A/N: Ughh finals are kicking every inch of my ass and coming back for seconds. I have a final at 8:00am tomorrow. Freaking pray for me, guys.

Love,

Blue

Raising the Barre

CHAPTER FOURTEEN: Strip-Off

Turns out, Spencer was going to be fine. He was pumped full of some medicine in the back of the emergency room to flush his reaction out. He was prescribed this cream that they put all over his face to help the hives go down and pills for the swelling. Spencer was wheeled out less than an hour later, his fever broken and his skin nearly back to its original shade. His eyes were still a little puffy and he had patches of irritated pink bumps along his face and neck.

The nurse barely got Spencer back into the waiting room before Derek pushed through and wrapped his arms around Spencer, "Thank God, you're okay."

Spencer grumbled into Derek's shoulder, "You poisoned me, you jerk! Now, my face is all messed up! If I could get out of this chair without falling over, I'd kick your ass!"

Derek pulled back and patted Spencer's cheek, "I'm so sorry! I'm so, so, so sorry, man. I swear to God, I would have never done this to you had I known."

"Doesn't matter. I'm… I," Spencer sighed, "I can't go on stage with you tonight now, you know that, right?"

Derek's face fell, "What?"

Spencer replied, "They won't let me on with an outstanding injury or debilitating sickness. It's in the contract. I physically can't stand with you to represent us. Even if I could… they'd have to slather make up all over me so I don't look like such a gremlin."

Derek pinched his cheek, "Hey, if it helps, you make a really adorable gremlin."

Spencer started to blush, "Quit it, Derek."

Derek continued happily as Spencer looked back at him with irritated skin and swollen eyes, "You've got the cute little nose and the cute little chin and the cute little ears."

"Stop it, you're embarrassing me," Spencer blushed, glancing up at the nurse by his side.

Derek cuffed his chin, "Look at you all puffy like a little sick kitten. I just want to put you in my pocket."

Spencer glared at him, "I hate you."

Spencer was on bed rest for the next 24 hours, and when Derek walked into the Red Room alone that afternoon, everyone was asking what was wrong.

Paparazzi caught them that afternoon due to an anonymous tip (five bucks it was one of the nurses) and pictures of Derek carrying Spencer out of the hospital were all over the internet. They had to drive in circles for miles before they'd finally lost all of the leeches. But, seeing as Spencer looked horrible in the TMZ shots, everyone was freaking out over it backstage.

The two main questions floating around were: "is Spencer okay" and "what the hell even happened".

Luckily, Derek had prepared answers. The two men came up with a story prior to the evening.

What happened: The two were having a casual lunch at a sports bar down Sunset Ave like friends do and Spencer's salad had a clementine squeezed over it. He didn't ask the server if there was any, because come on. Who squeezes oranges over salads? Apparently, they do. Spencer's allergic reaction kicked up and Derek high tailed him to the closest hospital and now he's in bed, choking down pills, and doing homework for the class he's going to miss tomorrow night. He sends his regards.

Is Spencer is okay: Yes. He's just a little puffy, phlegmy, and red.

As much as Spencer hates to admit it, his face does a decent amount of his job. They don't call him the Prince of Ballroom for just his moves. With his handsome features, long eyelashes, and soft curls, he has the whole royalty look down pat. All he needs is a crown, scepter, throne, and bored expression. Seriously, if someone from England called over and said that they were missing a Prince, no one would be surprised if it was Spencer. As of now, though, he's got hives, medicinal paste all over him, and more bags under his eyes than the local supermarket. He's still adorable though. Derek passed around a picture of Spencer that he would surely have been killed for if it had fallen into Spencer's hands. In it, he was drowned in a large hoodie, his hair was pulled back into a sloppy bun, and he was glaring down a cup of Chamomile in his glasses with his laptop open at his side.

Penelope and Emily asked if they could Facetime him real quick before the show, and when Derek told them that Spencer carried a 2003 flip phone, they took a step back asking if he was serious. They settled for a call. Spencer mumbled out that he was in the middle of a research paper and they were breaking his stride.

Emily spoke into the speakerphone, "Hi! How are you, Doc?!"

Spencer grumbled, "I have paste in my nose, my neck itches, and I was in the middle of an epiphany about youth and psychosis. How are you ladies? Better, I hope."

Penelope chimed in, "We're fine! We miss you! Get better, you cheeky bastard!"

Spencer answered, "I'm trying. I got Derek to move my TV to the room, so I'll be watching you guys, alright?"

Emily asked Derek, "You moved furniture with him?"

Derek nodded.

Her eyes widened, "Dude, that's so cute."

"We're grown men, we're not cute," Spencer growled back, pausing to cough roughly, "Ugh... my throat hurts."

Derek answered, "Aww, poor baby."

Spencer growled back, "Don't even start with me, Derek. I'll hop in my car, drive over there, and kick your ass. I am not in the—" Spencer coughed twice and cleared his throat, "Not in the mood."

Derek chuckled, "You sure about that? Because you sound healthy as a horse."

Penelope called into the phone, "Oh, honey. Forget him. Take a nap, drink some tea, relax."

Spencer said back smoothly, "Thank you for caring about me, girls. I couldn't say as much for my piece of shit dance partner."

"Hey!" Derek replied, "I drove you to the hospital. I could have left your ungrateful ass to die."

Spencer spoke, "Whatever. I would have haunted you anyway, so..."

Derek laughed, "Boy, you know the ghostiest thing you'd do is watch me shower, you perv."

Spencer answered, "Actually, I'd move all of your furniture—" he let out a cough as he chuckled, "One and a half inches to the right. You'd be the king of stubbed toes."

"Wow, I can already feel the rage from your vengeful spirit," Derek added mirthfully, "Slow down, Satan."

Spencer coughed heavier through his laughter, "Stop making me—coughcough—laugh, you—cough—jerk."

