Following the dinner celebration, Derek, Luke, Penelope, Emily, and Spencer decided to head to a local bar for libations. The love his team, his family, offered him and his unborn son had lifted his spirits immensely. He wasn't ready to give that up yet and go home to Lacy.
Within just one hour, everyone was bordering on different levels of drunkenness. Penelope was having the time of her life sandwiched between Luke and Derek as they danced. Spencer even allowed Emily to drag him to the dance floor, where he let loose and actually danced moderately well.
There was a lot of laughter had by all and they reluctantly left the bar around 1am. Emily and Spencer shared a cab, since both were too wasted to drive. When the cab pulled up to Emily's place, Spencer slid out behind her, handing the driver some bills.
"How are you gonna get home?" Emily said giggling as the cab drove off.
"I have no desire to get home any time soon. I'll walk from here," he said with a grin.
"Spence, that'll take you like an hour," she said as they approached her building.
The doorman swung open the glass door and smiled at the two of them.
"Welcome home, Madame Prentiss," the man said tipping his head down slightly. "Pleasure to see you, Dr. Reid."
"Frank, I keep telling you, call me Emily."
"Hi Frank," Spencer said with his usual wave. "How's Lydia?"
"Doing well, sir," Frank said with a smile.
"Have a safe night, Frank," Emily replied as they hurried into the building.
"You as well," Frank said as the door closed behind them.
They were quiet on the ride up to her floor. Emily fumbled with her keys, finally unlocking her door as Spencer teased her for being so drunk. Once her door was opened, she leaned on the frame and stared back at Spencer, who was smiling at her.
"Thank you for everything today," he said. "It turned out to be a great night."
"Especially for Garcia," Emily said as they both chuckled at their friend.
There was a moment of silence as she ducked her head shyly. When she looked back up through her lashes, Spencer had moved closer.
"Seriously, Em," he said as he grabbed her hand in his, threading their fingers. "You are amazing, and I truly can't thank you for saving today."
"It's what you both deserved," she said softly.
He leaned forward, their breath hitching as their foreheads pressed together. Spencer closed his eyes as his hand slid up to cradle the side of Emily's face.
"Why can't it be you," he whispered sadly.
Emily felt the familiar ache in her chest at his words. She wanted to tell him it could be her. That he could just leave her, but she knew he wouldn't. He would never leave his child. Especially alone with Lacy.
"Spencer …" she breathed out in warning.
"I need you, Em," he said hungrily.
She knew it was more than a hunger for sex. It was a hunger for affection and love. He needed her decency. He needed her kindness and her comfort. He needed everything Lacy wasn't. She ached to give it to him, but it was still wrong. At the end of the day, he would leave her to go home to Lacy and it hurt her to know that. He was still choosing Lacy over her.
She placed her hand on his chest and dipped her head to avoid the lips that cried out for her touch. It would be so easy to give in. How badly she wanted to give in. To let him have her any way he wanted. But the absence following would be crippling.
"I can't," she managed to breath out.
Spencer nodded his understanding. It was selfish of him to ask her to be a side piece, though she was so much more than that to him. He stepped back, instantly missing their closeness.
"I'm sorry," he said looking down in shame.
He felt her hand lifting his chin. Her eyes glittering with alcohol and sadness.
"It's ok," she said softly.
He nodded, though he still felt awful. As he trudged to the elevator, he heard her call out for him to text her that he made it home safe. He agreed, but never does. After that night, he decided the right thing to do was let Emily go. He chose his path and forcing Emily to watch it was selfish. She deserved happiness. Something he would no longer be able to provide her. As much as it pained him, excruciatingly so, he put up a wall to block her out.
(xxxxx)
Emily tried texting Spencer a few times over the remainder of the weekend with no response. She figured Lacy must've given him an earful regarding his disappearance on Saturday. On Monday, he arrived at work looking exhausted. He was cordial but avoided conversations all day.
By the end of the week, everyone was worried about him. He hadn't been himself at work, arriving exactly at 9am and leaving exactly at 5pm. He spent a lot of time by himself in the conference room, focused on cold cases or assisting other precincts with case recommendations. He brought lunch, avoiding going out with the team and when Penelope invited him for drinks that Friday night, he declined.
Emily lingered at the end of the day, hoping to catch him alone for a few minutes. When she spotted him heading to the elevators, she grabbed her things and hurried after him. When she reached his side, he glanced at her, offering a tight-lipped smile that was purely for show.
"Big plans tonight?" she said trying to strike up a conversation.
"Not really," he said as they waited for the elevator.
"Oh, I thought since you couldn't go out with us –" she started.
"Not couldn't," he interrupted. "Just don't want to."
"Oh," she said surprised by his coldness.
The elevator pinged open and they stepped on together. There was an awkward moment of silence before Emily turned to face Spencer, though he continued to stare straight ahead.
"Are you ok?" she said hesitantly as the doors closed. "You've been off all week."
"I'm fine. Just been busy," he stated.
"Busy? With what?" she said furrowing her brows.
"Work," he said in a 'duh' tone.
The elevator reached its destination. Spencer headed out first, leaving Emily stunned behind him. She quickly regained her senses and hurried after him.
"Spence, wait," she said grabbing his shoulder.
He spun to look at her. The look of annoyance was shocking to her.
"What's going on? Did I do something?" she asked confused.
"No, Emily. I told you I was busy," he said rolling his eyes.
"I work the same job you do, Spencer. You were no busier than the rest of us," she said getting irritated with his attitude. "Is it because of last weekend? Are you mad at me for saying no?"
"Stop," he snapped. "It has nothing to do with you, ok? The world doesn't revolve around you."
"Fuck you," she growled. "I never said it did, but you are clearly angry with me and the only thing I can assume is that you're pissed that I didn't sleep with you."
"Yes Emily, that's it. I have been angry all week because you didn't have sex with me. You are a fantastic profiler," he said sarcastically.
Emily let out a humorless laugh.
"I don't know what crawled up your ass and made you such a dick, but whatever your problem is, I don't deserve this," she said angrily.
"My problem is you not minding your own business. I'm sorry I didn't fawn over you all week at work. It doesn't mean there's something wrong with me," he said folding his arms across his chest.
"Wow," Emily said floored by his words. "All this time, I thought you could do better than Lacy. You're actually perfect for one another. Have fun tripping over each other's egos the rest of your life."
She stormed off in the direction of her car, when Spencer called out her name. She turned to see him watching her with a sickening smirk on his lips.
"Jealousy doesn't look good on you," he snarled.
She turned without a word and disappeared from his sight. Her stomach churning as she hustled to her car. Once inside, she let down her guard as a sob ripped from her throat. She covered her mouth as her hands shook.
What had happened to him? This wasn't her Spencer. Was Lacy actually making an impact on him? Was he turning into her? Whatever it was, his words hurt deeply. If he was looking to hurt her, he had succeeded. When she looked up, she saw him staring at her from his car. His face blank at it watched her.
Of course, he parked near her. She hardened her expression, eyes burning with anger. She started her car, reversed quickly from her parking space, and raced off. She refused to let him think he broke her. If he wanted to be like that, two could play at that game.
(xxxxx)
A/N: Thank you to everyone reading this story! The comments have been so amazing, I can't begin to tell you how it makes me feel! You guys are awesome! It looks like Tuesdays and Thursdays will be my days to update my stories from this point forward due to my work schedule. But I will do my best to post as often as possible! Let me know what you think and thanks again! xoxo