Thank you all for your lovely reviews! I love you all so much! You are very faithful and I appreciate that. It deserves a mention today that this is my first beta'd chapter! Thank you to my lovely friend ReidsGirl for her feedback! Enjoy!
"You should get laid on a regular basis more often," Morgan grinned, watching Spencer rapidly circle locations on the map tacked to the glass presentation board. "Not only are you in a super good mood all the time, you also spout less statistics, come to conclusions even faster, and I've even noticed the Reid Effect has lessened."
Spencer rolled his eyes, circling another point on the map. "Shut up Morgan, I'm trying to work."
Morgan laughed, leaning against the conference room table. "Just pointing out the facts, Pretty Boy."
"Don't you have an ME to go see?" Spencer asked irritably, turning to face his friend. "This UNSUB isn't going to catch himself."
"I'm going, I'm going," Morgan put his hands up in defense. "Guess your super good mood doesn't apply to teasing."
Spencer rolled his eyes again, turning back to his map after he made sure Morgan had gone. He stared at it for a second, his brain slowly slipping away from the geographical profile and towards a certain brunette.
He missed her like crazy. For a whole month after they'd become official, it had been nothing but office paperwork and one short case one state over. They'd had plenty of time to spend together, and it had been wonderful. Lazy weekend mornings sleeping in and watching Dr Who in bed, trips to their favorite book store, late night walks in the city, and of course, learning each other's bodies. He just couldn't get enough of his beautiful Charlotte. One sultry look, one touch of her small hand on his thigh and he was all over her. It was something he wasn't used to, but thoroughly enjoyed. He was a new Spencer now, and sex with his wonderful girlfriend was something that new Spencer did on a regular basis. He couldn't help but turn a bit red when he thought just how regular.
But now they'd been separated for close to 4 days and it was really getting to him. He'd only had time to call her once, and even his texts had been few and far between. He sighed, running a hand through his unruly hair. He had to admit once Morgan left he'd come to a standstill on his mapwork. Maybe it was time to try to call Charlotte again. He'd work better anyways after he talked to her.
Sitting down on one of the uncomfortable conference room chairs, he pulled out his phone and dialed the all familiar number. It rang three times before she picked up.
"Hello?"
"Hi sweetheart," he smiled, using the pet name he had decided suited her, "how are you?"
"Oh, Spencer!" she sounded flustered, like she hadn't expected it to be him, even though she had call display. "Hi. Aren't you working?"
"Yes," Spencer gave his map on the wall a glare, "but I've come to a roadblock so I thought I'd call you. Is this a bad time?"
"Um, well, it might be," Charlotte let out a sigh, causing him to frown slightly. "I'm just- well I was- kind of in the middle of- oh shit…."
"Charlotte? Are you okay?" Spencer's frown deepened. "Is something wrong?" This was unlike her. She always answered his calls with a cheery voice, telling him how good it was to hear his voice. Something was definitely up.
"No, no nothing's wrong," she was sounding distracted again, "Well, I guess I don't know, I have to wait-" she was interrupted by what sounded like a loud timer going off in the background. "Shit. Shit shit SHIT. I have to go, Spencer."
"What? No, don't go," Spencer couldn't help the pleading in his voice. "Just tell me what's wrong, sweetheart. What was that noise?"
"I have to go, Spencer," her voice went so quiet and serious he nearly dropped the phone. "I just have to go. We'll talk when you get back."
And then she hung up. No customary "Bye, my handsome genius", she just hung up. Spencer sat for a moment, staring at his phone in shock. That was the weirdest phone call he'd ever had. Something was wrong. That was not his usual bubbly Charlotte. She would never, ever hang up on him like that. He felt fear begin to rise. What was going on back home? Was she sick? Did something happen to someone in her family? Had she….met someone else? The thought made him so sick he could feel bile rising in his thoruat. He shook his head quickly. No, he would not think of that. Most likely it was just her time of the month or something and she was in a weird mood. Yes, that had to be it.