"Alright, alright. I'll let you go," Derek held the phone out to the girls, "Penelope and Emily want to say 'bye'."

Emily called into the phone, "See you soon, Spencer. Feel better!"

Penelope finished, "Stop being sick! We'd better see your perky ass walking around the studio tomorrow."

Spencer sighed over the phone, "I can't dance at tomorrow's rehearsal because of my swollen bronchial tubes, but you will see me if you stop by. Company would be great as long as it doesn't pull Derek from work."

Emily jumped up and down, "Awesome! I'll bring Hough, it will be like one big party during our fifteen minute break."

"Perfect, I didn't get a chance to laugh in his face for not getting a ten on his Tango yesterday," Spencer replied.

Emily added, "I'll pass it along then—"

"No, no, no!" Spencer hastily spoke, "I was kidding!"

Emily smirked, "You sure?"

"Yeah!" Spencer quieted, "He'll hit me…"

The large sea of dancers started to head toward the door of the Red Room, freeing up the space between them all. The PA's started pushing people along and quoting the time. They had five minutes until show time and they had to get up to the stairs before the cameras come on. Gotta love a live show. Penelope spoke into the phone, "Bye, honey!"

Spencer answered, "Bye, Penelope and Emily. Have a good show, guys!"

Derek took the phone off speaker and placed it at his ear as the girls started trailing along with the rest of the group, finding their respective partners, "Hey, baby, it's time for me to go. Everyone's leaving the Red Room and Greg is giving me the stink-eye."

Spencer whimpered, "Aww, not the stink-eye."

Derek was the last to leave the room and as he made his way down the dimly lit hallway full of old cameras, wires, piping, and crew members, he replied, "I'll bring over some soup for you after the show if you want."

Spencer spoke mirthfully, "Yeah! Chicken noodle?"

Derek smiled, "You got it, kid."

Spencer answered softly, "I miss you…"

Derek sighed, "I miss you too, Pretty Boy."

Spencer asked, "Can we have cuddles when you get back?"

"Whatever you want." Derek laughed fondly, "And… I've got a surprise for you tonight."

Spencer's voice perked up, "What is—" he coughed, "What is it?!"

Derek spoke, "That's for me to know and for you to find out. Alright. I'm at the top of the stairs. I've really gotta go."

Spencer whined, "No."

Derek reached the holding area with the group of people up at the top of the stairs, "I'm sorry, hon. I'll see you tonight, okay?"

Spencer replied with a sigh, "Okay, babe."

Derek whispered into the phone, "I love it when you call me that."

Spencer let out a bashful, "You do?"

"Yeah," Derek smiled, glancing at the fulled holding area, "Okay, I really have to bounce. I'll call you right after the show, alright? Kisses."

Spencer added cheerfully, "Break a leg. Break 'em both, babe."

As Derek shut the phone off and slipped it into his pocket, he straightened his stage tee shirt and looked out into the crowd. He's never had to do this without Spencer before. He feels kind of alone without the guy beside him, tying him to the stage with that nervous energy he has every elimination night. Now, Derek knows why Spencer gets so upset every Tuesday. The crowd decides whether they'll spend another week together or be forced apart, and it's kind of trippy to have all of that choice ripped from you. Derek wants to pretend that they can be with each other as long as they like, but that's not exactly true. Even if they do make it to the end of the competition, they're not going to be together like they were. Spencer and Derek won't see each other every day, they won't dance like they do, they won't have to count on each other like this anymore. It kind of puts things into perspective for Derek that their relationship could have a timeline on it.

At his side, Derek felt someone nudge him. He turned his head, looking into bright blue, fox-like eyes. Derek Hough looked back at him with a nod, "Talking to your boo?"

Derek answered easily, "…yeah."

Hough folded his arms and replied, "I get it, you know? I call mine before the shows too. Keeps you grounded, you know? Especially when the crowd gets all daunting, it helps to speak to your girl. Hear her voice."

"Uh," Derek smiled over at him, "He's not my girl."

Hough's eyebrows raised, "Oh! I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to generalize. You just seemed like a ladies guy, is all. You don't look gay."

Derek narrowed his eyes, "What does gay look like?"

Hough sighed in frustration and tried to explain, "I wasn't… I just… I didn't want to—"

Derek laughed and clapped the dancer on his back, "It's fine, dude. You aren't the first to say that."

"Good. I wasn't looking to insult you," Hough answered, "I was just over here to let you know that you did good last week, man, you're a real threat. And if you're ever looking for a friend in this place, just know that you don't have to look far. There are some serious rumors spreading and I know you understand what that's like, being famous and all, but… sometimes you need people in your corner. Even though us dancers don't chat often, know that you've got people."

Derek asked, "Seriously?"

"Yeah." Hough chuckled and pointed over at a tall, thin dancer, "Hell, Tristan's been trying to talk to you for a week, but he's a diehard Bears fan, so he gets kind of nervous when you stand within a five feet radius. I mean, he told me you used his bathroom once and he almost squealed."

Derek laughed out, "Squealed?"

Hough nudged his shoulder, "Like a teenage girl at a Bieber concert. He's a hopeless fuckin' cause, man."

"Wow, I never would have guessed. Guy keeps it together pretty well," Derek shrugged, "Then again, he has been kissing Spencer's ass pretty often nowadays."

"Sounds like him," the theme music started to play and Hough patted Derek's shoulder, "Alright, I'll see you later, man. Hit me and the guys up if you wanna grab a beer sometime."

Derek smiled back, "I will."

Derek stood under the spotlight alone beside Emily and Hough, Karina and her partner, and Will and Peta. This was a pretty worrying group to be beside. No one earned a "10" yesterday, so it's pretty much everyone's game except for Karina's pairing. They'd gotten hit with a six and two sevens. So, they could be up for elimination, but Derek is pretty sure her partner is an actor in that "Supernatural" show which means that he's got crazy insane votes from their rabid-ass fandom.

