A/N: Thanks for coming back! Some of you were wondering about Spencer's home life, the last chapter was a glance into it...but there is definitely more there. I've always thought about Diana potentially being violent/abusive towards Spencer in her episodes..so I wrote her that way.
I had fun writing this chapter..
Tell me what you think!
/
Chapter 11: One 'Flu' Over The Cuckoo's Nest
"I swear to god, if you sneeze near me one more time, I'm going to suffocate you." Derek growled, the sinus headache doing nothing for his mood.
Aaron scoffed stuffily, "You're the one that's sick. You shouldn't be near me."
Spencer would have laughed at the scenario before him...if it hadn't been the third day of dealing with their bickering.
The flu had suddenly struck the campus, and since nearly the entire student population was sick, they'd cancelled classes until further notice. Being stuck in their rooms, aching and miserable, had left some very very hostile.
"You're sick too, you coughed all night!" Derek proclaimed, exasperated and weak, throwing a pitiful look towards his equally miserable boyfriend.
"I'm perfectly healthy, I don't get sick." Hotch replied in his business tone, though the eye roll lessened the maturity level.
"Actually..."
"Don't, Reid." Hotchner ceased him immediately, hand itching to rub his eyes.
"Don't talk to my boyfriend like that!" Morgan fired back, seemingly eager to argue in his ailed state.
"I wasn't tal-" The stoic teen was cut off by Spencer this time.
"Stop!" Reid nearly shouted, "Just stop, I think you guys need a break from each other...Der, let's go get some soup from the cafeteria."
The other boys looked at each other before Derek blew air threw his nose, "You're right..let's go."
.
.
.
"He's acting like he isn't sick." Derek's voice was annoyed and scratchy as he sipped on his soup.
Spencer sighed, letting the steam envelop his face. "Why does it matter?"
"I..I don't know." Morgan admitted, head resting on one fist as he looked tiredly across the table. "Hotch is a good friend, but he just gets to me sometimes."
Reid nodded in understanding, "It's okay, Ba-" He stopped himself short at the term of endearment, picking up his spoon, gazing into his bowl sadly.
Morgan sighed as he watched the room, and his partner, only four people knew about their relationship and it was draining for them to keep it that way.
"One day, Spence..."
"I know." He replied shortly before giving his boyfriend a small, forced, smile.
"Dennis is heading this way." Spencer commented with disgust as he pushed away his soup.
A flash of annoyance on Derek's face quickly switched to one of false welcoming towards his teammate.
"Derek, my man!" The tall, thick, red-headed football player bellowed before slap-shaking Derek's hand. "Still hanging with the nerd?"
"You got a problem with that?" Morgan's voice deepened further, challenging his 'friend' with a scowl.
The linebacker laughed it off and patted him on the back, "Chill man, the kid likes me."
"Right, kid?" He added, staring at Spencer. Spencer stared back, a glower showing his true feelings.
After a beat of silence, the ginger teen nodded awkwardly. "Whatever, I'll see you when football starts back up.."
"I'm sorry." Morgan apologized as soon as the guy left, holding Reid's eye.
"Don't be, you stood up to him." The smile was real this time, only interrupted by a text from Rossi saying he was meeting them.
.
.
Morgan groaned, the unfinished chicken noodle soup mocking him. "I'm going to throw up."
Spencer quickly removed the bowl, feeling Derek's forehead despite being in a crowded area. "Do you want to go back to the room? I'll get you a cool washcloth, okay?"
Rossi rolled his eyes, "Man up, Derek."
Spencer bit back a smile as he saw Derek mentally prepare to defend himself.
"This shit sucks, I'm allowed to wallow in self-pity."
David cracked a smile at that, "We're all sick dude."
"Emily isn't." Reid commented before he could stop himself.
David threw a look at him, before smirking at Derek. "Seems like Spence is taking the place of your mom."
Spencer pouted, making Derek smile lovingly. "I'm not his mom.."
.
.
.
The friends sat in the boys room, each ruefully awake, minus David who'd finally allowed his fatigue to take over.
How. long. do. you. think. this. will. last? An electronic voice, replacing Garcia's, questioned the group.
Emily rolled her eyes with a smirk, "You're all pathetic. Especially you, Pen."
Penelope frowned deeply, quickly typing a reply into her phone. I. lost. my. voice. you. jerk.
The raven-haired teen's smirk grew wider and more sarcastic, "Well, I feel fine."
"So do I." Aaron added accusingly, eyes narrowed, though it was evident he didn't even believe it himself.
"Sure, Hotch." Emily replied both dismissively and doubtfully, giving a knowing look to the rest of the group.
Reid laughed even though it hurt, snuggling closer to Morgan. The two laid on the elder's bed, Spencer wrapped in Derek's arms. It was surprising to the genius how comf*ortable he was in the position, with his friends looking on.
You. two. are. so. cute. Came the dreaded robot voice, Penelope looking up from her phone with a sappy smile.
Spencer felt Derek's skin go warm, the blush only evident through temperature. He smiled softly, though he too blushed.
"Can we all just sleep in here tonight? I don't think Rossi is going to want to wake up." Emily asked, secretly wanting the comfort of being around her friends more and more since her lonely weekend not too long ago. She smiled at Reid, and he seemed to understand the deeper meaning behind it.
"As long as Strauss doesn't show up, but y'all better not get me sick." Aaron replied, walking across the room to retrieve extra pillows and blankets for his two female friends.
Spencer smirked, but the amusement quickly faded when he saw his friend stumble into the dresser. "Aaron!"
Emily rushed to his side, Derek and Spencer right behind. Penelope scrambled after them.
Prentiss held on to his shoulder, refusing to let go even when he protested. "Are you okay?"
He nodded weakly, "I'm fine..thanks."
Derek shook his head, reaching his arm out to his friend's forehead. "You're burning up, man. Go lay down."
"I'm not sick." Hotch grounded out desperately, and Spencer swore he saw tears forming in his eyes. "..I'm not sick."
"Yes you are." Emily demanded, eyes locking seriously into his. "Go lay down."
He thought about protesting, but ultimately relented. "Okay." He gave his friends one last look before shrugging off Emily's arm and retreating to his bed.
They watched him lay down, falling asleep nearly instantly. Spencer watched him a little longer, "I hope he's okay."
"He'll be fine, I'm just glad he didn't fight me." Prentiss said in exhaustion, glancing at the clock. "I'm going to sleep, it's already one."
Night. my. lovelies. The voice came again, and Spencer laughed as he laid back down with his boyfriend, smiling gratefully as Emily turned out the lights.