Chapter 12

Spencer's POV

Spencer went to sleep that night thinking about the dinner party. He was still confused about Rossi's impromptu party planning, which was incredibly out of character for him, but it was a much needed stress relief after the crazy year they had all had. And he couldn't express to Cat how much he appreciated her tagging along for it. Although he knew something was up with her.

She had tried to hide the fact that something was bothering her when she came up to him at the end of the night. When he'd asked, she only responded that she was getting tired. But he saw the quick glance she had given to Rossi when they left. They had been talking for a while when he and Garcia were playing with the boys and Spencer had made sure to keep an eye on the situation. He had decided to drop his investigation into her background while he was trying to regain her trust but he knew Rossi had never given up. Maybe he had found something. But why would Rossi keep that from him? He knew that Spencer was desperate to find out what Cat was so afraid of.

He pushed away those thoughts as he felt a headache start, deciding it would be better to just call ask Rossi himself than figure out the agent's reasoning. Or maybe he should just ask Cat in the morning what she and Rossi had talked about. It would be better than going behind her back. But pushing her on the subject might make her put her guard up again when he had just gotten her back. While she had mostly forgiven him, he still felt like there were eggshells placed at odd intervals around her. They were like ammonium perchlorate, they were strong right now but if he mixed something in their relationship would self-combust like a rocket. He couldn't lose her so soon like he did Maeve. He actually really liked having her sleep on his couch.

He let out a small laugh; she loved his couch, so much so that she had insisted on sleeping there again tonight. She said it was partially because she had never slept so well at home like she had here, but mostly because if she didn't stay the night she was sure he would try and sneak off to work in the morning. He had complained the whole drive home about Hotch refusing to let Spencer come back to work. It was just a neck wound, it hadn't hit his artery. If he could walk he could work. But with Cat being a surgeon and all, she had sided with Hotch on the issue. Traitor. When he said that she had only laughed and turned up the music in the car. But if his injury got her to stay with him, he would accept his punishment of being homebound.

He finally let his mind calm and fell into a deep sleep with a smile on his face.

Cat's POV

Cat and Spencer fell into a pattern for the next two months while Spencer recovered from his neck injury. She would spend the night on his couch, the most comfortable place she had ever slept, and wake up to make breakfast for the two of them. The day after Rossi's dinner party she had forced Spencer to go grocery shopping with her. He wasn't living if he did not have orange juice and bacon in his apartment. And since he would be home for a decent amount of time she made sure he had actual human food to make other meals with as well.

In the afternoon Spencer would meet her somewhere near the hospital for lunch, or if she had a packed schedule he would bring her something and they would eat in the cafeteria. Sometimes Savannah would actually join them if they stayed in for lunch, which Spencer loved because he could gossip about Derek. It was unusual for her to actually be social but it was making her a lot happier. Even her coworkers had started commenting on her cheery mood. During simple operations she would talk with the others in the OR. One intern at the hospital asked if she was okay because Cat had said hello. When she asked Savannah about it, she had responded, "You are just always so serious at work, it's a bit of a shock to have you interacting so openly with others."

After she would get off work she and Spencer would go try and do something unusual to keep him out of the house. One night they went to a horror movie, although they left part way through because they just couldn't handle the jump scares. They ended up sitting on a park bench finishing up their popcorn and people watching. Another night they went to the museum, which was mostly Spencer giving Cat detailed history of everything in the building. Her favorite adventure was taking Spencer to see her favorite ballet, Anastasia. He was adamant against going, insisting they just stay in and watch a movie, but she finally wore him down by saying she would not make bacon for breakfast the next day. He asked why she was so insistent about going, just so he would understand why she threatened to take away the most delicious food in the world in exchange for a simple ballet. Cat could not tell him the real answer: that it was the last show she saw her mother dance in. Instead she just said she had performed in it in college, which was technically true.

To Cat's surprise, Spencer actually did enjoy the ballet and said he would not fight her if she wanted to see another one. But he still made her promise to do something he wanted to next.

"Fine, what do you desperately want to drag me to?" Cat playfully poked him in the arm as they walked to her car.

"Take me to dinner with your family," his response made Cat stop in her tracks.

"What?"