That's fine.

No fear.

Derek has got this.

He knows Spencer and his mother are watching, so he sent a wink to the camera as he waited alone on the stage. All of the eyes were on him as the red spotlight shone down on him alone. Crap. Where there would usually be a tall, fuzzy haired pillar of courage beside him, there was nothing. Just a space. Spencer could see him, but Derek couldn't see Spencer. He might be leaving Spencer tonight and he won't even have the strong dancer at his side to hold his hand through the bad news. Derek hung his head and waited as others were saved over and over again. This could well and truly be the end for them.

As Derek made his way back to the couch, waiting again for his turn, his pocket buzzed up. He pulled out his phone and found lots of encouraging text messages from his sisters, telling him to keep his head up and that there was nothing to be afraid of. His mother was notified by his sisters because she tried to call him and he had to text her back to let her know that she couldn't. It would mess with the live signals in the ballroom. She texted back disjointed messages full of misused text talk. It was kind of endearing how bad she was at using that phone he'd bought her last year. She still doesn't know how to make the camera work, and narrows her eyes at Derek every time he upgrades her. One day, she'll get it.

Lastly, he got one text message from Spencer. It was a picture of him smiling a little bit with his irritated skin patches. The message underneath read: [Don't stress over it, Derek. You will be fine. We did an amazing job last night, and you have nothing to worry about. -Doc]

Derek smiled back at it, sending a quick [neither do u].

He was called back to the stage with three other pairings, holding his breath as he stood alone in the dark beside the other stars whom stood beside their partners. The announcer called out their names and stopped at Derek at the end, "Where's your partner, Derek?"

Derek said through his teeth, "He's sick."

"Well, that's just too bad," the host smiled back at him, "Is everyone ready to find out who's in and who's out?"

The crowd clapped and Derek took a deep breath, the absence of a warm hand around his and a head on his shoulder becoming a deafening emptiness. He wasn't used to this, but he could do it. He could stay strong. The host shone a bright white light down on one pairing. Derek's heart sped up. He has one in three chances of going home. The silence was growing loud as the host let another light of safety shine down on the group at his left. It's fifty/fifty now. Derek felt his phone buzz in his pocket. He let out a small smile, knowing just who this is. He placed his hand in there and felt the warm buzz. True, he couldn't see Spencer, but that doesn't mean that they can't be together right here, right now.

The host raised his card and Derek closed his eyes, feeling the light shine down on him declaring his safety. Derek pumped his fist in the air and his phone continued to buzz in his pocket. He was safe for another week! Yes! It's like nothing else matters. Hell, nothing does!

It was time for him to follow the other safe pairs to the couches with the rest of the group. Derek slid into the couch beside Penelope and Gleb with a wide smile on his face as the crowd cheered in the background. She wrapped her arms around him and pressed her cheek to his, jumping around, "Don't ever scare me like that again!"

Derek laughed and kissed her cheek, "I promise, Baby Girl."

"I know, Ma, it was crazy! I was so sure that this was the end of the line," Derek said into his phone as he dug around his hotel room, throwing some clothes into a duffel. As soon as he got off the road, he called his mother and she screamed happily into his ear as soon as she answered it. His mother was worried for him. She wanted him to win—probably more than Derek himself wanted to. Without giving him time to speak until he slid his key card into the door, Derek was all smiles as he let her ramble. He was just glad to hear her voice after a few days without it and her enthusiasm only lifted his already high spirits. She told him that she had cheered him on with his sisters that night. Derek texted Sarah about what had happened with Spencer, and Sarah texted Desi who was spending the night at Mom's, and before long all three of the Morgan women were crowded around the television, sending picture after picture of their smiles and hugs and wishes of luck.

Derek zipped his duffel closed with a smile. He's got the best family sometimes, he swears. They're crazy, but they're his girls. Derek sat on his bed beside his half full bag and spoke into the phone at his ear, "Alright, mommy, I've gotta go. I promised I'd bring Spencer over some soup and I can't talk to you and drive."

She sighed with disappointment, "Fine. Leave your mother if you must."

"Don't be like that. You're making me feel all bad," Derek replied.

His mother added with a smile, "Well, maybe if you spent more time with me, I wouldn't be so pouty!"

Derek whined, "Ma…"

She continued, "Derek. I'd better see you soon. I'll take a plane up there and show up at your rehearsal, boy, you know I will."

Derek laughed and let his head fall against his bag, "Please don't ever do that."

Mrs. Morgan replied, "I don't know why not. I'd get to see my baby and his cute little doctor boyfriend."

Derek sighed, "Spencer isn't my boyfriend."

"Yeah, okay," she answered with a scoff.

Derek added, "And he's not that kind of doctor either."

Mrs. Morgan hissed into the phone, "Let me hold on to my dream, boy. Lord knows your sisters aren't dating anyone worth a damn. You've got a smart, handsome young man on your arm, okay? Don't mess this up for me."

Derek chuckled back, "One would think you like him more than I do."

She answered easily, "You're probably right. Hell, if I were 50 years younger…"

"Mom." Derek gasped, "No."

His mother dismissed him, "Oh, please. He couldn't handle me."

Derek whimpered into the phone, "Mental images I do not need are now seared into my brain. Thank you. Now, I'll probably need therapy."

She laughed back, "Anytime, baby. Have a good night and don't you stay up too late with that cute doctor of yours."

Derek answered, "He's not mine. We're not dating. I'm just bringing him some soup and making sure he's okay."

"At 11:43 at night? Soup, my ass," Mrs. Morgan scoffed, "Sounds more like a booty call if you ask me."

Derek's eyes widened, "How do you even know what a 'booty call' is? Weren't you born in the Dark Ages?"

