Disclaimer: I don't own Criminal Minds. The occasional scenes from episodes of Criminal Minds in this story belong to the writers of Criminal Minds and CBS. No copyright infringement intended.
A/N: fishtrek, criminalmindsrocks, Astrahan, msladyaries08, and Fashionista7 for reviewing chapter 12.
Aside from my date going well and my boyfriend and I are Facebook official, I can use some positive thoughts right now since my 75-year-old grandmother who has watched Criminal Minds since the beginning has been diagnosed with lung cancer. This grandmother has helped me brainstorm for this story when we talk on the phone when I'm waiting for the city bus has been diagnosed with lung cancer. This grandmother has lived in various states and even lived in Japan during the Korean War, so I enjoy hearing stories about her childhood as a Navy Brat.
Five Days Later
A tired Spencer who had his glasses perched on his nose was sitting up in his hospital bed after having an exhausting phone call with his mother when a knock sounded on the door causing him to smile a bit as he saw his 25-week pregnant wife for the first time since the brief reunion they were allowed to have before he started to go through withdrawal and spending the first day after withdrawal getting food into his stomach, talking to a Bureau psychologist who flew down from Quantico to talk to him, and getting some much-needed rest after going through Dilaudid withdrawal, "I'm sorry for the stress I put you under the past week and that we have to spend our first Valentine's Day together in the hospital in two days," said Spencer.
Maeve took her husband's hand, "You never knew that you were going to be ambushed by the unsub. What matter is that you're alive and you'll eventually be back to your old self with the help of family, friends, professionals, and me," said Maeve before rubbing her 25-week pregnant belly, "I talked to a therapist while you were going through withdrawals and she told me that Violet and Arthur will be the reasons why we'll get through this obstacle together."
"Even though I'll never forget everything that happened to me last week, hopefully, I can be most likely be back to my old self by the time of your planned c-section in 13 weeks," said Spencer.
"At least you'll be off of work until March 26th to work on recovering while I already started maternity leave," said Maeve.
"Why are you on maternity leave now?" asked Spencer.
"The next couple of months of helping you manage post-traumatic stress disorder will be stressful for me, so Dr. Gilbert and the gynecologist that your aunt forced me to see while you were going through withdrawals recommended that I start maternity leave now," said Maeve before giving her husband a serious look, "Speaking of your recovery, when you're discharged in two days we're going to be going to Sedona, Arizona for a few weeks."
"Why?" asked Spencer.
"Your Aunt Erin and one of the directors decided to send you to one of the Sedona Hope Rehabilitation Clinic. It's one of the best physical and emotional care facilities in the country for government agents, police officers, and servicemen and servicewomen who were injured in the line of duty. Aside from you having physical therapy and talking to a psychologist, you'll be able to spend all the time you want outdoors and they have stables for horseback riding," said Maeve.
"After being handcuffed to a chair in a cabin for two days and being here the past five days, time in the sun does sound good," said Spencer before thinking about being stuck in another hospital for a while, "Do you know how long I'll be there?" asked Spencer.
"You'll be there for a minimum of two weeks as long as you cooperate with the therapist that's assigned to you. I'll be allowed to visit you daily while Elle and I stay at a nearby hotel," said Maeve.
"Elle's coming with?" asked Spencer.
"She wants to return the favor for the help we gave her by helping us get through this," said Maeve.
"Has my teammates and Aunt Erin left for Quantico yet?" asked Spencer.
Maeve shook her head, "Your Aunt Erin is giving the entire team two weeks off after they watched you be physically and emotionally tortured. Everyone except Gideon and JJ agreed to stay here until you've been cleared for visitors."
"Knowing Gideon, he must feel guilty for antagonizing Hankel and can't face me right now," said Spencer.
"Your aunt and Hotch both chewed Gideon out for telling Penelope to send a virus alert," said Maeve before sighing, "JJ chose to go back to Quantico since she still refuses to be in the same room as me."
