A/n I'm leaving cannon a bit. I decided to pretend that the infamous football game never happened. The chapter takes place between "Broken Mirror and LDSK."

"Hey, kid. What's wrong," Morgan asked from where he leaned on his desk- smirking.

"Nothing, just thinking."

"You sure?"

'Yeah."

"Okay."

Spencer picked up a file folder and pretended to study it. He'd already written and emailed the profile to the investigating detective.

He didn't want to talk to Morgan about the issue bothering him. The next day was his favorite holiday, Halloween. That's the good news, he thought. The bad news was that the FBI invited agents' families to the Academy for trick-or-treating at their desks.

Kids!

Spencer didn't mind them knocking on his apartment door – but gathering around his desk didn't sound fun.

Also, shouldn't the parents keep their kids from possibly hearing or seeing something they didn't need exposure to at their tender ages?

When Hotch told them during their meeting, he'd thought about protesting, but no one else appeared to object, so he'd stayed quiet.

Spencer picked up his coffee mug, took a sip, and spit it back into the cup. It was cold and bitter. Luckily, a fresh pot was brewing in the breakroom when he entered to make more. It smelled like heaven.

He added one teaspoon of sugar instead of three and slowly stirred it as he thought about the next day.

"Hey, Spence."

He jerked and nearly splattered coffee on his hand. "Ah, hi, JJ."

"Coffee smells wonderful, but I wish I had a sleeve of Oreos. The machine is empty – again."

"Um, yeah. Did you know that low blood sugar affects your mood?"

The expression on JJ's face made him wish he was anywhere but in the breakroom. He felt his face heat and looked at his shoes instead of JJ's face.

"Guess that's why I get cranky when the machine is out of chocolate. Oh, well. I have candy at home for the kids. You going to participate tomorrow?"

He'd decided to claim he'd forgotten if asked in the morning why he had no candy for the kids but heard himself say. "Yes."

He looked up to see JJ smiling at him. Her blue eyes made him feel loose inside, and he smiled back.

"Just between you and me," JJ moved closer to him as she reached for the coffee pot. "I'm not sure a bunch of kids running around here is a good idea, but management does so-"

JJ winked at him and left him wondering where to go that night to buy more Halloween candy.

CMCMCMCMCMCM

The next day, after the last kid came by his desk for candy, Spencer sat back in his chair and released a relieved breath.

"Wish we would've had a case," Morgan said. "I would've preferred that to the Kindergarten Brigade."

Spencer opened his mouth, but Morgan's cell rang. The older agent looked at the screen and grinned. He grabbed his go-bag and left without another look Spencer's way. It sounded to Spencer like Morgan had a hot date.

Ten minutes later, Spencer was about to work up the courage to go to JJ's office when she appeared.

"Hi," She greeted.

"Hello."

"You survive the kids."

"Ah – yeah."

"They completely cleaned me out," JJ said. "Down to the last peanut butter cup, and the candy machine is still empty."

Spencer opened his desk drawer and pulled out something. "I – um, kept this for you."

JJ's eyes lit up, and she took the sleeve of Oreo cookies. "Thanks, Spence. You're the best."

"You're welcome," he squeaked.

"I'm going to eat all of these and to hell with my diet."

JJ hurried away, and Spencer watched her go. He'd made her happy! Maybe trick or treat in the office wasn't such a terrible idea.