She replied, "Boy, I was born in New York during the Great Depression. I know exactly what the hell is going on. You two boys think you're slick, I know you do, but you aren't. I raised you. I know what you look like after you did something you wasn't supposed to do with somebody, and that doctor? He blushes and giggles around you like a lovesick teenage girl. Break his heart, and it'll be your ass."

Derek sighed, "Ma…"

Mrs. Morgan said sharply, "Excuse me? What was that?"

Derek mumbled out, "Yes, ma'am."

"Good," she added, "And let that poor boy sleep a little tonight, okay? He's sick. I mean, damn."

Derek answered, "Yes, ma'am."

His mother cooed into the phone, "I love you, Derry Bear. Have a good night, alright?"

Derek smiled back, "I love you too, Ma."

"And don't forget to pray for yourself," she said softly to him.

Derek stood and grabbed his bag, grabbing his stuff and heading out of his room as he replied absently to his mother, "I won't."

"I'll let you go, okay, baby?" Mrs. Morgan said, "See you later."

Derek smiled into the phone and closed the door of his room, "See you, Mom."

He headed down the empty hallway and into the brightly lit, yellow painted elevator, pressing the garage button. The elevator headed down and Derek reached into his pocket, pulling out a pair of earbuds. Jamming them into the port, he plugged himself in, scrolling through the library of his phone for something to listen to. The elevator let out a little ding as each floor passed by and Derek chose some of Kly's older stuff. He smiled to himself as the music poured into his ears, bopping his head and watching the door open a few floors before his stop.

Two girls walked into the elevator beside him, they couldn't be more than twenty-three years old. He glanced over at them as they chose the lobby floor and saw that look in their eyes that he saw in his around that age. Young, spry, full of dreams. They were dressed up a bit, make-up done to the best of their ability as they watched the elevator take them down each floor. Derek could almost see the big dreams in these two. They traded smiles and started talking to each other with bubbly smiles as they turned to him. The dark skinned one in an eyelet sweetheart blue dress smiled over at him, "Sir. Can we sing a little something for you? We're headed to an Open Mic."

Derek pulled his headphones out and shrugged, "Why not?"

The blonde beside her in a pink maxi dress smiled and they started with soft oohs and aahs, harmonizing easily. Well. They weren't half bad. The blonde started to sing, "I reached in the cupboard for something to feed you and I hoped that these words were enough to keep you…"

Blue Dress sung with her, "Because the moon is so high and the stars are so bright…"

The blonde stopped singing and Blue Dress continued, "You could be the one that I needed."

The girls sung together with a few more oohs and aahs as the blonde began again, "And when the sun came you hit the trail like an old cowboy bent for the wild road…"

Blue Dress came in again, "And so I carved your name in to all the tree legs…" finishing alone with, "And we waited for you until dark came."

"Are you there where the good ones go?" they harmonized, "Are you there where the good ones go?"

Derek commented as they finished, "Holy crap, that was incredible."

The elevator pinged at the lobby and the girls waved, exiting with smiles, "Thank you!"

Derek called after them, "No, thank you."

That was the third time this week someone sang at him in the elevator, he's come to expect it nowadays. Then again, he is in Hollywood. But, for once, there was some actual talent in this hotel. Derek smiled to himself. He really hopes those two girls make it.

Unlocking Spencer's apartment with the spare key hidden a compartment Spencer installed in the number on his door, Derek called into it, "Hey, dude! I've got your chicken noodle."

He got no reply. Derek sighed and closed the door, placing the key in the bowl beside the kitchenette and setting his duffle down. He grabbed the bag with the soup in it and kicked his shoes off at the door and made his way past the living room and down the hall. As he approached the room, he saw Spencer laying there asleep with his glasses all askew, five textbooks open around him and a laptop resting on his chest.

Derek sat on the bed beside him and set down the soup. He grabbed the books and dog-eared the pages to them as he placed them on his nightstand. Lastly, he took the computer off of him. Derek spared a glance at the screen and saw it split. One side had a word document open that looked to be… huh? Derek moved the screen back a little—damn his farsightedness—and noted that it was over 30 pages long. Wow. He read a sentence off of a page, "The psychoanalysis of the youths from ages eight to twelve shows more of a malleability in personality. Within this age, children are more inclined to—" Nope. Derek's bored.

He took a peek at the other side which seemed to be a live Twitter feed. Hmm. What was this? Spencer didn't have a Twitter. Huh. Derek guesses he does now. Spencer goes by the name of DrSpencerReid. Formal as fuck. That would be his screen name though. Derek scanned the page in interest. Looks like the account isn't even a day old. He doesn't have any followers yet, nor is he following anybody, but he sent out several tweets tagged with… #TeamWildCard's tag.

Aww.

He voted for them. A lot. Like… damn. Derek closed the laptop and leaned over Spencer's body, pressing a soft kiss to his cheek.

Spencer flinched awake, his arms flailing as he mumbled out, "Intruder!"

Derek held his hands up in surrender, "Hey! Whoa. It's just me."

"Oh. Hey, babe," Spencer sniffed, pushing his glasses up lazily and glancing over at him with a tired smile, "Shit, I must have dozed off… what time is it?"

"Nearly midnight," Derek patted his cheek, "I brought you some soup."

Spencer burrowed into the pillow, mumbling, "You did?"

Derek nodded, "Yeah, chicken noodle."

Spencer lazily reached up and pulled Derek down on top of him for a sleepy hug, "Yummy. Thank you."

Derek chuckled as Spencer wrapped his arms and legs around him and spoke into Spencer's hair, "Do you actually want to eat the soup or…"

"Yeah! Move. Gimmie," Spencer pushed him away and scooched his way up the bed, pushing his hair out of his eyes with his long fingers. Derek reached into the bag at his side and handed Spencer the tub of soup, a spoon taped to the top. Spencer grabbed at it and ripped the spoon off, pulling it out of its plastic before opening the tub and sipping its hot contents, "Mmm… soup is like night coffee."

