Chapter two part thirteen

The most I can do for my friend is simply be his friend. Henry David Thoreau

"I don't understand this," signed Spencer.

"I know," signed Catherine. Spencer flipped through the pages and the look on his face was a mix of confusion and aggravation.

"These are two of the least likable characters in fiction ever created. I'm just getting angry reading this." Catherine just sat there grinning and he picked up the next book and started reading. He got over half way through in less than ten minutes and he looked ready to throw the book across the room.

"Vampires conceiving children and them having an accelerated gestation period makes no sense at all," He finished the book and looked very upset. "This is forty minutes of my life I will never get back. Why did you let me do this?" asked Spencer.

"I told you that you weren't going to like Twilight and you wouldn't listen to me. Because you know everything, Mr. Know-it-all," teased Catherine.

"JJ and Garcia said that everyone read these and they were good."

"Well everyone makes mistakes."They were in Spencer's hospital room and he was recovering from his second knee surgery. The two 2 inch titanium screws were sitting in a small baggie on the bedside. Catherine joked that she could have the screw heads turned into cuff links for him.

"Forty minutes of my life," signed Spencer. Catherine picked up the books she had checked out and placed them in a bag.

"This is why you should listen to me. I had to read them, you didn't."

"Why did you have to read them?" asked Spencer.

"I work with high school kids, all the girls were reading it so I had too. I have to know what the kids are into, just like you have know what serial killers are into." Spencer saw Emily in the doorway and motioned for her to come in.

"How you holding up?" asked Emily. Spencer was without his leg brace and was looking much better. She felt bad that she had no clue how bad he was hurt when they first took him to the hospital. He had told JJ he was fine, they should have realized that he was more worried about Hotch's condition than his own. It wasn't till a week later when they spoke with Catherine about how long Spencer was going to be out.

"Much better. Somehow not having screws in my knee feels really good," admitted Spencer. Emily sat down with them and she saw the books in the bag.

"Really...Twilight," joked Emily.

"I don't understand the appeal of that book series. It's has two highly unlikable lead characters, it doesn't make any sense at all and frankly when I was done reading I just felt like throwing something for wasting my time." Emily and Catherine both started laughing.

"Jacob was ok," signed/said Emily.

"So was Alice and Bella's dad," signed Catherine. Spencer groaned.

"I just don't understand...Edward plays abusive mind games with Bella for several chapters of the first book and than he sends her into a serious depressive state when he leaves for almost all of the second book and like a person suffering from Stockholm syndrome she bends to his will to get married. She gives up all her family, friends, dreams, and goals just to lose her virginity and become a vampire. How is this empowering or romantic to anyone?" asked Spencer.

"I have never seen him this mad," teased Emily.

"Don't get him started on the third X-men movie, Wil Wheaton or the ticket buying system of Comic Con," signed Catherine.

"So how did the surgery go?" asked Emily changing the subject.

"I'm going to have to stay with the physical therapy a bit longer, but I only have to use one crutch now and I got approved to go to California for Professor Fallon lecture next month. After that I get to use a cane and might only need one more surgery to see that everything is back together," said/signed Spencer. He was relieved, it had been a long and difficult summer both personally and professionally

He had spent most of May and part of June in a wheelchair and working in DC while the rest of the team went on cases. The only perk to that was he got to spend time with Catherine. The end of June and start of July got him on crutches and working lightly in the field. Therapy had been trying, walking with a knee that had been dismantled and was still held in place by screws was painful. He was proud of himself though for not taking anything stronger than a extra strength Tylenol and still going to meetings to help with that urge. Now with July coming to an end he had his second surgery and according to the doctor everything was looking good. They told him he might have a limp once he got to use the cane, but it could be worked on in physical therapy. They saw no reason why he wouldn't be back to normal by the time Christmas came around. While parts of his personal life had been upended, his professional life was turned on its head.

After the attack on Hotch, Chief Strauss felt the need to interfere with the team again. She was questioning everything Hotch said and did. She felt that Hotch should take a leave of absence. In the end it was agreed that Hotch would step down and that Morgan would take his place. It wasn't a bad thing that Morgan was in charge, but even Spencer could tell that he felt odd giving Hotch orders. They were no closer to finding Foyet despite their best efforts so Haley and Jack were still in hiding. Even though he was showing no outward signs of depression or any feeling other than determination, Spencer imagined that Hotch was missing his son a great deal and missing Haley to a lesser extent.

"Hey Earth to Dr. Reid," said Catherine.

"Sorry I zoned out," signed Spencer.

"Clearly," Emily's phone rang and it was JJ with a case. "Enjoy your time off, see you next week." Emily walked out the room and Catherine turned to Spencer.

"Did I mention the Twilight movies?" Spencer glared at her and she laughed. "Yeah I figured that would be your response."

"No more shiny vampires...please."

"No more shiny vampires," agreed Catherine. Catherine left to go teach her afternoon summer school class and Spencer thought about what else had happened over the past few months. He got a letter from his father asking if he and Catherine would like to come out for the Fourth of July. Spencer was in no shape to be stuck on a cramped commercial flight for three hours so he had to turn his father down, but he was touched by the offer. However, his father had made no effort to come out here to see them. He really hadn't told his mother about his getting shot, it would upset her too much and he didn't want to do that. He was almost finished with his BA in Philosophy and Catherine was insisting that he have a real graduation party this time, he had never had one before.