"We've been kind of sort of 'dating' for nearly six months, I think it's time I met your parents," Spencer turned to look straight at her, face completely serious.

"But I have not met your parents, why should you meet mine?"

"Well, my mom is in Las Vegas in a mental hospital and I pretty much hate my father. That makes it a little hard for me to introduce you to them."

"Fair enough."

"You have dinner with them once a week. I doubt they would mind you calling them up to inform them you're bringing a guest. And I've heard your dad on the phone joking about you finding a man."

Cat's mouth turned up slightly at his last statement. Michael and Rosie had noticed she had been happier as well the past few months, and insisted on meeting him soon. She figured it might not be too dangerous to bring Spencer to dinner this week. Besides, he and Michael might get along pretty well. And she wanted Rosie to meet the man she was falling in love with soon. Rosie's health had started to deteriorate rapidly the past two weeks and the doctors could not do anything else.

"Fine. You have a deal," Spencer punched the air with his right arm in victory before turning around and skipping the rest of the way to car, leaving Cat to jog to catch up with him.


She had been right; Spencer hit it off really well with Michael. They talked for hours about various books and favorite authors, and eventually covered nearly every type of literary genre Cat knew. When Cat and Rosie had gotten the courage to join the fast paced conversation the two men had moved onto the topic of writing styles. No one would ever guess that Michael was a book worm from the look of him. It made Rosie laugh whenever Michael recommended some new series he was reading when Cat came over for dinner. Cat guessed that was part of what made Rosie fall for him, he was tough outside but the biggest sweetheart when you got to know him.

"You love him, don't you?" Rosie asked her when they were watching the two men geek out on the living room couch.

It took her a moment but Cat responded, "Yeah, I really do. How did you know?"

"You have the same look on your face that I did when I watched Michael play with you after the incident."

"He's the first person who has actually gotten me to open up to them, and then done the same in return. He does not force me into anything, just waits for me to be ready. I feel like I can be myself with him because he will not judge me for it. We have both been hurt, both have baggage we carry around but it does not stop us from living. He is strong even though he does not realize it. And I love watching him when he does this," she and Rosie shared a small laugh.

"Have you told him?"

"Not yet, I am waiting for the right time."

"There is never going to be a right time. You just have to say it. And you need to say it before it's too late." Rosie got quiet, making Cat look over at her aunt. She was staring at Michael with sad eyes, tears welling up in them. Cat grabbed her hand to pull Rosie from her reverie.

"I don't want you to go."

"I know sweetheart, but there's nothing more they can do for me," Rosie pulled Cat into a hug, holding her tight.

Cat buried her head in her aunt's shoulder, "I'm not ready. You can't leave."

"You've been through so much, seen so much more than anyone your age should have had to. But you're here. You made it. I know you'll be strong and pull through it. You might even handle it better than Michael," Cat laughed as much as she could through the tears. "I'm just happy I'll leave knowing you have found someone who will stay by your side through it all. All I've wanted was for you to be happy. Thank you for giving me the sunshine my life needed."

"I love you Aunt Rosie."

"I love you too Abigail," Rosie murmured into her hair before giving her one last tight squeeze. "Now, I think it's time we break up whatever is happening on my nice leather couch." Cat looked into Rosie's reassuring eyes and gave her the biggest smile she could muster before they turned towards Michael and Spencer.

Spencer's POV

It was Spencer's last day of recovery before he could finally get back in the office. Hotch said he might have a week of desk work before they would approve him for the field but at least he could get some work done. As much as he loved spending every day with Cat, he was itching for some paperwork to do. They decided they would get some exercise since he would be at a desk for a while and she had a lot of research to do on her Schizophrenia trial. A picnic and walk in the park was the easiest idea they could come up with, neither of them wanted to drive to a hiking trail and get that sweaty.

After walking for an hour or so, they found some grass under a big tree and spread out the blanket and food they had brought with them. Lots of sandwiches, fruit, a couple of cupcakes and lots of orange juice. Cat insisted it was helping him heal but he suspected she was trying to make up for all the times he didn't drink it while on cases. Either way, she had brought multiple containers.

"You know, I am actually going to miss having some breaks from work," Cat said before she bit into her sandwich.

"Don't you mean me?" Spencer jokingly asked.

"No, definitely the break from surgery, you're just a little glimmer within the break."

