Summary: He was falling - fast.

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Criminal Minds or Doctor Who.

It was their 12th date (he knew, he counted) and he fell harder and harder every time he saw her. Which was alarmingly often since they worked together.

She was an armful of tan skin and wavy blonde hair and if he'd seen her in passing he would have thought she was beautiful, but she wouldn't have been more than an attractive stranger. Someone who he thought would have been vapid and shallow. He knew her so much deeper than her skin though, knew that she was the brightest person in his circle (aside from himself) and that she could best him in many ways even on her worst days.

They were on their 12th date and she was absolutely beautiful, one hand in his and the other wrapped around a latte that they were sharing. She was swaying her free hand animatedly as she talked about the first time she ever met Jack. She's got a large smile on and a light flush to her cheeks that matches the color of her loose pink sweater.

She's wearing a pair of shorts and these tall, black thigh highs, a sliver of skin between the end of one and the beginning of the other, and he's trying really hard not to stare at her endless legs.

He's not really sure why someone as great looking as her would choose to be with someone who looked like him and he's not really sure why he said that out loud.

"Wha'?"

He opens and closes his mouth a few times, looking around at the trees in the park he'd taken her to before asking again, "Why are you with me when you could be with someone who is probably more suited for you? When you think of it from an anthropological point of view I am, by far, not the best match."

She's looking at him like he just drooled on himself and he's slightly offended until she speaks, "The way I feel about you can't be described from an anthropological stand point. I can't quantify my feelings for you with science. It's not about how you look, it's who you are behind those sweaters and glasses."

"You're absolutely gorgeous, Spencer. Every part of your mind, body, and soul speaks to me and makes me feel things that I never thought I could feel again." her hand is tight in his own and she's hooked her arm around his neck to drag him closer, the coffee cup lightly grazing the back of his head.

She dragging him down softly, her face still alight with a soft grin, "You are more than I could've hoped for, ta. I'll not have you smearing your own good name."

Her mouth is soft on his and he's trying hard not to smile while he kisses her back. She's moved to loop both of her arms around him, limbs hanging loosely as she ghosts her lips gently over his own.

He stops her with a gusty laugh, pleasantly surprised by the soft giggle he receives in return. He thinks he loves her, but he's not dumb enough to say it yet.

"Here, hold this." she's pushing the cooling cup into his hand while she reaches into her back pocket. Her phone is in his line of sight in a moment and he's genuinely curious as to why.

"I want a photo. You know, of us. Together."

She looks shy about it but he pulls the little device from her hands and holds it out, "I have longer arms, it'll turn out better if I do it."

"I hope you're not suggesting I'm bad at taking pictures." she's moved to stand behind him, arms wrapped around his shoulders as he fiddles with the settings.

"I would never dream of it." he smiles big at the camera and is delighted by her accompanying laugh. He wants to look at her in this moment, to see what face she's making, but settles for looking at the phone afterwards.

He's still wrapped up in her arms and her head is resting against his shoulder as she breathes out a soft sigh, "I love it."

"Yeah?"

She's nodding her head and kissing his neck before she speaks, "We should get it framed someday."

"I completely agree." his lips find hers on the first try. He has to follow her mouth as she settles back down from her tiptoes onto the balls of her feet, her smile pressed against his as he carefully slides the phone back into her pocket.

"So, what about me?"

He drags himself away from her to continue their walk, her hand fit snugly in his own, "What about you?"

"Why are you with someone like me? I'm an estate girl, no family. I didn't even do anything with my life until I was almost twenty." She's gingerly prying the cup out of his hand as he goes to take a sip and he frowns slightly until she gives him that tongue-in-teeth smile over the rim. His heart skips a beat, "You graduated high school at twelve."

"I think you forget how smart you are, Rose. You're ridiculously driven and you got your degrees in half the time it would have taken the average person. I'm attracted to you because of your intellect, not your past. Mine wasn't that great either, if you recall."

"'ve heard I'm pretty easy on the eyes as well."

"Very easy. Did Jack tell you that? Very American saying. Are you losing touch with your roots, Dr. Tyler?"

She responds by bumping her hips against his, causing him to stumble slightly, "And everyone thinks I'm rude."

"You called me American."

He smiles at her softly, "It's not the worst thing you could be."

"You're right. I could be losing."

"Losing what?"

"The race."

He's confused for a second as she gives him that smile again, "What?"

"Catch me if you can!" She takes off at a run and he's slow to react for a moment, caught off guard by the way the sun catches her hair.

He was definitely in love with her, but he still wasn't stupid enough to say it.