Things settled down and Chelsea was much less busy after the insider trading and embezzlement cases ended. It was typical that she had some very busy times and slower times, but she usually had new cases overlapping the ending of a finished case. She had spent the last 5 weeks working only this case and didn't have anything else pending. She contacted all of her past clients to let them know she was available if they had any work and received several of small simple jobs.

Spencer was available more evenings and weekends also. After he returned from Indiana, he was not called away on a case again for several weeks. Chelsea was glad that she was finally able to spend some more time with him. Most of the month of March had been tied up with her case. They made time to go out on some dates, but did not have much down time just to go on walks or relax together.

One night while they were having a relaxing evening in front of the fireplace; Chelsea decided to bring up sensitive subject she had been thinking about since Valentine's Day. She set down her brandy snifter and looked Spencer in the eyes and asked, "Are you absolutely, completely positive that you do not want to have a biological child?"

He stared at her silently for a few seconds before he started to get upset. He almost slammed down his brandy and rambling that he knew it was too good to be true. He stood up and angrily said "You told me you were OK with not having your own children, you know I can't…" swallowing and looking into the fire he looked as if he couldn't decide to scream or cry. He took a deep breath and his voice softened, "I just can't take that chance." Shaking his head, "I knew I wouldn't be able to give you what you wanted."

At first Chelsea was so shocked at his response that she just sat there with her mouth hanging open. Then she got mad at herself for how she had phrased the question. Of course he would think that she was changing her mind with a question like that, but she was also upset that he would think that little of her. She got a hold of herself and stood up next to Spencer just as he finished talking. His outburst had upset her and she almost started to scream at him for thinking she was that insensitive, but his sad expression as he looked at her saying that he couldn't give her what she wanted almost broke her heart.

"Spencer" she started, when he didn't seem to be focused on her, she touched his arm and said his name again louder this time. "Spencer, I didn't mean that. Listen to me, that is NOT what I meant. I'm sorry to upset you."

She took his arm and guided him back to the couch. "I'm so sorry." She started again. "I was asking about a more permanent type of birth control." His eyes softened and got a bit wider as he realized where the conversation was going.

"Tomorrow, I have a doctor's appointment. Just a yearly check up and I have been thinking about asking for a birth control pill prescription. I'm confident that we are both safe from any disease, but it would be nice to be a little more… spontaneous." She felt her checks flush a little and Spencer's eyes looked downward. She wasn't sure if he was embarrassed about the direction of the conversation or his earlier outburst. Maybe both.

"But," she paused, not quite sure how to phrase it, knowing she had done very poorly earlier, "if you are absolutely and completely positive that you never want to have your own child with me or anyone else, there could be a more permanent solution."

She waited for his reaction. "A vasectomy." He whispered. She just nodded. "I never thought I would ever been in a relationship so I've never even thought about that before."

She quickly said, "I know it's a big step. You don't need to make a decision tonight. I just thought about it because of my appointment tomorrow. I wanted to let you know I was thinking about going on the pill, it's something that affects both of us. I just thought I'd mention another option that had crossed my mind."

He nodded and picked up his brandy and seemed to be deep in thought as he took a sip. "That does make sense. The pill has a very high rate of success if used correctly. There are some side effects, but it is safe in most women and safer than many of the complications that can happen with child birth." Chelsea could see he was working through all of the pros and cons and kept quiet while trying not to smile. He was so analytical in everything and he was very cute when he was concentrating on something.

"It would be much safer for me to have a vasectomy than for you to take the pill. It also would be a long-term solution. You shouldn't have to be on a prescription for the rest of your life when there is another answer." He paused again, but Chelsea remained quiet. "Short term it would be difficult, I'd need to get the time off work and make some excuse as to why I needed it off." He looked straight at Chelsea, acknowledging she was there for the first time since he started to think. "They are profilers. Lying isn't easy around them."

He took another sip and stared at the fire. "There would be short term pain and I would need to refuse any narcotics offered without explaining why. If I were able to make the appointment on a Friday afternoon, I could tell Hotch I had a dental procedure and that I needed the weekend to recover. That way if a case were to come up over the weekend, I could meet up with them wherever they were at on Monday without questions. I'd have to cancel if we were called away before that."

