Chapter 31: Friends
"How's he doing?" Penelope asked Derek.
Penelope went over to Derek and Spencer's the next afternoon to check on them. Derek sighed and shook his head. Pen nodded.
"Yeah. It can't be easy for him.
"No."
Clooney looked up at Derek hearing the sadness in his master's voice. He walked over to Derek and nudged him. Derek smiled scratching his head.
"Thanks boy."
Spencer exited the bedroom and headed into the kitchen to pour himself some coffee before joining Derek on the couch. Penelope chuckled softly as she watched Spencer snuggle against Derek.
"So I just realized that the only ones who don't know about you two are Jayje and Rossi."
At the mention of Rossi, Spencer flinched. Derek frowned.
"We'll tell them," Derek said.
Pen nodded and stood, "Well I'll head out. Let you boys enjoy the rest of the afternoon. If you have sexy times, be sure to send me pictures."
Derek laughed and Spencer blushed, "In your dreams, woman."
"Mm, most definitely," Pen laughed.
Derek shook his head as he saw Penelope to the door. He shut the door and turned to Spencer. Spencer looked at him before looking at his hands.
"I'm sorry."
"For what baby?" Derek frowned.
Spencer didn't answer but kept staring at his hands. Derek sat next to him and put his arm around his waist.
"You deserve better than me," Spencer spoke. "I'm damaged goods. I'm used, dirty, broken…"
Derek shook his head, "Now you listen to me. You're not damaged. Baby, you went through a painful and traumatic experience, things like this are bound to happen, okay? It doesn't mean you're damaged. I went through the same thing after Buford."
Spencer looked up, "Will it ever stop?"
"No. Not completely," Derek said honestly. "The feeling will eventually fade but the memories will occasionally show up."
Spencer nodded biting his lip. Derek reached up and wiped his lover's tears.
"You know what helps thought?"
Spencer shook his head, "No."
"Being surrounded by people love and care about you."
Spencer climbed on Derek's lap and kissed him deeply, "I love you, Derek."
"I love you too, baby," Derek said kissing Spencer back.
{~CM~}
That evening at Dave's request, the team went out to dinner. Spencer prayed he didn't have a flashback. When they got to the restaurant he was glad it wasn't Chinese.
"You okay, baby?"
Spencer nodded, "Yeah."
Derek nodded and led him into the restaurant and to their table. The group ordered and JJ smiled.
"This is nice to be able to hang out without a case looming over us."
Emily laughed, "Why do I have a feeling you're about to tell us about a case?"
JJ chuckled, "Nope."
"Thank God," Aaron said.
Their food came and everyone dug in. Penelope watched Spencer and Derek and smiled.
"That is so adorable."
JJ looked up, "What is?"
She saw Derek fork some food into Spencer's mouth and then kiss him.
"OH MY GOD! Him and you…?" She squealed pointing.
Derek nodded and JJ squealed again.
"I had a feeling. Congratulations," Dave said.
Derek and Spencer smiled. Soon the conversation turned to menial things. Emily and Penelope started arguing about where to buy the best shoes. JJ laughed at them and asked Spencer about his Mom. Just before they left Spencer excused himself to use the bathroom. Dave followed him saying he needed to go as well. Derek wanted to follow clearly nervous but Aaron stopped him.
"He won't hurt him, Derek."
In the bathroom the guys did their business and washed their hands. Dave turned to Spencer.
"Spencer, I don't know what I did to make you hate me or scared of me, but I'm sorry. I would never hurt you. You remind me so much of my son I lost."
Spencer stared at him.
"I would like us to be friends," Dave continued.
Spencer nodded, "You're not him."
Dave frowned as Spencer left the bathroom. He wanted to know what he meant.
Once the boys got home, Derek took Clooney out for a quick walk and Spencer lay in the bed. He lay there thinking about Dave.
"Spence?"
Spencer looked up, "Oh, I didn't hear you come in."
Derek changed into a pair of sleep pants and climbed in the bed, "Babe, are you still afraid of Dave?"
"Yes. No. I don't know."
Derek pulled Spencer close, "You don't have to be."
Spencer bit his lip, "I want to be because he reminds me of Gideon but I know he's not him. He doesn't mean to scare me. He doesn't know I don't like to be called kid."
Derek nodded, "Do you want me to talk to him?"
"Would you?"
"Of course, baby."
{~CM~}
Morgan found himself standing outside Rossi's office the next morning and knocked on the door.
"Come in."
Morgan opened the door and entered as Rossi looked up, and shut the door behind him.
"Rossi can we talk?"
"Of course, Morgan."
Morgan sat and went into a short version of what happened to Spencer, the version that he knew the others except him and Hotch knew. He explained how it scared Spencer when Hotch introduced Rossi as taking Gideon's place, and when he kept calling Spencer 'kid', it freaking him out more.
"I told him last night that I would never hurt him. I would never do that to him Morgan. I'm not even into guys like that."
"Neither was Gideon, or Buford," Morgan said. "You don't have to be gay to rape or molest another male."
Rossi nodded, "You're right, but as I told Reid, I had hoped we'd be friends."
"Just tread carefully around him please."
Rossi nodded and Morgan stood and headed back to the bullpen where he found Spencer blushing like a tomato and the girls laughing around him.
"What's going on?"
"Nothing much, wild cat," Garcia giggled.
"That's a new one," Morgan frowned.
"I'm sorry Derek," Reid murmured.
"You told them I was wild?"
"He told us you were quite the wild cat in bed," Prentiss giggled.
Reid nodded, "Garcia kept begging me about pictures and then Prentiss asked me to talking about it if I wasn't going to supply pictures. I told them you were too wild in bed in hopes it would get them to leave me alone. Unfortunately it didn't work."
Morgan laughed, "Well it's not like it isn't true."
"Derek!" Reid moaned as the girls giggled.
The rest of the day was filled with boring paperwork, and lazing around the office. Derek was right, Spencer thought. It does help to be around friends.
TBC...