Chapter 4

A/N: well, I now leave you the fourth chapter as a wee slightly belated Christmas gift from me to all my readers! I love you all!!!

Thanks to Classicrockgirl1, lagentillefan, SSA JoJo, TVchick08, mabelreid, criminally-dirty-minds, TracyLynn, Linda66, CrImInAlMiNdScSiNyFaN87! You all made my day, each and everyone of you! And to lagentillefan, you are reading the work of a fellow romantic!!!

Spencer threw himself in through the door, tripping over his feet in his haste to see if JJ was ok. He wobbled precariously for a few seconds, just a short distance inside her room, before losing the battle to stay upright and continuing his journey to the floor. As he fell, he twisted his body in an inane attempt to avoid the chair, but in doing so only managed to hit his head off the edge of the table, his hip still smashing into the arm of the chair. He let out a pain filled moan before he succumbed to the overwhelming darkness that enveloped him.

JJ let out a startled yelp when her door slammed open, wiping her tears away manically. She looked up when she thought the most of the tears where gone, to see Spencer teetering on the brink of falling. Still in shock at his abrupt entrance, she could only stare at him. The few seconds in which he struggled to retain his balance felt like hours to JJ as she looked on, but when he began to fall it seemed to free her body. Jumping up, she ran around to try and help, wincing as she saw his head crack against the table. Dropping to her knees by his shoulder, she realised he was not conscious, and with a cry she quickly checked for a pulse. Finding one, she let out a breath she hadn't realised she had been holding, and let out a strangled sob. She jerkily reached out and ran her hand over his skull, trying to find out what damage he had done. Although she couldn't feel a fracture, she knew she couldn't be sure. She absently began stroking his head as she worried, the gentle movement calming her more than it should have. She could feel the tears rushing to the surface again, and her throat felt restricted. The image of him lying there, prone and unconscious, was making her feel physically sick. She began calling his name softly, begging him to wake up.

"Spence? Spence, wake up! Please Spence, please, wake up, open your eyes, come on….. please….." she broke off as her tears finally overcame her again, dripping down her face to land on Spencer. Sobbing in earnest now, she pulled his head onto her lap, wrapped her arms around his stick like body, and cried into his hair, allowing the familiar smell of it comfort her.

Spencer could hear someone calling his name somewhere in the distance, and could sense the fog surrounding him clearing. As he slowly drifted into consciousness, he could feel something tickly over his face, and could smell a scent he knew he liked, but couldn't quite place. It wasn't until his brain registered the sound of someone sobbing that he remembered where he was and what had happened. Slamming his eyes open, he immediately had to close them as JJ's hair fell into them. Stiffening slightly as he realised he was wrapped in her arms, she was instantly alerted that he was awake. She jerked her head back and stared into his face.

"Are you ok? What the hell was so urgent!? You hit the desk, is your head sore….Sorry, that's a silly question, of course it is…." JJ trailed off as she realised she was babbling. Spencer chuckled slightly, but immediately regretted it as his head pounded at the noise and vibration. Twisting his face in pain, he realised that, due to the speed he had been going and the angle he had hit the table at, there was about a 64 chance that he could have a slight concussion. Hoping he wouldn't, he refocused on JJ's concerned face.

"Hey, don't you worry, I'm gonna be fine, I just have a bit of a head ache." She snorted disbelievingly.

"Sure, a BIT of a headache. We both know you could have a concussion. She leaned closer, peering into his eyes to see if she could see any disorientation. Spencer couldn't control himself, and reached up his hand, cupping the side of her face.

"I'm sorry, I didn't want to worry you. I just was….I heard you crying….I thought that it was my fault…so I kinda panicked." She lent into his hand subconsciously, and murmured.

"You mean you fell because I was crying?"

"No, no, I fell because I was an idiot. And I made you cry, didn't I?"

"I… I thought you were mad."

"JJ, I could never be mad at you. You're not just my best friend. You're…" suddenly he stopped, biting his lip.

"I'm what Spence?" JJ whispered. She could feel her heart beating as though it would jump out of her chest, but she needed to know. "What?"

"You're…you're why I keep going JJ. You're just… just amazing. You're smart, strong, beautiful… I know you're out of my league, but if I was mad, I would be denying myself even the pleasure of your friendship." Spencer was suddenly very red, and began focusing anywhere but on JJ. He was so busy looking away that he didn't see JJ dipping her head down towards him until her lips brushed his ever so slightly.

Spencer stared at her in shock, then pushed his torso away from her, pulling on the edge of the desk in a vain attempt to get to his feet. He couldn't believe she would play with his emotions like that; especially when he had just told her how he felt. His head was pounding, but he ignored the pain, still struggling to rise. Glancing at her face, he saw a mix of hurt and confusion in her eyes. Silently she reached out, pulling him to his feet as she rose with him. However, once he was standing he stepped out of her grasp, gasping in pain as he put his weight on his injured hip.

