Spencer waited in David's office as the team gathered and discussed the case in Hotch's one next door. He read the remainder of the man's published works before making his way through the works David own written by Jason Gideon. After finishing them, though Spencer suspected there were more, just not in this man's collection, he made his way through the books David had on laws and bi-laws in Virginia and other states. He was interrupted half way through the bi-laws of Alabama when David and Hotchner walked into the room in a manner he found somewhat ominous. Spencer looked from one man to the other scared.
"No need to worry Kiddo, we're just here to tell you that we're calling it a day and going home. We'll resume the case again tomorrow."
Spencer nodded, but internally he wondered what was going to happen with him. "You're coming with me." David answered Spencer's unasked question. "Hotch and his son live in a small two bedroom apartment and Morgan is in a hotel at the moment, something about plasterers." David waved his hand dismissively at the end of the comment.
Spencer nodded and rose from the chair. He was terrified. Everything he was used to for the last eight years was gone. There was a sick sort of comfort in being locked up, routines mapped for him. He had wanted for so long to be free once again but now it terrified him. Not helped by the face there was someone very much looking for him and willing to sacrifice human life just to get to him. Surely he would be safe with the agents, he thought logically.
"Morgan will be stationed outside your place for the night. He'll be there for about ten thirty; he is gone to catch some sleep now. I have filled the paperwork for him to carry a secondary weapon also. I will be changing shifts with him at five AM. Jessica is working nights this week and is finished at four thirty. And she will be able to take Jack to school too." David nodded in agreement with his boss and Spencer thought it best not to argue with the two agents.
He followed the agents out of the office, through the almost empty bullpen say for a cleaner. They made their way through the building quick swiftly. Spencer said nothing as they walked, they reached the parking lot. Spencer shuddered as he saw the scorch marks where the car he had arrived in early that day had exploded.
He continued to follow David even after Hotchner walked off in another direction biding the two a goodnight and heading to his own SUV. He stopped when David pulled out a set of car keys and pressed a button causing a nearby car to unlock. He was not well versed in motor vehicles and knew little about the makes and models, but even he could tell this car was neither cheap nor run of the mill, he knew it was a Mercedes by the emblem on the front. It was the kind of car his father always aspired to have, and he found himself wondering for a moment would he have ever seen through that aspiration had he not been murdered.
He went to get into the back seat, however while his had been still hovering over the handle; he noticed the older man giving him a peculiar look and went instead to the front passenger door. He sat into the car, which was more luxurious than he thought cars could be and awaited the older man to start it nervously.
"Don't worry about a repeat of this afternoon, it was checked just before we came into the parking lot, we're safe." Spencer was both comforted and irritated by the others ability to profile him so easily.
The car journey was pleasant; Spencer looked out the window at the Virginian town land and looked at the different Marine buildings that were scattered among the residential areas. There was no forced talking and the other mans seemed as happy as Spencer to travel in silence, though Spencer could feel him looking over at him every so often.
They came to the end of their journey when the car pulled into a driveway of an extravagant house. Spencer could not believe that anyone could have a house that big. Both men exited the car and Spencer looked around nervously, freezing abruptly when he heard barking from the back garden.
"Don't tell me you're frightened of dog's kiddo?"
"I like animals; it's just that the feeling is seldom mutual." He shook as he spoke, it was true, he found animals fascinating and always wanted a dog, but they seemed to bark whenever he went near any of them.
"Well these guys are in the yard so you'll be fine." David said as he fiddled with the door key. He went into the hallway and was shutting off the alarm when Spencer entered cautiously. Spencer looked around the extravagant home. "Make yourself comfortable."
"Won't your wife be angry you're brought home a stray?"
"First off, there is no wife, just me. And secondly you're not a stray, you're a human being." Spencer could not believe one single person could live in a house that easily must have had at least five or six bedrooms. "Now I will show you to a room." The older man looked at him and Spencer realised the problem too. He had no clothes, no pyjamas, hell he didn't even have a toothbrush. David pulled out his phone and Spencer heard him ask Agent Morgan to collect supplies for him. "Well he'll be here in an hour so you'll have what you need then."
"I don't have any money to pay for them." Spencer's face was crimson with embarrassment. He didn't want to be some sort of charity case.
"Considerate a loan, you can pay me back when you're sorted." Spencer nodded. Though he was doubtful he would ever be as settled as people thought he would be. David led him to a large bedroom and left him alone. "Call me if you need anything."
"Thank you Mister Rossi."
"Let's get this straight now Kiddo." Spencer looked around. "It's either David or Rossi. None of this mister stuff. I'm not a damn teacher."
Spencer nodded once more. "Thank you Rossi."
"Anytime." And the older man left the room, closing the door behind him.
Spencer sat on the bed and moaned in pleasure as he lay back on the comfortable, clean, soft sheets. He closed his eyes and relaxed.
"Dr Reid, hey, you alive in there?" Spencer opened his eyes groggily taking a moment to remember how he had gotten to the comfortable room. Then he heard the voice calling him again and shot up. "Dr Reid?"
"Sorry, I fell asleep." He said quietly as he opened the door to Agent Morgan.
"After the day you've had, I'm surprise you didn't sleep for a week." He agent smiled as he led the way back down the stairs. "Come, on Rossi's cooked his delicious lasagne. From the looks of it, it's been a hell of a long time since your last proper meal." The agent looked back at Spencer's nigh on emaciated frame as he spoke. In all honesty, even with an eidetic memory Spencer was hardly able to recall his last proper meal. With his mother's illness he depended mostly on microwave dinners until he decided to take cooking classes in college, but sadly he had only gotten three months in before tragedy struck.
