Spencer waited for three rings before the person picked up.
"It's one AM Reid," Derek Morgans's voice said over the phone, "is everything okay with Ellie?" He asked.
"Yes," Spencer said after a second of hesitation. "I'm having a problem," He said rushed.
"wha-" Morgan started, but couldn't finish because of Spencer.
"It's really stupid, I don't know why I called you." Spencer started and then he couldn't stop. " It's not like any good would come from this, I don't even know why I'm entertaining the thought. It can only end in disaster, and I have to think about Eleanor. This would really affect her, how would she react? Probably not good, she would probably hate me forever. I mean I can't just start seeing this woman. It wouldn't be good for her even if she could get over the fact of how broken I am, she would probably get in the crossfire of my hurt and that's just not fair to her -"
Spencer was cut off in his rambling by Morgan. "Hold up pretty boy," he said. "what woman are you talking about?"
Spencer gave a big sigh that Derek could practically feel from the other side of the phone.
"Her name is Gabrielle," Spencer said finally after a pause. "I met her at the coffee shop."
After a few seconds of waiting, Derek realized that Spencer wasn't going to continue.
"Well," Derek said. "did you like her? Was she nice?"
Spencer paused before he spoke. "Yes, she was very nice, and she was great to talk to."
"Then I don't see why you can't ask her out," Derek said. "the worst she can do is say no."
"But what if I mess things up," Spencer basically whispered into the phone. "what if I am too broken to be in a relationship?"
"I think," Derek states with conviction. "that you have been in therapy, and you have been working on yourself a lot these past two years. No, you are not perfect, but no one is. If you like this girl, go for it." He finishes.
"Okay," Spencer says.
"But do it tomorrow, it's late, get some sleep." Morgan declares.
"Okay, good night," Spencer says.
"Good night," Derek says, and then hangs up the phone.
The next morning as Spencer got Eleanor up, dressed, and ready for the day at the Bureau's daycare he could not stop thinking about Gabrielle. He had decided to call her but he was way too nervous.
"Daddy," Eleanor whined. "the eggs are stinky,"
Spencer looked down and sure enough, he had burned the eggs he made her. He picked up her plate and scraped the burnt eggs off her plate into the trash.
"How about cereal," He asks her.
"Yah!" Eleanor exclaims, and Spencer let out a sigh of relief. He can't let this woman have this much control over his thoughts. He just needs to call her.
Spencer loads Eleanor into the car and takes the short drive into Quantico. He drops Eleanor off at the FBI's daycare and the fids a closet and locks himself in. He pulls out his phone and dials Gabrielle's phone number.
After two short rings, the phone picks up.
"Hello," Spencer says hesitantly.
"Hi," Gabrielle says in a chipper voice. "who is this?" She asks.
"Oh, yeah, I'm so sorry, it's Spencer." Spencer rambles out.
"Hi," Gabrielle says again. "I'm so glad you called."
"Yeah, me too," Spencer started. "I thought maybe you would like to get coffee again sometime,"
"yeah," Gabrielle said. "I would love that, it would have to be after three thirty anytime this week or this weekend because of my school schedule."
"I can work around that," Spencer said. "How about tomorrow at 6 PM, I know that's late but after I get off work I will still need to drop my daughter off at her uncle's. Is that okay with you?"
"Yeah, that's fine, Tuesday sounds great," Gabrielle says and then hesitates for a second. "Do you just want to get dinner?" She asks and then hurriedly continued. "I mean, you may not get coffee spilled on you again, and I know how much you will miss that-"
Spencer chuckles on the other side of the phone. "Yeah, yeah, dinner sounds good. Where do you want to go?"
"There is that Thai place right across from the coffee shop. Does that sound good to you?" Gabrielle asks.
"yeah, that sounds great. I'll see you there, six o'clock?" He asks.
"Sounds great, see you then!" Gabrielle says. "Bye"
"Bye," Spencer says and then hangs up the phone.
Spencer walks into the bullpen and lays his bag down by his desk. He was extremely happy but also nervous about his date tomorrow. Why did he suggest tomorrow? Well, he knows why he said tomorrow, he would talk himself out of it if he waited any longer. He buried himself in paperwork to distract himself and it worked until lunchtime.
"Hey Reid," Luke said tapping Spencer on the shoulder. "It's time for lunch."
Spencer looks up surprised, he looks at his watch and sure enough, it was 12:30.
"Are you okay man?" Luke asks.
"yeah, yeah, I'm fine, just a lot on my mind," Spencer said.
"Okay, well you know you can talk to me about anything," Luke said putting his hand on Spencer's shoulder.
"Yes, I know, thank you," Spencer says getting up and heading to the FBI's daycare to have lunch with Ellie.
After lunch with Ellie Spencer got out his phone and called morgan.
"Hey," Spencer says as Derek picked up the phone. "I need a favor,"
"What do you need man?" Derek asks.
"Can you watch Ellie tomorrow night?" He asked
"Sure man, is everything alright," Derek questioned Spencer at his weird request. Spencer never usually asks for anyone to babysit for him if he doesn't have to. Usually, Penelope or Derek had to ask him if they could watch her, just so Spencer could get a night off.
"Yeah," Spencer said and then hesitated. "I have a date tomorrow,"
"With the girl from the coffee shop?" Derek questioned excitedly.
"Yeah, we are going to go to that Thai place," Spencer said, and without him knowing he started to smile thinking about it.
"My man!" Derek exclaimed. "Yes, I can definitely watch Ellie for you. What time?"
"I'll drop her off at 5:30, I am supposed to meet Gabrielle at 6," Spencer explained.
"You got it, pretty boy, I'll see you tomorrow then," Derek said.
"I'll see you then," Spencer said. "Bye,"
"Bye," Derek replied and then hung up the phone.