Socks and Santas
Friday, December 15, 2006
8:43 a.m.
When JJ entered the bullpen the next day, she found everyone at their desks except for Morgan. She knew from Hotch that he'd taken a few days of personal returned from the break room with a steaming mug of coffee, and Spence had his head in a folder.
She distributed new file folders while ignoring Emily's complaints and irritated expression. "Hey, don't blame me. I'd be rich if I had a nickel for every time I wished all the bad guys would disappear."
Emily rolled her eyes and took a sip from her mug. "Yeah, me, too."
JJ glanced at Spence, but he still scanned the new case in his hand. She sighed. He was in what she called, "The Spencer Concentration Zone," and it'd take more than her conversation to break in.
"Better get back to my office," she sighed. She had taken two steps toward the stairs when Emily said, "Hey, love your hair clip. Where did you get it?"
"Secret admirer left it on my desk."
"Seriously."
"Yep, with an unsigned card."
JJ turned around and watched Spence from the corner of her eye. He coughed into his hand but didn't look up from his file folder.
"Really? Can I see it?" Emily asked.
Spence raised his head, then ducked again when JJ said. "Naw, I'm pretty sure I know who left it for me. I need more – evidence before I approach them."
"Um-hm," Emily said. "Don't I get a hint?"
"Nope. Gotta go," JJ said and tuned out Emily's protests as they followed her up the stairs.
She smiled as she hurried down the hallway to her office. She still had a stack several inches high on her desk, but the thought of tackling it didn't seem grueling now.
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It was nearly five when JJ put down a file, stood, and stretched. She'd been working too long without a break and felt ready for a long soak in the tub. Hotch had instructed the team that they had the weekend off unless something urgent hit.
JJ decided to go to the gym and run on the treadmill before going home. She needed the expenditure of nervous energy. In the back of her mind, she'd continued to think about the butterfly clip and if she'd guessed wrong.
She removed the clip before her workout so it didn't fall out or get damaged. She wanted to keep it looking new for as long as possible. JJ placed it in her locker and was about to leave the locker room.
"Hey, looks like we had the same idea," Emily laughed as she entered the locker room as JJ was about to leave.
"Yeah. I need a good hard run."
"I'm going to hit some weights. I did cardio yesterday."
"See you out there," JJ said and left.
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JJ left the locker room an hour later and hurried to the elevator. She was starving and had decided to make a quick stop at the market for the makings of tacos and margaritas. She tapped the call button for the elevator to the parking garage, and when the doors opened, she found Spence standing there.
"Hey," she greeted.
JJ tried not to smirk when his cheeks flushed. He fiddled with the strap of his messenger bag and squeaked. "Ah – hi JJ."
"Nice timing," JJ said.
"Hm…"
"Meeting you on the elevator," JJ prompted.
"Oh yeah."
JJ sighed quietly. She'd grown tired of walking on eggshells around him since their disastrous "date" and subsequent agreement to be "Just friends." They enjoyed a deepening friendship, but something between them, a barrier that she'd thrown up because – it was Spence and – she didn't know anymore.
She turned and opened her mouth, and instead of confronting Spence, said, "You like my butterfly," she pointed to the hairclip.
She saw his Adam's Apple bob as he swallowed hard. "Ah yeah. I noticed it today, and – yeah, it's pretty. Do you know who left it for you?"
"I think so, but getting him to admit it is – going to be difficult."
The elevator doors opened, and they entered the bright, cold, and musty-smelling garage. The lights overhead reached into every corner around them as they walked.
"Maybe – " Spence began.
"Yeah," JJ prompted.
"Well, he left it with an unsigned card, then maybe he thinks you'd laugh at him if he gave it to you openly."
JJ stopped and reached out to lay a hand on Spencer's arm. "I'd never laugh at someone who put so much thought into a gift. I love it," she pointed at her head. "It's beautiful, and I can wear it every day if I want."
"Yeah, I guess," Spence said, and his face was rosy-red.
"Or, he could be a stalker, and wearing it feeds into his fantasy, so maybe I should get rid of it." JJ pulled it from her hair and started for a trash can near one of the exit doors.
