This is a shorter story, about three chapters and fifteen-ish thousand words. It does deal with the topic of drug use, mostly non-consensual. It was just an idea I had and decided to write it down.
Italics are flashbacks and they're not all in order.
Please ignore any mistakes, it's two in the morning and I don't know what sleep is. But also feel free to point them out.
Words: 6,469
Thea's skin itches. It feels as if bugs are crawling over her, sending chills down her spine. She scratches the inside of her elbow before rolling her sleeve down to her wrist. She takes a deep breath and walks inside.
The smell of coffee hits her as soon as she enters the building. The light chatter passing between the other occupants reaches her ears, along with the occasional sound of a chair scrapping across the floor.
Thea folds her arms over her stomach and slowly inches into the room.
"You can just sit anywhere, sweetie," An older, dark-skinned lady tells her, and Thea nods before moving towards an empty seat. The metal folding chair is cold under her legs, seeping through the thin fabric of her jeans and into her skin. She curls into herself.
"Alright, welcome everyone," A balding man says, his hands folded in his lap. "We have some new faces tonight. My name is Don." Thea ignores the way he looks pointedly at her. She never should've come here. But she can't just get up and leave now. "Who would like to start us off?" Another younger man raises his hand and Don nods towards him.
"Um, hi, I'm Darius, I'm an addict." The man announces and everyone greets him back simultaneously. It's kind of creepy. "Today something happened...something that made those thoughts creep back up, you know?" Thea sees some of the others in the room nod but she averts her eyes quickly. "But I didn't listen, I came here instead."
"That's really great, Darius," Don says with a small smile. "I'm proud of you. We all are."
"Thanks," The young man nods and ducks his head, almost bashfully.
"Anyone else?" A lady speaks up then. Thea chews her lips and digs her nails into her sides as she listens. People around the room take turns talking until the moment she's been dreading comes. "Would you like to share?" Don asks her but she only shakes her head and looks to the floor, arms still wrapped around herself. "Alright, that's okay."
Thea lifts her eyes to look at Don, the man's attention finally off of her. She lets her gaze filter across the other people until the pause on the brown orbs across from her. He's already looking at her but he turns his head away when she meets his eyes.
But Thea doesn't look away. She observes the man. His skinny frame is hunched in his chair. She doesn't think he's spoken tonight but she can't be sure. His long brown hair falls into his face, and his knee bounces as he picks at his nails.
"Good meeting, you guys," Don smiles at everyone in the circle. "Until next time, there's an exercise that I would like you all to try. You don't have to, of course. But, if you're feeling up to it, I'd like you guys to write a letter. Whether that be to yourselves, to someone that's been in your life, who is in your life. Now it doesn't even have to be to a person. It can be to anything. That's all for tonight guys, help yourselves to the refreshments."
When the meeting is over, Thea doesn't move. The people around her stand at their own pace, most making their way over to the table holding the coffee and snacks. She doesn't want to be here but she doesn't want to leave either. Ironic? She thinks so.
Eventually, Thea stands slowly, wiping her palms onto her pants before crossing them back in front of her. A few people have cleared out, leaving her feeling less crowded. She slowly walks over to the table and pours herself a cup of black coffee, downing the scolding liquid even when it burns her tongue and throat.
"Hi," Turning in surprise, Thea's eyes land on Don's face. "Sorry," He apologizes. "Just wanted to say I'm glad you came tonight. Even if you didn't share, listening can help just as much. We all hope to see you again next time."
"Yeah," Thea whispers. She can't decide if she wants to come again. At the beginning of the meeting, she wanted nothing more than to leave but now, now she's not so sure.
"Alright, have as much as you'd like," He gestures towards the table and she nods lightly before he moves away, leaving her alone. Or so she thought.
Turning back around, Thea jumps when she sees someone standing behind her. "Oh, sorry," The young man mumbles when he notices her reaction. He caps the coffee cup after stirring in plenty of sugar.
