A/N: So...that chapter 19 wasn't what you all were expecting, right? 20 just solidified the pain. I told y'all I have a plan! Stay tuned and I'm sure things will come together..but not in this chapter.

Please review!

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Chapter 21: Consequences To Actions

Three days had passed since he'd ruined his relationship with Derek and the two had barely spoken, only exchanging (rather pathetic) pleasantries when around their friends.

Spencer walked to and from school, and even if Derek had offered to drive him, he didn't think he could handle being alone with him.

That's exactly what Reid was doing on this windy Thursday afternoon.

He'd decided to take the longer, more secluded path behind some stores so he could have time alone. Stella was worried about him and he didn't feel like being checked up on her constantly.

The wind picked up as he traveled through the back way, whipping his hair around his face-not that it seemed to bother him. He was trying to figure out how to fix things with Derek.

He was so consumed in his thoughts that he didn't notice the three figures surrounding him until it was too late.

"Well, well, well...if it isn't the genius who ratted on me!" Darius spoke first, jumping off of his bike.

Reid's head shot up, quickly assessing the situation. Shit.

"I-I didn't rat on y-you..the t-teacher saw you! I wouldn't have s-said anything, I wouldn't have told!" His anxiety made him stutter, causing Darius' friends to laugh and mimic him.

"Good, 'cause there ain't no one around, and you ain't gonna tell anyone why you're all fucked up tomorrow neither." The leader of the group pushed his finger into Spencer's chest with each word, pushing him against the alley wall.

"P-please, you don't have to do this. I won't tell anyo-" His plead was cut short when the first punch landed on his gut.

He gasped as his back slammed against the brick wall, feeling the wind get knocked out of him.

He didn't know if anything happened directly after that-the shock of the punch (and the power of it) caused little specks of darkness to swim in his vision. He was tempted to just allow it to happen.

Spencer looked up as Darius threw a punch at his jaw, sending the young teenager to the ground. He felt the blood trickle down as he yelped in pain.

He cradled his face for as long as he could before Darius decided that one hit wasn't enough. Why isn't anyone helping me?

Multiple kicks from Mark, Jadon, and Darius pummeled his sides, making him scream out in pain. He wasn't sure if he was shouting, or thinking. My ribs are cracked! Oh god, I think they're cracked!

"Shut the fuck up!" He couldn't place who said the harsh words, his mind was swimming in pain.

He felt himself lifting up, being pulled by the collar. Darius shoved him back into the wall, retreating footsteps followed shortly after.

Spencer dropped to the ground, unable to move without sharp pains in his side. "Fuck!" He moaned out the curse, no other words able to form. His lips were bleeding, bruises covered a fourth of his face, and he was sure his sides and legs were bruised as well.

He wasn't sure how long it had been since they left, but he knew that laying on the asphalt felt way better than even thinking about moving.

He distantly heard his cellphone ringing but he was too busy fighting to remain conscious to find it. I'll just close my eyes for a minute..it won't hurt me..they proved against that theory. he reassured himself, for once glad of the constant statistics.

As he was drifting off, his cellphone rang again-this time alarmingly loud to his aching brain. He groaned as he moved his arm across the ground, searching blindly for his bag.

Failing to find it, he slowly (and with a copious amount of effort) sat up and crawled to it.

3 missed calls from: Stella

He took a rattled breath as he realized he would have to call her back and be picked up.

Calling: Stella

"Hello? Spencer?" The woman's voice was rushed and anxious.

"I-I'm here. I-I need to be pi...picked up, I need help." He tried to steady his voice but he was still calming his breathing down.

"What happened? Are you okay?" She questioned him frantically, "Where are you?"

He told her the address, and she insisted he stayed on the phone with her until she found him.

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"Dios mío! Spencer!" He heard her voice before he saw her rushing up to him and bending down.

"Hi Stella." He answered, his entire body hurt but he'd finally worked through the mind fog.

"Who did this to you?"

"I..I don't know." He lied, blackened eyes watering as he met hers.

He could tell she didn't believe him, but she didn't ask again. "We'll speak out that later, you need to go to the hospital."

He shook his head, "I'm fine." He started to stand up and hissed in pain.

"That doesn't sound fine to me." She said pointedly to him, "Do you think you can make it to the car, or should I call an ambulance?"

"It's not that bad..just some cuts and bruises...possibly a few cracked ribs, nothing that won't feel a little better tomorrow morning." He admitted, "The hospital can't do anything for me. I just need some pain medication and rest."

He leaned against her and she took his bag, guiding him to her car. "It looks bad, Spencer! What if you're bleeding internally?"

She helped him into his seat and put his seatbelt on before going to her side. "You're going to get checked out, young man. I'm calling your father."

Before he could protest, she started calling William and pulled out her spot on the side of the road.

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"The good news is that your ribs aren't broken- one is slightly fractured, the bad news is that you will be extremely sore for many weeks to come.." The doctor said to Stella and Spencer, his father said he'd see them at home.

"Ice packs every hour for the first 2 days, then 3 times daily afterwards?" Spencer asked the doctor.

"You know your stuff..yes, you'll do that along with pain medication. The amount is up to you."

"I think I just need to sleep off some of the pain." He replied, "Do I have to miss school tomorrow or do I just get ice from the nurse?"

The doctor regarded him, "That's up to you as well, you seem to be handling it rather well. You'd probably be okay at school, but I do suggest staying home."

He nodded, I don't want Stella babying me all day..it would be better to just go to school, but then Penelope will just fuss on me all day..

"I'll write you up a prescription and send you on your way, don't strain yourself too much in the following weeks and I expect you to have a follow up appointment with your actual doctor."

"He will, I'll schedule it." Stella spoke then, staring at her boss' son.

"Good."

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"Are you going to be okay going up the stairs or do you want to camp out on the couch?" Stella asked as she put his bag on the kitchen counter.

"I can make it, I'll have to use the stairs tomorrow at school so I need the practice." He smiled weakly at her, trying not to show how in pain he was- from both the beating and the heartbreak.

"Are you sure you should go?" She nit-picked, "Carrying your bag around can't be good for you."

"It's not that heavy." He replied tiredly, "Plus I only have one fractured rib.." Not that that wasn't a big deal, but he'd gone through worse.

She shook her head, "Spencer, please? Just one day to rest, you really do need it..I know you know that."

He mulled over her plea, seeing the worry creased into her face. Reid sighed, "Okay, okay...just one day though."

She smiled, glad to have one the argument, "Do you want anything to eat or are you going to bed?"

"I'm going to ice my face and rib for awhile and then go to sleep." He answered with a yawn.

She nodded, retrieving ice, bags, and thin towels. "Do you want to tape it around you?"

He shook his head, "No, you're not supposed to wrap them, it could cause too much pressure. But thank you."

"Okay." She paused, clearly wanting to say more as Reid started to retreat to the stairway. "Spencer."

He winced slightly as he faced her, wanting desperately to cradle his aching face. "Yes?"

"I know you know who did it..you should really report them. Or just tell me, at least." Her slight accent met his ears and he sighed.

"I really don't know." He took his first step on the stairs, "Goodnight Stella, and thank you for everything you've done."

She sighed again, "Sleep sound, Spencer. I'll see you in the morning."

He smiled genuinely at her, ignoring the pain it caused, and continued slowly up the stairs.

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Once he'd managed to change into pajamas, he carefully climbed on his bed and placed the ice packs on the worst injuries.

He leaned back on his pillows and closed his eyes. He couldn't hold onto consciousness any longer, falling asleep above the comforter.