Hello all. Can you believe we are already halfway through season 1 - crazy huh? So this chapter begins a mini-holiday arc - it'll be about 3 chapters or so - because who doesn't like delightful holiday goodness?
Thank you all for you reveiws, favoriting, and story alerts! It means alot to me.
Happy reading - enjoy :)
JJ and Spence sat at the gate waiting for the boarding call for their flight to Las Vegas. They had two blissful weeks of time off. They were both really looking forward to some downtime and JJ was able to guarantee that it wouldn't be interrupted by a case.
Spence sat fidgeting in his seat as they waited for the plane to take off. He always got nervous when going to visit his mother. He never knew what to expect. Who exactly would he be visiting that day? Would it be his mother who loved him and had read to him as a small child, Professor Reid who was preparing a lecture and expected all of her students to have read the material in advance, or a paranoid schizophrenic in mid-psychotic break raging against the voices only she could hear?
JJ was the only person he had ever taken with him to visit his mother. Their visit over the Labor Day weekend had gone extremely well. He just hoped he wasn't tempting fate by hoping for two visits in a row to be episode free.
JJ watched the anxiety roll off Spence. She knew he was always nervous to visit his mother. She knew the unease was because he never knew if he was visiting on a good day or a bad day. It upset her that he had to deal with this. Life was not fair, but then you can't ask for life to be fair, you can only ask for life to be worth it. All of the experiences Spence had been through had made him who he was and she certainly wouldn't want to change who the man that she loved was.
JJ reached over and set her hand on Spence's jittering knee, lightly rubbing in soothing circles. "Hey" she said to get his attention.
Spence turned to look at her.
"It'll be OK Spence." JJ said "If she is having a bad day, we'll get through it together." she said slipping her hand into his.
"Thanks JJ." Spence said squeezing her hand in silent appreciation.
"Relax baby, why don't you take a nap. I know your tired, it's been a long couple of weeks." JJ said laying her head on his shoulder.
Spence nodded, wrapped his arm around JJ, and tipped his head to rest his head against hers.
Spence paused next to the car as they got out at Bennington. He looked across the roof of the car at JJ. She smiled at him. That gave him the courage he needed. He took a deep breath and walked around the front of the car to meet JJ. They walked hand in hand across the parking lot and through the front doors of Bennington.
They signed in at the front desk and walked down the hallway to the lounge area. JJ stopped walking at the pulling sensation on her arm as Spence paused in the doorway to watch his mother.
As they stood watching, JJ watching Spence, and Spence watching his mother, Dr Jessen slipped into the doorway behind them.
"I heard a rumor you were here." Dr Jessen said smiling at Spencer. "It's good to see you both again. Diana still speaks about your last visit." she continued.
"How's she doing?" Spence asked turning to glance at the doctor.
"Schizophrenia is a lifetime illness. The meds stabilize the worst of her symptoms, but she still has bad days. What makes her most happy are her journals and your daily letters." She said crossing her arms as she looked across the room at Diana Reid.
"She is exceptionally proud of you." Dr Jessen continued.
"She is?" Spence asked.
"Talks about you all the time. To anyone who will listen. Staff. Other patients. Her journals are filled with the cases you write her about. Calls them your adventures." Dr Jessen explained.
"Mom's of the belief that you can find adventure all around you if you just look for it." He said "That's what happens when you're a professor of fifteenth century literature."
"She's going to be so excited that you were able to get here in person again for a visit." Dr Jessen replied. "I have some other patients to check on, but if you have any questions, feel free to come find me." She said as she moved past them and across the room to check on a patient.
JJ stroked her thumb on the back side of his hand. "Come on Spence, let's go say hi to your Mom" JJ said pulling lightly on his hand.
Spence gripped her hand tighter and nodded. Together they walked hand in hand across the lounge to the sunlight library nook where Diana Reid sat writing in her journal.