The ring still sat in his drawer at work and Spencer found that he couldn't work up the nerve now. He had been so ready to do so and than his accident happened and seeing what was going on with Hotch was just icing on the cake. Spencer couldn't imagine how he would be if he had to send Catherine away so that she would be safe. If we don't catch Foyet, Hotch might never see Jack again...we just have nothing to go on. When Catherine came back a few hours later they had dinner and Spencer leaned over and kissed her.

"Thank you."

"For what?" she asked.

"For being here...really I don't think I could have gotten through this summer without you."

"I couldn't let you wheel yourself around," she joked and than she saw how serious Spencer looked. "Hey, what's up?"

"It's just, you know most people would have ran screaming from this a long time ago."

"I'm not most people you know."

"No. No you're not and that really means a lot. I just want you to know that." He squeezed her hand and Catherine felt frozen in place. I swear to god if he asks me to marry him here in this room I will either faint or smack him for asking me here in a hospital.

"I'm sorry that I can't sneak you with me to California," signed Spencer.

"I really had no desire to sit in a classroom and look at brain scans," signed Catherine. Spencer shook his head, he loved her dearly but her lack of interest in this topic made him sad. The rest of the night went by and he told her to go home and get some sleep. She kissed him good bye and left the hospital. She got in her car and just shook her head. God I'm turning into a spaz, I really thought he was going to ask me. It wasn't a big deal really she was fine with the state of their relationship, but still she couldn't help but wonder what he had planned for New York. They canceled their trip, due to his injury and he seemed more disappointed than she thought he would be.

What is going on in that head of yours Spencer Reid?

…...

Catherine sat down with her lunch tray across from Emily.

"No JJ or Garcia?" asked Catherine.

"JJ is buried in case work up to her eyeballs and Garcia is helping a new tech set up a new system. So it's just us today. You enjoying your freedom from Reid this weekend?" teased Emily.

"Oh it's nothing but pizza and horrible chick flicks." Catherine took a bite of salad and the two chatted back and forth for about an hour. Emily noticed that Catherine seemed slightly distracted and down about something.

"Hey, you ok. You don't seem like yourself?" asked Emily.

"Can I ask you something and not seem a total loser?"

"Sure." Catherine considered what she was going to say.

"I got reminded today of a really lame bet I made with another teacher at the Union meeting today. Spencer was going to take me to New York over the summer and everyone at school was sure it was because he was going to pop the question. So a teacher made the wager that I would come back from summer break engaged and if not she would chaperone any trip I needed. Well..." Catherine held up her left hand and it was bare.

"I sort of won...I got my chaperone, but I don't know Em. I like my relationship the way it is with Spencer and I know he has a lot going on right now. But ever once in awhile I get marriage envy and I know it's silly. I'm not one of those women that need the marriage and the big wedding. But, it would be nice to be considered for the role."

Oh Reid you big dope, why haven't you asked her yet? Than again after everything that had happened over the past few months and seeing what Hotch was going through he was probably terrified of the idea of asking her. He's thinking of everything he could lose if one thing at work goes wrong

"Trust me...I'm not even seeing anyone and yet every time I see another woman with a ring on I want snatch it from her and wear it. I watch Say Yes to the Dress and drool, it's something in our heads that is just drawn to that stuff. They really should do brain scans of women fighting wedding envy," joked Emily. "You're not any different from any other woman in a serious relationship. Trust me when I say that you're not a loser, you just want what everyone is tell you is normal. Sadly, the job that Spencer and I picked takes us so far from normal it's unreal." Catherine held up her cup and mocked toasted Emily.

"To the not normal," she said. Emily toasted her back. They finished up their lunch and they were heading back to their cars. "Oh hey, we got a new Econ teacher. He's not to bad on the eyes and he is very normal. I can put some feelers out for you," signed Catherine.

"I'm gonna pass on the that for that for now," signed Emily and Catherine looked at her stunned.

"Oh come on. I really want new people to double with. I love Will, JJ and Garcia...I'm learning to like Kevin, but really I need new people that will handle Spencer's rambling."

"The offer is tempting, but right now everything is too crazy for me to be with a nice, normal, Econ teacher. Hopeful he's still be around when things settle down," signed Emily. Catherine looked at her, it was something about the way she was signing and her body language.

"Are you...you're seeing someone aren't you?"she teased.

"No," said Emily and Catherine just smirked.

"You are just keeping it on the down low. Not that I blame you. Just be happy that it's me and not Garcia. She would find him and track him down the end of the world. Just tell me he's not married or 'separated'."

"I'm not seeing anyone and if I was they would most defiantly not be married or 'separated'," signed Emily annoyed. Catherine just grinned and waved her good bye to Emily. Emily shook her head. She spends why to much time with Spencer, her skills of profiling are getting too good.

…...

"What's this?" asked Spencer noticing the long box on the table when he came home. Catherine looked up from her paperwork.

