Chapter 03

Needles & Pins Boutique
Georgetown
Washington DC

Spencer had wanted to be here earlier, but last night had been devoted to far too much paperwork, and answering every and any question that came to him. No, he didn't think this had anything to do with him. Or the BAU. Or the FBI. No, he really, honestly thought this was a random crime, he just happened to have the bad luck of being there. No, no no. Blah, blah. blah.

On a personal level, however, this was huge, mostly because it affected Claire. Because of that it became a Very Big Deal. He wanted to do more to help than just help pick up and put away. He wanted to catch the Bad Guy, make her life Safe Again, help her Overcome The Trauma, and every other possible reaction scenario his overstuffed mind could come up with. Imagining himself to be her Knight in Shining Armor had finally gotten him to sleep, and led to some highly entertaining REM patterns.

Unfortunately this morning he was her Knight in Tired Denim and Glasses as he parked in the alley behind the shop and gathered up the coffee and breakfast he'd picked up on the way. After last night even contacts had been too much of a challenge. As he pulled in he noticed a motorcycle pulling out, the rider, his face hidden behind a full helmet. The rider stopped to study him for a long moment, sending a chill up Spencer's spine. He sat there, perfectly still, until the rider he slowly rode out of the alleyway.

Spencer parked and went to the back door of the shop to knock. Claire answered with a smile, but something was clearly wrong. Her eyes were a little swollen and pink around the edges. She'd been crying, or almost crying. "Bless you; is one of those for me?" Was all she said as she nodded toward the coffee tray in his hand.

"Yeah." He put the tray down and handed her the one that hadn't been doctored yet. "Are you all right? You look like you've…been upset?"

"No, I'm fine. Really." She went to work on the coffee, sugar, cream.

Sometimes I wish I had social skills, he thought, there has to be a better way to do this. "Um, it's really not my business, but Garcia said something about a bad breakup and, um…" He pointed over his shoulder at the back gate, and by extension the motorcycle.

"Hmmm?" It took her a moment to look up and realize what he was getting at. "Oh! No, that was my brother Zeke. He stopped by to check on me, brought some cash for my till. He was far too rude this morning to stick around and be introduced." She started poking through the bag of breakfast he'd brought. "You know, this is decidedly unhealthy."

"After last night I think we can process some unhealthy. Are you sure everything's okay? I mean, you look like you've been crying or something."

She sighed, settled on a small chair. "Honestly? There was a bad breakup of sorts. I think it's been long enough but my family apparently disagrees. And they're not thrilled that I'm dating a cop."

"FBI." He corrected, while he processed this. "So, does this mean that we're dating?"

"That makes it worse." She chose one of the sausage egg things and considered it. "Well, this is the third time we've gotten together, you sent lovely flowers, and we've been through an officially traumatic event. I'd say we're dating."

"Oh. Okay." He took one of the sandwich things himself. "Tell me more about your family, maybe I can figure out how to calm their fears." He asked, before taking a bite.

"Daniel is the eldest, he owns his own company. Michael runs it for him. Zeke looks after the rest of us. Ben is a writer, he lives in New York. And I have one brother-in-law, Ari, he's a Navy SEAL." She took a bite of breakfast before she went on. "And as far as sisters Rayna is the eldest, she's the one who's married to Ari, and they have my niece Miriam. Then Rebecca is married to Michael. Zeke, Ben and I are not attached. I'm the baby in the family, if you wonder where I fall in the pecking order."

Family, Spencer thought. For the longest time he'd wished for brothers or sisters, friends who had to treat you well. For a moment he envied her. "It sounds like you're all still really close."

"We are. We went through a lot together. I think they'll like you once they meet you."

"I hope so."

1653 Caton Pl.
Georgetown
Washington DC

A late junk food breakfast slowly turned into putting the shop to rights, which segued into dinner at the Thai place down the street. This time Spencer insisted on walking her home. When she said she lived right around the corner she hadn't been kidding. She led him down a quiet back street to a mailbox and a gate overrun with greenery. Once there she turned and looked at him expectantly.

He shook his head. "Nope, I'm walking you to your door. It's the least I can do." Most of his fantasies of being her Knight had been eliminated by her utter lack of trauma. Even the profiler in him had to admit that she had taken the robbery completely in stride, was utterly unruffled by having her space invaded, her money stolen. It was strange, and a little disappointing. But without knowing more all he could do was comfort himself by making sure she made it safely indoors.

Her smile clearly said she was indulging him. She led him through the gate, and through a pocket sized garden that was overrun with plants and bushes to what could only be called a cottage, and a doll sized one at that. He looked it over as she opened the door and turned on the light, revealing a cozy, cluttered kitchen through the lace curtains. "It suits you." He commented as she turned to him and smiled. "But you should get your landlord to trim back the bushes."

"My brother bought it for me." She admitted. "I'm afraid if I touch them they'll die on me, and I love all the green."

"Wow." was all he could say about that. Whatever business Daniel owned it must be doing quite well. "So do they object to the FBI because of the income level then?" Or am I just out classed, he thought. Were you all adopted in to some old money family that would look down on the son of a college professor who happens to be a cop.

"Neither. They're just being obnoxious. Pay them no mind." She was clearly quite firm on that point, at least to herself.

"Sure?"

"Rayna married military, remember? Ari doesn't make that much."

"Good point." They stood there for a long, awkward moment. Should I kiss her, he wondered? Is it too soon to kiss her? I want to kiss her. But it might be too forward to kiss her. What do I do? What do I do? "Um, should we make plans to see each other again?" He stammered, trying not to shuffle his feet.

She chuckled. "I don't do well with making plans. It always seems to work out badly if I make plans. You know where to find me, just come over whenever."

"Really?" Now that was an invitation he might just have to accept. Being around her was a far better proposition than being alone in his apartment, ever. In fact it even sounded better than being at work.

"Yeah. It's nice having you around. You're good to talk to." He watched her step forward to the edge of the small stoop and then the world was golden and soft and smelled of powder and roses as she lightly kissed his cheek. "Good night Spencer."

He floated all the way home.