The Good Life

A settling in time, ... When you move into a new house, you have to take some time to settle in: - Richard King

Disclaimer: Criminal Minds is not mine.

They stood and watched the removal van taking in the odd mixture of boxes and furniture into the house across the street.

Somebody had bought it from the Arlington family and since there had been builders putting on extensions and stripping the place back to the walls. Now it seemed the place was ready for the new family. This being the sort of neighbourhood where everybody knows everybody else it was quite exciting to be getting new people in that nice yellow single story dwelling nestled amongst all the others which looked the same but painted a different pale colour. Each house stood on a square of green grass at the front and a hedged garden at the back. Each had a car parked in the driveway and most had kids bikes and scooter leaning on the wall.

It was a quiet place. The sort of place where you could play ball on the street and sell lemonade on the front lawn. It was the sort of place where girls knocked on your door selling cookies for charity and at Christmas the whole street stood and sung carols in the snow. Everyone went to church and all the kids went to Sunday school. It was just that sort of place.

Today they stood and watched the big silver SUV pull up into the drive way. Mrs Colgate was there with a bowl of stew ready to hand out and Sally Parker stood with a 'welcome to the neighbourhood' scribing in pink icing across the top.

The driver's door opened and a guy slid out. The women gawped and the children grinned and the men frowned.

The man went to a rear door and opened it. Out got a child of about ten. She stood for a second looking at the people looking and turned back to the man and muttered something. He put a hand on her shoulder and bent down to whisper something in her ear.

So far so good. A very handsome guy and his young daughter. The crowd shuffled slightly to the side now so they could see the wife and mother. The guy went around to the passenger door (oh he has good manners – how sweet) and opened the door. They could see he was talking to someone but the view was blocked.

When he finally stood back they could see he was helping someone get out of the car. A hand resting on a head to stop the head getting knocked. Then a hand gipping tightly onto hand.

The crowd frowned as one. This was not the person they expected. This was not the slim pretty mother of that cute little girl. It was another guy. A tall slim guy who looked like he was simple or retarded or something. They didn't get to see his face, but they could see the unsteady way he walked and they could see long hair tied back tightly.

Obviously the backwards cousin or brother. They stood and watched until they reached the front porch and then Mrs Colgate stepped forwards and called out.

"Excuse me."

Floyd half turned to look at the welcoming committee.

"I made you something for dinner. I didn't think your – erm – you – I didn't think you would want to be cooking."

Floyd nodded and touched Rosa on the shoulder. She ran over to the woman and snatched the bowl from her hands. "Ta." She turned and walked back to the porch where Floyd was unlocking the door.

"And I made you a cake." A smaller voice called out.

Rosa turned again. "For fucks sake can you at least let us get in the front door?"

They watched as the man grabbed the child by the hair and dragged her into the house along with himself and the guy with the ponytail.

-o-o-o-

The three of them stood in their new lounge.

"Put that in the kitchen." Floyd snapped at his daughter and then turned to stand in front of Reid. "Well this is it. It's in a nice friendly neighbourhood. There are people around you. There is a telephone and when its time there is wifi. There are no stairs and all of your books are here."

"OK."

Reid just stood and looked at the dark shape in front of him. For a few days it almost seemed as though his sight was improving but then it stopped again. He was now convinced that this was it.

"Just OK?"

"No – thank you Floyd. This is more than OK." He put his hands up to Floyd's face and ran his fingers over his cheeks and mouth and then leaned forward and gave him a small kiss on the lips. "Thank you Floyd."

"That's better." He smiled. "Much better than last time."

"Yes – much better." And a half smile from Spencer.

"I will leave you to explore then. At some point we are going to have to meet the mob outside."

"It's easier when you can't actually see them."

"Babes – don't be like that. You are getting better." He ran a finger over the scar on Reid's face and across the patch he still had to wear over his eye. They had told him it wasn't damaged but they still insisted he kept it covered. The scar was still red and raw looking. Floyd couldn't see how that would fade and not be seen. Ever. That was going to be a lasting reminder of Spencer's betrayal. Floyd liked it though. He liked the idea that it would bother Spencer. He liked the idea that it would cause people to stare and want to ask questions. As long as I wasn't his own face that was fine. The lack of sight wasn't really a problem to Floyd either. Spencer was far easier to control in this condition. It was like having a new toy to play with. He just needed to train it properly. And make sure it was punished appropriately. Now he had made sure Aaron wouldn't be poking his nose in anymore it was going to be so much more fun. And very good training ground for Rosa.

Reid stood where he had been abandoned yet again. Floyd seemed to think it amusing to watch him bounce off the furniture. How the hell can you explore when you can only see shadows?

"Floyd – at least tell me where the couch is."