"JJ – wait. Don't do that!" Spence said as he hurried after her. "Please."
JJ turned, and what she saw in his face wiped the smile off her face. "Spence," she said and bit her lower lip. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to tease you. I was trying to – oh, what the hell!"
She reached up and yanked him down for a kiss.
"Wow," he said. "JJ, I thought – "
"I know. I'm sorry. I'm the one that was stupid enough to assume you didn't mean for us to go on a date when you asked me to the Redskins game. I have no idea what I was thinking. Will you forgive me?"
"Ah – it's fine. I understand."
"I've been regretting it because I have feelings for you, Spence. I'm not sure what they mean, and I – God, I sound so – "
"No, JJ. I know what you mean. I've been thinking since Elle left that I don't want to – wonder what if.
"I'm so glad you decided. Thank you for the butterfly. It's - gorgeous."
"You're welcome. It wasn't a coincidence that we met on the elevator. Emily texted me when you left the locker room."
"She knows!"
"Yeah, and Garcia too. She wrote the card. I hoped to keep you guessing, but I failed."
"Hey," JJ grabbed his hand and squeezed it tight. "You didn't fail, Spence. I suppose I've learned a thing or two working with profilers."
"Right, Spencer said, and he giggled nervously. "I didn't take that possibility into account."
JJ thought he sounded puzzled, not upset by his new realization. "Hey, don't worry, okay? I love that you decided to make the second move when I was so – chicken," she said.
"You're not cowardly, JJ," Spencer said. "I knew when I decided to give you the gift that you might reject me, and - I thought - I'll accept it if that is the outcome."
"I'm glad you did."
JJ was silent for a moment. Spencer fidgeted with the strap of his messenger bag. "Is everything alright?"
"Yeah, it's just that, well, I was going to find a way to give you a gift I found one day while shopping at the mall, but I didn't want to leave it on your desk because – it's none of anyone's business. "
"JJ, you don't have to –"
She grabbed his hand and pulled him toward her car. "Wait here for a minute."
"JJ!"
She pulled out her keys and opened her car. She reached into the backseat and removed a gift bag, "Here, I want you to have this, Spence. Better now than later."
"There's no use arguing. Thank you," Spencer took the bag and pulled out the red tissue paper. He found a box with two pairs of socks inside. One pair was forest green with Santas worked into the pattern, and the other was red with Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
Reid grinned happily. "Nice. I love them."
"I bought two pairs so you can mismatch them. After all, they are your good-luck charm." JJ reminded him.
"You're the one who told me mine don't work because of all the trouble I supposedly attract."
"There is no supposedly about it, Spence. Let's see, you've been blown up, taken hostage, kicked around by Hotch –"
"Okay, I understand what you're trying to say. In my defense, I don't look for trouble."
"And yet, it always finds you, and I have to grit my teeth and hope you come out alive."
"I can take care of myself," Spencer said, a slight irritation entering his tone.
"I know, and I don't mean to say that you can't; it's just that – damn," JJ wiped a tear away.
"JJ, I'm sorry. It wasn't my intention to bring up bad memories."
"Spence, it's alright, I get it."
Thank you for the socks. They look warm and comfortable."
"I hope so," JJ said, and then she licked her lips nervously. "I didn't think about writing a card, but I want to say I like you very much, Spence. I hope we can take another chance.
"I want that very much, blue eyes."
JJ wiped away another tear. "Oh, you know how to make me cry, Spence.
"I didn't intend to make you cry, JJ," Spencer said.
"It's happy tears," JJ said. "So, you want to get out of the cold? Why don't we go have a drink or dinner?"
Spencer's eyes lit up. "Yeah, I'd like that."
JJ took the box in one hand and his arm with the other like a Victorian lady.
"Thank you, JJ."
"For what," JJ asked as they walked toward her car.
"For caring enough not to laugh, or worse, get angry with me."
"I can't be mad at someone brave enough to break the impasse between us, right."
"I suppose, but thank you all the same."
"You're welcome."
THE END