Derek watched, "I don't think I'd call it that."

Spencer waved him off with the spoon as he sipped the soup from the container, "I would. Oh! Speaking of calling things… we have another week together! Woo!"

Derek nodded with a smile on his face, "I know right. I could sing."

Spencer coughed and took another sip of soup, "Go for it. I won't complain."

Derek sighed, "Oh, you would. I can't carry a tune. Sorry."

Spencer chuckled out as he slurped up a noodle, "Me neither. Good thing we aren't parents, or we'd be fucked."

Derek asked, "How?"

Spencer continued on, "My mom used to sing me this song when I was little, and I've always wanted my kid to hear it too, but I can't hit any of the notes."

"My ma did that too," Derek said with a distant smile, "She'd sing Bob Dylan. The Free Wheelin' album. Whole damn thing all around the kitchen when she cooked."

Spencer smiled, "Mine would sing the Beatles."

Derek chuckled at him, pushing at Spencer's shoulder, "The Beatles? Please, man. I used to hear them on the radio."

Spencer laughed as he fell back into the pillow, "Wow, you're ancient."

Derek rolled his eyes, "I don't need you telling me. I know how old I am."

"I don't think you do." Spencer joked, setting his soup down, "What's the last song you listened to of your own free will?"

Derek paused, taking a moment to think back to what he was listening to on his phone before the girls interrupted him on the plane, "The Men All Pause by Kly."

Spencer asked, "And when did that song come out?"

Derek shrugged, "Man, I don't know. Some time in the 80's. Why?"

Spencer took his hand and said simply, "I was born in the 80's."

Derek's face fell, "No, you weren't."

Spencer continued, "Yes, I was. I'm 31. I was born in 1982."

Derek hung his head, "Shut up, you're lying."

Spencer laughed easily, patting Derek's hand, "I'm sorry, babe. I'm not."

"But, I remember 1982. Clearly. Crystal clearly. As if it were yesterday," Derek dismissed him.

Spencer shrugged, "Well, I don't. Because I was a fetus for most of it."

Derek's face drew blank as this truth sunk in. Shit. A fetus? But… Derek remembers doing school work and tossing the pigskin and pulling girls' pigtails around that time. Spencer couldn't be that young. He couldn't be that old.

Spencer sighed, "It's all coming full circle in your mind, isn't it?"

Derek paused, "So… 1982… you weren't around for Martin Luther King or any of that shit?"

Spencer shook his head, "…no. I'm sorry. But, what was it like? I've always wanted to know."

"Man, I don't know. Gas prices were cheaper and people got the chicken pox like it was a cold." Derek breathed out as Spencer lay his hand on Derek's cheek, "I'm… I need a minute."

Spencer looked up at Derek, "Babe, you alright?"

Derek let a moment pass, "I… I think so. Wow. I seriously never thought about that before."

Spencer asked, "What? Our age difference?"

Derek nodded slowly, "It's so... large."

Spencer grabbed his soup container and took another sip of it as he let Derek think everything out. The dancer laid against his pillow and watched his partner through his horn rimmed glasses with a soft smile. Derek glanced back at him with something in his eyes he was trying to hide and Spencer took his hand, replying easily, "I don't mind it. It's actually kind of nice. We balance each other out. I have such an weird personality that it scares some people away, but not you. You understand me. You know what it's like to be on the outside, yet still live every day with a camera in your face. And where I'm naïve, you're not. We fit together, Derek. We just do."

Leaning forward suddenly, Derek took Spencer's face in his hand and pressed a hard kiss to Spencer's lips. Spencer kissed him back with a chuckle and set his soup down to wrap his arms around Derek's neck and throw himself into it. They slipped down the sheets as they kissed and as Spencer's head lay cradled by bunched covers and Derek's hand, they parted. Spencer blushed and pressed his forefinger to Derek's lips to say breathlessly, "And then, there's that."

Derek laughed and kissed Spencer again, "I guess we're kind of compatible. If nothing, we'd have some really good sex."

Spencer bit his lip and grinned out, pushing his hair behind his ear and fixing his glasses, "We would."

"Passionate, and…" Derek kissed him softly, "teasing, and…" Derek nibbled on Spencer's lip, chuckling darkly, "God, the things I would do to you…"

Spencer's breath hitched, "Oh... don't. I can't overexert myself for the next 17 hours or my bronchial tubes will fill back up with mucus."

Derek wrinkled his nose, "Dude. Eww."

Spencer teased, "You should have thought of that before you poisoned me. I've been hacking out snot all night. Sexy."

Derek pushed off of Spencer, "Ugh."

Spencer pulled himself up and said with a satisfied smile, "Well, you're the one who kissed me while I'm still all icky and gremlin-y."

"You actually don't look like that much of a gremlin right now. Your spots are almost gone. You have like a couple on your cheek and that's it," Derek replied.

Spencer asked in a serious tone, "Really?"

Derek nodded, "Yeah."

Spencer pumped his fist, "Yes! Once these clear up, we can have so much sex, it'll be insane!"

Derek paused, "Or you could teach me the next dance…"

"That too!" Spencer grinned, bouncing around on his bed and stopping suddenly, "Oh! Did you catch the next challenge?"

Derek shook his head, "You know I never pay attention long enough to hear them on elimination night."

Spencer waved his hand around and grabbed his soup container, "Ahh, we'll find out tomorrow. Who cares? We're safe."

Derek grinned, "Yes, we are."

Spencer smiled back.

Derek patted Spencer's knee, "Well, you have your soup, so…"

Spencer frowned, "You're leaving?"

Derek answered with a knowing quirk of his lips, "No. I told you… I have a surprise for you. Something to make you feel better. Hopefully."

Spencer's eyebrows raised, "Oh?"