"It's fine," Thea mutters back before refilling her own cup.
"I've uh, I've never seen you here before." Looking up at the man, Thea's eyebrows furrow. Why is he talking to her?
"No," She shakes her head and sips her drink all the while thanking the universe for caffeine. "It's uh my...first time." She cringes at her own choice of words and shakes her head.
"First meeting is the hardest," The brown-haired man tells her, voice empathetic, full of understanding. It surprises her. Despite knowing that everyone here is like her, has done similar things, it feels as if they haven't. She's been an outcast her entire life, suddenly being around people like her...it's odd. "They get better, they help. It might not feel like it at first, but they do."
"Thanks," Thea whispers, holding tight to her cup. She has to loosen her grip when the paper starts to bend.
"Well, see you next time?" Thea looks up, her pale, blue eyes meeting his. There's something swirling around in his eyes, but she can't quite place what it is. But she finds herself nodding.
"Yeah, see you next time."
Birds chirp happily in tune with the sun's rays. They shine down on the park, casting light onto the green grass and trees, their leaves shifting with the light breeze. Thea closes her eyes and takes a deep breath.
Her lips turn up into a big smile when familiar arms wrap around her shoulder's from behind. She lifts her hands to rest on them and turns her head towards the face buried in her neck.
"Hi," She whispers, eyes bright when Spencer lifts his head away from her just enough to connect their lips.
"Hi," He says back, a matching smile on his face. "I missed you."
"Right back at you, handsome," Thea grins. "How was the case?"
"It was a happy ending," He tells her while moving to sit at her side. "Don't get many of those."
"Anything you want to talk about?"
"No," Spencer shakes his head and looks down at her. "Promise." He says when Thea raises her eyebrows. "How about you? How's work?"
"Pay sucks, tips are good though." Thea shrugs and leans into his side. "It's not so bad other than the occasional disgruntled customer."
"It's not forever," Spencer reminds her and Thea nods her head. "How's school?"
"It's kicking my butt," Thea chuckles. "But, I love it. You know? I'm learning to do what I'm meant to. And with you by my side, I couldn't be happier."
"Good, because I'm not going anywhere anytime soon."
"You better not ever go anywhere," Thea jokes and leans further into him, closing her eyes when Spencer places a kiss on her hairline.
"Wouldn't dream of it."
"I dread to think where I'd be if I hadn't met you."
"You're the strongest person I know," Spencer's words are soft but there's an undeniable strength behind them. "With or without me, you would've found your way."
"I'm not so sure."
Thea keeps repeating that this time will be better. Over and over again in her mind but her stomach still ties itself into painful knots. But she'd said she'd come so...she'd like to stay true to her word.
She clears her throat quietly before entering the room, arms wrapped tightly around herself. She catches Spencer's eye almost immediately and he smiles slightly, waving to her. Thea looks around at the other people there before she makes her way to the empty chair next to him.
"You came," He shifts to face her and Thea nods with a shrug. "I'm glad."
His words get Thea to turn her head towards him, her lips twitching up slightly. It's been a long time since someone was glad that she's done something. Much less glad to see her.
The meeting starts soon after she sits. Don starts by asking who did the exercise he'd suggested last time. A little more than half the people present did, two share theirs with the group. When it comes time to talk, Thea slouches in her chair.
Spencer talks this time, saying his name, sharing a little about what's been going on, and how he's been feeling. That sometimes he wants nothing more than the escape that the drugs bring and others how he feels so...disgusted with himself. Thea never thought she'd relate to the words of another as much as she did in that moment.
Don gives her a soft, questioning look and Spencer sends her an encouraging smile. But Thea shakes her head and looks down, hugging herself tighter.
To her surprise, when the meeting is over, Spencer doesn't get up immediately. He sits by her side while everyone else takes their turn to get coffee and a cookie or donut.