"Even though we've been married for 26 weeks, she's still having a hard time letting me go. If I talk about you, feeling the twins kick, what we did during the weekend, or what we have done for the nursery she just leaves the room. I have a feeling that she'll finally warm up to you when she finally moves on from me," said Spencer before wondering why none of his teammates or his aunt have come into the room, "Is there a one visitor at a time rule happening right now?" asked Spencer.
Maeve nodded, "Dr. Gilbert told everyone that only one person is allowed to visit one at a time. As your wife, everyone agreed that I should get to see you first."
Spencer looked at his wife's baby bump as he rested his hands on his wife's bump, "How are Violet and Arthur doing?" asked Spencer.
"They've been really worried about you and kicking a lot the past week, but they have finally calmed down since I entered this room," said Maeve.
"That's good," said Spencer before thinking that his teammates would want to see him soon, "Before one of my teammates or Aunt Erin come in here for their turn, may I tell you what happened?" asked Spencer.
"Please do so I can avoid saying or doing something that may cause you to have a flashback," said Maeve.
A few seconds later Spencer was telling his wife about Hotch almost sending him and JJ to interview the witness who turned out to be their unsub and his rescue.
Over an hour later, Maeve who had tears falling down her face looked at her husband who also had tears falling down his face, "What you went through is horrible, but as I said over an hour ago I'll be by your side while you recover while the upcoming births to Violet and Arthur give you something to look forward to," said Maeve.
"The therapist said the same thing," said Spencer.
At that moment Maeve checked her phone and shook her head as she saw multiple text messages from her husband's team asking her how much longer until they get a turn, "Your teammates are wanting to see you, so please pick who you want to see next."
"Can Hotch come in first?" asked Spencer.
"Yes," said Maeve as she kissed her husband who hasn't shaved for a week on the cheek, "I love you and I'll see you in a while."
"I love you too," said Spencer.
A few minutes later Hotch came into Spencer's hospital room, "How are you feeling?" asked Hotch.
"I'm grateful that I'm no longer going through withdrawal from Dilaudid since I'm able to stomach food and water again," said Spencer.
"That's good," said Hotch.
Spencer looked into his unit chief's eyes, "Thank you for realizing that I was drugged against my will."
"I already knew that Hankel was addicted to Dilaudid and your mother became a schizophrenic after being addicted to drugs in the 60s and 70s, so I wasn't going to let you go down that path since you're a married 25-year-old man who was going to be a father for the first time in less than 18-weeks," said Hotch.
"After Elle returned to work and was struggling until I told you about Elle's drinking, I promised Maeve that I would accept help if something ever happens to me. Plus, as a germaphobe, I never want to go through withdrawal again," said Spencer before thinking about his brief hug with Hotch as his way to thank Hotch for understanding his clues, "Thank you for understanding the clues I said during the live feed that Hankel streamed to you and the rest of the team."
"Misquoting that Bible verse and talking about poachers was very brilliant. I feel guilty about not getting there before you ended up killing Hankel on your own," said Hotch.
"It's OK. Maeve said that what matters is that I'm alive and with some time eventually I'll be back to my old self," said Spencer.
"Did Maeve tell you what's going to happen for the next few weeks?" asked Hotch.
Spencer nodded, "She did. I understand that I'm spending a few weeks in rehab since Hankel drugged me with a highly addictive drug and I need to accept a professional's help if I want to be back to my old self by the time Violet and Arthur are born. After spending two days in a cold shed, I do like the idea of spending a few weeks away from Washington D.C. and hopefully, I'll be able to see my mom before Maeve and I head back to D.C."
"Speaking of your mother, have you talked to your mother yet?" asked Hotch.
"I talked to her before Maeve came to visit me. Even though Hankel is dead, she wants someone to scratch Tobias Hankel's eyes out for her and send her Hankel's eyes," said Spencer.
"Morgan wanted Hankel's head on a stick," said Hotch.
"I'm not surprised. I briefly remember Morgan telling me that he's sorry for not keeping an eye on me when we heard those gunshots in Hankel's barn. I just hope that he's still not beating himself up over not making sure that I was behind him since Hankel took my gun and threatened me to kill everyone else and me if I didn't go with him," said Spencer.
