She paused. He was snapping again. She looked up at the guitarist. "Is it worth it?" She asked, softly.

He looked at her, a little annoyed. She was ruining his night off. "Is what worth it?"

"The drugs." She said, looking back at him. He held his breath, neither saying a word as they stared at each other. Spencer was the first to back down, looking at his drink.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Everyone knows. No one is going to say anything though. They all know you'll get over it. That you're stronger than that, but... it's more than just being strong, isn't it? Takes a hold of you, makes you feel..." She looked back at the guitarist, appreciating the solo for a moment. "Makes you feel like you're...on top of the world."

"Free." He said, softly. "It makes me feel like I'm free."

Penelope nodded. "And you normally feel trapped?"

"Stuck. Stuck in a role. in a life. in a spot that I can't escape. I help. I've always helped. Always took care of someone else, saved their lives. from just a young age, too young. There's always been such a weight. Too much weight on my shoulders. I shoot it up and I feel... It's like.. the weight is gone. Save no one, but myself."

Garcia listened as the man spoke in broken sentences. He sounded like someone else. Spencer never spoke anything but perfect English, correcting the people around them for using wrong words.

"I feel it. I feel what they feel when they play. So analytical all the time and with... with just a plunge of a needle, I feel... I know what they speak of. Passion. I am not a passionate person, Penelope. Not at all, but when..I don't know."

Garcia watched him as he sipped his drink. The person up on stage finished his set and Reid stood up.

"What are you doing?"

"I want to play. Emily said I have the perfect hands for playing piano."

"Do you know how to play?"

"I've read about it."

Penelope stood up. "Spencer."

Spencer shrugged her off going up to the MC. Penelope sighed as the man sat at the keys. She hoped he didn't embarrass himself too bad.

She held her breath as his fingers moved over the keys, feeling them.. studying them for a second. A heckler called out, telling him to play and Spencer looked up and nodded. Penelope watched as he closed his eyes, popped his fingers and started to play. It didn't sound live a cover anything. It seemed as Spencer was just...improving, but that was impossible. He had never played. She watched in shock as the man in front of her played a beautiful soulful piece of music. She only breathed out when he stood up. She followed him as he tried to escape the club.

"Spencer!"

He didn't turn and she followed him into the alley. She grabbed his shoulder, turning him around. She was shocked to see tears streaming down his face. She pulled him into his arms as he sobbed. She was confused. In shock, she held the man as he completely broke down. She ran her hand through his hair as he cried, gripping her as if she was the only thing keeping him up.

She held on to him until his sobs subsided.

"Spencer it's okay."

"It's not okay. It's so far from okay."

She pulled back a little, looking at his face. He looked totally broken. Her sweet little genius was... hurting so much. She hugged him.

"We'll make it better, Spencer."

"I keep hearing his voice. I keep seeing..and itw on't go away. I dishonored my mother. I...I broke the commandments. 'Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.' I have to pay, I deserved to die. She sits there and she... She.. just... I should have taken care of her, I should have.. It was my responsibility and I didn't... I didn't do my duty as a son..as a..

Penelope pulled him back to her, her heart breaking as he broke down again.

"Spencer..."

He rested his head on her shoulder and she felt his ragged breaths on her neck. She rubbed his back.

"You did what you had to do. You were just a kid, Spencer. You were just a little boy."

"I was 18 when I commited her."

"You were trying to do good for yourself. You were at CalTech and she was in Vegas. You couldn't make that trip every day. It's.."

"262.29 miles."

"Exactly. a 4 hour trip one way. You put her in Bennington to make sure she was okay. You didn't dishonor her, you saved her. You write her a letter every day. You love your mother, Spencer. You're a great son. She loves you."

"I should have done-"

"You did everything you could. You took care of her for years all by yourself. You took care of her."

Spencer didn't say anything and Penelope hoped that was a good sign. Her fingers continued to move a long his back. He let out a ragged sigh. "I want to go home."

"I'll take you."

He nodded before looking up, his brown sad eyes staring into hers.

"Will you stay with me?"

She kissed his forehead. "For as long as you need me."

He smiled a little as Penelope walked with him. "Where did you learn to play like that, Spencer."

She had to know.

"We had an upright piano. My dad always played it before he left. I watched him. I never played it though."

"You never played before, really?"

Spencer shook his head. "My mother would sit at it, staring at the keys after he left. For hours. Sometimes I thought she could hear him playing still. She'd sit, still, eyes closed. and she...looked..." He paused. "Free."

"When she was normally trapped."

"I'm definitely her son, aren't I?"

She didn't know how to take his words, so she said nothing.

"Did playing make you feel better?"

He nodded, before turning away. He was done sharing, retreating back into himself. Penelope stole a glance and him before starting the car, knowing she wouldn't get any more our of him. That's just how he was and she took the moments he opened up to her and cherished them, knowing how rare it was. Spencer wasn't normally a passionate person, his heart locked away behind walls, but sometimes... even Spencer was unable to contain the contents of his heart. And Penelope was glad to be there and collect the pieces.