Chapter One
Dan had come home happy. He was even whistling. Spencer smiled nervously. He hadn't heard Dan whistle in a very long time. It was, then, he saw them--the most beautiful bouquet of roses. Roses? Dan only ever bought flowers on their first date.
"I made lasagna. There are rolls in the oven," said Spencer not knowing how to break the news to him. He made a glorious dinner for Dan and him to have together so he could break the news gently.
"Since when have you turned into Martha Stewart?" said Dan.
It was little comments like that that Spencer wasn't sure if he was trying to kid around or just being mean.
Dan comes closer to Spencer and shows him the roses. "Roses for my sweet, Spencer…. A man who is too smart for his own good…who should know he can do better than me."
Dan kisses Spencer on the cheek where just earlier that day he had smacked him so hard that it stung for a long time. It wasn't the first time that Dan has hit his lover, and Spencer soon realized, it may not be the last.
"I'm sorry baby. I'm having a tough time…trying to find a job."
They had talked before about this, Spencer has said that Dan didn't need a job. Dan could stay with him and not worry about it. That conversation seemed to make Dan really angry, it was also the first time Dan had hit Spencer. After that, Spencer made a mental note never to bring up money.
"I'm sorry, too. I shouldn't have gotten mad. Thank you for the roses." He smelled them, went over to the kitchen to get a vase and filled it up with water.
Dan came over and wrapped his arms around his waist and kissed his neck. Dan can be very affectionate when he wants to be. He is also very loving and romantic. So what? A few cuts and bruises to deal with. He knows when Dan finds the job he wants he'll stop and Spencer will have his loving boyfriend again.
"It smells good baby," whispered Dan.
Spencer's body shook as Dan kissed his neck gently. It had been a long time since he and Dan had made love. They had sex lots of times, but it was always rough and to Spencer it seemed uncaring.
"I have good news. I may have a job interview on Monday. I sent my work to a Stuart Mason, who is in charge of a newspaper office called 'The Review'. They said they liked my work."
"That's great baby!" Spencer kisses Dan deeply on the lips and Dan accepts it.
Spencer loves reading Dan's work. It was how they met. He was an editor for an old newspaper and he was interviewing Spencer after a difficult case. Dan had been so sly and romantic at the time. He coolly approached Spencer and asked a few questions. He, then, offered to buy him lunch and to finish off the interview. How could Spencer turn an offer like that down? Of course, back then, he was still very much in the closet. It was Dan who made him come out. Well…threatened him to come out. Saying if he didn't come clean to his "friends" at the BAU, he would dump him.
~~FLASHBACK~~
So, Spencer came out. He kind of just blurted it out during one of their trips they were all taking to a crime scene. He wouldn't look at his team as he made his announcement and it took several minutes to get a response. It seemed like the longest minutes of his life. He knew how hard it would be to work on a team who despises you. He thought maybe Morgan would be the first to answer, since he and Morgan seemed to get along pretty well. But, it was JJ who answered first.
"Guess we owe Garcia ten bucks," she says to Hotch who was still in shock.
"Damn. How long Reid?"
"About a year I admit to myself, but most likely all my life. Are you OK with this?"
"Spencer, wake up. It's the 21st century. We'd be more concerned if you weren't gay."
The gang chuckles and JJ and Hotch goes back to their chess game like nothing happened. Spencer smiles to himself. Dan was right. If they are my true friends, then, me being gay shouldn't matter. He, then, realizes the man whose opinion on anything means a lot to him—Morgan—hasn't said anything since his announcement. In fact, he left the room.
Later, when Morgan returned he looked angry. Spencer wasn't sure why. Was it because of the new case or his announcement? Soon he got his answer, Morgan show a look over at Spencer…a very angry look and looked away. Spencer always hated it whenever someone was angry at him for any reason but knowing Morgan was made him feel alone.
~~PRESENT~~
Even to this day, Morgan barely acknowledges Spencer when they are in the same room. Spencer fears he had lost the best friend he ever had.
"Can I do anything to help out for dinner?" asked Dan.
Spencer still in a daze was shocked by Dan's question. "Sure. Could you set the table?"
"Anything for my baby. How was your day at work? You know, I still can't believe you get through the day with the kind of job you have. If it was me, I don't think I could handle it."
Spencer laid the vase on the counter and gazed lovingly at it. Most people would take advantage of a simple token, but not Spencer. It meant Dan was in a loving mood.
"Earth to Spencer…."
"Huh?"
"You OK? You're zoning out a lot tonight," asked Dan as he placed a plate down.
"I'm fine. Sorry! Just the flowers are beautiful." Dan actually blushed.
"It was nothing. So, anything happen at work? Unravel any mysteries?"