When the small crowd lessens, Spencer motions for her to follow him and she does. He pours a cup of coffee and hands it to her first before making his own. Thea's never minded the bitter drink but Spencer must think differently. If the amount of sugar he dumps into his own cup is anything to go by.
"It took me seven meetings before I first spoke," Thea raises her eyebrows in surprise, face half hidden behind her cup. Spencer chuckles quietly and nods. "Yeah, I'm not big on being...the center of attention. And I still don't share every time but...I'm glad that I did, that I can. It does help."
Thea hums and looks back towards the chairs. She feels nauseous just thinking about speaking in front of people. No matter how few, no matter if they can relate. Even if they don't know her, she doesn't like the idea of spilling her deepest thoughts, feelings, and secrets to anyone.
"I don't even know what to say." She mumbles into her drink before sipping the hot liquid.
"There's really no...script for this stuff. You just start and once you do that, it gets easier. The words will come." Thea nods slightly to Spencer's words, eyes downcast. "Did you uh...write a letter?"
Thea sighs and shakes her head. "No, I," She scoffs and huffs an unamused laugh. "I don't even know where I'd start or who or what it would be for."
"Yeah, me either," Spencer admits and sips his coffee. He grimaces a little at the taste and feels his heart start to race. He opens his mouth, ready to speak again but hesitates. "I um-"
"Spencer," Don inadvertently cuts the younger man off. He stands by his side, standing back enough not to invade his or Thea's personal space. "And I never got your name."
"Thea," The woman mumbles in greeting, holding her arms closer to herself instead of offering her hand. Don doesn't seem offended, he only smiles softly at her.
"It's great to meet you, Thea," He tells her sincerely, helping her relax a little more. "We're all very glad you came again and hope to see you more."
"Uh, thanks," Thea clears her throat, flickering her eyes from Don's face and to Spencer's, not holding either one of their gazes.
"Of course. And I know I ask, but there's no pressure for you to share, none at all," Don assures her. "We would all love to listen if you decide one day but if not, we're glad you're here to listen to us." Thea only nods again, her lips pulled back into a thin line. "Sorry, I tend to ramble sometimes, there is another reason I came over here."
Stepping back, Don looks between the two of them. "Spencer, you've been with us for a while now, you've come a long way. I think you're ready."
"Ready?" Spencer questions, his eyebrows furrowed.
"To be a sponsor," Don smiles, and the surprised expression on the young man's face. "If you're up to it, of course. And I think you are. I also have the perfect sponsee." Still with that little grin, Don answers Spencer's unasked question with a glance toward Thea. "You can both say no, there's no pressure. But I think it would be good for both of you."
"I mean," Spencer starts hesitantly, looking from Don to Thea. "If that's okay with you."
"I don't wanna be trouble," Thea shakes her head and shifts back but Spencer is quick to assure her.
"No trouble," He shakes his head. "I'd love to, really. Promise." He offers a comforting smile and Thea finds herself shrugging.
"Okay,"
"Great," Don smiles. "Thea, you know how having a sponsor works?"
"Mm-hmm," She hums while chewing the inside of her lip. She feels a little uneasy after agreeing but what's the worst that could happen? Maybe it'll be nice, to have someone she can reach out to any time, someone who understands. Someone who can help her when the cravings become too strong to ignore. But does he really understand?
"Alright, I'll leave you guys to it," Don gives a small, parting wave and leaves the two of them standing alone once again.
"He can be a little enthusiastic sometimes," Spencer excuses after Don is out of earshot. The man means well and Spencer honestly really likes him. It's just hard to match his energy most of the time.
"I've noticed," Thea mutters softly and looks down at her feet. "Um, we need to get each other's numbers now?"
"Oh, right," Spencer nods and pulls out his phone. He types in Thea's when she rattles it off to him before sending her a text so she can have his number. "I'm away for work a lot but, I'll answer." He informs her. "Doesn't matter the time. Whenever or whatever you need, I'll answer."
Shifting her eyes from her phone and up to Spencer's eyes, she finally holds his gaze long enough to whisper two words. "Thank you."