"Yeah! Sit here. Don't move," Derek commanded as he stood up and headed to the door. He looked back at Spencer whom lay with his legs tangled in the sheets and hands full of his soup mug. Spencer glanced up at him through his glasses and fuzzy curls, "Where would I go?"

Derek slipped away and found his duffel bag by the door. Unzipping it, he pulled out one of his really nice tailored suits. Simple black, but it's a three piece. It's paired with a really nice black tie and a black Snap Back that settles nice and low on his brow. Oh, yes. This will work nicely. Derek quickly got out of his clothes and changed into the suit, tugging on a pair of dress shoes and heading to the bathroom to make sure everything was on straight. He glanced at himself in the mirror and placed the hat on his head, flicking the flat brim with a smile at his reflection.

He took a deep breath and glanced down the hall at Spencer's room. God. The things he does for love.

Heading to the room with an air of determination and his phone in his pocket, Derek walked right in with that suit on as if it were nothing. He heard Spencer's gentle intake of breath and let his answering smile hide so that he could plug his phone into Spencer's iPod speaker beside his barre. It took relatively no time at all to set everything up and soon Derek was turned to Spencer, looking the dancer down, "You asked for this. So, you're getting it."

Spencer's soup was cooling on his bedside table and his hand was pressed to his chest as he grinned, "Are you going to do what I think you're going to do?"

"Yeah," Derek replied with a sigh.

Spencer's fists shot up as he cackled, "Yes! I should be sick more often."

Derek rolled his eyes, "Just... don't make fun of me, alright? I wouldn't do this for anybody else. And you totally owe me at some point in the future, kid. This shit ain't free."

Spencer sat back and grinned, "Yeah, yeah, sure. Now, get to it, mister."

Derek reached over and pressed on the touch screen to play the song. Spencer snuggled himself into the covers and waited for Derek to get started with that huge grin of his. He sent over two thumbs up excitedly. The music started and R. Kelly sung out, "My mind's telling me 'no'..."

Spencer laughed out, "Oh, shit. Not this song. Not Bump N Grind."

"But, my body? My body is telling me 'yes'," Derek nodded with a large smile and looked over at Spencer as R. Kelly finished, "Baby, I don't want to hurt nobody. But there is something that I must confess..." he winked and curled a finger into himself, motioning for Spencer to come in closer.

The music got quiet and Derek winked and bit his lip as the beat came in, "I don't see nothing wrong with a little bump and grind," Derek started to rock back and forth as Spencer broke out into stitches over his song choice, "I don't see nothing wrong. I don't see nothing wrong with a little bump and grind..." Derek ran his hands down his body, ending to slap at his thighs, bringing Spencer's attention back over to him, "I don't see nothing wrong..." Derek slowly started to unbutton his jacket, letting the first button slide out of it's pocket before going down to the next, staring Spencer down with confident surety, "See, I know just what you want and I know just what you need... so, baby, bring your body to me..." His jacket slipped off of his arms and onto the floor and Spencer's laughter ceased. He let his eyes trail down Derek's body. Yes. He has him. Christ, that was easy.

"I'm not fooling around with you, baby, my love is true," Derek started to roll his hips, as he undid his cuff links, "With you is where I want to be..." Derek slammed them down on the dresser behind him and Spencer's breath hitched as he followed the motion, "You need someone... someone like me... to satisfy your every need," Derek briefly went back to his modeling days and channeled that bedroom look, running his hand up his suited body and letting his lip slide through his teeth. Spencer groaned.

"I don't see nothing wrong with a little bump and grind," Derek's fingers raced down his vest, "I don't see nothing wrong..." Derek balled up the vest and tossed it at Spencer. The vest landed at Spencer's shoulder and the dancer quickly grabbed it up, holding it against his chest as he stared back up at Derek as if entranced," I don't see nothing wrong with a little bump and grind..." Derek pulled his hat off, turning it backwards and grabbing at his belt, "I don't see nothing wrong..." Unlatching the belt, Derek pulled it out of his loops sharply. He let the end drop to the floor and gripped the buckle, flicking it out and letting it whip against the dresser. Spencer's jaw dropped and one side of his mouth quickly quirked up, "Oh, shit."

The belt fell from his fingers and Derek kicked it out of the way, rolling his hips and yanking his tie free, all the while keeping eye contact with Spencer, "You say he's not treating you right. Baby, spend the night now... I'll..." Derek bit on the tip of the tie and let his tongue run along the side of it, miming his tongue running up something else. He just hopes Spencer gets it, "I'll love you like you need to be loved," Spencer's face went red and he pulled at the neck of his tee shirt to fan himself with it. Yeah. He got it. "No need to look no more, because I've opened up my doors. You'll never want another lover..." Derek pulled at the buttons of his shirt and let them slide through his fingers. He was nearly halfway down his shirt when R. Kelly sang out blissfully, "You see, you need someone... someone like me," Derek sent a wink Spencer's way, "To make love to you, baby, constantly..."

"I don't see nothing wrong with a little bump and grind," Derek continued down the shirt as he bit on his lip and locked eyes with his partner, "I don't see nothing wrong..." Derek let his shirt hang open, watching as Spencer gazed at him, taking his hat off and letting the brim of it run down his chest," I don't see nothing wrong with a little bump and grind..." he pulled his shirt over his head and tossed it down in front of him, "I don't see nothing wrong..." Derek watched Spencer blush harder as he started to unbutton his trousers. Spencer looked away and panted nervously, "Holy fuck."

Derek turned to the music player and laughed in Spencer's direction as the song started to fade off, "Dude, are you okay?"

"No!" Spencer had grabbed a throw pillow while he had his back turned and was currently fanning his red face quickly, "I will never be okay!"

Derek smiled with confidence, "So, I assume that was a satisfactory performance?"

Spencer continued to wave the pillow near his face, "It was weak, unpracticed, and poorly done, but your enthusiasm and incredible body saved you."

