Title: Coming Home (2 of 2)
Pairing: Lila/Reid
Rating: T
Summary: Second in Deal Breaker series. Read Safely first, if you'd like to follow the series, although Safely is rated a definite M for sexual scenes. (It's actually kind of smutty.)Can stand alone though, maybe. Takes place after The Fisher King, Part Two.

He watches at the nurses take his mother back to her room as he leans against the wall. The case had been tough, a friend had been shot. He tries not to think about what could have been changed, what could have been done better, but it's impossible. He could have figured out what book it was quicker. He could have noticed that Andersen had come back that night. He could of - his phone buzzes, breaking him out of his thoughts. He pulls it out of his pocket, seeing that it's Lila. He's been ignoring her calls the last few days. He had to, the case was personal. The case was because of his letters. He takes a breath before answering.

"Hello?"

"Hey boyfriend." She says, immediately. "You answered, means the case is over, right? We can have our week now?" She teases.

He thinks about Elle, how he should be heading back to be with her. She shouldn't be alone. He shouldn't be out having fun with Lila while she sits in a hospital, with a bullet in her chest.

"You okay?" Her playful tone is gone and he can hear the worry.

"Elle shot… She's… I have to get back to Virgina." He explains.

"Is she okay?"

"She's going to be, but… This is because of me." His voice cracks and he turns his back to the commotion in front of him.

"Oh Spence. It's not." She says, before she pauses "Look, I'll… I'll get a ticket and I'll fly out there and we'll keep her company, okay?"

He wants to turn down the offer, but seeing her sounds really nice. "Okay." He pauses. "Can you get to Vegas? I have the jet. We're going to leave again at 6am." He looks at his watch. It was late; 1:17 am. He rubs his eyes, suddenly exhausted at everything that has been going on.

"Yeah, I mean, it's a four hour trip, but I can be there. I'll be there."

He sees his mother's nurse pass him and turns back to her room, seeing the woman in bed, more sedated. He nods to himself. "I'd like that."

"Okay." She says, quietly. "Spence. This wasn't your fault. You didn't make…this happen."

She doesn't know the details. She doesn't know anything and yet, her words are still comforting. He wants to tell her everything, but he knows now isn't the right time and that even though Randall Gardner is gone, the case is still open until all the paperwork is complete so he's not even allowed to. He doesn't say anything for a while, unsure of what to do.

"I know you, Spence. I know that you would never put anyone in danger. Just…get a room and sleep and I'll be there soon. We'll talk."

He hears her car keys jingle and the door click. She was coming. "Okay."

"Alright, boyfriend. Talk to you soon."

He smiles a little at the word this time. "Bye."

The time passes slowly and he can't sleep. His mind races through each second of the case. The key, the butterfly, the baseball card. All of it based on the secrets his team has told him and he shared with his mother, who had told the others in her therapies of his adventures, distorted to hurt, to damage. A game that had almost caused a friend to lose her life. And yet, when his mother asked if he would continue to send her letters, he had agreed, knowing that his visits would still be rare. He had already told her that he wouldn't be able to stay now. There's a knock and Spencer gets up to open the door. He smiles, tiredly, at the woman at the door. She looks almost as tired and he realizes that she had slept either.

"Hey, good-lookin'." She drawls out, leaning against the door. "Beautiful morning, yeah?"

He looks to see the sun rising before looking back at her. "It is."

She raises an eyebrow. "Are you flirting with me?"

He looks confused. "What, no? I mean, I.."

She laughs as fumbles with his words before kissing his cheek. "So when do we leave?"

She asks, making her way into the room before sitting on the bed. She watches as he checks his watch before rubbing his head. "Now."

She stands back up. "Well then let's head out. I'm driving."

He grabs his bag, following her to the beat-up truck she drives.

"Don't hate on the truck."

"I didn't say anything."

"I saw the look."

Spencer shakes his head before getting in the car.

The ride back to Virgina is quiet as Lila, cuddled into his side, sleeps. He watches her for a few minutes before reading, finishing the book he had read out loud to his mother hours ago. The plane ride seems shorter this time and before he knows it, they're landing. He and Lila get into his car, with only a few jokes from her about his choice in vehicles, which he shrugs off. He attempts to take her to his apartment so that she can rest while he visits Elle, but she doesn't allow it, making him go straight to the hospital. He's grateful for it and even more, that once they get there, she kisses his cheek and excuses herself to the cafeteria so he can have a moment alone with his team mate. He knocks on the Elle's door before peeking in.

"Hey chico." She says, quietly, rough.

Spencer stares at his shoes once he enters the room, unable to look up at her.

"Come, Sit down."

He follows her orders, looking at his hands.

"So, I got some of those gossip magazines. Garcia brought them and listen to this. Lila Archer-"

His eyes come up at the name and he sees the grin on her face.

"opened the door, revealing a small towel, wrapped around herself. The man in question was then ushered in. He didn't leave until the next day. Now, I know that a certain genius was supposed to be visiting his mother, so I thought maybe your superstar crush had moved on, but there's pictures." She smirks at him before showing him the magazine. Spencer blushed, seeing the picture of him looking over his shoulder. It was obviously him.

"I…I…ahh."

"So while I'm getting framed for murder, you're getting your groove-thing on?"

Spencer turns even redder and she laughs, before wincing. He frowns, leaning forward.

"Hey, I'm okay. Little sore. It's all good though, I got myself un poco de amor that night too."

He looks at her confused for a second before smiling at her words. He looks back at his hands again after a few seconds. "I'm so sorry, Elle, I-"

"Don't. This wasn't your fault, Reid." Her statement doesn't feel finished, but he doesn't push.

"My letters, it lead-"

"Mierda! This guy was crazy, Spencer. Muy loco. Your letters didn't cause him to do…this. Now tell me about your girlfriend."

He smiles a little at the word and her eyebrows raise when he doesn't correct her.

"Good job, chico."