A Good Man-Sharing is Caring, After all
SSA Dr. Spencer wasn't an idiot. He could read people, know when something was off, know when people where hiding things, and knew when they were in danger- he was a profiler, after all. And so were his teammates, to be fair. So when SSA Emily Prentiss had strolled into the BAU late with the claim that traffic was horrible, they all knew it was a lie. They knew that she had gotten herself into some sort of trouble, but what they couldn't figure out was why she wouldn't tell them the truth. If the roles were reversed and anyone else was in her position, Emily would've been all over them about it.
So Spencer decided that it was his turn to play 'big brother'.
"Hey Emily, could I talk to you for a second?" Spencer asked timidly as the rest of the team prepared for the flight. Frowning at the use of her first name, she nodded her head and followed him back to his desk.
"What is it, Reid?" she asked.
Spencer's eyes darted around the room, as if afraid that someone was ease-dropping. Then, hesitantly, he rolled up his sleeve and revealed a beaded bracelet. Emily immediately recognized it as the bracelet that Julio had given him, and she became even more confused. "What is this about, R-Spencer?" she asked.
Spencer just shook his head as he wordlessly took the charm off his thin wrists. He held it out in his hand as he waited for Emily to take it. Reluctantly, she bit her lip and did just that. "I know you're not going to tell us what's happening, but I have a feeling you need protection more than I do right now," he said. "Besides, it's too late for me, anyways."
"Wh-what do you mean by that?" Emily asked, exasperated. She didn't even know that Spencer had been wearing it all these weeks, let alone for the fact that it was meant to protect him. Her stomach sank as the gut feeling that something was terribly wrong crept up on her again. Had she really been that obvious the last few weeks? Had it really affected her that much?
"We're going to be leaving soon," Spencer said, breaking the silence. His eyes flickered up to Hotch, who was staring at them from across the room, a warning look set in his eyes, but it was a concerned one as well. Standing up, he took her hands as the bracelet was trapped- cupped in their hands as Emily stared up at Spencer with shock. "Don't think that we haven't notice," he whispered, "and don't think that we can't help you. Whatever it is, let us in, Emily. We're on your side no matter what."
"And why should I believe you?" Emily found herself asking. She immediately regretted it, though, when Spencer's eyes flickered with sadness and a brief anger, but immediately he regained his control and halted their phases.
"Because I learned that the hard way," Spencer responded, "and you were there for some of that, too." Then, without warning, Spencer pulled his hands free and started off toward the door, go-bag in hand.
Emily stared down the bracelet in her hands, both shocked and flattered. Even though both profilers knew that the bracelet was just a symbol of protection, it was a symbol that neither of them took very lightly. Knowing that Spencer was right, she slipped on the beaded bracelet and picked up her own bag. Starting toward the door, she couldn't help but wonder if it was too late for her as well.
~* AGM *~
Ta-da. Thnx for reading everyone! Any thoughts of Coda..? BTW, will do a more official tag to it with Sammy next…whenever that is.