11/08/2017. David Rossi's House, Virginia. 11:32 hours.
Spencer clenched the cushion of the sofa in a white knuckled grip, his teeth gritted in agony and sweat beading his forehead. JJ perched precariously next to him and gently massaged the back of his neck in an attempt to ease the genius' tension. She had opted to watch Spencer for some time as David left the house to get some groceries for his planned meal. Spencer's leg was elevated on the reclined footrest on the sofa. A young fiery-haired nurse was seated on a foot stool next to the footrest, a blue plastic apron draped around her neck and tied tightly at her waist over a pale grey scrub tunic. The nurse concentrated intently on her task, zoning out the mumbled curses leaving the unsuspecting man's lips as she peeled away the dressing. She squeezed a tube of sterile water directly into the wound, eliciting a gasp from Spencer.
"Dear god! Please make it stop!" Spencer's right hand clenched into a fist. JJ stilled, her hand still clasping his neck. She cautiously eyed his fingers opening and closing in frustration.
"Spence?" Spencer had an overwhelming urge to hit something, which in other circumstances, would have made him chuckle; after all, Derek Morgan was the one known for punching walls, not Spencer Reid. JJ also seemed to catch on and reached for his hand. His fingers had curled in on themselves once again, forming a tight fist. Her hand grasped his, almost in an effort to both comfort and restrain him. If there was one thing that Spencer gained from his time in Millburn, it was his explosive temper. She had witnessed his temper first hand when Cat Adams had kidnapped his mother.
Metal chair legs screeched across the tiled floor as Spencer kicked the chair back away from the table in the interrogation room. His hazel orbs blazed with fury at the crazed expression of Cat Adams seated at the table.
"Tell me the truth!" screamed Spencer.
"I am. You want to know the truth? Your mother is an Alzheimer's-ridden moron who's getting dumber day by day, and if she's dead, it's your fault." In a split second, Spencer's hands were wrapped around Cat's neck and he slammed her into the wall. JJ leapt into action, trying desperately to pry the man's hands away.
"Spence!" yelled JJ.
"I'm going to kill you," growled Spencer, his hands not loosening from the neck of the woman taunting him.
"Spence."
"I'm going to kill you." Spencer's hands tightened.
"Spence, she's pregnant. Spence, she's pregnant. Stop it!" JJ successfully prized the long, snaking fingers of Spencer Reid away from Cat's throat.
"I'm going to kill you," responded Spencer in a low, dangerous voice. JJ grasped him around his upper arms and tugged the taller man away.
"Come on. Come on." Spencer wrenched himself away, and with one hand grasping his head, hair curled around his fingers, he stormed out of the room.
The nurse's prodding was not showing any signs of abating. Spencer's eyes were squeezed shut, tears of pain leaking from the corners. JJ returned to gently squeezing the back of his neck whilst cradling his balled up fist. His brown curls brushed against the back of JJ's hand.
"It's okay, Spence. You're doing really well." Spencer did not open his eyes but tightened his fist.
"It hurts so damned much. I can't take much more of this incessant poking and prodding," replied Spencer vehemently though clenched teeth.
"I know, I know. She's almost done packing," responded JJ in a tone she used with Henry or Michael when one of them was hurt or sick. At the final shove of absorbent gauze being forced into his wound, Spencer let out a choked gasp, tears freely falling. His fist slowly opened out, his hand trembling beneath JJ's palm. JJ pulled the taller man in close. Spencer turned slightly and wrapped his lanky arms around her and buried his head into her shoulder. He sobbed loudly and openly into JJ's pale blue blouse. JJ gently stroked his hair as saliva, mucus, and tears soaked into the material of her shirt.
11/08/2017. David Rossi's House, Virginia. 19:41 hours.
Spencer creaked his eyes open and looked around with bleary vision. He had no recollection of falling asleep on the sofa, but as he eased himself upright into a seated position and his surroundings came into focus, he noticed that he was indeed on the sofa, a blanket twisted around his legs. He felt the cushions sink to his right. He turned to see who had joined him. JJ smiled softly at him and brushed a rogue strand of hair back behind her ear.