Spencer smiled at Chelsea and said, "I guess I just decided didn't I?" He got serious again and continued, "I'm so sorry that I yelled at you. I am always so afraid you are going to leave me. It's something I think I prepare for and then when you said that I thought it was your way of trying to leave." He sighed, "I should trust you, I'm really sorry."

Chelsea hugged him, "It's OK. I didn't say it very well, I was just not sure what you would think and I was embarrassed and I didn't mean to sound like I had changed my mind about kids." She knew she was rambling a bit from nervousness, but still continued looking into his eyes. "Please know that I'm not leaving you. I love you and I'm not going anywhere." The conversation reminded her that even after 3 months together, he still had real abandonment issues. Some subjects still brought deep emotions to the surface and she wanted to make sure she was more careful in the future not to bring up bad memories.

As he told her he loved her too, she pulled away as she smiled to lighten the mood, "I think I'm glad I'm not an unsub. You can really get a scary face. I wouldn't want that face interrogating me. I'd fold in a minute!"

He smiled, "Unfortunately, the unsubs usually aren't that intimidated by me. But I am truly sorry if I scared you."

"Don't worry, I'm a big girl and I'm fine. I guess that means I don't need to get a prescription tomorrow?"

"No, I think the more permanent solution makes the best sense. I'll call my doctor to get a referral and see when I can get an appointment."

"Did you realize you said 'for the rest of your life' when you talked about me going on the pill?" she whispered smiling. He nodded and wrapped his arms around her and kissed her.

#

On Monday April 6th, the team was called to South Padre Island in Texas. Fortunately, that had given Spencer the weekend to recover from the simple procedure. He was surprised at how fast he was able to get the appointment. Someone had cancelled that Friday, and with a 7am check up and pre-op on Wednesday morning he was scheduled two days later. He told Hotch he was getting a root canal and needed Friday afternoon off. He didn't mention the weekend. They were rarely called in on a weekend, if they weren't officially on-call. He decided to take his chances and no call had come in.

The case involved two male college students raped and murdered while on Spring Break. The local authorities asked for help because they were afraid that more students may be killed and after the weeklong school break was over, the unsub may disappear.

Spencer was very distraught when he came home from the case. The team discovered that the unsub had a multiple personality disorder similar to Tobias Hankle. When Spencer came home late after visiting Amanda (Adam's feminine persona) at the hospital, he described the case to Chelsea as they were cuddling in her living room in front of her fireplace. They were drinking hot chocolate and listening to some John Coltrane albums she had downloaded on iTunes.

He was saying "I should have seen it sooner. I could have helped Adam before Amanda took over."

"You are being too hard on yourself, I know I always tell you that you are super human.' She said smiling, "But you can't save everyone."

Spencer smiled also. "That's exactly what Morgan said."

She laughed. "See… great minds think alike." She continued a bit more somber, "Besides, Amanda permanently taking over may be the best thing for him."

"How do you figure?"

"You said that he, as Amanda, raped and murdered four students. Even if a hospital were to help him and rid him of his alternate personalities, Adam would still stand trial for the murders. Do you think that the local Texas prosecutors, the victims' families and public opinion would just let him be a free man? They would spend years trying to prove that he was faking it. He even told you that he hated all of the rich drunk frat boys that partied and walked around like they owned the island. Your testimony would not do him any favors in a trial."

He started to argue, "But it wasn't him…" She just looked at him. He continued, "I know. You are right. Now he is in the psychiatric ward of the hospital and protected by Amanda. She is well taken care of in a safe place. The prosecutors are having her evaluated, but it doesn't look like she will have to deal with the trial at all. She most likely will be found not competent to stand trial." He paused and Chelsea could tell he was thinking about Adam. "I just wanted to help him become himself again"

"I know." Chelsea knew that this case was more personal because Spencer would always be thankful that the real Tobias had saved his life with CPR and he felt a connection to Adam because of it. She also thought that he might be a little more emotional now because of the vasectomy last week. Knowing you never want to have kids and having it become a reality that you never will have kids probably was taking a small emotional toll on him as well.

Chelsea stood up and cleaned up the two cups that held the hot chocolate and the plate from the mini cupcakes her mom had made. Spencer took her cue and turned off the gas fireplace and the stereo system. Chelsea had plans to help distract him from the day. She took his hand and turned off the lights as they went to the bedroom. They were both glad that he had decided to have the procedure. It made them feel more connected and even closer than before.