Derek furrowed his eyebrows, "Owch."

Spencer shrugged, "What? I'm being honest. But don't get me wrong, it was hot. Very hot. I'm going to need a cold shower. Or twelve. And I'm pretty sure that was your goal, correct?"

Derek placed his hands on his bare hips as his trousers were slung just below his hips, showing the band of his designer boxers, "Yeah, but—"

"Ssh!" Spencer held his hand up, closing his eyes, "Please put clothes on. I can't continue to talk to you when you're looking at me like that."

Derek grinned, folding his arms across his broad chest, "Like what?"

"Oh, please. You know," Spencer asked, "Is your shirt on?"

Derek lied, "Yeah."

Spencer glanced back up at him and blushed, covering his face with the pillow, "Stop fucking with me, man. I'm serious. My brain is getting disconnected. I'm already wonky from your sub-par dance."

"Sub-par?!" Derek scoffed, "You know what? You think you can do better?"

Spencer said into the pillow, "I know I can. Sick and phlegm-y, I can do better."

Derek thrust his hand out, "Then, bring it, bitch!"

Spencer let the pillow fall, "You did not just call me a bitch."

Derek leaned forward and said through a glare, "Bitch."

Spencer shook his head, "Oh, it's on. It's on like Donkey Kong."

"Then, get your tight little ass up and show me what you've got," Derek replied as Spencer got up from the bed, walking over to his drawer and standing in front of Derek. He motioned for the man to step aside and rifled through the meticulously straight pile until he found what he was looking for. Spencer grinned darkly, "Oh, this one will do perfectly."

Derek gave him a wary look, "What will do perfectly?"

"This outfit, it's just right for a strip-off. Now, go to the living room. Sit on the couch. Plug my speaker in the hallway and tape your socks down because they're about to get knocked off," Spencer said easily.

Derek took Spencer's speaker off of his dresser and passed off a glare before obeying. He looked through the dark hallway for an outlet and found one just at the edge of the bathroom. He plugged the thing in and grabbed his phone out of it, making his way to the living room as the bedroom door slammed shut. Derek walked over the hardwood floor to the couch and sat down lazily, checking his twitter feed to see what the voters had to say about tonight. Positive things, he hopes. Derek paused, looking away from his phone for a moment. He wonders what Spencer has in store. It must be amazing. He is classically trained, young, well-versed in dance. He might even be better than most showgirls, I mean, he is from Vegas. Derek let out a soft smile. Oh, yeah. This is definitely a phone-off situation. He powered it down and set it beside him, waiting for Spencer to get changed.

It took him a while. Derek peeked at his watch and sighed as the minutes passed by. He spared a glance to the hallway and groaned. Jeez, what's going on in there? He doesn't have to put on make-up or anything, does he? Hopefully not. It's not like Derek isn't kinky like that, he's just not in the mood to wait a whole bunch of time for powder and mascara. Suddenly, he heard the door creak open and he grinned to himself, fingers drumming on his knees. Alright, alright. Bring in the show. Some dreams are about to come true tonight.

Spencer's voice called from the edge of the hallway, tinted with something sexual in it he's never heard before, "You ready to see what exotic dancing really looks like, babe?"

Derek called back, "Hell yeah!"

"Then, let's put on something of this century? Hmm?" Spencer teased, as the first notes of Candy Shop by 50 Cent poured into the room. Spencer strode his way into the room to the beat of it with his glasses on, a fedora on his head, a crisp oxford on under a red tie and tan sweater vest, and a pair of dance slacks on. So, he's dressed pretty much the way he always dresses. Shit! That was a great idea. This is going to ruin Derek every time he sees any part of this outfit. Spencer said to Derek as he stomped over to the back of the couch, "You've been a bad boy in rehearsal today, Mr. Morgan. You've earned yourself a detention."

Derek grinned with a sigh, "Ooh, you gonna punish me, Dr. Reid?"

"Well, as your teacher. It would be wrong of me not to," Spencer whispered into his ear, crawling over the couch to the tune of the music, and hopping onto his lap and riding him nice and hard with one hand on Derek's chest and the other holding his hat down, "I'll take you to the candy shop. I'll let you lick the lollipop," Spencer shamelessly licked a dirty line up Derek's neck, "Go 'head, girl, don't you stop. Keep going 'til you hit the spot... whoa." Spencer bit into his own lip, locking eyes with Derek as he damn near dry humped him into the couch to the beat of the song. A woman sang, "I'll take you to the candy shop. Boy, one taste of what I've got. I'll have you spending all you got. Keep going 'til you hit the spot... whoa."

Spencer pushed himself off of Derek and started to move with crisp precision. All tantalizing moves, rolling hips, clothes falling off of him slow as he expertly used the room. He tossed his vest at Derek first, next his tie as 50 Cent started rapping fast.

"You can have it your way, how do you want it?
You gonna back that thing up, or should I push up on it?
Temperature rising, okay, lets go to the next level.
Dance floor jam packed, hot as a teakettle.
I'll break it down for you now, baby, it's simple.
If you be a nympho, I'll be a nympho.
In the hotel or in the back of the rental.
On the beach or in the park, it's whatever you into."

Spencer climbed back onto his lap, "Got that magic shit, I'm the love doctor. Have your friends teasing you 'bout how sprung I gotcha," Spencer took off his hat and ran his hand all through his hair, letting the curls fall all over his face and he looked Derek down with his big brown eyes, "Wanna show me how you work it baby, no problem. Get on top, then get to bouncing round like a low rider," Spencer started doing that hip curling thing on top of him and it took everything Derek had not to get hard under him as Spencer whispered into his ear, "I'm a seasoned vet when it come to this shit." Spencer flicked his hair out of his face and licked his lips, "After you work up a sweat you can drive with the stick," Spencer started pulling off the buttons of his shirt, staring him down with intensity as his hips bounced to the sound of the music, "I'm trying to explain, baby, best way I can. Because I melt in your mouth, baby, not in your hands."

