Spencer closed the door to his office to see Elle sitting at her desk, waiting. He frowned, this was not going to be good. He sighed and made his way over to her, preparing for the worst. Elle looked up at him before pointing to the chair. He sighed and took off his bag, setting it down before sitting across from her.
"Okay, Elle, I know that you want to tell me something so just get to the point."
Elle raised her eyebrows. She was not to be rushed. She finished the last file she was working on before looking up at him.
"I'd just like to say that you and Ryan..."
"are a bad idea. I shouldn't be dating my employee. It's bad for the team mentality and it could get someone hurt. I have a son that I need to take care of and I shouldn't be getting into relationships so quickly after what happened with JJ."
Elle stared at him. "Is that what you think or what you think I think, because all I said was 'You and Ryan.'"
Spencer sighed. "I know you don't agree with it but-"
"Jesus, Spencer, will you shut up and let me tell you what I think?"
Spencer opened his mouth before closing it.
Elle smiled. "Thank you. Now, what I was going to say, before you rudely interrupted me -twice- was the same thing I told Ryan. You're the most logical person I know and I know that you know what you're getting into, same as you did with JJ. And if this what you want so be it, just... be careful. Ryan is not JJ, nor will she ever be JJ. If you're trying to replace her, it will not work. If you're trying to get over her, it might work, but you will be using someone who really does seem to care about you on some level already. Don't use her."
"I'm not-"
"I'm not finished." Elle said, giving him the eye. He sighed but didn't say anything.
"She's... Ryan's... I like her. I do. I think she'll probably be good for you too, but I think we both know that you..." Elle made a face. "If I know anything about you is that you have a huge heart under all those facts and that your childhood molded you into who you are and I honestly... don't think that you have it in you to have Will be the father of your son. I don't think that you'll not stop fighting for JJ and Henry. and Really, I can't say that that's a bad thing."
"She's..."
"Shh." Elle said, glaring. "Just... If something changes with JJ, do not cheat on Ryan. It might be despicable to break her heart and leave her for another woman, but there is nothing.. no reason to play with her heart. To lead her on if you're having relationship-like things with JJ. Do you understand? You may speak."
Spencer gave her a look before sighing. "I've been thinking about JJ and I a lot. JJ and Henry and Will and Ryan and me. I..." he sighed again, thinking about it. "I know that there's..." He paused and picked at his fingernails.
"There are healthy relationships that have commitment and passion and and intimacy. We had intimacy; she knew my secrets and she knew my troubles and she knew...everything. and we had passion. but there was never any commitment and there will be. The only thing we had was a companion bond and human needs. and Now we have a son."
"And commitment. You two will never not be his parents."
"Yes, commitment to Henry, not to each other."
Elle shrugged. "And you and Ryan?"
"I think we're building on all three nicely. She obviously trusts me in some sense to get into a relationship with me. She knows about my parents, I know about hers. We understand each other in a sense."
"And the passion."
Spencer flushed. "Well.. uh... That too."
Elle chuckled, not going to tease him. "Do you have plans tonight with the lovely Ms. Williams?"
Spencer looked at his watch. It was almost 8. "Not set plans. I might stop by her house to see if she's okay. She didn't really talk to me much after I told her we needed to keep the relationship low-key."
Elle nodded. "You should be on your way then."
Criminal Minds || Viva Las Vegas
Spencer's phone rang and he answered it as he walked towards Ryan's.
"Reid."
"Spence?" It was JJ and she was breathless.
"JJ, is everything okay?"
"I..There's..."
"What happened, JJ?" He said, walking faster to Ryan's.
"Derek...Were in DC...He's... It's bad, Spence."
"I'll be there as soon as I can."
He rushed to Ryan's banging on the door. Ryan answered a little confused.
"Spe-"
"I need you to drive me to the airport. Now. I need to get to my team."
Criminal Minds || Viva Las Vegas
Spencer rushed into the hospital with Ryan at his heels. She had persisted she come before knowing the details and he hadn't the energy to fight her. Garcia rushed and grabbed him.
"Oh Reid. Spencer, I'm so.. It's..."
Spencer held onto the girl. He still had not been filled in. He looked around to see JJ and Will. JJ was holding Henry close. The little boy was asleep. Rossi and Emily were next them both looking drained. Hotch looked...not like Hotch and Garcia was breaking down in his arms.
"What happened?" He asked.
"We had identified the unsub and going to apprehend, when a second male shot Morgan as he broke in the door. Under the arm, above the vest. It pierced a major artery. He's just got out of surgery. It's... He might not make it through the night."
"He'll be okay." Spencer said, holding the woman in his arms. "It's Morgan. Penelope, he'll be okay. He'll get out of the hospital and be showing off his new scar to all the ladies. He'll be fine."
Garcia looked up to see tears running down his face as he nodded. She ran her hands over his cheeks, wiping away his tears as she composed herself.
"Go see your son." She said before letting him go, going back to Emily's side. Spencer walked over to JJ and picked up the boy. JJ gave him a sad, scared look but said nothing. He knew that she had probably been crying since it had happened. Henry stirred but rested against the mans chest. Ryan, who had been sitting at the door, feeling like she was in the way, made her over to him.
"Are you okay?" She asked, her hand moving to his back. He held onto the little boy and shook his head.
"Everyone.. I should have been here."
Ryan rubbed his back. "You wouldn't have been able to help him, Spencer."
He shook his head. "Still."
She kissed his forehead. "Don't. Your friend wouldn't want that, Spencer, and you know it. You say he's like DiMario? What did DiMario say when he stepped in front of that bullet for you?"
"Better luck next time?"
Ryan gave him a look. "Don't be smart."
"That's what he said. 'Damn, that hurt. Better luck next time, huh kid?"
"Okay. After that." Ryan said.
"I asked him why he did it and he said 'Can't have the leader of the back get taken by a stray.'"
She rolled her eyes. "I'm taking about the part about being a team and you fight for the team. You have to fight for your team now. They need you to be here now and you're here. That's all that matters."
He smiled a little. "You can't stay...can you?"
"No, I texted Grey to call Krandall for us. Grey's to act as chief until you get back and I took a sick day for tomorrow, but then I have to go back."
Spencer nodded before a hand was on his shoulder. Emily. "They moved him back to ICU. We're switching waiting areas. You... must be Ryan, right? I've heard...Well, It's nice to put a face to a name."