"Just keep walking forwards babes. You can't miss it." A voice coming from – it seemed – a different room. Just keep walking forwards – wonderful. He took a few careful steps and bumped into nothing. A few more and his leg found the edge of the couch.

Spencer sat in the same place for hours. Floyd said the occasional thing to him, Rosa asked him if he wanted dinner – which he didn't.

"You are getting too skinny." She moaned at him.

"Too skinny for what?" He snapped back. Not in the mood for her little mind games. Not today.

It was late and the shadows has become one black lump by the time Floyd finally paid some attention to the man sitting alone on the couch staring silently out into nothing. He sat with his hands stuffed up his sleeves picking and pinching and rocking gently back and forth. The hand on his shoulder made him jump and make a small yelping sound.

"It's only me babes."

"OK."

"I'm off to bed." A hand gripped Reid's elbow. "Come on let's go."

Spencer sighed and got up. This time at least Floyd led him to where their room. He had the bed from the cottage brought here and when Spencer felt the drapes and the bed covers he felt a deep dread building up inside. Floyd took him by the shoulders and slowly undid his shirt buttons.

"Don't look so worried Spence."

"I feel I have reason to be worried." He pushed Floyd's hands off him. "I will do my own shirt. I can still manage buttons."

Floyd took his hands away and moved them to Spencer's belt. "I know you can manage but I just thought you might enjoy being pampered for a while."

"Oh right. I misunderstood. I thought you were stripping me for your own enjoyment. Floyd please, can you turn off the lights."

"They are turned off Spence. Now stand still will you and let me get these things off you."

Reid stood and tipped his head back slightly. It was nice. He loved the feeling of Floyd's hands moving gently over him. It shot adrenaline through his body and made him shake. He could feel his heart pounding as Floyd's hands slid down over his hips – his fingers digging to his skin slightly as they made their way down. He could tell that Floyd was kneeling and he put a hand down and rested it on the top of his head.

His breathing was coming in quick sharp bursts and the blood was rushing in his ears and burning its way through his veins. He felt Floyd stand and the shirt slipped off Spencer's shoulders and down his arms to the floor. A mouth was nibbling and licking over his shoulders and down his arm.

Everything suddenly stopped.

Reid put his hands out to find Floyd but there was no one there within reach. He tried to control his breathing and gain control of his body again as Floyd suddenly was there at his side grabbing his arm. He twisted it until Spencer thought he was going to break it. He could feel hot angry breaths on the side of his face.

"What the hell is this?"

"Wh what?"

"This on your arms? What the hell have you been doing?"

"N n nothing." He tried to pull his hand arm away from Floyd who responded by twisting it harder. "This is nothing? You are mutilating yourself and you say it is nothing? Look at it Spence! Have you seen what you have done?"

"Shut up!" Again he tired to pull his arm away.

"You like pain? You enjoy it do you?" Saliva was hitting the side of his face now.

"Get off my arm!" And to his surprise Floyd released him but only for long enough for the hand which had been holding him to from a fist and make impact with Reid's eye. He let out a cry of shock and a whimper of fear as he felt the air being displaced as the fist came towards his face again. He tried to put up his hands to defend himself but the fist made its way through his defences and smacked him firmly on the jaw.

It didn't all go dark for Spencer. It already was dark, but his knees gave way and he felt Flanders push him back onto the bed.

"You told me I have to ask and so – please Spence my sweetness, can I have a piece of your arse?"

-o-o-o-

How many mornings had he awoken sprawled naked on his front - occasionally on his back with a painful face and a feeling of deep hatred for Flanders? Today was not an exception to that rule, but he also knew that this feeling wouldn't last. As soon as he saw Floyd this feeling would be gone. Except he wouldn't be seeing him. He pulled the bedcovers over his thin form and lay on his side shivering.

Spencer ignored the sound of the door opening and the sound of Floyd's demanding voice. "Get up, you need a shower." He lay still and pretended to be asleep. Not that it made much of a difference as Floyd grabbed at his hair and started to pull him up into a sitting position. "Don't piss me off again Spence. Just get up and come with me and have a shower. You stink. You know how I need you to be clean."

Reid was manhandled into the bathroom. He could hear the rush of the water in the shower and he could feel the hand on his back pushing him forwards. "I will get you something to wear. Be quick I have a busy day." A bottle of liquid soap was put in his hands and again he was left standing alone. With a sigh he poured soap on his hands and began to lather him self up. The soft 'splosh' sound from behind him let him know that Floyd was back and he could feel a sponge being rubbed over the backs of his legs and then slowly up to his buttock. It felt wonderful and again Reid wondered how Floyd could do this so easily to him. One minute he hated Floyd with every inch of his body and the next he was so full of want and love he thought he was going to explode. He slowly turned around to face Floyd. He smiled and put his hands out to touch the other man's chest, but he was kneeling and so Spencer touched air. Hands were touching him, and he was about to let out a soft moan of delight when he heard a shout.

