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A/n we're skipping through time again to "Conflicted," which is on my list of favorite CM episodes. Thank you all again for your kind support of this story. Also, a huge thanks to my faithful beta, REIDFANATIC, for helping me to present the best product I can for your consideration. Please enjoy.

JJ decided that she loved living in the same space with Spence. They'd found a small rental home in McLean, or rather, Garcia had found it for them. The house contained two bedrooms and two bathrooms with a large living area and a kitchen with a tiny breakfast nook. It was located between two other homes and had a small backyard and a carport. So far, their neighbors seemed normal and nice, but it was early days. On this day the sun shone brightly after a week of rain, and flowers were beginning to raise their heads from the soil and the grass was so green, it looked like someone had just planted brand new sod.

"Hey, Jennifer."

JJ turned from preparing a cup of tea to find Spencer in the doorway. He still wore a pair of windowpane blue, grey and white boxers, a white tee-shirt and bare feet. His hair was mussed, and his eyes were still at half-mast. "You making coffee?" he asked, hopefully.

"Nope, I'm making green tea. You want some."

Reid frowned and JJ forced her face into a neutral expression. "No, I need coffee."

"If you'd get more than five hours sleep, you'd function better without it."

"I couldn't sleep. I keep thinking about Hotch and the Reaper and that he has Morgan's creds. What's he going to do with them?"

JJ went to him and slipped her arms around his waist. "Babe, you can't let George Foyet dominate your every waking thought. If you do, then he wins."

Reid blew out a breath. "I know you're right. I just don't know how to close my eyes and see only pleasant thoughts.{"

JJ leaned up and whispered something in his ear that made his cheeks turn pink. "Um, that might work, actually."

JJ rolled her eyes and smacked his chest. "Come on, let's have breakfast and then we'll go for a run."

"Do we have to?" Reid complained.

"Yes, because it's good for you."

"I'll run with you if you –"

It was JJ's turn to go very pink in the cheeks when Reid whispered his request in her ear.

"Is that all you think about, Spence?"

Reid tugged both hands through his hair. "I'd challenge you to a game of chess, but you shoot me down every time I offer to teach you."

JJ shrugged. "I don't get the appeal. Why don't I help you arrange your books?" JJ gestured to the living area and the half-emptied boxes that were stacked in one corner despite the passage of three weeks since their move.

"Why do you insist on threatening me?" Reid asked.

"Funny," JJ responded. "Come on, the sooner we run the sooner you can spend the rest of the day in front of the chessboard."

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"Don't look so happy," JJ said as they stepped off the elevator an hour later. "The case only delays our run, Spence."

Reid frowned and managed to look adorable in a gray sweater over a light blue shirt with tiny white dots, and a blue tie with slacks, shoes and his usual mismatched socks. "Again, why do you insist on threatening me."

"Hey," Morgan greeted them in the bullpen. "I was enjoying the game, JJ."

"Sorry, Hotch called me on this one."

They gathered in the conference room with Garcia, Hotch, Emily, and Rossi. JJ began her presentation regarding two men raped and killed in South Padre Island. They went through the case at a high-level and decided that they needed to get to Texas as soon as possible because Spring Break would end in a few days.

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"Jennifer," Reid said as he sat with her on the small balcony outside her hotel room. "Did you go to Spring Break when you were in college?"

JJ nodded. "Yeah, I went to South Beach when I was a senior. My friends and I decided to go down before graduation and joining the real world, as we called it. I thought it'd be fun, and it was, but it was also a bit of a bore after the first day. I woke up after partying until about three in the morning to find myself with a hangover that nearly killed me, my best friend Megan's on the floor, passed out and my friend Toni was gone."

"Toni, you went to Spring Break with a man?" Reid squeaked.

"No. Toni's short for Antonia. Her parents thought the name was elegant. Toni hated it. We didn't find her for two days, and when we did, she was in the hospital because a guy she met, beat her up when she said no to sex."

"Did he rape her?" Reid asked. "Sorry, didn't mean to blurt it out like that, but with this case –"

"You wonder if I'm all right."

"Yes."

"No," JJ said. "I mean, no, he didn't rape her, but only because another man intervened and saved her. In fact, Toni eventually married him. Garth's amazing. He reminds me of you, a bit. He's kind, but strong when needed, gentle, cute and smart. He's an oncology specialist."

"So, are you all right?"

"Yes, I am," JJ said firmly. "I'd be lying if I said I don't hate guys that think they own women, but I'm okay and I'll do my job."

