(L) Can we go to the park today?
(S) I don't see why not.
(L) Can Henry come?
(S) I'll check with his mom.
Lizzie shoveled a mouthful of scrambled eggs into her mouth as she happily wiggled in her seat. Underneath the table, unbeknownst to Lizzie, Spencer reached for Jade's hand, tangling their fingers together. Even though she had discovered their relationship that morning, they still didn't want to make a big deal out of it.
Just as Spencer went to reach for his phone to text J.J., his phone beeped. He sunk a little at the sound. He looked at the message and frowned.
"Work?" Jade said softly.
He looked up at her with guilt in his eyes. She squeezed his hand lovingly.
"It's ok. This is bound to happen often," she assured him.
"But Lizzie will –"
"Be fine."
As if she felt her name being said, Lizzie looked up at them. Her smile disappeared as she glanced between Spencer and Jade.
(L) What's wrong?
(S) I'm sorry Lizzie. I have to go to work. We have a case. I can't take you to the park.
Lizzie visually deflated a bit. She looked down at her breakfast before finally looking back up at him.
(L) It's ok. I understand.
Spencer could see the disappointment in her little eyes.
(S) I promise when I get home we can go to the park and I'll invite Henry to come along as well.
He watched her take a deep breath and plaster on a half-smile as she nodded. Spencer turned to Jade.
"Don't rush to leave. Take your time eating and head back whenever you want," he said.
"Thank you, we won't be much longer. I'm finished and Lizzie only has a bit more to eat," she said.
With that he stood up and went toward the bedroom to get ready. When he walked out five minutes later, he saw the table was cleared and Lizzie was missing.
"Where's Lizzie?" Spencer asked as he straightened his tie.
"I sent her home to check on Nana," Jade said as she walked over to him.
She reached out and adjusted his crooked tie. Running her hand down the length of the tie to smooth the wrinkles she looked up and smiled at him.
"Be safe, please," she said softly.
Spencer wrapped his arms around her waist and leaned down to give her a kiss. After a moment they parted.
"I will. I'll check in when I can," he said as he lifted his hand to caress her cheek.
One last kiss before Spencer grabbed his go-bag and the two walked out into the hallway. Jade went to her apartment, while Spencer hurried down the stairs.
(xxxxx)
Spencer sat looking at his phone. He reread Jade's text to him telling him she loved him. He obviously didn't need to reread it, but just seeing those words filled him with a happiness he had almost forgotten. He was so engrossed in his thoughts, he didn't hear J.J. calling his name. He jumped when Emily slapped the table. Looking up he saw the entire plane staring at him.
"Oh, sorry, I'm sorry," he apologized as he put his phone away. "Where were we?"
"It's safe to say you aren't smiling like that over this case," Emily said with a grin.
"No, it was … a joke … someone sent me," he said awkwardly.
"Really? I love a good joke. Can I hear it?" J.J. said with a knowing look.
"It's not really … I don't think you'll get it," he said stubbornly sticking to his lie.
"I think I know the joke," Rossi said.
They all turned to look at him.
"What's black and white and red all over?"
"What?" J.J. said.
"Reid in his work attire blushing after reading a text from Jade."
Spencer's face turned a darker shade of red as the team giggled.
"Based on that smile, I'd say you took my advice?" J.J. asked.
Spencer kept his head down in embarrassment.
"Reid, I speak for everyone when I say, jokes aside we are happy for you," Hotch stated.
Spencer peered up from under his lashes to see everyone nodding with loving smiles on their faces. He looked to Hotch and surprisingly saw a smile on his face as well.
"Thank you," he said.
"Now, back to work. The quicker we solve this, the quicker we get you home," Hotch said.
Spencer smiled as he picked up his folder and joined in on the discussion.
(xxxxx)
Spencer yawned as he pushed another pin into the board. It was 2am and he was on his third cup of coffee. They were still in Georgia and it had been five grueling days. They were getting closer, but another body had turned up, which put their count since arriving up three more bodies. The unsub was devolving, and they were running out of time.
As he took a sip of his coffee his phone chirped. Without looking at the phone he pressed it to his ear.
"Reid."
"Spencer."
"Jade? What's wrong? Are you ok?" he asked as his heart started racing.
"Spencer, Nana … Nana passed away," she said before bursting into tears.
"What?"
"She said she wasn't feeling well at dinner. I was helping her settle into bed and she just collapsed. She had a massive heart attack. They couldn't revive her," she sobbed.
"Oh my God, Jade, I'm so sorry. Are you and Lizzie alright? Do you need me to come home?"
"No, no I want you to finish the case. We'll be fine. I just … I just needed to talk to you. I feel like this is all my fault. I should've hired a nurse or something. Maybe if I had better skills I would have noticed and gotten her help in time."
"Jade, stop, no. This would've happened whether she was with a nurse or not. You did nothing wrong. You did the best you could, and you took such good care of her," he assured her.
He listened to her bawl over the phone. He felt helpless. At that moment, Hotch and Alex walked back into the room. He looked at them and they halted, noticing the look on his face.
"I have to go speak with the doctor. I'm sorry to bother you. I just needed to hear your voice," she hiccupped as she tried to compose herself.
"Call me anytime. I'm here for you," he said.
"I know," she said as her voice wavered. "I love you."
"I love you too," he said as he reluctantly hung up.
"Everything alright?" Hotch asked.
"Jade's Nana passed away. She had a massive heart attack."
Alex gasped and placed her hand over her heart.
"Do you need to go?" Hotch said.
"I don't know. My head is telling me I need to be here to help you guys, but my heart is telling me I should go to her. I don't know what the right thing to do is?" he said furrowing his brow.
"My advice?" Hotch said as Spencer nodded. "Go to her. We can call you if we have questions. Right now, Jade and Lizzie need you and that will always be more important."
Spencer nodded and grabbed his bag, shoving items into it as he hurried from the room. He patted Hotch's shoulder as he rushed by.
"Thank you," he said.
Hotch nodded as he patted Spencer's hand. With that, Spencer ran from the room to get to the airport.
(xxxxx)
Jade sat on the couch staring at the TV in front of her. Golden Girls was playing, but she wasn't paying any attention to it. She heard a knock on the door and mindlessly stood up, wandered over to answer it. She swung the door open and nearly collapsed with relief.
She, once again, burst into tears as she threw her arms around Spencer's neck. He clutched her tightly in his arms as she repeatedly sobbed, "you came" into his shoulder. After a few minutes, he separated them just enough for him to walk into the apartment and shut the door.
"Come on," he said as he held her hand and led her to the couch.
They sat down and she snuggled into his chest as he gently ran his hand up and down her arm. It was barely 20 minutes later when she fell asleep in his arms. The sun was rising as he grabbed a blanket off the couch and draped it over her. Not much later, he too, fell asleep.