"A present from my dad and Erin." Spencer took the box and sat down. He opened it up and inside was a dark brown wooden cane with a craved bird head.

"My dad says it belong to Erin's grandfather. Since you won't let me and Garcia get you a really cool cane. I figured you might like this one instead." It wasn't too heavy and it wasn't too short. He sat his crutch down and picked up the cane. He stood up carefully and started to walk with it. His knee was still a little sore, but he felt ok walking with the cane.

"It has the added bonus of being a beat stick," signed Catherine.

"This is really nice of them. I'll have to call them later and thank them. You wanna go for a walk?" Catherine sat her paperwork down and put on her sneakers. Spencer decided to try out the cane for a trial run. They headed out and starting walking towards a nearby park.

"So how were the brain scans?" asked Catherine.

"Terrifying and informative," he signed.

"You and your hobbies." They walked across the park and came across a bunch of people playing chess. "You used to play all the time. I know I suck at it this game, but I never really thought to ask why you don't play anymore."

"After Gideon left I just didn't wanna play anymore. It just wasn't the same." The thrill of it was just gone, it was the same thing over and over again.

"You wanna whoop my ass for old time sakes?"

"I whoop you at almost everything." Catherine looked up at him and just gave him that look that spelled trouble.

"Seriously...come down here so I can physically whoop your ass." Spencer just grinned and took her hand.

"I'm sorry."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah...you're gonna be sorry." They were halfway across the park and she felt his grip get a little tighter on her hand.

"Hey Catherine." He stopped and she looked up at him.

"Yeah." He suddenly couldn't say what he wanted to say. The box was in his pocket and all he had to was ask the question. "What." He looked like he was on the verge of having a panic attack of some sort and than he just shook his head, looked away and than looked back down at her.

"Nothing. I love you." he kissed her forehead.

"I think I lost count around thirty," teased Catherine.

"I think this is forty two." They finished the walk around the park and headed home.

"So Emily is hiding a boyfriend from Garcia and everyone else," signed Catherine.

"Really?" asked Spencer.

"Yeah...I think she's trying to avoid the stalking incident I had."

"Garcia has no regrets about that."

"Of course not."

…...

Emily knocked on the door and waited for an answer. She heard the footsteps and than a few seconds she later she heard the sounds of a deadbolt and a chain being undone. Hotch stood in the doorway.

"You shouldn't be here,"he said.

"I know," said Emily.

"If he sees you here..." Emily cut him off.

"I don't care...can I come in." Hotch looked down and was torn.

"We never should have started this." It had started shortly after she and Reid had come back from Colorado. Hotch had insisted on driving her home and than refused to leave her alone. She knew that he heard Cyrus beating her and he wouldn't stop looking at face.

"I'm sorry," said Hotch.

"For what?" she asked sitting down.

"I could have called an attack on the compound sooner and I couldn't."

"And you would have risked everyone else in there. It had to be done...I'm ok Hotch and I would do it again. Cyrus would have killed Reid outright and there was no way I could have gotten the rapport with him that Reid did and Reid wouldn't have been able to get the rapport with Jessica's mother the way I did. We saved a lot lives by what we did."

"I couldn't it do it because..." started Hotch

"Don't say it..." said Emily. Hotch turned and looked at her and in that moment the whole dynamic of their relationship changed. They never said anything after it happened, they agreed to never talk about it and that it shouldn't happen again. It did though when they came back from Georgia and Emily had been forced to deal with sleaze ball Viper, and it happened again when they came back from Texas and dealing with the killer call girl.

"What are we doing?" asked Emily when he was getting ready to leave after in the morning. Hotch sat on the foot of her bed buttoning up his shirt.

"I don't know...what do you think we're doing?"

"I think we're toeing the line between causal hook ups and a relationship." Hotch nodded. "This is convenient for the both of us, we each get something we want and it's no strings attached."

"Do you want the strings attached?" asked Hotch.

"We're not ready to have the strings attached," said Emily and Hotch agreed. They told no one and it was rare that they would stay the night when it was over. Things came to a halt after the attack on Hotch. That night in the hospital after JJ, Morgan and Rossi left Emily stayed behind for a few more moments.

"We...it..." said Hotch.

"We said no strings," said Emily and Hotch nodded. They stopped, everything stopped: the after case dinners, the talks, the sex. Emily found herself missing Hotch, she was worried about him and the fact that they couldn't talk hurt. Way to go Emily...the strings are attached.

Hotch kept looking at her confused.

"I won't stay the night," said Emily. Hotch opened the door and let Emily in.

In the end, who among us does not choose to be a little less right to be a little less lonely. Robert Brault

Notes- Ep's used- The Performer, Outfoxed, Minimal Loss, 52 Pickup and Pleasure is my Business.

I can see Reid hating Twilight with a passion. I'm sorry to anyone who likes Twilight, it's just not my cup of tea. The cane can be seen a few times in 100 and Slave of Duty, it does look awesome.

Emily seemed more worried about Hotch in Nameless, Faceless than anyone else on the team...I'm just saying. Love it, Hate it. Review it.