"Spence."
"It's not necessary, I don't want to bother you!"
"Bother me!? Spencer, I-"
"Spencer." Hotch interrupted JJ who was arguing with Spencer. Reid looked at him expectantly. "It's not a bad idea." Hotch finished making Spencer sigh as he rubbed his eyes. They had his gotten off the plane and Morgan was about to drive him home when JJ stopped them. She was desperately trying to get Spencer to stay at her place because she thought he was unfit to stay alone. No matter how hard he tried to convince her, she was stubborn. Now that Hotch piped in, Spencer felt like there was no arguing. Maybe he didn't want to be alone after all... He'd like some company.
"Alright you win." Reid said, defeated. JJ smiled, satisfied. Morgan clapped Reid on the back one last time for the night.
"Night Reid. Glad you're ok." he said. "G'night everyone!" he called before turning and going to his car. Spencer got two more pats on the back from Hotch and Gideon as well as a quick hug from Emily. Overall, Spencer felt extremely loved and grateful for his friends. The thought if them got him through the harshness if Tobias, his father, and Rafael. Them and his mother of course.
"Ready Spence? We'll stop at your place on the way there." Jennifer said, putting a hand in his shoulder. Spencer nodded and together they walked to her car.
"Ah!" Spencer yelped involuntarily as he jumped in pain. JJ gave him a sympathetic look.
"Sorry, sorry... almost done." she ha his leg across her lap and was wrapping gauze around his ankles and feet that 'Tobias's father' had abused. The whole time Spencer was either grimacing in pain or giving facts about why the bottom of your feet are sensitive. His hair was still wet from his shower, a stray strand hanging down over his face. He wore a gray tee shirt and lose plaid pajama bottoms. JJ had been helping him wrap up his wounds but he wouldn't let her even look at his arms. she didn't ask why, but she looked ssuspicious.
"Aaaaand done." JJ concluded. Spencer let out a sigh of relief and pulled his legs off JJ's lap and yawned.
"Come on, genius. You can sleep in my bed and I will sleep on the floor if you need anything." She said, causing Spencer to frown at her.
"Absolutely not. I already set up on the floor."
"Spencer, after everything you've been through-"
"After everything I have been through I don't want to be treated like an incapable baby, Jayge."
"That's not what we think..."
"I know... just- i'll happily take the floor. In fact I often fall asleep in the middle of my floor when reading. I'm used to it." Spencer reassured her. JJ sighed and put a hand on the side of his face gently.
"Alright." she said after looking into his pleading eyes.
"Hey, wake up sleepy head." Spencer woke up to JJ's voice. He stirred under his tangle blankets and buried his face into the pillow, moaning.
"Spencer!" JJ said louder this time. Reid snapped his head up ad squinted against the light. He had a rough start to the night, waking up about every 15 minutes and apologizing to JJ for waking her through his desperate sobs. As the night went on however, Spencer seemed to get used to the fact that he was safe and away from Tobias. Luckily, neither of them had to wake up early that morning. Reid Because he wasn't allowed back at work while he was healing and JJ because everyone else was told by Hotch to come in later than usual after the wearing case... both emotionally and physically.
"I'm going to head off to work. You wanna go home or stick around here?" She asked him. Reid sat up and rubbed his eyes while thinking about what she said. "I have waffles!" JJ added raising her eyebrows at him. Spencer gave her a half smile and answered in a slightly raspy voice.
"Well how can I pass up that?"
JJ smiled and brushed the hair off if Spencer's forehead to kiss it. He gave her a sad smile that made her heart warm. She had felt so awful for so long about letting Spence get kidnapped. It felt good to take care of him for a while.
"I've gotta go, Spence. They're in the kitchen help yourself to anything." She said. Spencer nodded.
"Thanks for everything, Jayge." he thanked. "Wish I could go too..."
JJ sighed and squeezed his shoulder.
"I know Spence, but Hotch said..."
"I know what Hotch said!" Spencer burst out snappily. JJ raised her eyebrows at him in which, but he already felt guilty.
"I'm so sorry, Jayge." Reid said, pulling her into his arms. She knew he didn't mean it so she let him before pulling back.
"I'll talk to Hotch about lowering the time, kay?"
Spencer took a deep breath and nodded while smoothing his ruffled hair down.
"Thanks again, JJ."
"Anytime, Spence."
