Three Months Later

Spencer's shoulder had healed up in a few weeks, and his injuries were a distant memory. He had finally found an apartment that was close to work and had a place for him to park his car, which gave him the opportunity to give JJ her guest room back. His training sessions with Derek were completed a few weeks ago, and he was finally able to fight on his own, without Derek needing to correct him every few punches. He was also back to working cases with the team, back in the field since recovering from his injuries.

They were currently on a case in Delaware, in the police station trying to find the unsub.

Garcia's voice chimed on speakerphone. "I've found him!"

"Where, Garcia?" Hotch asked.

"His address is currently on its way to you and should arrive… now. Also tacked on is his work address, which is also an option, so you guys are gonna have to split."

Hotch nodded. "Thanks, Garcia." He hung up, turning to the team. "Morgan and Reid, I want you to take the home address. Prentiss and Dave, come with me to the work address."

They all agreed, splitting up. Spencer followed Derek into one of the SUVs, buckling himself in the front seat.

"When we get there, I'll take the front, while you take the back."

"…You want us to split up?"

"I know you have it in you to fight if need be, kid. Get out of your head and keep your focus on finding this guy. Can you do that?"

He nodded slightly as Derek drove.

"And you just have to remember that you're not alone. You're going to have several officers as back-up."

He swallowed, nodding again and watching out the window.

When they pulled up to the house, Spencer watched as the police cars pulled up and got out, tightening his Kevlar vest. Derek got out, taking out his gun. He took out his own and, after giving Derek a nod, ran into the backyard. He heard Derek kick down the front door and start running, and had a feeling the unsub would either burst through the back door or climb through the window. He saw someone jump out the window and start running. He shook his head, wrapping his arm around the man and swinging around, pulling him to the ground and holding him down. He held the hands down, and Derek ran out, eyebrow raised.

Spencer put out his hand. "Cuffs."

Derek unhooked his cuffs, locking them on the unsub's wrists and pulling him up, pushing him toward an officer.

Derek looked at him, impressed. "Did you do this by yourself?"

He nodded, attempting to brush the dirt off his knees.

"You're full of surprises these days, aren't you?"

"…I guess so."

After the flight landed, Hotch gave the team permission to go home and get some rest. Since he'd gotten a ride from JJ on the way in, he needed to get a ride home to avoid taking the subway. He didn't want to take away from JJ's time with Henry, so he turned to Derek.

"Would you mind? My apartment isn't too far from the airstrip."

Derek shook his head. "No trouble at all."

Spencer shouldered his bag, following him to the car.

"That was a pretty impressive takedown, though to be honest, you should've given him an uppercut."

He laughed softly. "If he'd swung at me, trust me, I would've. I was ready for it too, so I was slightly disappointed. Maybe next time."

"…You want there to be a next time?"

"I didn't spend eight straight Saturdays in a boxing gym to sit back at the station and wait for you all to come back from capturing unsubs."

"Well, Spencer Reid, it seems that you've become a badass."

He raised an eyebrow. "I'm pretty sure that's the first time my name and that word have been used in correlation with each other."

"Keep this up and it's definitely not going to be the last."

Derek pulled up to Spencer's apartment building, parking. "You sure you're going to be okay?"

He nodded slightly. "I've been moved in here for a few weeks now. In case you forgot, you helped me."

"Do you want me to walk you inside, maybe talk?"

He considered the question – over the last few months, he'd learned to talk to the team whenever he was feeling anxious or upset, and he had to let himself know that he wasn't bothering them when they offered. Finally, he looked at Derek, nodding slightly. "Please?"

Derek put the car in park, following Spencer inside. After walking into the apartment, Spencer put in the security code and locked the door, before walking to his room and locking up the gun.

"What do you want to talk about?" Derek asked, sitting down on the couch.

Spencer sat across from him, wringing his hands. "It's been thirteen weeks since my attack."

Derek raised his eyebrows. "I didn't know – how are you feeling?"

He shrugged slightly. "I'm okay, I guess? I know that all three of them are locked up, and nobody else is going to get hurt, but… I can't help but empathize with victims now when we're on cases. I've been in their shoes, and I know how much it sucks."

"Empathy is a good thing on this job. You can use it and it'll help."

He sighed. "I know that, it's just kind of difficult to deal with, you know?"

"Trust me, I know. The Reaper shoved me through a window and left a bullet right next to me after he knocked me out cold, to show me the message of what he could've done to me. Yeah, I was pissed. Yeah, I wanted him to suffer. But more than anything? I wanted to use that anger. We had other victims and I wanted justice for them."

Spencer nodded, sighing. "I've definitely felt that."

"And now that you know how to fight? You can do some damage to the unsubs if they dare to come near you."

They sat on the couch for a good half hour, talking about the case and anything else that was bothering Spencer. Derek checked the time on his phone and tucked it back in his pocket.

"I should get going. You'll call me if the nightmares come back?"

He nodded, getting up and walking over, unlocking the door for him to leave. "See you tomorrow."

Derek patted his arm, before walking out and closing the door behind him. Spencer locked the door again, walking to his bedroom and changing into his pajamas.

He laid back on the bed, looking up at the ceiling and sighing. A lot had happened to him over the last few months, and he wasn't sure he'd have been able to survive it without the team supporting him every step of the way. Before, he knew they were close. After everything that had occurred, and being able to rely on them for anything and everything he needed, including moving him into his new apartment and taking him in when he was still looking, he knew that his team was definitely a family. He wished it had happened under better circumstances, but it was still refreshing to find out just how much he mattered to them, and if the tables were turned, he'd definitely help one of them, without a second thought.