In all honesty, Dan was a good lover to Spencer. He was very much interested in his job. Although, he worried about him constantly whenever he had to leave town. He knew those could be the most dangerous cases.
Maybe it was the reporter in him, but he can't help but ask a lot of questions about the cases his team and he goes on. "Maybe when I land this job, we can travel together. I can interview you and the team as the case unfolds."
Spencer knew that might be a long shot, since he won't be able to ride the team's plane. He'd never say it to his face but having a reporter around all the time while trying to solve a case can be very annoying. "I would like that." He smiles, hoping to God that Dan can't read his mind.
Dan finished setting the table. Spencer got a bottle of wine out of the cooler.
"Wow! You went all out, huh? Are you dumping me?" teases Dan.
"No," laughs Spencer. "I have white wine. You use red wine to break up."
Dan laughs and they got their dinner together. They say down.
"I would like that." he smiles, hoping to god dan can't read his mind.
Dan finished setting the table.
Spencer go a bottle of wine out of the freezer.
"Wow, went all out huh are you dumping me?" teases Dan.
"No" laughes Spencer. "I have white wine, you use red wine to break up."
Dan laughs, they got their dinner and sat down to eat. This is the scene he always loved about relationships. The alone time…being cuddly and romantic. Dan was being a goofball all through dinner. "Hmmmm…. I have the best bite right here…all cheese."
Spencer knew what Dan was doing. He wanted to let him feed him. "I can see that," he smiled back. He leans over and Dan brings the fork to Spencer's lips. He opens up and accepts it. It was cheesy, maybe even the best bite. As he was eating, Dan leans over and kisses him.
Spencer, of course, accepts the kiss and their tongues gingerly caress each other. Soon the food, the flowers, the wine meant nothing at all. It felt like Spencer and Dan were the only souls left in the world. Nothing else mattered, not even the fact that his best friend doesn't even talk to him. He had Dan with him…his lover.
"I can't wait for our cruise. Two weeks in the Bahamas. Those warm beaches…that clear water oceans…you in a speedo."
Spencer blushes. "Only for you would I wear one." Dan continues to kiss Spencer's neck, both seem to have forgotten the dinner.
"We leave January fifteenth. Seven o'clock flight."
"Wait…when?"
"January fifteenth. One week away…."
"January? I thought it was planned for Valentine's day?"
"No, we planned for it a week after Christmas because it was booked on Christmas Eve. Remember?"
"No, I really thought…."
"Spencer…DAMNIT!" He hit his hand on the table so hard his wine tipped over and the glass hit the floor. "We made these plans together! We made sure we were both available. DON'T TELL ME YOU HAVE TO WORK?!"
No one seems to make a dive to clean up the broken glass so Spencer grabs a napkin and kneels down to pick it up.
"Put the napkin back…." Dan says sternly.
Spencer swallows hard. "Wh…what?"
"I said put the napkin back. Are you deaf? We all know the ever-knowing Dr. Spencer Reid isn't dumb! Put it back and pick it up with your hands!" Dan watches as Spencer picks up the glass off the floor. He smiles as Spencer cuts himself from the glass.
It hurt like hell as the glass cuts deep into his skin. But, Spencer knows better than to show the pain.
"Maybe you don't want to be with me. Is that it? You'd rather be off with these insane people who kills for a living? Or those precious friends of you whom I may add never showed up for their own teammates birthday party that I put together? And you don't seem to want to go on a vacation with me either!"
"I do want to go baby, but I…."
"SHUT UP! Stop with the whining! Fine…we won't go on the cruise. I'll give the tickets to some lucky schmuck instead…or maybe I'll take someone else with me."
Spencer flinched when Dan yelled at him, knowing what's soon to come. He always tries to calm him down before it got too bad. He was never that much successful at that. "Dan, don't please…." Spencer couldn't finish his last words. Dan had slapped him across the face which made Spencer fall back on the floor. He felt his cheek and closed his eyes tightly hoping it would make it go away. He hoped when he looked up Dan would be the loving Dan he was a few moments ago. Again, no such luck. Dan's angry unforgiving eyes looked back at him.
"Maybe I'll do just that for once. I'll go on a trip and not come back for days and days and not call you! See how you fucking like it!"
Spencer was deeply hurt by that comment more than when Dan hit him. Dan went over to the table, grabbed his plate of what was now cold lasagna and slammed it on the floor, breaking the plate and having it go everywhere. Spencer flinched afraid that Dan was going to hit him with it.
"Thanks for dinner, babe. I can't eat another thing. I'm going out…." Dan motioned to the broken plate and the food before continuing, "This better be cleaned up before I come back or be ready for round two!" With that, he stormed out slamming the door behind him, leaving Spencer shaking on the floor.
