Spencer jumped as someone tapped his shoulder. He had been totally absorbed in the book he had grabbed at the tiny airport bookstore when he'd changed planes in Dallas. It was like Harry Potter, all wizards and magic in a real world, but darker and more grownup. And the author had done some serious historical research. He'd have to remember to look for the same cashier when he flew home, tell the guy thanks for the recommendation.

"I'm sorry, Sir." The flight attendant smiled at him. "But we're getting ready to land and I need you to put your tray and seat up."

"Of course." Spencer nodded.

"Is that good?" The flight attendant pointed to the book.

"Very."

The flight attendant continued down the aisle, checking seats and compartment doors. Spencer flipped up the window cover. No matter how many times he flew, he was still amazed by how tiny and quiet the world looked from up in the air. The patch of ocean under them was smooth like glass, but he knew that under the surface there were fish and currents and riptides. He stared at it for a long moment before turning back to his book. He had the last three chapters finished just as the plane stopped at the terminal.

Spencer stood, stretching his legs, and grabbed his book satchel from the overhead compartment. His fingers grazed over a worn spot. He really was going to have to get another bag soon. But his mother had given it to him when he started high school. He remembered opening up his bag in his first class and finding a note from his mother. All it said was "I love you" but it made him feel a little less lost in all the hustle and bustle around him. Maybe that was why he had kept it, why it brought it with him. Maybe he was thinking about it way too much and he should tell the nervous voice in his head to shut up. JJ was right. Lila saw him at his typical stuttering neurotic worst and she didn't seem to mind. She was the one that had called him, emailed him. First just to talk, see how life was going, needing a sympathetic ear when she'd had a bad day. And then when she was hired on a new job, Lila was the one that suggested that the writers ask him for some tips on how to make things real and not just 'tv real'. Him, not Hotch or Gideon or JJ. When they asked if he could come out and do some on set advising, everyone figured out the truth. It was a plot to set up another visit to LA. And since Spencer had several weeks worth of leave time to use, Hotch was happy to play Lila's game and let Spencer take some time off. Things had been so intense lately, Spencer was sure that Hotch was grateful for the excuse to get him out of the office before he totally snapped. And Spencer had to admit that the thought of 10 days without kidnappings, bombings, murders or rapes sounded like heaven. And his mother was thrilled that he was going to stop off at home for a couple of days on his way home.

"Have a nice day." The pretty flight attendant smiled at him.

Spencer reached into his bag and pulled out the book. "Here, I'm done with it."

"I couldn't."

"Is there some rule?"

"No."

"Then take it."

"But what if you want to read it again."

"Photographic memory. Good thing there are a few million new books published every year."

"Well, okay." The young woman took the book. "Thank you."

Spencer nodded before jogging down the hallway to the terminal. He spotted a map on the wall and sorted out his way to the baggage claim.

"Spencer." He heard a familiar voice calling to him as he grabbed his bag. He turned to see Lila waving to him from the other side of the dividing wall. A brunette girl was standing next to her.

"Long time no see." Lila hugged him. "Spencer this is."

"Eliza." Spencer cut in.

"Have we met?"

"No. But I took this class in college "Popular Media as Social Commentary." Goof off class. Something to not be thinking about abnormal psychology. We watched Buffy, Angel, Roswell, X-Files. Plus all that stuff like Felicity, Dawson's Creek, some South Park."

"Cool." Eliza pulled out a cell phone and hit speed dial. "Hey, We got him. Come pick us up." She snapped the phone shut. "Billy's on the way. So, Spencer, Lila says you're some kind of genius."

"Yeah."

"Awesome. And you saved her from some freaky stalker chic?"

"Yeah."

"Sweet. Bad ass G-man with the brains and the charm. And pretty easy on the eyes. Lila is one lucky girl."

Lila squeezed his arm affectionately. "Don't get any ideas, E. I've got dibbs."

"I wouldn't think of it." A car honked at them as it pulled up to the curve. "There's Billy."

They quickly loaded Spencer's bag into the back and climbed into the SUV. Minutes later they were crawling through rush hour.

"Yeah, we're a real motley bunch." Billy laughed. "A hobbit, a demon slayer, a half witch-half angel, and a beach bimbo. All making the world safe from the psychos that go bump in the night."

"Well, I watched the first couple of episodes and they were pretty good. The rest are at home waiting for things to calm down."

"Coming from a guy that knows the real thing, I'd say that's quite the compliment."

"Well, Spencer has been big with the advice." Eliza laughed. She flipped down the visor and opened the mirror. She pretended to fuss with her hair while peering at Spencer and Lila sitting in the back. "Wow, twenty minutes on the road and there's no PDA. Are you two sure you haven't seen each other in 7 months."

"She's teasing." Lila whispered.

But Spencer grinned, sliding his arm around her shoulders. "You mean something more like this?"

"Yeah, that's more like it." Eliza laughed.

Spencer closed his eyes. He could smell her shampoo, vanilla and flowers. And it felt good having his arm around Lila, feeling her warmth gently pressing against him.

It was going to be a good week.