"Hotch, we got a call from the Nevada PD. Serial killer with the possibility of several other accomplices in the Henderson, Nevada area. JJ is ready to present the rest of the case." Gideon's voice carried through the bullpen. Hotch sighed and looked around at all of his team members who patiently waited his orders.
"Alright, into the round table room."
Once they got there, the information if the killings were presented by JJ and left the team thinking about the case.
"The symbol carved into the victims' flesh... what does it mean?" Morgan asked, looking at Hotch and Gideon for answers. Hotch looked at Gideon expectantly who looked at Hotch in the same way who frowned.
"Uhhhh... this is why we have Spencer..." Hotch said. Gideon opened his mouth to say something before a voice came from the doorway behind the team.
"It's known as the Earth Symbol. Also known as the sun cross, solar cross and as a Hopi medicine wheel. It's the symbol for mother earth in pagan religions such as wicca and other forms of witchcraft. The four sections sometimes represent the four seasons or the four elements of the earth."
Everyone whipped around to see Spencer leaning in the door frame of the threshold. He was fully dressed as Spencer usually would: his vest, his tie his dress shirt, his coat, and his satchel slung over his shoulder.
"Hey, there's our boy. Just couldn't stay away, could you?" Morgan grinned.
"Reid, I thought I gave you a few days off at least." Hotch said sternly as he looked up at Spencer. Reid cringed ad looked at the ground.
"I- I feel better being here." he said. Hotch notice he definitely looked better. His face wasn't as pale, he stood stronger, looked well fed. Still, anyone could tell that he had just been through some awful stuff.
"Reid..."
"With all due respect, Hotch... I don't think you guys can survive without me." JJ couldn't help but laugh at Hotch's surprised but amused expression. Morgan chuckled and let out a low whistle.
"Don't make us take you back, kid." he joked. Spencer gave a weak smile then turned to give a pleading look towards Hotch. His eyes bore into Aaron's and as much as he would've liked to say that puppy dog eyes didn't work on him, Spencer resembled a kicked puppy in that moment and plus Hotch already felt guilty for Spencer being kidnapped. That look wasn't helping either.
"Fine. You're not going anywhere, though. Go find Garcia." Hotch gave in. Spencer grinned with excitement and nodded before he turned and slightly limped through the office to find Penelope.
"Kid's crazy..." Hotch muttered, making Gideon and Morgan chuckle
"That's why we Love him." Derek said.
"There's my little genius!" a familiar voice squeeled as Spencer walked into the dark room full of computer monitors. Garcia sprung up from her chair with her bright yellow sandals and matching yellow blouse and enveloped Reid in her arms a little too tightly.
"Can't... Garcia!" Spencer choked out as he tried to find air. Penelope let up a bit, then let go.
"Sorry, baby boy. You had me worried to death, you know."
"My bad." Spencer said sarcastically. She beamed and led him over to a chair to sit down.
"So what brings you to my chamber of amazing superiority?" Garcia asked. "Hotch said he wasn't letting you come back to work for a while."
"... The privilege to work is a gift; the power to work is a blessing; the love of work is success. David O. McKay." Spencer answered, making Garcia smile wider. Spencer frowned in confusion.
"What..."
"I missed you, wonder boy."
"Aw, I missed you too Garcia."'
Just as Garcia started rambling on and on about how Spencer was incredibly lucky to have the privilege of spending a day with her, the door clicked open behind then.
"Don't overwhelm him, sweetheart." Morgan laughed watching Spencer massage his temples from a Garcia induced headache. Penelope made a mock-hurt face.
"I am doing no such thing!"
Morgan raised his eyebrows as if to sarcastically say 'sureeeeeee!' then made his way to Reid, handing him a coffee.
"Here you go, pretty boy. Hotch said no caffeinated."
"I'm not going to get hyper!" Spencer defended, but took the coffee anyway. "You know... coffee was originally eaten in old African tribes who mixed coffee beans with fat to for edible balls to enhance energy." Reid said in one quick string of words. Morgan looked at him strangely like he was some alien life form.
"Gross..." he said. "So I'm guessing that's your way of saying thank you?"
Reid smiled shyly and apologetically. "Thanks." he said. "Wow, I'm being pampered. Maybe I should be kidnapped more often."
"Don't even think about it, kid."
Morgan began to walk off but not before Spencer called out one more thing.
"Uh, hey Morgan? How much sugar-"
"No less than half a cup, Reid." Morgan interrupted, obviously expecting the question. Spencer smiled to himself, satisfied. It felt good to be home.