"I'll take you to the candy shop. I'll let you lick the lollipop," Spencer licked Derek's neck again, tongue traveling to his earlobe as he sucked it into his mouth, "Go 'head, girl, don't you stop. Keep going 'til you hit the spot... whoa." Derek pressed his hands to Spencer's hips and got swatted away. Spencer stared into his eyes and shook his head, "You're in detention, Mr. Morgan. No touching." The woman sang a second time, "I'll take you to the candy shop. Boy, one taste of what I've got. I'll have you spending all you got. Keep going 'til you hit the spot... whoa." Spencer smiled wickedly over at him, shoving himself off of Derek's lap to pull his arms out of his shirt roughly and letting it fall to the floor. He started tossing Derek boyish looks, picking up his tie and letting both ends fall around Derek's neck as he pulled him in. He tugged on the tie, sitting in front of his lap with his back facing him and dancing as dirty as Derek's ever seen done. He ground his ass into Derek's crotch with abandon to the tune of the music, nearly forcing on Derek's arousal as he rubbed against him.

"Give it to me baby, nice and slow.
Climb on top, ride like you in the rodeo.
You ain't never made a sound like this before.
Cause I ain't never put it down like this before.
Soon as I come through the door she get to pulling on my zipper.
It's like it's a race: who can get undressed quicker?
Isn't it ironic how erotic it is to watch that Vouton?
Got me thinking 'bout that ass long after I'm gone."

Spencer turned and pressed his hands to the back of Derek's head, roughly pulling him in, "I touch the right spot at the right time. Lights on or lights off, she like it from behind," Spencer moved in and descended on him in a lust-driven, tongue bathed kiss, "So seductive, you should see the way we wind. Hips slow-mo on the floor when we grind," Spencer didn't end the kiss. He kept going on Derek, pulling his hips in closer and moving even harder. Derek let out a groan against his lips and Spencer smiled, palming at Derek's tented pants with a rough hand, "As long as we ain't stopping, homie, I ain't stopping. Dripping wet with sweat, man, its on and popping," he let Derek's pants go and yanked them out of the kiss, pulling the tie from Derek's neck and looping it around his hand and traced a sloppy, slow line down Derek's chest, "On my champagne campaign, bottle after bottle it's on, and we're gonna sip 'til every bubble in the bottle is gone."

"I'll take you to the candy shop. I'll let you lick the lollipop," Spencer pulled the tie into his mouth, mimicking Derek's earlier motion as he licked up a bit of it as his hips ground into Derek's, "Go 'head, girl, don't you stop. Keep going 'til you hit the spot... whoa." Derek breathed into Spencer's face, "Shit, man..." The woman sang a third time, "I'll take you to the candy shop. Boy, one taste of what I've got. I'll have you spending all you got. Keep going 'til you hit the spot... whoa."

The out-tro played and Spencer sat there on top of his lap with a bashful look on his face, "Sorry. I get pretty into it. Dancing's kind of my thing and—"

Derek shut him up with a hard kiss, wrapping Spencer in his arms and pulling him closer. Spencer melted into the touch and tugged at Derek's belt loops, moving his head to the side to deepen it. Derek leaned to the side and soon Spencer lay on top of him as they kissed and kissed and kissed. Fuck, Derek was so turned on. He's a pretty competitive guy, but he'll give in the towel here. Spencer whooped his ass. He gave as good as he got and more. Much, much, much more. He even put Derek in detention. Danced all up on him and told him he couldn't touch not one hair on his body while he did it. It was torture. Sexy, sexy torture and within it all, he could feel Spencer's frustration, his longing, his need, his lust.

Spencer pressed a hand to Derek's chest, "We can't take this too far. I don't have an inhailer."

Derek chuckled, looking up at him and looping a finger around one of his curls, "That's fine, baby. I'm cool with just this."

Spencer gave Derek a flat look, "Well, I'm not. I want some dick."

Derek's eyes widened and he gasped at Spencer's blatant answer, "Whoa, Spence."

"What? I do!" Spencer sighed angrily, patting his hands on Derek's chest several times, "I'm a grown man and I know what I fucking want. And what I fucking want is to hop on you and throw my fucking back out, but I can't! I can't because shit keeps getting in the way! And I'm so upset because..." Spencer sighed, "I just want to get laid. With you. It shouldn't be this difficult. But it is. And I'm so sexually frustrated I think I'm going to explode."

Derek brushed his hand along Spencer's face, "Dude, calm down."

Spencer breathed heavily through his teeth, "I am calm."

Derek said easily, "If it's that big of a freaking deal, we'll do it tomorrow, okay?"

Spencer nodded slowly, "...okay."

Derek added, "First thing in the morning."

Spencer started to smile, "This better not go wrong."

Derek promised, "It won't."

A/N: So, yeah. I hope no one was behind you when you read that. Please bear with my editing skills. I'm studying for three tests at once because the American collegiate system is violently gay-tarded, so my head is filled with dinosaur skeletons, an eleven page English paper, and the Anthracite Strike of 1902. So, things are a little dodgy in the cranium.

This was also my first dirty dancing scene. I've never danced like this before (despite me being an American black woman in her 20's... bol, I can't even twerk. I have a white girl ass and no rhythm), but I have had this done to me by a drunk friend at a hookah bar, so I did the best I could with what I had. Please let me know if I nailed it or failed it.

Love you all *kisses kisses*

Blue

P.S. Songs used in this chapter were Where the Good Ones Go by Danielle Ate The Sandwich, Bump N Grind by R. Kelly, and Candy Shop by 50 Cent. There is going to be a full playlist uploaded on AO3 tomorrow afternoon, so guys, get ready for that as well.