"After everything that happened last week, we all talked to a therapist from the Atlanta Field Office," said Hotch before looking at the walking boot on Spencer's left foot as he thought about Dr. Gilbert telling everyone that Spencer's foot was swollen and tender from the beating his foot took, "How's your foot?" asked Hotch.
"I'll most likely be getting the cast removed tomorrow," said Spencer.
"That's good," said Hotch before standing up, "Everyone except Maeve and Elle will be flying back to Quantico tonight, so just focus on getting better so everyone at work has to watch out for flying film canisters in the bullpen."
Spencer's lips slightly curled up a bit, "I'll cooperate with the doctors who are in charge of my care in Sedona and when I return to D.C. so I can hopefully be back do doing physics magic in the bullpen by the end of March."
After Chief Strauss, Emily, Garcia, Morgan, and Elle took time to visit him, Maeve came into her husband's hospital room with a bag of Indian food, "I talked with Dr. Gilbert, and she told me about the nearest Indian food restaurant when I mentioned that I was craving for chicken tandoori and you loved chicken tandoori. She agreed that you can eat takeout since she and the nurses all stated that you need some fattening up," said Maeve.
"Some of the nurses commented that they wish that I was single," said Spencer.
"Some were jealous that I was married to you," said Maeve.
"Can I have some coffee yet?" asked Spencer.
Maeve shook her head, "Even though it's been a week since you last drank a mug of coffee, Dr. Gilbert said no coffee until you're discharged. Sleep is more important than coffee right now."
Spencer started to use his eyes on Maeve and begged, "Please."
Maeve shook her head, "I'm not going to give in. I'm practicing on saying no for when you teach Violet and Arthur how to use their eyes to get what they want," said Maeve as she started to set up their food, "Please eat so we can find a movie to watch before the nurses kick me out so I can sleep in a real bed."
A minute later Spencer and Maeve were eating their takeout while they saw that the 2006 movie "The Shaggy Dog" was playing causing them to debate if they ever want to get a cat or a dog.
Two evenings later, a freshly shaved Spencer who was wearing khaki pants and a purple dress shirt held a bouquet of roses that he bought at the gift shop smiled when Maeve who was now wearing a maternity dress entered his hospital room, "Happy Valentine's Day, Maeve," said Spencer.
Maeve smiled when she saw the bouquet of roses in her husband's hand while there was a jewelry box on his bedside table, "Thank you and you look fancy for someone who's supposed to be in the hospital until tomorrow."
Spencer's lips twitched up a bit, "Dr. Gilbert reminded me that it's Valentine's Day today and allowed me to dress in my usual clothes before she took me down to the gift shop to buy you flowers and a present."
Maeve looked at the board and saw the name of her husband's nurse for the day, "That was nice of Dr. Gilbert."
"Dr. Gilbert recently lost her husband of 30 years to leukemia, so she wanted to help me make today special for you since you almost lost me and we're flying to Arizona tomorrow morning," said Spencer before smiling a bit, "Dr. Gilbert told me that I can order takeout so we can have a sort of date in here. I already ordered takeout from Olive Garden and it should be here shortly."
Maeve rubbed her baby bump, "Did you order their spaghetti and meatballs for me?" asked Maeve.
"Yes," said Spencer as his phone vibrated, "It's the delivery person from Olive Garden."
Later on that evening Spencer and Maeve were eating the Olive Garden takeout that Spencer ordered for them before they watched "The Notebook" that was playing on the TV in Spencer's hospital room.
The next morning Maeve and Elle were working on unpacking the belongings that Maeve's parents shipped down to them while Spencer at lunch before talking with the psychologist that was assigned to him for the next two weeks before he was taken to his room for a nap because of being exhausted from traveling five hours and talking to his assigned psychologist 55-year-old Dr. Matilda Jones.
Three hours later, Spencer woke up from a nap and felt his glasses be handed to him, "Thank you."
"You're welcome, Spencer," said a voice that Spencer heard before.
Spencer's eyes went wide as his vision cleared as he recognized Deputy Director John Cooper, "Sir."
"You know who I am?" asked John.
Spencer nodded, "I know that you were one of the higher-ups who were part of signing the paperwork that allowed me to enter the academy when I was 21."