The case was time-sensitive, kidnappings always are. The entire team doesn't rest, much less check personal messages. Not until the case is over and the nine-year-old boy is back, safe with his parents.
Settling back on the jet, Spencer takes his first free moment to look down at his phone but there's nothing there. Not what he'd been looking for, anyway. Thea can get caught up in her studies and work, it happens all the time. But she usually finds the time to send him at least one text when he's away on a case. But he hadn't had the chance to text her, maybe it was just the same for her. He'll stop by her place on his way home.
"You okay?" Spencer looks up at Morgan's voice. His gaze moves up quickly to meet the older man's eyes.
"Yeah, fine," He nods and though Derek raises his eyebrows, he doesn't push further. Glancing back down at his phone, Spencer sighs before turning to look out the window.
Thea continues to show up at the meetings for the next couple of weeks. She becomes more and more comfortable but the day Spencer doesn't show, she crawls back into the shell she hid in her first time there. He'd told her he was away for work and that he wouldn't be there but he'd encouraged her to go. And she promised she would.
The next time he's there, she's more relaxed but still doesn't speak. She listens to the others share much more openly. She nods along to things she hears that she relates to. She greets a few familiar faces but never talks about herself. No one seems to mind, they only offer her supportive, comforting smiles. For the first time in a long time, if ever, Thea feels she's somewhere she belongs.
Clearing his throat, Spencer sips his coffee and scrunches up his nose at the taste. "This coffee really isn't that good."
"It's awful," Thea agrees bluntly and Spencer chuckles.
"Yeah, yeah, it's pretty bad," He nods and looks over at her. "Would you want-maybe, I don't know, would you want to get some different kind? Some that can actually pass as coffee? With me, I mean."
"Uh," Licking her lips, Thea looks down at the cup in her hands before up to the other people lingering along with them. She thinks about the offer and about going back to her tiny apartment. Go have coffee with Spencer or go back to that cold, quiet place? "I-okay."
"Yeah?" Spencer asks, his voice full of hope. Thea watches the nerves rush out of his body and light fills his eyes. She nods then, more confident in her choice now.
"Yeah," She gives a fleeting, small smile that Spencer returns tenfold. He gestures towards the exit and she follows behind him, dropping her cup into the trash on her way.
"I usually come by after meetings to get a cup," Spencer tells Thea once they're seated in a little coffee shop only three blocks away. "I just can't stomach that other stuff."
"You've had it every week," Thea reminds him, a curious tilt to her head.
Spencer opens his mouth but snaps it back shut. He looks down and purses his lips before nodding. "Because you do," He admits sheepishly. "T-that- your first meeting, I uh, I just wanted an excuse to talk to you. Then I wanted to keep talking to you."
"Oh," Thea mumbles and looks down at the steaming mug on the table below her. "Well, I'm sorry I subjected you to horrible coffee for so long." She smiles a little and looks up to meet his gaze.
"Worth it," Spencer grins back, lifts his drink to his mouth, and breaks eye contact. But when he looks back over at Thea, who's looking down, he sees the biggest smile he's ever seen pulling at her lips. He feels something akin to pride rise in him and his own smile grows.
"Thea?" Twisting the doorknob, Spencer slides the key from the lock and enters the small apartment. It's not hard to determine that Thea isn't there but Spencer still looks around. There's nothing out of the ordinary, it looks the same as the last time he was there. Almost the exact same.
Pulling out his phone, Spencer dials Thea. He waits until it starts to ring and he receives no answer before he's leaving. He locks the door behind him and goes up to the roof but it's just as empty as the apartment.
Calling Thea once again, Spencer makes his way down to the ground floor before traveling to his own apartment. She has a key to his place as he does to hers. It wouldn't be the first time she stayed there, even while he was away. She probably got tired from working so hard and is asleep. That's why she's not answering.