"Rosa! What the hell do you think you are doing?!"

"Rosa?" Spencer moved his hands down to the person kneeling in front of him and his hands touched the head of a child. "My god – get off me!" Spencer took a step back and spun so this back was to the child. He crouched down in the bottom of the shower tray. "Oh god oh god oh god." He didn't notice that the water was turned off until the towel was thrown at him.

"You are unbelievable Spence. She is ten. She is a child. You dirty – no worse than dirt, I don't know what word would describe it."

"Floyd – I didn't know – please I thought it was you."

Now clothes were being placed in his hands. "Get dressed. I need to sort that little bitch out."

Spencer pulled a Tshirt on over his head. "Floyd – don't – don't hurt her."

"Don't tell me how to parent my offspring Spencer. Are you jealous? Is this what it is all about? You don't like me having something you will never have? You don't like that I go with whores? Live with it. Your boxers are on back to front. Let me help you."

Again Reid gave in and let Floyd dress him this time. There was something so erotic about the way Floyd dressed him, the way he touched him. The way he let his fingers just drift over his skin. A pair of shoes where put in his hands. "Get those on. We are going out to meet the neighbours."

And so the three of them were standing on the front lawn. Rosa scowled at everyone and got into the car. "Where are we going?"

"Hush babes it's alright. I need you to learn how to look after yourself. I wont always be here you know." He held Reid tightly to him and kissed his sore mouth deeply and gently. His hands wandered over Reid's back and Reid's hands found their way down the back of Floyds low cut jeans and suddenly he was gone.

"Floyd?" And he heard the sound of the SUV start. "Floyd?! What is going on?" He moved forwards a few steps and listened to the tyres crunch on the drive way and the engine noise get further away. Reid stood in the front garden and blinked. "Floyd?"

"Excuse me."

A woman's voice.

"Yes? – oh please can you help me."

"Where you and that other man just kissing?"

"He - he – he is my partner." Sounding defensive.

"We don't like your sort around here you know."

"Oh."

"What's wrong with your face. Some one cut you for being a queer?"

Spencer's hand shot to his face. "Oh no – no."

"Shame. They should have."

"Can you help me?"

"We don't have anything to do with your sort." And he listened to the sound of her feet walking away again. Reid sat down. He pulled his knees up close and wrapped his hands tightly around his legs.

-o-o-o-

Hotch was sitting at this desk. A day of paper work and his head wasn't able to get organized. He just wanted to get as much done as he could and get home. The phone on his desk rang.

"Hotchner."

He frowned and then he smiled. "Yes that is good. Send him up please." Aaron ran his fingers through his hair and stood up looking down at the bull pen. Everyone sitting with pens in hands or mouths. He looked over to the light above the elevator and closed his eyes briefly. He knew deep down that he shouldn't be doing this, but the lure was too much even for him. He slid his jacket off and loosened his tie. When he saw the elevator doors open he closed the blinds on the windows and stood next to the door waiting.

It opened without being knocked on and Floyd walked in. He kicked it closed behind him.

"How are you settling in?" Hotch hated the idea of the two – no – the three of them being together.

"Fine. Rosa is hunting. Reid is at home. Everything is good."

Hotch could feel his skin getting hot and his heart beating faster. "Was there something you wanted?" He watched now as Floyd flipped the lock on the door.

"Only you. I hope you have a spare shirt somewhere in the office." And Floyd's fingers were holding tightly onto the front of Aaron's shirt. "You know I don't want to be here with you Agent Aaron Hotcher."

"Er um. I don't want you to be here either. You will get me into trouble."

"Doesn't that make it more exciting though?" And the shirt was ripped away from Hotch's form in one experienced tug.

They knocked backs against the desk. Floyd knocked the desk fan over. Hotch dislodged a picture off the wall. The photographs went flying. The mug of coffee was spilt and the paper work slid to the floor.

"Floyd you shouldn't – shouldn't – be – here. This is – is – oh god why do you do this to me?"

"I was thinking the same thing."

-o-o-o-

It rained.

Rosa sat at the roadside waiting for her dad to get back. She had some rabbits tied together by a bit of string.

Reid sat on the grass in his front garden and rocked and put his hands up his sleeves and pinched and made strange noises he wasn't aware he was making. The rain soaked his back and ran down the back of his neck.

Aaron had a strong coffee and left for home early.

Floyd stood in the street in the rain and smoked a cheroot. His eyes had a glassy faraway look to them.