"I know," Reid said and reached over to clasp her hand. "You're a strong woman, Jennifer Jareau. You never cease to impress and amaze me."

"Thank you, Spence. Your opinion means the world to me."

They were quiet together for several minutes. JJ looked over the entryway to the hotel and saw several young people going in and out and making as much noise as possible. Fortunately, they'd got rooms on the highest level away from most of the noise, but she was happy she always packed a pair of earplugs.

"Spence."

"Hm…"

"Did you go away for Spring Break?"

"Ah, no I was thirteen that year."

"Oh right, of course. I can't believe I didn't think before I spoke. I'm sorry, babe."

"Don't edit your words around me, Jennifer. It's natural to think of college and Spring Break."

"This must seem so pedestrian to you," she observed.

"Not really. I've always thought that Spring Break is the modern-day equivalent of Roman Circuses. They consumed huge quantities of alcohol and had chariot races, athletic contests, religious ceremonies, plays, recitals, animal hunts, gladiator fights, and public feasts. The men spent most of their time cheering on the bloodier aspect of entertainment, attempting to attract as many sexual partners as possible."

"Sounds like this place," she said with a long sigh.

"Yes, it does, but to answer your original question, I didn't attend Spring Break festivities. I was attending Cal Tech at the time and staying with my Aunt Ethel and Uncle Kevin. They decided to take me to Disney Land under the assumption that I'd enjoy all the rides. I hated all the teenagers roaming the place. It reminded me of high school."

"You don't have to talk about it."

"Thanks, but it was part of my college experience, I suppose. When I was over twenty-one, I had multiple degrees and was trying to decide what to do with them. During Spring Break that year, I came up to DC and sat in on a seminar about criminal profiling. Guess who was the keynote speaker?"

"Gideon?"

"Yeah. I was fascinated and after class, I cornered him and questioned him until he invited me to Quantico to see more and here I am."

"Spence. You never talk about him anymore. I know this is a probably a dumb question, but do you miss him, still?"

"Yeah," he admitted. "I wish he'd contact me so I know he's okay, but I know he won't because the goodbye in his letter was his last."

"You don't know that."

"Yes, I do and honestly I prefer it that way."

She didn't push the point and they sat in comfortable silenc until Reid said. "Hey, it's getting late. I know you're tired."

Let's go inside. I'm past the point of simple tiredness and moving toward exhaustion."

"If you promise to stay with me. I know we got separate rooms for the sake of keeping it professional, but I'd like you here with me, Spence."

Reid stood and held out his hand. JJ was trying to make him feel better and he appreciated it. This one time, he let her think that she fooled him. "No funny stuff," he lightly teased.

"I thought that was my line," JJ said with a grin.

"Why? I am nothing but a gentleman when it comes to sharing a bed with you."

"Ha," JJ laughed. "It's your goal in life to get me out of my pajamas."

Reid pursed his lips and held out a hand. "Come inside and I'll show you that I am perfectly capable of acting like an adult and spending a completely chaste night with you."

"Hm, that'll be nice for a change," JJ teased and yelped when he swatted her backside. "Behave, or I'll toss you out."

"I promise to be good," Reid said seriously and kissed her.

"I'll hold you to your word, Spence."

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JJ turned over when Spencer entered their bedroom, six days later. "Hey," she yawned as he sat on the edge of the bed.

"Go back to sleep," he whispered. "I'm sorry I woke you."

"Are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine.

She didn't go back to sleep. Instead, she waited for him to slip into the bed beside her. She snuggled up to him and smiled when his arms held her close. "You sure you're okay."

"No, but I couldn't stay any longer. Amanda refuses to relinquish control over Adam. I argued, bribed and tried to trick her, but –"

"Amanda's not stronger or smarter than you, Spence. Sometimes we can't save everyone."

"Morgan said much the same thing to me after we arrested Amanda. He was right when he told me that there was no way I could've stopped Amanda before she won the battle, but I'm having a tough time accepting it."

"Babe, one of the things I love about you is your infinite compassion for victims and the ones that brutalize them. I wish that compassion didn't take such a toll on you."

"Adam asked me if I'd seen bad things. I told him that I had, and he asked how long before you close your eyes without it being there and I said I still don't know."

JJ kissed him and he hugged her so tightly, it hurt, but she didn't squirm and finally sleep relaxed his muscles and she repositioned her head on his chest. The sound of his steady heartbeat helped her sleep, for a while.