AN: Final Chapter.

Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds.

Part 6

Crack the shutters open wide

I want to bathe you in the light of day.

- Crack the Shutters, Snow Patrol

Monday April 3rd, 2007

Last night Jen came to pick me up. I think she had a nice weekend with Will and I'm happy for her but my head was so full of my plans for today that I have no idea what she said. Last night I had to leave Spencer alone, it was nerve wracking. I stayed up all night worrying that Spencer would leave his apartment and go find dilauded on the street.

This morning I lied to Jen. I told her I was leaving early to study before class but I have no plans to attend school today This is the first time I think I have lied to my sister about something other than saying I'm okay when she asks. I have two classes and depending on how long it takes me to clean up Spencer's apartment, I might have to come up with another excuse for Jen.

Spencer's apartment is just as messy as last night. I doubt he ate real food for breakfast, although he probably bought coffee on the way to work. I'm glad that Spencer likes to go in to the BAU early because sneaking into his apartment would be really awkward if he were still inside. The two keys necessary to gain entry were part of my sixteenth birthday present from Spencer. I lock the apartment door behind me and lock both deadbolts. The first thing I do it open the blinds and windows to let fresh air and sunlight in.

I grabbed some cleaning supplies from the store on the way over. I know from this past weekend that Spencer doesn't have any and I can't take any more home without Jen noticing. I start with the kitchen. I scrub everything with vim and Hertel; the sink, counters, cupboards, fridge, stove. Then I move on to the living room, dragging a garbage bag with me. I toss out all the old food and replace the books in alphabetic order by subject on Spencer's bookshelves.

I clean the half-bath in the hallway and make a mental note to vacuum the entire apartment later. Once I can locate the vacuum. In the bedroom, I pick up all the dirty clothes and put them in the hamper. I'll do laundry later; first I need to clean that disgustingly dirty master bathroom. The bathroom sparkles when I am finished with it. I am so glad that I have not found any needles or Hydromorphone in Spencer's apartment. It makes me feel calmer.

By two o'clock, I'm exhausted and I want to sleep. I have cleaned and vacuumed the entire apartment. I have one last load of laundry in the dryer. After I put that away I can go home to bed. My class starts in thirty minutes but there is no way I would make it on time, even if I wanted to, which I don't.

When the dryer is finished, I bring the clothes upstairs and I fold them, and put them away in the proper drawers. Then I do a once over on the apartment to make sure that I haven't forgotten anything. I haven't. It is almost three o'clock now and I'm falling asleep standing up. I close the windows, grab my bag and lock the door. I hope the team doesn't have a case anytime soon because Spencer needs a chance to recover a little bit first. It only takes me a half hour to get home and I fall asleep almost as soon as I climb into my bed.

Giles: In the end, we all are who we are,

no matter how much we may appear to have changed.

- Season 7, Lessons, BTVS

Part 7

Mr. Maclay: This is insane. You people have no right

to interfere with Tara's affairs. We are her blood kin!

Who the hell are you?

Buffy: We're family.

- Season 5, Family, Buffy The Vampire Slayer

April 3rd, 2007

6:00 pm

Jen wakes me up when she gets home. She wants to know why I didn't go to the BAU that afternoon like I usually do. I told her I wasn't feeling well so I came home early. She buys it hook line and sinker. It's not really a lie either I wasn't feeling well. There is a knock at the door and Jen leaves my room to see who it is. We're not expecting anyone. I can hear Jen talking to someone, and then I hear two sets of footsteps coming down the hall. I wonder who it is.

Jen and Spencer appear in my doorway. "Are you up for a visitor?" Jen asks.

"Sure." I reply with a smile.

"I'll make dinner." Jen gives Spence a little shove to get him past the doorway and into my room. He takes a few more steps than strictly necessary and I wonder if his balance is off.

"Hi Spence." I greet him with a smile, trying to hide my nervousness.

"Hi Catherine." He whispers, standing awkwardly in the middle of my room.

"Come sit down." I say patting the edge of my bed.

Spencer sits down. "Thank you." He whispers while looking at my mural.

"For what?" I ask, confused and curious.

He blushes, "For cleaning my apartment."

"Oh that," I smile, "you're welcome."

"Why did you do it?"

I frown, "Because it needed to be done Spence."
"I know that but why didn't you leave it to me? Why didn't you let me help you? You must have skipped class to get it done on time."

"You're family Spence." I say quietly, hoping that my answer will distract him. I breathe an internal sigh of relief when it does.

"Oh." Is all he says.

I study him for a few minutes in silence before I cannot hold in my questions any longer.

"Why?" I ask.
Spencer looks at me, "Why what?"

I purse my lips, "Why did you keep using it even after you were rescued?"

Spencer looks away, "I didn't know how to stop."

"Why didn't you ask for help?"

He studies his hands like they will give him an answer, "I didn't know how."

I'm annoyed now. I snap, "There seem to suddenly be a lot of things you don't know how to do Spencer."

He looks away, his face pink.

I blush, "I'm sorry, that was uncalled for."

"Are you going to tell?" He won't look at me.

"No, I won't tell Spence. That's up to you. It's your secret."

His voice is small, "Are you going to leave?"

I'm astonished, "What? No, of course not. I promised I wouldn't."

He looks at me frowning, "I don't remember that."

I bite my lip before I answer, "Well you were in withdrawal Spence. I'll promise again if you need to hear it."

He nods once, still not looking at me.

I turn Spencer's chin towards me so that I can look into his eyes, "I promise that I will not leave. Not even if you mess up."

I want to hug him, I don't think it would be welcome, but I don't care. I push off my covers and pull Spencer over. He capitulates though he looks nervous. I tuck him under the covers with me and wrap my arms around his middle. "Good night Spence."

"What?" he asks confused.

I tighten my arms. "I'm not going anywhere and neither are you, good night Spencer."

"What about dinner?" he asks.

"I'm sure Jen will wait for us."

"Okay." He says in a small voice. "Good night Kitty Cat."

My grin is hidden in Spencer's shoulder. I am going to make sure he gets better.

In three words

I can sum up everything

I've learned about life: it goes on.

- Robert Frost

AN: Thanks for reading. My next story will be called "If You Survive" it will take place after "Post Minimal Loss". It will be posted on June 1st or 2nd 2012.