Chapter 38
Scarlett squinted slightly at the glasses lined up along the table and looked over at her brother as she noticed the alcohol taking its effects on her.
"What's the count?" she asked him.
"Eighteen even," Derek grinned, "You both just finished off number nine…"
"Ah, then I'm going to round off to ten, then call it…" she poured the next two.
"Giving up so easy?" Cooper picked up the glass and sloshed over more than he drank. Scarlett shook her head, grinning easily at her friend.
"Yup," she said, finishing the last and turning her glass over. "You are already FUBAR, Coop. I proved my point," she teased.
Cooper narrowed his eyes, trying to focus on her face. "We did have a few before we started counting," he reminded her, trying to save face.
"Yup," she agreed, giving him his out. "That'd bring our total to sixteen each… plus the beer. I think we broke our record, Coop," she grinned as he started to slide from the chair.
Spencer reached over, pushing the bigger man back into the seat. He looked up at Scarlett's giggle.
"You have to be drunk, too…" he warned her as she stood up from his lap.
"Eh, I've got a buzz going…" she shrugged. "Fast metabolism… it helps me not get the full whammy as easily as some others," she joked, eyeing up her friend.
She stretched slightly, tapping Cooper's shoulder.
"C'mon big guy- you wanted a dance. Let's get one in before you hit the floor, literally," she teased.
"I won't- I want to hear some GnR," he told her as he stood, waited a moment for the dizziness to pass, and then walked a semi-straight line to the jukebox.
Scarlett rolled her eyes as the stagger. "I am not picking him up off the ground," she warned her brother and Spencer. "That'll be your guy's job…" she stopped talking, noticing her own slight slur. She giggled.
Penny laughed, looking up at Scarlett. "You aren't going to drop too, are you?" she teased.
"Nope," Scarlett shook her head, making a popping sound on the 'p'. When she giggled again, Spencer rolled his eyes.
"She's trashed…" he stated to the group.
"I think you will be carrying her out," Rossi agreed, watching her join Cooper on the dance floor. He grinned as he saw Scarlett pat the larger man's good arm, signaling for him to straighten up off of her a bit.
Spencer watched Cooper hold Scarlett's waist, pulling her closer as Guns and Roses 'November Rain' started to play. He tamped down a glimmer of jealousy, reminding himself it was only one dance. With that thought, he headed over to the jukebox himself to make a selection.
When the song switched over, Reid crossed the floor, taking her hand.
"May I have the next dance?" he asked her old-fashionably, adding a slight grin as he kissed her knuckles lightly.
"Of course, farm boy," she smiled, hearing Ed Sheeran's song 'Thinking Out Loud' play through the room.
"Nice choice," she commented as she snuggled comfortably into his embrace. She laid her ear against his chest, listening as he sang the words to her.
When your legs don't work like they used to before And, darling, I will be loving you 'til we're 70 So honey now When my hair's all but gone and my memory fades 'Cause honey your soul could never grow old, it's evergreen That, baby, now La la la la la la la la lo-ud So, baby, now
And I can't sweep you off of your feet
Will your mouth still remember the taste of my love?
Will your eyes still smile from your cheeks?
And, baby, my heart could still fall as hard at 23
And I'm thinking 'bout how people fall in love in mysterious ways
Maybe just the touch of a hand
Well, me - I fall in love with you every single day
And I just wanna tell you I am
Take me into your loving arms
Kiss me under the light of a thousand stars
Place your head on my beating heart
I'm thinking out loud
Maybe we found love right where we are
And the crowds don't remember my name
When my hands don't play the strings the same way (mmm...)
I know you will still love me the same
And, baby, your smile's forever in my mind and memory
I'm thinking 'bout how people fall in love in mysterious ways
Maybe it's all part of a plan
Well, I'll just keep on making the same mistakes
Hoping that you'll understand
Take me into your loving arms
Kiss me under the light of a thousand stars
Place your head on my beating heart
Thinking out loud
Maybe we found love right where we are (oh ohh)
Take me into your loving arms
Kiss me under the light of a thousand stars
Oh, darling, place your head on my beating heart
I'm thinking out loud
Maybe we found love right where we are
Oh, baby, we found love right where we are
And we found love right where we are
Scarlett followed him off the floor as the song ended, heading back towards the table. She heard one of the bartenders give 'last call' as they passed the bar.
