"Perhaps love is the process of my leading you gently back you yourself." --Antoine de Saint-Exupery
The light on his desk flickered. He flicked the bulb gently, and it stayed bright. He squinted his eyes at the lamp, then continued with his paperwork, just finishing up. It was Christmas eve.
"Have a goodnight, guys!" Hotch waved as he passed Spencer and Ruth. "Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas, Hotch," Ruth waved as he headed out, followed by JJ, Rossi, Derek and Emily, filing out with their holiday jeers. Ruth looked to Spencer. "What are you doing for Christmas Eve?"
"Hmm? What do you mean?" Spencer looked up at her.
"Everyone seems to be heading out to family's houses… are you going home, too?"
"No, I'm just going to stay in tonight."
"Alone? You're not going to go see your family?"
Spencer shrugged. "My family doesn't typically get together for holidays, you know?"
"Yeah," Ruth nodded. "I spend Christmas night with my boys, and the kids. I usually spend Christmas Eve wrapping presents at the last minute with my younger brother." She chuckled. "You?"
"I usually just stay in." He replied.
"Really? That's not right, you shouldn't spend Christmas alone." Ruth stood up, grabbing her bag. "Want to have dinner maybe?"
"No, that's okay, I don't want to take you away from your little brother. I'll be fine."
"Spencer, I know you don't want to spend Christmas alone!" Ruth whined. "Have dinner with me. Please?"
"It's okay, Ruth… you don't have to feel bad for me. I'm fine." He smiled up at her. She rustled his hair, and soon after left the bullpen. Spencer watched her leave, and then looked at the paperwork before him. He had finished it hours ago. Why did he feel like he had to stay after, to make sure Ruth left before he did?
He pulled a small pink envelope out of his bag. On the envelope, it said Merry Christmas Ruthie.
He placed it on her desk and watched it sit there, untouched, for a few minutes. His stomach churned and he took it back, putting it away in his bag and leaving the bullpen, as well, heading home. Alone.
Ruth stepped in on Garcia. "No Christmas break for you, Ms. Penelope?"
"Not for awhile. I get tomorrow off completely, though! Hooray for me, right?" Garcia smirked.
"I need a favor, ma'am," Ruth sat down beside her. "I need Spencer's address."
Garcia cocked an eyebrow and then grinned wildly and began typing.
Ruth blinked. "Whatever dirty thought you're thinking, stop thinking it."
"What you do on your free time is none of my business, Ruthie, sweetness." Garcia scribbled down Spencer's address on a piece of paper and handed it to Ruth. "Let me know how he was."
"You've got your mind in the gutter." Ruth mumbled. She pulled something out of her sling bag. It was a small box, wrapped in neon pink wrapping, with a yellow bow atop it. "Merry Christmas. Can't open it until tomorrow."
"That's never going to happen." Garcia tore the bow off and unwrapped it, then gasped. "Pink diamond studded earrings of the Pink Panther! These must have cost a fortune!"
Ruth just laughed as she began to put them on. "Have a good night, Penelope."
"Love ya, sugar!" Garcia waved as Ruth left, rereading Spencer's address. She went home as soon as possible and got into kitchen and began cooking. She managed to make him her special pasta; penne rigate with fresh shredded cheese, a dash or two of cream, homemade spaghetti sauce and a few spices. She whipped up some garlic and soy green beans, and even had the time to make her squash and corn dish. For dessert, she found her homemade tin of ice cream in the freezer; peach raspberry, her specialty. She put them in separate bowls and plates and put them in her picnic basket. She knocked on her neighbor, Mrs. Gonzales's door, and asked to borrow her car. She drove to the nearest wine outlet and bought a bottle of Chablis. She then buzzed to Spencer's house and parked her car. She stared at the Christmas present for him, wrapped, with another neat bow on top. She let out a sigh and grabbed her things, climbing up the steps until she reached his apartment.
REG:
I crashed my car today against a tree. Because it was snowing. The first snowfall of the year, and I crash my car. Just my luck. My poor car has been through so much... poor guy.
So I dedicate this to, among my reviews, also my poor car POE, who deserves better. Less than a year and four crashes later. You rock.
Review please.