Repeating the same process as before, Spencer unlocks his door and calls out to Thea when he enters. But he receives no response. He looks in the living room before the bedroom. Still no sight of her. She's not in the kitchen and not in the bathroom. She's not there.
Running his hand through his hair, Spencer makes himself take a deep breath. It doesn't do much to help the anxiety rising inside of him. He tries her cell one more time and gets the same response.
With her hands between her thighs, Thea stays hunched over herself as she glances up at Spencer. He smiles and nods encouragingly at her. "Um, hi, I-I'm Thea and I'm an addict," The others in the group all greet her back and she looks down at her lap. "I got a job last week," She tells them, glancing up enough to see everyone smiling softly. "And I'm thinking about going back to school."
"That's amazing, Thea," Don says proudly and Thea sits up a little straighter.
"Yeah," She agrees offhandedly. "I mean, it-it's hard sometimes-mo-most of the time, but..." Looking first at her hand and then to Spencer, Thea offers a small smile. "It's been easier than it has in a long time since I started coming here. So thank you, all of you." Spencer's knee shifts over just enough to nudge her own. Thea looks back up at him and grins at the proud look on his face.
"We're all very happy for you," Don nods. "And we're glad we could help." A few other people hum and nod in agreement and Thea glances around at them. She doesn't speak with them much one-on-one but she knows them. As well as you can know someone in an anonymous group. She appreciates every one of them.
Moving to the next person, Thea looks over when she sees Spencer move. She looks into his eyes before down to his hand. It rests on his thigh, palm facing up. Thea smiles as she reaches out and takes it, her fingers intertwining with his.
"No, she had a shift Tuesday that she missed, never called in. It's not like her," Spencer's face scrunches up and he runs his free hand through his hair. It was the same answer from Thea's teachers. She's missed all her classes that week and never called to let them know why.
"Okay, thank you," Spencer forces his voice to be calm. He doesn't want to worry Mandy.
"She hasn't answered me either," Too late. The woman already sounds concerned. "Is she okay? What's going on?"
"I don't know," Spencer answers honestly. "But I'm going to find out." After saying their goodbyes, Spencer hangs up the phone. It's already starting to get late but with nothing else to do, Spencer grabs his jacket and leaves his apartment.
He goes to the library first. It was his place first but after he first brought Thea, she's loved to come ever since. It's one of her favorite places to study. But after searching the building and asking Cindy, the old lady that works the counter, he finds she hasn't been in since Saturday.
Feeling beyond panicked, Spencer tries to keep a level head as he goes to their park next. But just like the other places, she's not there either. He tries calling her again even though he knows it's futile. This just isn't like her. Thea knows better. If she needs time alone, to get away. She wouldn't just disappear. She would tell him, tell someone. But no one knows, no one has heard from her. She's just gone.
Shaking his head, Spencer laughs at Morgan's latest joke before taking a sip of his drink. The entire team is out for dinner after another successful case per Garcia's request. He only wishes they went somewhere that they didn't give you two, tiny sticks to pick up your food.
Spencer's phone rings and he pulls it out without a second thought. When he sees the who's calling he quickly excuses himself from the table and answers on his way to a quiet corner of the restaurant.
"Thea?" His voice is soft but loud enough to be heard on the other side of the line, but he receives no response. "Hey, it's okay. Where are you? Are you home?"
"I'm on the roof," Comes Thea's whispered answer a moment later. Spencer feels his heart stop but before he can react, Thea speaks again. "I just needed some air, I'm not-...I just needed some air."
"Okay," Spencer nods even though she can't see. "I'm going to come over, is that alright?"
"Please," The sniffs.
"I'll stay on the line, just give me one second," Spencer assures her quickly and keeps the phone pressed against his ear another moment before muting his side of the call and moving back to the others. "Sorry to rush out, but I've gotta go."
"Everything okay?" Morgan is the first to ask but the others hold the same question in their eyes as they look up at him.
"Uh, yeah," Spencer nods with his most convincing smile. "Just-I need to go. Goodnight, everyone."