"I'm just here as John instead of Deputy Director John Cooper. Just never tell anyone including your aunt Erin that I was here," said John.
"What are you doing here?" asked Spencer.
"I read the report about the Hankel case while I heard that you'll be a father to twins in less than four months. Even though your unit chief realized that you were drugged against your will and you went through detox in the hospital, I want to give you this," said John as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a medallion, "That's my one-year medallion. It took me 6 years to get it. For the past 12 years, I've never left home without it. Because I know if I forget that, I'll lose my gun, my credentials, my home. Everything."
"It's your most prized possession," stated Spencer.
"It is," said John.
"You're just giving it to me?" asked Spencer.
"You're a 25-year-old who went through a trauma that no agent should ever go through, so I want to give you something to remind you that you're strong enough to not get addicted to Dilaudid and you have a place to go to when you're struggling with cravings for Dilaudid and need to talk to someone other than your wife," said John.
Spencer looked at the medallion and saw that it said Beltway Clean Cops, "Do you think I should go to these meetings?" asked Spencer.
"Yes," said John before looking at the nightstand that contained the most recent ultrasound photo of Arthur and Violet, "Are you scared about becoming a father?" asked John.
"I'm scared that I would end up like my father and leave my wife and children. When I was temporarily dead, I was standing in a bedroom that contained Maeve and our four-year-old twins Arthur and Violet talking about it me being the fifth anniversary of the day Hankel killed me while they kissed a photo of me too," said Spencer.
"That must have been hard to see," said John.
"The snapshot I had of the future scared me and I said that I wasn't ready to die yet and I have so much to do with my life," said Spencer.
"That's true. You're young, bright, and a great agent who has the potential to be the future of the Bureau or excel anywhere else if you decide that the F.B.I. isn't your endgame as a career," said John before thinking about projects he started after he sobered up, "Aside from spending time with Maeve and your future children, guest lecturing for Agent Alexandria Blake, publishing articles, playing chess, and reading what other hobbies do you have?" asked John.
"Why do you ask?" asked Spencer.
"As a way to stay sober, it's always a good idea to find an additional hobby to help reduce the cravings for Dilaudid," said John.
"Maeve got me a piano when my mother spilled the beans about having me take piano lessons as a kid when she had me play the piano at Bennington Sanitarium on Christmas Day," said Spencer.
"Music is good," said John.
"Ever since finding out that one of the twins is going to be a girl, I've been spending more time at the shooting range," said Spencer.
"All that additional practice helped save your life last week," said John.
"Which I'm glad about," said Spencer before thinking about the pool at his and Maeve's new house, "Aside from going on early morning jogs in my neighborhood and going horseback riding at a stable in Rock Creek Park, I've been swimming laps as often as I could in the in-ground swimming pool at Maeve's and my new house before we drained the pool for the winter."
"Swimming laps, running, and horseback riding is good," said John.
"I've been taking advantage of the pool at the academy when Maeve had to stay longer at Mendel University," said Spencer.
"As soon as one of the doctors here clears you for exercise, take advantage of the pool here," said John.
Spencer thought about the physical exam he had by one of the doctors when he arrived, "Dr. Ladwig said that my injuries are healed enough for me to exercise next week Monday. Aside from talking with Dr. Jones here, Dr. Ladwig just wants me to focus on resting, relaxing, and gaining five pounds before I'm discharged."
At that moment a dinner bell sounded causing John to stand up, "I should let you go eat dinner while I fly back to Washington D.C.," said John before shaking Spencer's hand, "It's been an honor to finally talk to you in person. Just keep on getting better and hopefully I see you at a Beltway Clean Cops meeting when you and Mrs. Reid return to D.C."
"Maeve's going to be eating dinner with Dr. Jones and me this evening so Dr. Jones can meet my wife, so I'll talk to Maeve about going," said Spencer.
A few minutes later one of the nurses was walking with Spencer to the cafeteria where Maeve, Elle, and his assigned psychologist Dr. Matilda Jones were waiting for him to eat dinner with them.
A/N: The second part of Spencer's recovery will be included in the next chapter.