She couldn't understand what he was doing. She had thought her heart might explode from the overwhelming wave of emotions that had swept over her with his words, and she had finally allowed herself to give in to her feelings, thinking he wanted the same. But now she could see how stupid she was. How stupid to believe, even for a moment, that he would want to be with her. She helped him up, not trusting herself to speak, and felt her heart break a little more when he stepped away, not even caring that he was hurting himself in his quest to put as much distance between them as possible. When the look of pain had faded from his eyes, she recoiled at the unbridled anger that was smouldering in his normally calm and caring eyes.

"Spence…?"

"How DARE you? I am not just a pawn for you to play with, do you realise that?" He was snarling at her, he knew that, but he just couldn't stop himself.

"I…what? Spence, what are you talking about? I wasn't playing!" She was really confused now. What was that supposed to mean?

"Oh, so telling me you only want to be friends, then alternating between flirting and barely talking to me, then running off this morning and now kissing me, that's just normal for you, is it? Because it's not for me!"

"Spence…I'm sorry, really I am." She quickly held up her hand, seeing he was about to speak. "No, let me finish. I didn't mean for it to seem like I was playing with you. Honestly, I didn't. The only reason I acted like that was because… well, I was trying to come to terms with my feelings for you. After Georgia, I knew something had changed. At first I thought it was just the guilt, but then it began to get worse, and I knew it wasn't. Spence, I'm sorry, really, you deserve way better than me. I know I pushed you away, but that was because I was scared. I was scared of this new, strange feeling I couldn't seem to escape. And so I took it out on you." She broke off, choking back a sob. There was a deafening silence following her little speech, and a quick glance at Spencer showed her he was still trying to comprehend her words. She stepped up to him, hoping to emphasise her words, when he suddenly squeaked out,

"Really?"

"Yes, really. God, I am so sorry." He looked at her, seeming surprised at how close she was to him. He had been concentrating too much to notice.

"JJ…" She cut him off with another kiss, harder this time. But when he still didn't respond, she moved back a little, sighing in defeat. Suddenly, Spencer seemed to come to his senses, and he grabbed her hip, pulling her closer to him again, crashing his lips onto hers. It took barely a moment for JJ to respond, and her tongue, quickly bored with the chaste kiss, was soon begging his lips for entry. He instantly relented, allowing their tongues to do a passionate battle for dominance, until JJ relented, allowing him full access to explore her mouth. She suddenly felt very weak at the knees, overwhelmed by the amount of pent up emotion both of them were pouring into the kiss. She lent against him, allowing her hands to explore his back before moving up to twist her fingers in his long hair, revelling in the ability to finally do such a simple thing. Realising he couldn't stand without a little support, he pulled JJ back with him until he was leaning against the table. Then, he hesitantly placed one hand on her head, pulling her even closer to him than she had thought humanly possible, while allowing the other to explore the rest of her body. The air was electric, the room palpitating, their bodies screaming for air when they finally broke apart. Smiling slightly, Spencer lent his forehead against JJ's, murmuring cheekily,

"So I take it it's safe to say we forgive each other then?" JJ laughed, swatting him playfully on the chest. She leaned against him, relaxing into his lean but comforting frame, but the small action sent tremors of excruciating pain up his leg. Jumping back, she started apologising profusely, and, wrapping an arm around him for support, began to lead him out of her office.

"Eh, JJ, I don't mean to be rude, but where exactly are we going?" Spence was worried, he knew he wouldn't be up to any physical exertion, and he didn't want her to think he just didn't want it. JJ stopped, looking up into his eyes, quickly understanding the worry she was there. Reaching her hand up, she stroked his face, still amazed at the ability to do such a simple act so freely, and, caressing his cheek, she quickly quelled his fear.

"It's ok, I'm just taking you to the hospital." Spencer shivered, his old worries replaced by a haunting feeling, one he had associated with hospitals for years. He suddenly realised he hadn't been near a hospital since he had been released after Georgia, and he could feel his feet begin to drag. JJ stopped again, sensing something was still wrong.

"What is it Spence?"

"It's…it's nothing. I… just don't really like hospitals, that's all." She took his hand in her free one, giving him strength through the one simple gesture, and she quickly reassured him.

"Hey, it's ok, I'll be there with you, I promise. We can do this together, because you really need to get that leg and head checked out." Nodding apprehensively, he allowed her to continue steering them towards the elevator. When the doors pinged shut behind them, he lent against the wall, closing his eyes momentarily to try and calm his nerves. When he opened them, JJ was gazing up at him concernedly, and to reassure her he lent down and kissed her chastely on the lips. Wrapping their arms around each other, they just stood there, and, with her support surrounding him in the form of two long and slender arms, he allowed himself to hope that he could do this.

Look at the button. Look at the button. It is calling to you. You KNOW you want to press it, you know you do. On the other side of that button is the thing you want the most…..