"Goodnight," JJ calls, sounding a little bewildered but no one tries to stop him.
Thea stays silent most of the way over. Spencer doesn't speak much either, just lets her know he'll be there soon every couple of minutes. All until he's parking outside her building and heading inside. He goes to the stairs and moves up them as quickly as he can.
Thea is sitting with her knees pulled to her chest, her back against the wall on the other side of the door. Spencer removes his jacket before he sits next to her and lies it over her shoulders. "Do you want to talk?" He asks after settling down beside her but Thea shakes her head.
"Just didn't want to be alone," She whispers, her voice small. "If you're here I won't do something I'll regret."
"I'm glad you called me," Spencer tells her and lifts his arm when she leans into his side. "I'm proud of you." He whispers into her hair before placing a kiss in the same place.
"I'm sorry, I know it's late."
"For the millionth time, Reid, it's okay," Penelope assures her friend as she types in the code to her office. "I was here anyway, had some last-minute things to do. Now," Sitting down in her chair, Garcia pulls herself up to her desk, fingers posed over her keyboard. "What's that number you need me to track?"
Thankful for her lack of questions, Spencer rattles off Thea's number, watching as Penelope types it into her computer. "No, I'm sorry, honey," She shakes her head and glances at him with a sad expression. "I got nothing. GPS has been disconnected." Spencer clenches his jaw as his heart tumbles into his stomach. "Can I ask who it is we're trying to track down?"
Unable to answer, Spencer stands straight and rushes from Garcia's office. He'll feel bad about ignoring her question later. But right now, he needs to talk to Hotch.
When Spencer burst into his boss's office unannounced, the man looks up from his files. The only show of surprise on his face is a tiny uplift of his eyebrows. "Reid, what're doing here? I thought you left." He thought everyone left.
"I need your help."
"You know, I was thinking," Spencer starts halfway to the coffee shop. Thea hums but doesn't stop walking. "I'm hungry."
"That so?" Thea smiles a little and glances up at him.
"Yeah, and coffee is great but isn't considered a meal, or so I've been told," Spencer continues, gesturing around with his hands a little. "How about tonight we get something to eat?"
"I could eat," Thea nods and slows to a stop. "What do you want?"
"What do you want?" Thea chuckles at his response and shakes her head.
"You're the one who brought up food," She reminds him while nudging his shoulder. "I'm good with anything, what do you want?"
"There's this Indian place near my apartment," Spencer caves. "But it's late now," He looks down at his watch and reads it with a small wince. "They only do take out at this time."
"Then let's get take out," Thea shrugs. "It's close to your place, right? We can eat there. If you don't mind."
"I don't mind," Spencer says, a little too quickly but it only causes Theo to smile. He returns the gesture before they change their direction.
"You can move just stop when I tell you to," Thea mumbles distractedly to Spencer. She sits on one end of his couch, him on the other. There's a sketch pad propped up on her knees and a pencil in her hand.
"How come I didn't know you could draw?" Spencer questions while still holding as still as possible. Thea shakes her head and laughs quietly at him but doesn't bother saying anything else about it.
"I don't know," She mumbles, eyes back on the paper. "You never asked, I never told."
"Do you have any other secret talents I should know about?"
"I can read minds," That finally gets Spencer to move. He turns his head to look at her, his eyebrows furrowed, lips pulled back into a disbelieving smile. "Right now you're thinking that I'm full of crap." She says after glancing up with only her eyes. She smirks when his eyes widen a little. "And you'd be right."
Spencer snorts into a chuckle and Thea's soft laugh follows.
"It's not like her, I know it's not. She wouldn't just disappear, she wouldn't go anywhere without telling me," Spencer stresses from the edge of his seat, staring into Hotch's eyes in an attempt for the man to understand him completely. This isn't Thea, she wouldn't just leave. Something had to have happened.
"Do you have reason to believe something could've happened to her?"