"You okay, Spence?" Spencer's mouth formed a grim line as he thought.
"What happened, Jayje? I-I can't remember. Or at least, I can, but I'm not sure how much of it is real."
"The nurse came to redress your leg. You came really close to losing your temper. I held your hands for a while and then you started crying. I mean, really crying. It was heart breaking to see you like that." Spencer's cheeks visibly turned a shade of pink.
"I'm sorry. You must think I'm such a wuss."
"Not at all. There's no shame in taking some pain killers, you know." Spencer gently shook his head, his wild curls swaying.
"I can't risk addiction again. I've stayed clean for so many years now."
"Spence, you had to have Morphine in hospital. It was a low dose and I don't see you craving."
"Jennifer, you don't understand. I really, really want it. God knows I do. But I can't do that. I just... can't."
"Okay." JJ visually inspected Spencer's creased pyjamas, "How about we get you showered and dressed before everyone starts to arrive?" Spencer gave a small nod and eased himself up onto his feet. JJ curled her arm around his waist and allowed him to lean on her to get to the stairs.
JJ turned on the shower and allowed the pellets of water to crash into the basin. Spencer perched on the toilet seat as JJ set about placing a stool in the shower cubicle and laying out extra towels. Spencer felt exceptionally humiliated by the fact his best friend was about to help him wash, a task he had managed independently for over thirty-five years. The stench of his own sweat was nauseating so he pushed aside his embarrassment and unbuttoned his pyjama shirt. He cast the malodourous garment to the side. Goosebumps crept up on his skin. Spencer curled in on himself. Shuffling his buttocks side to side, he eased his pyjama bottoms and boxers down. With her face turned away, JJ reached back to hand him a towel to wrap around his waist. JJ peeked over her shoulder, then turned fully towards the man seated on the toilet.
"Come on, let's get you on the stool. The nurse left you a shower boot so I'll help you put it on, then I'll let you do your... thing," said JJ, waving her hands at Spencer's naked form.
Spencer was fastening the last few buttons of his navy button down shirt when a knock sounded at the bedroom door. He glanced towards the direction of the noise and straightened out the creases in his shirt.
"Come in," shouted Spencer through the closed door. A sliver of light stretched across the floor, gradually widening as the door opened. A shadow briefly blocked out the light. Spencer squinted past the hair hanging over his face. Luke rested one hand against the door frame and the other on the brass door handle.
"You nearly ready? Rossi's almost done with the food and JJ's itching to get into the wine but Rossi won't let her until dinner is served." Spencer grasped the side of the mattress and glanced down at his socks and converses.
"Sure, but could you help me put these on? Please?" Luke shrugged and stepped forward. He knelt down at the doctor's feet and grabbed the pair of colourful, mismatched socks.
"How're you feeling, Reid?" Spencer considered his words for a moment, his brows knitted together. Luke had sensed Spencer's tension and sat back on his heels.
"I... Uhm... I'm fine. Just get me out of this prison."
"Look, Reid. It's okay not to be okay, you know." Spencer huffed outwardly.
"You know, for once, I'd really like people to stop telling me how I should be feeling." Spencer's tone had shifted drastically from meek to icy and biting.
"Okay, buddy. You got it. Let's just get these on and get you downstairs." Luke had barely got the laces fastened on Spencer's converses before the genius was dragging himself to his feet, "Reid? Do you need some help?" Spencer stopped, his head bowed, and nodded. A plate had already been laden with a large pile of spaghetti carbonara and set at the table for Spencer. Luke helped him limp to the wooden chair. Spencer glanced around in confusion. Everyone was there- David, Matt and Christie, Luke, Emily, Penelope, JJ and Will, Derek and Savannah. They all were staring in his direction, wine glasses raised.
"To Spencer," announced David.
"Spencer," responded the others in unison. Spencer's mouth bobbed. No sound passed his lips.
"Speechless there, pretty boy?"