"Spencer!" JJ's frantic voice cut him out of his thoughts. "We got another body, come on!"
Stuffing his phone back into his pocket, Spencer pushed all thoughts of Charlotte out of his mind. First they had to catch this UNSUB, then he'd figure out what all this meant.
2 DAYS LATER
He bolted out the jet doors as soon as he was allowed. He ignored Morgan's shout about paperwork, he'd do that tomorrow. Right now he had to get home to Charlotte. After their odd phone call, he'd texted her a few times, but she'd only responded with one word answers. He was really worried after that. Usually her texts were so long it took him 5 minutes to read each one. So he hurried off that jet as fast as he could.
Breaking probably about half a dozen traffic rules, he pulled into her apartment block lot in record time. Nodding to Gary the night security man (who always let him in, no questions asked), he darted up the stairs and straight to her apartment door. Knocking furiously, he waited, heart in his throat.
He was almost going to knock again when the door swung open. He stared at the figure in the doorway. This was not his Charlotte. His Charlotte would be smiling, pulling him in for a hug and a kiss, her eyes twinkling with delight. The woman in front of him was not smiling; her blue eyes red rimmed, tear tracks visible on her cheeks. She made no move towards him, simply stood there and looked at him.
"Hello Spencer," she finally said softly, her voice hoarse from crying. Spencer's heart gave a squeeze, his girl had been crying and it cut him to pieces.
"Hey," he replied, reaching out to take her hand. "Are you okay?"
Charlotte squeezed his hand, tugging him gently inside. "Come in Spencer, we'll talk in the living room."
He followed her obediently, confusion and sadness washing over him. They sat down on her couch, her hand still encased in his.
"So, can you tell me what's wrong?" Spencer prompted, his fingers twisting in hers. "Please, I know you've been crying, and that kills me. You weren't yourself when we talked while I was gone. Please tell me what's wrong."
Charlotte's blue eyes began to fill with tears. "Spencer," she said softly, her voice quavering. "Spencer….we can't do this anymore."
Spencer felt as if she'd just slapped him in the face. "W-what?"
"I said we can't do this anymore," she chocked back a sob, a few tears leaking out of her eyes. "We can't see each other anymore. We have to break up."
Spencer couldn't believe his ears. "Why?" he asked shakily, his heart filling with fear. "Why do we have to break up? Did you meet someone else? Did you?"
"No, there's no one else," Charlotte tore her hand from his. "We just can't see each other anymore, okay? Don't ask me to tell you why, I can't right now. Maybe one day, but not right now. You couldn't handle it right now."
"Did I do something wrong?" Spencer was nearly pleading, his own eyes beginning to fill with tears. "I can fix it, I can be better! Please Charlotte, please don't do this." Tears began to spill down his cheeks. "Please don't leave me, I can't do it a second time. Please, after Maeve… I can't do it again. I need you. Please!"
"Just leave Spencer," Charlotte was openly crying now. "Just please, leave."
Spencer tried to reach for her, but she shirked away from him, curling up in a ball on the other end of the couch. That final rejection tore him in two. He ran from the apartment, tearing down the stairs and out the doors blindly. He made it into his car before the tears began earnestly pouring.
His sweet, dear Charlotte didn't want him anymore. HE knew it had been too good to last. He knew he didn't deserve a second chance. First Maeve, and now Charlotte. Two women he loved, gone.
He let out a strangled cry of anguish. Of course, he loved Charlotte. He loved her so much, and now she was gone. She'd wormed her way into his heart, her sweet smile brightening up the dark places he'd created inside himself. She made him feel alive again, like life was worth living. She'd filled the hole that Maeve had left. And now, that hole was there again, gaping and raw and jagged.
Time didn't heal all wounds, people did.
They also ripped them open again.
Spencer cried even harder
I know, I know! I decided to intersperse the fluff with sadness…. Reviews are lovely, thank you!