"Since when have we needed one?" They've handled many cases of people just disappearing without reason before. Why does Hotch suddenly want one now? If Spencer was thinking clearly, he would know why. But he's not thinking clearly. "I-...her parents," Reid starts again before Hotch can. "They weren't, aren't, very good people. But she got away from them a long time ago, changed her name so they couldn't find her." Maybe he should've had Garcia look into that before rushing off.
"Was there any sign that she was taken? Or left in a hurry?" Hotch asks evenly, his arms resting on his desk, his full attention on his youngest team member.
Pushing down his aggravation, Spencer shakes his head. "No, her apartment looked like it always does. But she hasn't been to any of her classes this week and hasn't been to work. She hasn't missed a day since she got that job or a single class." Spencer informs his boss strongly, his leg bouncing in place of his urge to pace the room. "Hotch, I am telling you. Something happened."
"Okay," Hotch nods once and Spencer feels a little reassured that his boss listened. That he believes him. "You had Garcia track her phone?"
"It's been disconnected."
"Alright, we'll track down her parents, right now it's the only lead we have," Pushing himself to his feet, Hotch watches Spencer closely as the young man jumps to his own. "Reid," Stopping him with a hand on his shoulder, Hotch meets Spencer's gaze. "Do you want me to call in the others?"
It doesn't take a second for Spencer to nod. This is the last way he ever wanted his team to find out about Thea. This is the last thing he ever wanted to happen. But it has and whether it's her parents or not, something happened to Thea. He'll need his team's help to get her back.
A pounding on Thea's door has the young woman looking up. Her heart nearly plummets to her stomach but she shakes her head. She's fine, it's fine. It could be anyone. There's no way they found her here.
Cleary her throat, Thea drops the clean cloth back onto the counter and starts towards the door. She keeps her footsteps light but jumps when there's another knock. But following the sound comes a voice. "Thea? It's Spencer, are you in there?"
Relaxing, Thea releases the breath she'd been holding and starts back towards the door without her previous caution. Reaching forward, Thea undoes the locks before opening the door to see a near frantic-looking Spencer.
"Are you okay?"
"Where've you been?" Spencer asks instead of answering Thea's question. He steps inside and Thea's eyebrows furrow.
"Uh, here?" She says in a confused tone. "It's my day off, I was cleaning."
"Why haven't you answered your phone?" With his question, Spencer lifts his hand to her shoulder and squeezes, as if assuring himself that she's really there.
"It died," Thea shrugs. "It's in my room, charging. Spencer, are you okay?"
"You can't do that," Spencer shakes his head, once again ignoring her question. "I thought-"
"Oh," Thea mumbles after Spencer cuts himself off. She looks down, a little ashamed before grabbing the wrist to the hand still on his shoulder. "I'm sorry," She apologizes and moves to wrap her arms around him in a hug. He quickly returns the motion. "I wasn't thinking, it won't happen again. I'll always answer you, okay?"
Spencer nods and buries his face in her neck before taking a deep breath. "I'm sorry," It's Spencer's turn to apologize when he pulls away just enough to look down at her. "I shouldn't have overreacted."
"It's fine," Thea assures him. "Promise. But here, in case it's ever needed," Moving out of his arms, Thea walks over to her bag and pulls out her keys. She takes one and unrolls it from the loop before offering it to him. "A spare. Just...in case."
Spencer accepts the key and studies it a moment before sliding it into his pocket. "In case you ever wanna...stop by for dinner or just...company." Spencer smiles at the growing grin on Thea's face and he nods. The tension from before melts from his shoulders and he feels the key in his pocket before closing the door behind him.
Spencer has never been more grateful for his team when they don't even hesitate to offer their help. He hadn't wanted them to know about Thea. Not yet, at least. He was excited to one day introduce them but he hadn't been ready. Neither had she. They still aren't but there's no choice anymore.
Garcia had started digging into Thea's past first thing. Spencer had given her Thea's real name to help things move along quickly. What she finds isn't what Spencer was expecting.
