(Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds or its characters)

I have to interrupt your regularly scheduled fluff with some good ole angst. Oops. I slipped.

This chapter is shorter because there's too many feels.

Thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter.

Previously:

"Yea, well she's right about a lot of things too. Erin would love to hear you say that you know."

Spencer snuggled further into his bed. "Oh, she knows."

"Spencer, do you feel like you need to come anymore?"

The eight-year-old sat awkwardly opposite shrugged, a sheepish smile on his lips.

"I'm not sure."

"How do you feel?"

"Good... really good. I'm climbing grades and Dad... well, he's great."

Spencer raised his head and smiled. The therapist smiled back and nodded.

"And you're not having bad feelings anymore?"

"Sometimes but only like... maybe once a week and I talk to dad every time I feel that way."

"That's good, that's really good, Spencer. What was your father saying last week about high school?"

"Oh! My school thinks I could graduate in five years. He's not sure but that would mean I could start doing PhDs and-"

"Wow, you've got it all planned, Spencer."

Spencer closed his mouth and nodded softly.

"I think we should spread our sessions out more. Maybe once every few months or you could just come in when you need me. You're a very strong boy."

"Thank you."

Spencer walked out of his therapy session and looked up to the sky, breathing in deeply and grinning.

His dad's car was waiting for him on the curb and he sprinted over, a smile still on his face.

When he hopped in beside his dad he dropped his bag and buckled in. He glanced at his father who turned his face quickly and released the handbrake.

"Daddy?"

"D-did Erin pack you lunch?"

Spencer scowled as his father drove a short way down the street and indicated into a parking lot.

"Um, yea. I had a sleepover at her house and she took me to school early this morning. I got to go to breakfast club. How was the case? Um... Where are we going?"

Dave parked up the car and shut off the engine. He brushed a thumb under his eyes before turning to Spencer.

"Dad?"

"Spencer... khm, I uh, there's something I have to tell you."

"Aaron... can't we just."

"No. No-one but us can know."

"Not even the kids? It'll devastate them, especially Spencer... he's lost enough."

Aaron shook his head and sighed. "We can't risk it. I'm sorry, Jennifer."

"He's doing so well. This could set Spencer back."

"Dave will handle it."

JJ pursed her lips tightly, her eyes glancing around the room.

"It's just... not fair," she muttered and Aaron nodded sympathetically.

"At least she's alive."

JJ met Aaron's eyes again and she shrugged. "Yet we're the only ones who know."

His chest was so tight. He had to press his palm against it as his breaths seized up into sharp gusts.

It hurt. His insides. There was no scientific explanation but it felt like something was being torn from inside him and it was killing him.

"Spencer."

Spencer dropped his eyes and tried to suck in a real breath but as it went in Spencer choked back on a sob. It was a raw cry that made Dave turn his head toward the window and will tears back into his eyes.

"Mmmmmrrrm, nooooo," Spencer wailed. He breathed in slowly as his back shook and the news hit him again and his control was gone. He leaned over and screamed, crying 'no,' over and over and just letting his nose run with his tears onto the car's carpeted floor.

"Oh, Kiddo," sighed Dave and he tugged Spencer into a bear hug.

"It hurts!"

"I know it does."

"I want it t-to go a-aw-ay! Daddy, ma-make i-it go away!"

Dave clung to his son and squeezed his eyes shut. "I can't. I'm so sorry, I can't, Spence, I just can't."

It took an hour for Dave to have the courage to drive again.

Even then his hands shook heavily and he glanced back at Spencer every few seconds as the boy stared ahead with wet, dead eyes, rocking slowly back and forth in his seat.

Dave pulled up to the house in silence and he and Spencer got out and wandered to the front door.

Dave got his keys out with a shaky hand and unlocked the door as soon as it was open Spencer hurried inside and started toward his bedroom.

"Kiddo, wait."

Dave shut the door while Spencer froze partway down the hall.

Dave went to him and turned him around. They met eyes and Dave had to look away as his own eyes started to fill. He felt arms around him and when he looked down with blurred vision, he saw Spencer hugging him, his small face hidden in Dave's shirt.

Spencer held back a sob as his father leaned down to hug him, the older man unable to control his own sobs. Spencer had never seen his father cry, at least he didn't think he had and the image made his insides churn and his skin go cold.

It was real. His dad was crying and it just confirmed it.

Emily was really dead.

"I'm sorry," Dave whispered. Spencer shook his head in the fabric of his father's shirt.

"I-I'm sorry you were there," Spencer said in a muffled voice. Dave pulled in a shaky breath and pressed his chin atop of Spencer's head as he recalled sitting in that hospital when JJ came in and... told them.

They were so wrapped in their embrace that neither heard Mudgie's clumsy paws on the floor. Soon enough a wet nose forced itself between Dave and Spencer, demanding attention.

Spencer giggled forlornly and released his dad in order to wrap his arms around Mudgie's neck.

"Hey Boy," chuckled Dave. He patted the Labrador's head softly as the dog sniffed at Spencer's hair.

The Italian straightened and looked down at his son and his dog with a sad smile. He felt his eyes soften at the thought of his fallen teammate so he clapped his hands together and forced on a happy face.

"How a-about we watch a movie? Just us three, with a blanket, popcorn, we could get out that ice cream we've been saving."

It nearly broke Dave's heart when Spencer raised his head. His cheeks and eyes were red raw, his hair tousled and tangled and his demeanor limp with loss.

"Okay," he mumbled, pushing his nose against Mudgie's ear, clinging to his familiar scent.

"You can pick the movie too. And Mudge can sit on the couch."

Instantly the dog's tail began to wag and he staggered over to Dave, his eyes bright as he gazed up.

Spencer pulled himself off his knees, his eyes on the ground. "Okay," he whispered.

They watched two movies, both kid movies with happy endings.

Eventually, Spencer sat up and muttered something about bed.

Dave nodded and patted his son's back. He waited for around ten minutes until the silence became unbearable and he went to tuck Spencer in.

He found the boy sat on the floor by his bed, several picture frames in front of him.

Dave leaned into the door frame and watched tears roll down Spencer's cheeks as he clung to each frame.

"What are those?"

Spencer looked up and wiped his tears hastily. "They're of Auntie Em," he said quietly, setting one down and reaching for another.

"Course they are," muttered Dave as he stepped forward. He smiled at Spencer and the boy shuffled up to give him room to sit on the carpet too. Dave sat down and put an arm around Spencer, pulling him in close.

He scanned the pictures of Emily and laughed at the one Spencer was holding.

"Oh, I remember that day."

Spencer looked a little bewildered but he followed his father's eyes down to his lap where he was holding a picture of Emily reluctantly pushing Spencer and Michael on the swings, alternating between the two. The picture had been captured just as she left Michael's swing and she was glaring at the camera with an unamused look while Spencer and Michael wore twin smiles.

Spencer gave a half smile and pressed the photo into his chest before setting it down gently. Dave watched him and rubbed his back.

"I miss her already, daddy."

Dave pursed his lips together and gave a curt nod.

"Me too, kiddo."

"I love you."

Dave looked down at Spencer with a surprised expression. "I love you too."

"Y-you won't leave me... right, dad?"

"Not for a long time. C'mere."

Dave fell asleep a short while later with Spencer in his lap and photos scattered around them.

Unbeknownst to them, Emily Prentiss had just opened her eyes in her hospital bed.

Thanks for reading. As you know Emily isn't really dead but I wanted to follow some of the actual storylines from the show.

Next chapter might be Spencer's salty reaction to finding out JJ and Aaron lied about Emily.

Who knows ;)

Thanks for reading. Please review.