Spencer felt all eyes on him as Michael moved forward. The first thought Spencer could think was How did he know to come here? How the hell did he know I was flying in today? Panic was making his thoughts race. But he kept it all locked down when Michael reached him and gave him a brief hug. Over his shoulder, Spencer shot Morgan a pleading look, begging him with his eyes to keep his calm. He could see how tightly coiled Morgan was and knew that his best friend was resisting the urge to come over and rip Michael away from Spencer. But he saw the small nod Morgan gave, letting him know he would stay back. For now.

When they separated, Spencer made himself smile slightly. "I didn't expect to see you here." He said lightly. How did you know to come here?

Michael grinned at him, the edges of it slightly sharp. "That tech guy, Kyle? Kevin? He told me you guys were flying in and thought I might like to meet you. I thought I'd come pick you up and bring you home, since your car's still at the Bureau."

Oh, God, how was he going to get out of this? How was he going to stop from going home with Michael? He couldn't just refuse! Michael would know something was up. All of his thoughts were racing around, one right after the other, trying to figure out what he could do or say that would fix this. There had to be some way he could get out of going home right now. If he did, there was no telling what would happen to him.

Salvation came from an unexpected source. Dave strolled unconcernedly toward him, acting as if he hadn't heard a single thing they'd been saying, even though Spencer could see on the other man's face that he had. "Hey, Reid, do you still need a ride to the office?" He asked casually. Even to Spencer he looked totally at ease.

Michael's expression hardened for just a split second before smoothing back out. He turned toward Dave, giving him a smile that showed none of the monster underneath. "Actually, that's what I'm here for. I came to pick him up. My name's Michael." He stuck his hand out. "I'm Spencer's boyfriend."

The smile Dave wore was polite and actually friendly. He reached out and shook Michael's hand. "I'm David Rossi. It's nice to finally meet you." When he took his hand back, he stuck both hands in his pockets. "I didn't realize you were here to pick him up, I'm sorry. He has to come to the Bureau for a while first, though." He turned his grin toward Spencer, looking apologetic. "Sorry, kiddo. But we've got to get the last of your statement in to Strauss. Otherwise she'll be giving Hotch hell for not getting it in."

Spencer wasn't an idiot. He caught the lifeline that Dave was throwing him. But he knew he had a part to play that was important if he didn't want to make Michael suspicious. "Does it have to be tonight, Rossi? I was looking forward to getting in bed. I doubt I've got much energy left in me."

"Sorry, Reid. It's protocol."

His smile slipping only slightly, Michael moved a little closer, his hand possessively coming out to rest on Spencer's shoulder. "I'll drop him off, then. That probably works out better anyways. You can drive your car home when you're done instead of leaving it there even longer."

If that was the only concession that he had to make, Spencer knew he was getting off lucky. He turned his head to smile at Michael. "I'd like that. Maybe when we're done I can pick up some take out on the way home? I haven't eaten for a while."

"No problem. Let's get you in the car." Casually Michael steered Spencer away from the group. He didn't say goodbye to anyone, instead pretending concern for Spencer. "Now tell me what happened, Reid. You look like you've been dragged through hell. What happened to your hand?"

"There was a bit of a struggle with the Unsub. I'm pretty much ok." He answered. When Michael stopped by the car, opening the passenger's door, Spencer slid into the seat and set to work on his buckle while Michael shut the door and went around the car. Deliberately Spencer avoided looking out at any of his friends. He didn't know if he could handle the look that he knew would be in Morgan's eyes. Or maybe even Dave's. It was obvious that Dave knew something was wrong; had he figured out the truth? Or…had Morgan told him? He wouldn't do that. He wouldn't tell Spencer's secrets! Would he?

No, Morgan wouldn't do that to him. It had to be something that Dave had observed on his own. Most likely he didn't know the actual truth, but he obviously knew something. Dave was one of the best profilers out there. He would recognize something was up.

A squeeze on his thigh brought Spencer's attention abruptly back to the present moment. He resisted the wince that wanted to spring to life; Michael had managed to squeeze right over top a bruise. "Are you even paying attention to me, Reid?" Michael demanded.

Spencer looked out the window, trying to bring his pain level down a little, noticing that they were moving. When had the car started moving? Spacing out with his co-works or when he'd been with Morgan had been one thing. But he hadn't spaced like that around Michael for a long time unless he'd been deliberately trying. The fact that his guard was down enough for him to do it without realizing was not a good thing. He needed his defenses to be high right now, not low. You're with Michael right now, not Morgan. Don't be stupid. Play it safe!