"I think it's about time to head out," Hotch stood, taking some of the bottles and glasses back to the bar with him when he went to settle his tab.
"I'll agree with that," Dave nodded over to Reid. "Are you guys going to need help getting him home?" he asked, nodding towards where Cooper had laid his head onto the table, seemingly passed out.
Derek clasped his hand onto Cooper's good shoulder. "C'mon, dude… time to roll out…"
Coop picked his head up, looking around the room and groaned.
Spencer laughed. "I think we've got it," he told Rossi, shaking hands with him and Aaron as the left. JJ stayed back for a moment, catching his eye as the room lit up and the waitress started to push along the stragglers.
They heard Cooper groan again.
"You're being nicer to him than he deserves," she told Spencer with a slight smile.
Reid shrugged. "He's been a good friend to Scarlett and Morgan," he said off handedly. "And she's still coming home with me…"
JJ bit her lip, grinning. "So, you can afford to be the gracious winner?" she teased.
"It does make it easier…" he blushed. "But seriously, he's not that bad of a guy."
"Mmm-hmm, Scarlett said he's a bit of an ass sometimes…" she nudged him slightly, giving him a quick hug before picking up her purse. "As long as you're okay…"
"I'm more than okay," he smiled down at his friend as he watched Scarlett walk up behind Cooper, poking him in the back to keep him moving.
"I'm not FUBAR," he said with a laugh.
JJ chuckled. "Definitely- don't begrudge him that hangover," she grinned. "Good night, Spencer."
"Night, JJ…" he leaned forward, dropping a quick kiss to her hair.
Spencer moved over to Cooper's side, helping Morgan carry his weight through the bar to their borrowed car.
Scarlett shoved Cooper over as she climbed into the backseat next to him and he leaned on her.
"Jesus, Coop- you are such a freaking wuss," she complained as his weight shifted against her. She was relieved when Reid pulled him off of her and started laughing when she saw the look on his face as Cooper now lay against his shoulder.
"Don't worry sweetie, he doesn't live far," Penny teased, seeing Reid's discomfort.
"Thank God for that," Spencer complained, trying to shift away from the dead weight now resting on his chest.
Morgan swung into the apartment complex's parkade, getting the car as close to the elevators as possible.
"Baby girl- would you find a parking spot while Reid and I haul the party animal to his place?" he asked, switching places with Penelope.
"Okay," she threw a look at Cooper as Scarlett opened the back door, trying to help wake up the man.
"Come on, Coop- you're home," Scarlett slapped at his face lightly, rousting him from his sleep.
"Already?" he groused, pulling himself out of the car. He focused in on the elevators, and let Morgan lead him towards home.
Spencer followed behind them, making sure Derek didn't need help. When Cooper managed to make it onto his couch without falling on his face, he heard Scarlett sigh with relief.
"Okay then, package has been delivered," she snarked, leaving a bottle of Tylenol, water and a bucket within easy reach. She caught Spencer's glance at the mop bucket and shrugged.
"Lightweight is a barfer," she told him.
"Ah, greaaat... let's not stay for the show," he shook his head, grabbing her hand and heading back to the car.
"Nope- I want to go home…" she agreed, squeezing his fingers and looking up into his eyes. "I've had enough reminiscing for the night," she said, moving closer to his side.
"Not as much fun as it used to seem little one?" Morgan teased, sliding back into the driver's seat. Penelope met her eyes in the mirror.
"Not at all," she told him, leaning her head against Reid's shoulder, taking the place Cooper had vacated. She grinned up at him. "I'm happier being a home-body anymore…" she told them.
Spencer kissed her temple, wrapping his arms around her, holding her to his side. "Glad to hear it," he told her with a grin. "I don't think your liver would appreciate too many more nights like this…"
"Nope," she snuggled closer; resting her ear over his heart, listening to it beat steadily.
Spencer felt her slump against him and chuckled.
"And… she's out," he laughed. "I guess I will be carrying her in," he told his friends with a grin.
"Called it," Penny joked, meeting Reid's smile.