Thea had run away from her parents when she was eighteen and changed her name so they could never find her. She hadn't had contact or even checked up on them since. So to find out that her mother died two years ago and that her father has been in prison half that time...well, Spencer shouldn't say it's a shock, a lot can happen in five years, after all. But it hadn't been what he was expecting.
With her mother out of the picture, they dig into her father. He was arrested for the distribution of narcotics. They suspected him of much more but it's the only charge they could make stick. They dig into his connections, anything they can find but nothing. And since the man was put into prison, he's spent more time in solitary confinement than not. He hasn't had any contact with anyone outside except with his lawyer. But that was ten months ago. And as far as anyone knows, he has no idea where his daughter is and hasn't since he last saw her at eighteen.
Despite this, Hotch doesn't immediately rule the man out but with the late hour and distance, they can't question him right now. So, they discuss other possibilities. There aren't many.
There's a small lapse in silence and Morgan slowly opens his mouth with a regretful look. "She could've relapsed," He says gently. He doesn't want to believe it but it's an option they have to explore. Spencer is shaking his head before he's even finished speaking.
"She didn't. She wouldn't," He stresses firmly. He knows Thea and after everything they've both been through, how they've grown, she would talk to him. She would. He knows she would.
"Reid, I know-"
"That's not what happened," Spencer cuts Morgan off. "Okay? It's not. She's been clean for a year. Sh-she would've called me, talked to me. That's not it, something else happened."
"Reid," Hotch stops the younger man with a loud, calm voice. Spencer stops moving and looks at his boss and everyone else's eyes on him before storming off.
"I've never seen him like this before," Emily voices to the others with a frown. She receives only sad looks in return before JJ shakes her head before following after her friend.
"Spence?" Accompanying her voice, JJ knocks on the bathroom door and waits a moment before pushing it open. "Spence?" She asks again to the man bracing his hands on the edge of the sink with his head hanging low.
"She didn't relapse," He grits out and turns to face her. His red eyes meet hers and JJ feels her heart break for him. "She wouldn't."
"I believe you," She nods with another step towards him. She waits a moment before continuing. "You've known Thea for a year?"
"A year, two months, and nine days," Spencer responds automatically.
"Tell me about her," Moving forward until she's beside him, JJ leans against the sink beside Spencer as he sniffs. "What's she like?"
"She...she's kind," Spencer starts, his voice quiet. "She's funny and smart. She wants to be a child psychologist."
"Yeah?" JJ asks with a small smile.
"She's in school," Spencer nods. "If she's not there or at work, she's studying."
"Dedicated, huh? Reminds me of someone," JJ bumps his shoulder and Spencer sways a little back and forth with a nod.
"Even after...everything," Lifting his hand, Spencer wipes a hand over his cheeks. When he speaks again, his voice breaks. "She's the strongest person I know."
"Spencer," Saying his name, JJ gets the young man's attention. "We will find her." She can't promise that, she knows she can't. But she also can't stand to see the heartbroken, lost look on her friend's face. "Let's take a step back, okay? Who are the people in Thea's life? Co-workers, other students, friends, anything. Does anyone have a problem with her?"
"No," Spencer shakes his head in thought. "She's friendly with people in school but not close to anyone there, just her co-workers. She's never mentioned a problem with anyone. Everyone-" Everyone loves her. Spencer's heard so many victims' family members saying the same thing. He always imagined that to some degree they just didn't want to speak ill of their lost loved ones but...now that he's on the other side, he understands in a way he never has before.
"Okay, so we interview her friends and fellow students," JJ nods to herself. "See if they know anything, someone has to. Sound like a plan?"
"Yeah," Spencer nods and forces himself to take a deep breath. Thea needs him to have a level head right now, she needs him to be calm. She needs him to find her.
I would really like to know what you guys think so far!
(I know sponcee isn't a word, Don -who was a matchmaker in another life - is just a big joker)
'-'