"I'm sorry, Michael. My brain is still a little scattered from everything. It's been a rough few days." Even as the explanation left his mouth he was mentally yelling at himself to shut up. Michael hated excuses. Absolutely hated them. They only ever served to make him angrier. Now was no exception. The hand on Spencer's thigh squeezed even tighter, making him wince visibly this time. "I didn't ask for excuses, Reid. I was expecting you to listen to me. You don't look any worse for wear, so don't use the beaten up look and expect to get sympathy from me. You've been through worse and still managed to somewhat behave. What the hell's going on with you that you'd have the nerve to zone out on me? And what the hell is this shit with your co-worker walking up and butting into our conversation like that?"

So that's what he'd been asking about. He should have known Michael would be suspicious of something like that. He would look for hidden meaning in everything Dave had said. Spencer tried to think fast and run damage control; it was something he was familiar with. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't. But he had to try. The stakes were way too high this time.

"I didn't know you were going to pick me up, so Rossi was going to bring me over to the Bureau to do my closing interview. It's standard operating procedure to do an exit interview on someone who has been undercover as I was. They need to assess the situation and log all the information as well as evaluate my mental health."

Michael snorted at the last part. "We know you're crazy as a loon, just like your fucking mom. Why the hell do they need to evaluate you?"

He bit back the urge to deny that he was crazy. That would get him nowhere. Just a little longer. Just keep him talking a little longer and you'll be at work. Then you can get out of the car and this can be over. Your friends will help you, don't forget that. Just keep him talking! "They have to make sure that the job didn't adversely affect my mental status. There are some instances of agents who have gone undercover and have a hard time transitioning back to a normal life when the job is done. Statistically, it's more common in those that have been undercover for six months or longer, but it's standard to do the evaluation on everyone." No need to mention that the evaluation was usually done a few days after the person had been home.

"That's all they'll talk to you about—the job, right? Nothing else in your life?"

The warning in those words was obvious. Michael wanted to make sure that Spencer wasn't going to tattle on him, for lack of a better word. "Yes, Michael. They simply want to know about the job and the affect it had on me. Beyond that, they don't ask and don't need to know."

When he saw the sign for the FBI building, Spencer could have wept with joy. He was thankful that the trip was a short one. The airstrip wasn't far from their work. But his heart plummeted a little when he realized that Michael wasn't going to drop him off by the front doors. He was pulling into the parking garage. Shit, shit. This is not a good sign. Oh, shit. What is he going to do? I hope no one follows us in. I hope no one sees this.

He drove the car to where Spencer's was parked, pulling in right next to it. Unfortunately, that also left them covered on the other side by a large SUV. Essentially they were in a bit of a blind spot for the cameras right then, which was probably Michael's intention.

After shutting the car off, Michael sat and gripped the wheel for a long minute. Each second of silence made Spencer's heart race faster and faster. He couldn't help the panic that was inside of him. Just seeing Michael after their time apart was enough to make him panic. But this silence? It was torture. Whatever he was going to do, Spencer found himself wishing that it would just happen already.

"How long is this going to take?" Michael finally asked. His voice was steady and even, a sure sign of trouble brewing. It was enough to make Spencer shiver. He bit his lip before stammering out "Potentially a few hours. I'm not quite sure."

Like the strike of a snake, Michael's hand shot out to grab Spencer's chin, gripping it tightly as he forced the younger man to look at him. Spencer whimpered at the first touch but he didn't resist. He knew better. "Let me make one thing abundantly clear, Spencer Reid." Michael seethed at him. His eyes were dark and furious. "You tell them a damn thing and I will make sure you regret it every single day of your life. At least, until I kill you. Are we clear on this?"

The grip on his jaw made it hard to talk. Spencer had to nod. He felt his eyes widen with his fear and his body was trembling.

For another long pause, Michael held him there. Then he abruptly thrust Spencer's head back, making the back of his head connect with the window. The ache in his jaw and chin left Spencer wondering absently if there would be a new bruise there. Typically Michael was smart enough not to leave any marks where they could be seen.