The smell that hit Spencer as he descended the stairs caused his mouth to water. He followed the agent into a large open planned kitchen where he could see the older man cleaning a pot. He saw three large plates of food on the free standing counter with three large glasses of water. Spencer stood staring as the two other men sat and began to eat. After a moment they seemed to realise he was still standing staring at them.
"Dr Reid, are you waiting for a written invitation because I am not accustomed to giving them?" David asked in a satirical tone. "Sit."
Spencer rushed to the seat, tripping over his own feet as he did so. He could see Agent Morgan was doing everything he could not to laugh.
He slowly picked up the fork and began to nibble at the food, earning disbelieving looks from the men. As soon as he chewed and swallowed he quickened his pace. Soon the plate was empty and he found himself looking at it as though willing more food to appear.
Rossi rose from his chair and brought a dish to the table. "Eat however much you want." Sincerity oozed from every word and Spencer cut himself another piece identical in size to the one he had just eaten. Again he polished off the plate, finally full. He knew he shouldn't be so greedy, but he was so used to flavourless food that to finally taste different seasonings was amazing. Not once throughout the meal did any of them speak, but it was neither awkward nor unsettling. Spencer found it somewhat soothing.
"Well I better head outside. I'll keep you posted alright?" Agent Morgan stated. David handed him food and two bottles of water. "Get some sleep, you'll be fine." He turned to Spencer as he spoke. Spencer nodded nervously at the floor. He could hear the other man sigh and knew it was from the frustration of him barely speaking. Morgan turned and went outside without another word.
"He just wants you to adapt to the real world again." Spencer looked at the Italian, baffled by his statement. "He feels bad that you should have been on our team, but that you were denied the chance." Spencer looked to the door the agent had walked through mere moments before. "Now, I'm tired, there is a bag containing bed wear over there as well as a toothbrush, an actual brush and a few items of day clothes. We'll sort you out with a proper wardrobe soon." Spencer bit his lips together and walked to the bag to see that indeed everything the man said would be there was indeed present.
"Thank you."
David smiled at the young man's gratitude. "Just glad we can get you back on your feet Kiddo."
Spencer walked out the door and back up the stairs. He recalled his bedroom having a bathroom attached so headed straight for it, closing and locking the door behind him as he entered the room. He emptied the bag onto the bed and took out what he needed. Bath towels were in a corner and he decided to take advantage of the showering facilities. He turned the facet for the shower and a loud thunderous noise occurred as water began to fall. Already he could see this as going to be pleasurable, the water pressure and temperature were beyond perfect. He stripped himself bare and got in.
It took him a full twenty two minutes and fourteen seconds before he re-emerged from the shower, appreciating the hot water and privacy for the first time in eight years. He got into the pyjama's Agent Morgan had gotten him, they were boring but comfortable. After taking the toiletries to the bathroom, he brushed his teeth and shaved for the first time since his self-inflicted incarceration, with a razor. Usually the hospital forced them to use unhygienic electric ones. He nicked himself twice but overall did okay and he combed out his long hair. As he looked in the mirror he began to think to himself that he really needed to consider getting it cut.
He went back into the bedroom and curled up under the covers of the large comfortable bed. He found himself thinking of what would have happened were things to have turned out differently. Would he have gotten into the FBI? Could he have left his mother with her so ill? Would he have gotten on with the agents now protecting him? He thought of each of the agents from the day, of their different personalities.
Of the conflicting professional demeanour of Agent Hotchner the stoic strong profiler and the father who clearly let his son mess up the back seat of his car with smudged windows, food wrappers and a soccer ball on the back seat. He wondered did he force his son to play or were they different to him and his father.
He thought of the blonde Tech Girl, though she was loud, he liked her. She was clearly just and overly an outgoing person but she held no malice in her features.
He had little to do with the other two women, but wished to have spent more time watching them and learning their mannerisms and personalities.
He thought of the agent now sitting in his car outside protecting him. How he had treated Spencer with respect all day, and Rossi's comment about him feeling bad for Spencer being denied the chance to join them at the BAU. He wondered would they have had anything in common, probably not, but he would never know.
And finally of the man who had trusted him do instantaneously, and who graciously opened his home to him, feeding him, clothing him and who was doing everything in his power to help him. He was trying to find the angle as to why the man was being so generous, but could think of none. He heard the man curse in the hallway as he collided with something. Spencer waited for a moment but when he heard the man swear he was getting rid of that "Damn table" he relaxed once more.
He thought of the way Agent Rossi had taken to calling him "Kiddo" it seemed so belittling by itself, but it didn't irk him. In fact, he enjoyed it a little.
With a clean warm bed, a hot shower, fresh clothes and a full stomach, it took minutes for him to fall asleep. He was unsure how long he had been asleep when he was dragged from his comfortable slumber by the sensing of another person in the room. Spencer opened his eyes and noticed the bedroom light turned on and kneeling on the floor close to the bed, was a gagged, bloody and cuffed David Rossi, with a gun placed to the agents temple. In his peripheral vision he could see another one pointing directly at him.
Oh I am cruel! More as soon as I can, either tomorrow or Saturday.
A/N Sorry about the delay getting this up, I know I promised to have it up sooner but I had writers block. I watched the episode last night and was re-Rossi-fied but had to wait to use my laptop today, but none the less, here it is. A longer than usual too.