Spence and JJ walked around Diana's chair to stand beside her.
"Hi Mom." Spencer said
Diana paused in her writing and looked up. When she saw who stood before her she quickly stood up. "Spencer. Jennifer. Its so good to see you both." She said hugging Spence and JJ in quick succession. "Here. Sit down." she said motioning to the other seats in the area.
After some conversation and catching up, Diana opened the presents Spence and JJ had gotten her for Christmas. Rare books from Spencer, and a collage picture frame filled with various pictures of Spence from JJ. JJ proceeded to tell her the story behind each photo. Diana especially like the pictures of Spence playing dolls and having a tea party with JJ's niece Caitlyn.
"Jennifer, let's go find a place for this in my room." Diana said "Spencer, would you be a dear and get something for us all to drink?" his mother asked standing to lead JJ to her room.
Once they were in her room JJ and Diana quickly found a spot for the picture frame on a bookshelf.
"Now for the real reason I asked you to come to my room" Diana said as she sat on a couch near a bookshelf. She leaned over and pulled what appeared to be a photo album off the bookshelf next to her. "Come sit down" She said patting the seat next to her.
JJ sat down next Diana and giggled when Diana opened the photo album.
"I know you mentioned wanting to see this when you were here to visit last time. I know that Spencer would protest about my pulling this out, but well, if you're already looking at it when he gets back, he'll just have to deal with it." Diana said mischievously as they turned through the pages of Spencer Reid's baby book.
"I got you a Diet Coke JJ…Mom, I wasn't sure what you wanted, so I got you a bottle of water." Spence said as he entered the room about fifteen minutes later. "What are you looking at?" he asked as they were both huddled over what appeared to be a photo album.
"Spence you were so cute as a baby!" JJ exclaimed holding the baby book up so that he could see what they were looking at.
"Wha…Mom! You promised to never show anyone that picture." Spence said in disbelief as he blushed.
"Jennifer is the only one I have ever shown this photo to Spencer." Diana said calmly.
"Oh come on Spence, it was the eighties. Everyone's parents took pictures of them on bear skin rugs." JJ said with a slight giggle in her voice. "Besides, its nothing I haven't seen before." she said with a smirk.
"JJ!" Spence squeaked looking back and forth between his mother and his girlfriend hoping that the earth would open up and swallow him whole at this particular moment.
Luckily for Spence, JJ took pity on him and closed the baby book. For now. She was definitely looking through it later.
The next three days were the best that he had spent with his mother in several years. The weather was nice and they were able to walk about the grounds and enjoy the outdoors. They chatted. They talked about his adventures. Diana and JJ got to know each other a bit more. Spence read to his Mom while they sat outside, JJ curled up by his side listening to the stories and poetry.
All too soon they were saying goodbye to head off to the airport.
"Goodbye Mom" Spence said hugging his Mom tight and kissing her on the cheek "I'll come and visit again as soon as I can."
"Goodbye Spencer. I am so proud of you. Take care of Jennifer." Diana whispered in his ear, hugging him tight as if trying to hold onto the moment and the memory as long as she could.
JJ stepped up next to say her goodbyes "Goodbye Diana. Thank you for sharing all the memories of Spence with me and showing me his baby book." she whispered softly as she hugged her boyfriend's Mom.
"Goodbye Jennifer. Take care of Spencer for me. I worry that he doesn't eat enough and that he drinks too much coffee." she said.
"I will" JJ responded with a smile as they parted.
In the car on the way to the airport, Spence turned to glance at JJ. "JJ" he said his voice breaking slightly "thank you for convincing me to come and visit me Mom. This was the best visit I have ever had with her"
JJ smiled happy to know that Spence now had some recent, happy memories with his Mom. "I'm glad that it worked out baby." she said reaching over and stroking his forearm softly.
As the plane flew from Las Vegas to Philadelphia, they rested. It was a long flight and there was a certain three year old excited to see them both at their destination.