Michael brought his hand down to turn his car back on. When it roared to life, he shot a glare at Spencer. "Get out of my car. Go do your damn job, but you better tell your boss you want leave for a while. You're injured, it should fly. Then you and I are going to spend every second of that time getting reacquainted. We'll also deal with punishment. I don't know what you did yet, but I know you did something and I will find out. Now get out."

In his haste to do as he was told, Spencer tried to use both hands to get his seatbelt undone, but they were shaking too much to do it. Suddenly Michael's hand was there, smacking his aside. The pain that flared in Spencer's broken wrist was like white hot needles stabbing into his skin. He felt his vision haze under it for just a moment.

The seatbelt was freed and Michael was glaring at him once more. Spencer locked down the pain again, as best he could, and climbed out of the car. No sooner had he shut the door than the car was pulling out of the parking spot and taking off down the garage. A small sob ripped its way up his throat. With his good hand, he gripped the side of his car, trying to hold himself upright. Trying to stay calm. His broken wrist was cradled against his chest, still throbbing from where it had been smacked, making his entire arm start to ache. He was so focused on trying to keep the pain down and to stay on his feet that he didn't hear the footsteps approaching him at first.

A hand touched his shoulder, startling him so badly that he almost screamed as he jumped and spun, pressing his back against the car. Fear had his heart hammering.

Seeing Morgan standing there, hand outstretched, Spencer almost collapsed. He couldn't stop himself from whimpering slightly before jumping forward. He didn't think about what he was doing or where he was at or who could see him. All he knew was that Morgan was right there and he needed him now, more than anything else in the world.

Morgan's arms opened instantly to catch him, cradling him close as he whispered soothingly in Spencer's ear, shushing him and trying to ease the trembles. "Shh, shh, baby boy, I'm right here. I've got you now. You'll be ok."

"I'm sorry." Spencer shuddered out. But he gripped a little tighter. "How…how'd you know where to find me?"

One of Morgan's hands came up to stroke over Spencer's hair. "I pulled in behind you guys and parked a little ways away and waited for him to leave. Once he was gone, I hurried over. What did he do, pretty boy? Where did he hurt you?"

There was no point in lying to Morgan. Remember, you told yourself you'd be honest with him, always. Don't change that now he scolded himself. So, buried against Morgan's chest, Spencer told him about the car ride. When he was done he felt Morgan's larger frame almost quivering with anger. It was such a contrast between Morgan and Michael. Where Michael terrified Spencer with even the smallest display of temper, Morgan never did. Morgan's temper didn't scare Spencer in the least.

In the face of it now, Spencer brought his hand up, cupping it to Morgan's cheek. "I'm ok, Derek. I'm right here and I'm fine. We made it, ok? Calm down."

"Calm down? How the hell am I supposed to calm down, Spencer?" Morgan hissed. His eyes moved over Spencer's face, locking onto his chin for a moment. "You've got new bruises starting on your chin, you're already pretty black and blue from kicking our Unsub's ass and you just got done telling me he smacked at your broken wrist. How is any of that supposed to make me calm?" His hands had dropped down from Spencer to clench at his sides in fists.

Spencer just leaned in a little closer. He didn't care if anyone came and saw them right then. What mattered to him was the anger in Morgan's eyes that was obviously fueled by hurt and fear, both of which Spencer could see there. All he wanted to do was soothe it away.

The hand he had over Morgan's cheek was gentle, lightly stroking the skin. "You're right; all of that stuff isn't exactly helpful toward calming down. But you need to focus on what's important. We're here at work, together, about to go tell the team and ask for their help. After that, I'm not going back to my apartment. As long as you want me, I'm not ever leaving you again, Derek." He smiled softly, just a little quirking of lips. "You can play protector to your heart's content."

Some of Morgan's tension drained away at Spencer's speech. He looked at him, dark eyes intent on his face, before finally smiling a little. "I'm always going to want you, Spencer. You're not going anywhere, baby boy. I plan on spending the rest of my life taking care of you."

"Good." Spencer leaned in, kissing Morgan's lips, short and sweet. "Then let's get done here so you can take me home and feed me. I'm starving."

His words had the desired effect. When the two separated, Morgan was laughing. The older man leaned in, stealing one final kiss before they set off toward the building. Though they couldn't hold hands in here, they walked close, arms brushing occasionally. Soon everything was going to come out. What would happen next, neither was sure, but they were sure of one thing. They weren't going to face it alone.