"What is a friend? A single soul dwelling in two bodies."
Aristotle

Daisy sat quietly on the jet, an open but unread book in front of her. Spencer watched her warily from his seat across from her. Spencer did not have to be a profiler to know that Daisy was mad at him. Her body was angled away from him, eyes narrowed down at the paper but eyes that did not scan the words, an uneven way to her breath. He also did not need to be a profiler to know why Daisy was mad at him.

Hotch had already given him an undressing about his tactic with Owen Savage, about going in to confront him with no gun and vest, creating danger for others and mostly himself. Spencer knew that it was only through sheer audacity that Spencer had been allowed to keep his job. Hotch knew it wasn't in his character to do something like this, that this was something unexpected. And Spencer also knew his mind was too much of an asset, and though he didn't take advantage of it often, he knew that he could afford to push the envelope just a little bit.

But with Daisy, there was no envelope to push. Nothing to say that could explain or excuse what he had done. He knew of all people that Daisy would understand what he did. She had been through the same level of torment in school, that her mind was so exceptional that no one could understand her, and she had stuck out like a sore thumb.

He had thought she would be one to understand and not be angry with him, but the moment he had turned around to see her, Daisy's face was red as a beet from her angry flush, her hands balled into fists. Daisy was furious, that much was clear. And Spencer was unsure how to cross the bridge of silence that Daisy had built in the heat of her anger. What words would pay the passage fee to get her back to him.

After the jet, the ride to their apartment was silent. It had seemed such an amazing idea, to just ride together to work, seeing as they were coming from the same place anyway. No need to add extra pollution to the air and take up extra space in the bureau parking lot. Neither of them had been convinced that any ride they shared would be awkward or strained, as how could it be? They were of one mind, they hardly ever disagreed. Especially since they had started teetering on the edge of something more, it had become almost impossible to think that they would not get along.

But yet, here they were. Because Spencer had messed up.

The minute they pulled into the parking lot and were stopped, Daisy was out of the car. Spencer hadn't even put on the brake yet and she was out and running into the building, her bag swishing behind her and feet pitter-pattering across the concrete in fast steps.

Spencer sat in the car for a long moment, just staring at where she went, dumbfounded. How was he going to fix this? How was he going to get his friend back? He had a feeling a simple apology would not be enough. There was more to this than he could see.

Eventually, he stepped out of the car, slamming the door behind him and headed up to the apartment. By time he got to the apartment, Daisy had already closed herself off in her room, her bag on the hook by the door and her shoes in the shoe rack they kept.

Spencer sighed and walked to her door, not bothering to remove his shoes but dropping his bag by his door. He knocked on the door softly, lowly, so quietly it was uncertain if his knocks could be heard.

"Daisy," he said through the door, "please talk to me."

Spencer heard humming from the other side of the door, and the sound of Daisy knocking around her room. She had heard him; she was just ignoring him.

"I know you can hear me," Spencer accused. "I'm trying to apologize."

Daisy stopped in her room, and then he heard movement and then the door was opened. Daisy stood before him, still dressed in her flowered sweater and dark yellow skirt, her hair still up despite the hairbrush in her right hand.

"Then let's hear it." Daisy crossed her arms. "Say you're sorry."

Spencer hesitated despite his insistence he wanted to apologize, feeling all of the sudden that this wasn't about an apology. Daisy wanted something more. Something he didn't know. It seemed he hesitated too long, as Daisy went to shut the door.

"Wait!"

Spencer slipped inside before the door could shut completely. He leaned back against the doorway, as if repealed by the stern glare she was giving him.

Spencer had only been allowed in Daisy's room a precious few times. Daisy was protective of her personal space, of what she called hers. It was a byproduct of her childhood – nothing was private in her home and every mistake she made was liable to get the response of abuse. Now, what was hers was hers, she only let those in she deemed trustworthy. Her twin, Drew, was able to enter any time he was here. Hotch was able to ask questions about her life. And Spencer…Spencer existed in a strange state of being allowed but not one to use it.

"I'm sorry," Spencer blurted out. "I'm sorry I put myself in Owen Savage's line of fire, I'm sorry for almost getting myself hurt."

Daisy scoffed and dropped her hairbrush on her bed, the item dipping on the pink duvet.

"Hurt?" Daisy said. "Hurt? Spencer, you could have died."

Spencer was liable to disagree. He knew what to say to talk Owen down. Behavior science was not exact – but he had been Owen Savage before. He had lived the life of an outcast. Lived the life of the person no one wanted to be friends with. And Daisy had lived it too. Both of them would have been able to empathize with Owen on a level none of the team could have. Spencer felt like he was never in mortal danger, or he wouldn't have done it.

"But I didn't."

Daisy laughed under her breath and rolled her eyes, crossing her arms as she stared up at him. Even though she was a whole foot shorter than him, she still had the power to intimidate him when she was like this.

"Like that has anything to do with this," Daisy seethed. Spencer sucked in a breath and straightened up, frowning down at his best friend in frustration.

"Then what is it about, Daisy?" Spencer asked.

"It's about the fact that you think your life is worth less than everyone else's!"

Daisy bit her lip and looked up at the sky, unable to look at him. Spencer stared at her shock unsure how to respond to that.

"Yo-you're my best friend, Spencer Reid," Daisy said. "And-and the fact that you parade around, put-putting yourself in danger? Acting like me and everyone else won't miss you or –" Daisy's breath caught and tears collected in her eyes. She reached up and put her hands on his chest, resting them there as she looked back down at their feet. Spencer's own breath caught in his throat at the touch, a thin line of red coloring behind his ears.

"I could not have survived, if you had died."

It was an admission, a dangerous one that pulled them closer to the edge they teetered closer and closer to everyday. She was his friend, his best friend, and as the days passed that label became less and less adept to describe what she was to him. Whatever they were, it was not friends alone anymore, it was something more. Deeper. He knew that, but he not expected that to lead to this reaction from Daisy. He had thought it would make her more likely to understand what he had done, not upset by it. Maybe she had understood but was upset regardless.

Spencer was unsure what to say back. How did he explain that this was something he had to have done? That he was trying to save a life? That he couldn't stand to see another child die in front of him, even a child that had committed atrocities like Owen Savage had. It wasn't about him.

"I never meant to make you feel this way Daisy," Spencer started, slowly, unsurely, "but I-I had to try and save that kid. I-I had to try."

Daisy shut her eyes, still not removing her hands from his chest. She curled her hands, taking in fistfuls of his sweater.

"Tell me you won't do that again," Daisy whispered. "Tell me you won't do something stupid like this again."

To save a child? To try and stop a life from being lost? He would do it again. There was no doubt in his mind that he would, no matter what he told Hotch or Daisy. But to Daisy, he could lie as easily as he could to Hotch. Because Daisy, no matter how he sliced it, would always mean more to him than Hotch.

"I can't," Spencer said. "I can't tell you that."

Daisy stayed where she was for a long moment, keeping her shut gaze forward. Spencer reached and took her hands off of her chest. He held them tightly in his own, squeezing them as a reminder that he was here, and he still had things to say to her.

"What I can promise is that I'll never do this without telling you first." Spencer let go of one of her hands and reached to push a strand of her red bangs behind her ear. "I promise that we will share the risk, okay?"

Daisy kept her eyes shut, and he could see tears beginning to streak out onto her cheeks. Spencer felt his heart sink into his stomach. He never wanted to make her cry.

Then she opened her eyes and gave him a weak smile.

"Okay."


Chapter Bible Verse:

"That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care for one another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular." - 1 Corinthians 12:25-27

Reviews are much appreciated! Have a blessed day!

-PrincessChess