Chapter 11

Logan School Condos
Apt #13
Washington DC

November, 2005

Spencer

It had been one of those cases. One of the ones where the Unsub turns back on the BAU and attacks without mercy. They got him, of course, but not before JJ spiked her internal emotion meter in the ensuing fight. "There you are." She said into the phone as she wandered in to Spencer's kitchen, freshly washed and dressed in her comfy clothes. "Yeah, I'm good now. That would be the black eye. Yeah."

Spencer chuckled. JJ's eye was swelling along nicely, but it wasn't serious. He kept putting dishes in the dishwasher while she went to the fridge to get another ice pack, and Penelope opened their second bottle of wine. It had been that kind of a case.

"I am a little, I'm about to have my third glass of wine. No, I'm not going home alone. I'm sleeping in Spence's guest room tonight. At least I think I am." She moved the mouth piece a little. "Am I?"

"Of course." Spencer replied. He never minded having friends stay over. "She is." He said loud enough for the phone.

"See. I'm fine. Go back to work." JJ smiled. "Yeah, I love you too." She wandered out to the living room for some private last words.

"Awww." Penelope cooed. "They are so sweet. Still no word from your life partner?"

"No." It had been six months. Six months of this constant, mostly calm and happy presence in his head. But otherwise nothing. "I wish there was some way to contact her. Maybe reassure her that I don't mean her any harm or anything."

"She's probably just shy or something." Penelope said.

"She might be nervous about her looks." JJ added, as she came in from the living room and accepted her wine.

"Looks don't matter to me though. I wish there was some way I could tell her that." Spencer replied.

"Oh come on." Penelope said. By now they were all a little tipsy, that was their only excuse for what happened next. "You don't want someone gorgeous like Lila for your first time?"

"Wait." JJ said. "First time?"

Spencer could feel JJ's eyes drilling into his back. He took a deep breath and turned around. "Yeah." Now where was his wine?

"You're kidding me!"

"No." Thank heaven, there it was. He took a healthy sip. "There's nothing wrong with being a virgin. I want to find the right person, that's all."

"Yeah, but nothing?" JJ asked.

"No, there's something." Penelope replied. "His eyes look guilty. And I'm not even a profiler."

"I...supposed it depends on how you define sex." Spencer said.

"Okay, we can assume you've never slept with a girl." JJ said. Spencer nodded to that. "Ever seen one naked? Outside of a work context, of course, and in person."

"Um...no." No, Spencer had to admit he had never gotten that far with a woman.

"Okay." Penelope said. "Ever been to third base?"

"I never understood what that meant." Spencer admitted.

"Ever get your hand down a girl's pants? Or her hand down your pants?"

"Um, no."

"Okay, second base?" JJ asked. "Which is seriously making out and feeling someone up over their clothes."

"Ummmmm..." Spencer felt his face flame. "Yeah, there were a few people...back in college... and then Lila."

"You got to second base with Lila?" Penelope asked. "Yes! I did not realize it had gone that far!"

"Yeah, kind of." Spencer took a healthier sip of his wine.

"Yeah, but there's something else." JJ said. "You still look like you're hiding something."

"Um...you know..."

"Wait a minute." Penelope said. "We've been saying girls but he said people. Were any of those 'people' guys?"

Oh hell. Spencer drained his glass; it was the only way to face this conversation. "A few." Both women nearly screamed out shocked laughter. "I told you, I don't care what someone looks like. I care that I know them well and they're special. They were good friends and we went there. It's not a big deal."

"No, but it is being bi is what it is." JJ said with a big grin.

"Not that it matters." Penelope added. "We love you no matter what."

"Good to know." He smiled at them. "I've been told that pansexual is the more appropriate term."

"Which is totally not what I expected of the straight laced Dr. Reid." JJ said.

"Why not?"

"You never talk about it."

"It's not really appropriate for work." He contemplated another glass of wine. "You know, my mother always taught me that eros needs to follow agape, wherever it leads."

"English, Spence." JJ said.

"Sex follows love, not the other way around. I don't know if that makes me a prude or a libertine, but either way so be it. I'm pansexual, there you go." And yes to the wine.

"Nahh, it just makes you you Spence." JJ said, throwing an arm around him. "And you are wonderful."

Like many other agents Spencer had his personal mail delivered to his box at the office. It kept it from building up where someone might see when he was out of town on a case, lessened the chances for an Unsub to find his home address, and made sure that every envelope he opened went through the CBN detection equipment down in the mailroom, just in case. But the end result was a pile after every trip. The day after that miserable case, after JJ had gone home, Spencer sat down with a pot of tea and some shortbread to nurse the small hangover he had and go through the pile of mail.

Due to the size of the pile he might have missed the one envelope with the handwritten address, except the envelope was small and thick, just the kind of thing to catch his attention.

The address on the front was written in excellent penmanship, likely with a fountain pen based on the effect of the ink on the paper. The paper itself was ecru, likely cotton, an expensive, tasteful blend. On the back an embossed address was pressed into the flap, but only a PO box, here in DC. There was no name.

Well, it had gone through the testing equipment. The chances of it containing anthrax or something similar were small. Spencer opened the envelope and found that it was lined in a brilliant blue tissue. The note inside was of the same expensive paper, trimmed in a matching blue, and had an embossed medallion in gold at the top. The handwriting on it was the same as on the envelope.

Dear Dr. Reid,

I hope I'm not being forward by contacting you. I received your address from the alien virus database...

Spencer went cold with shock.

He set the note aside and picked up his phone. He hadn't checked for days, at least since Thanksgiving, but now...

Now there was more than the bare announcement of a match.

Now there was a name.

Dr. J. Rivers
PO Box 3449
50 Massachusetts Ave NE
Washington, DC 2002-9995

A name

There was a name.

And she lived right here in DC.

Of course the address didn't help at all, he recognized it as the post office in Union Station, only a few blocks away but since every transit line in the city went through there she could live anywhere. But still, he had a name. And a way to contact her.

He had to wonder if she could feel how excited he was.

Dear Dr. Reid,

I hope I'm not being forward by contacting you. I received your address from the alien virus database. I don't know if I should apologize for not releasing my name sooner. I admit, given what I've felt of you I've been afraid you'd find me terribly uninteresting. My intent is not to be a burden, only to let you know that you have no need to concern yourself with me, and that I am open to correspondence if you wish.

Yours,

J. Rivers.

Dear Dr. Rivers,

No, you're not being forward at all. I'm glad we have this opportunity to get to know each other. And no apology is needed; in fact I've been afraid that I might need to apologize for allowing some rather strong emotions to intrude on what feels like a very pleasant, calm life. If I've disquieted you in any way I do apologize.

I'm glad to hear that you're in as safe situation as I thought. At least I assume that's what you mean when you said I have no need of concern. I am entirely open to correspondence. In fact I hope to hear from you again.

Yours,

S. Reid.