"I see. So I guess you wouldn't mind if I just stop letting you sleep on my couch."

"You wouldn't."

"We'll see," Spencer's mouth turned up as he took a bite.

"Definitely no more bacon for you then," they both laughed since they knew their threats had no backing, just playful jokes. As their laughter died they both watched the various park patrons walk along the path. There were couples holding hands, children chasing each other, and singles walking their dogs. Spencer glanced over at Cat who was lost in thought somewhere, her right hand playing with the necklace she always wore. He had never really focused on it before but noticed she always played with it absentmindedly. "What is your necklace?"

Cat met his eyes with surprise, unclasping the necklace and holding it out for him to see. He took it from her gingerly. The pendant was a small pair of silver ballet shoes, the laces colored pink. It was about the size of a nickel but the detail on the shoes was impeccable. "It's beautiful. How have I never noticed this before?"

He turned the shoes over in his hands to admire it more. Something on the back caught his eye. An engraving:

6-15-81

TW & CS

"Who are TW and CS?"

"My aunt and uncle," Cat said almost too quickly, as if the answer had been rehearsed.

"But these are not Rosie and Michael's initials," Spencer stared Cat in the eyes, almost begging her to question him. Instead, she just stared back with wide eyes. His statement had caught her completely off guard. "Our second meeting at the coffee shop, we discussed our families. You told me why you transferred to Bethesda because your mom had been diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer. You had originally started to say your aunt but corrected yourself halfway and said your mom. You also said your relationship with your mom was complicated. However it is your aunt who tells you that you let your genius go to your head, words that Rosie said when we were at dinner while you updated them on the journals being published on your new trial. I put it together Cat."

"I-no-I-" Cat began to respond but just looked down at the blanket.

"You can tell me Cat. What are you so afraid of that you can't let me in?" Spencer held the necklace out to Cat, hoping the gesture would assure her that he would be there.

She looked at his outstretched hand, taking the necklace before meeting his eyes. Her dazzling blue eyes softened a bit. Cat opened her mouth but before she could say anything the first few notes of Beauty and the Beast sounded. As Cat reached into her purse to find her phone, Spencer let out a small sigh. He had been so close to learning more about her. He shook his head; now was not the time to get upset. A cry pulled him out of his head. His eyes moved to Cat and he immediately moved closer to her, putting a hand on her shoulder. She was crying. He never saw her cry.

"Okay, I'll be there in like, ten minutes." Cat hung up the phone and pulled away from Spencer. As soon as she got up she started packing up the picnic.

"What's wrong? Cat? Cat!" She look at him, as if forgetting he had been there at all. Tears ran down puffy face, falling off her chin and dotting her pink dress. Spencer reached to grab her hand but she backed away.

"It's Rosie. Michael said this…this is it. I…I need to get…to the hospital." She was hiccupping through her sobs. Spencer's heart wrenched, he had never seen her like this. Sure she had been upset after he had gotten shot, but she had been calm. Her sharp tongue and joking attitude still intact enough to keep Spencer happy while not working. But in this moment, when she knows her aunt is dying and she can't do anything to help, Spencer was watching the girl he loved fall apart.

"I'll take you," he said firmly, keeping his voice steady and putting as much force in it so she would know not to argue with him. He must have done it right because she only nodded and continued packing everything up.

Cat's POV

Can't he drive any faster!? That was the only thing that went through Cat's head as Spencer drove her the twenty minutes it took to get to the hospital. That and Michael's words when he gave her the news on the phone. It's time Cat. You need to get here soon. The doctor's said it won't be much longer.

She stared out the window for the entire drive. Her foot tapped continuously on the floor of the car. The short drive seemed to take hours. She could feel Spencer constantly looking over at her, wondering what he could say that would make her feel better. But they both knew there was nothing. She felt bad, she had been a little rude as they left the park and he had only been trying to help. But she was a little mad along with everything else. He had asked about her parents. He had figured out her secret about Rosie and Michael when he had said he would let her decide when to open up. She should have known that would have though. He was a genius as well. Cat pushed those thoughts away though, she had to focus on Rosie. She pleaded that her aunt would hold on long enough for her to get to the hospital and say goodbye.

As soon as Spencer pulled up to the Emergency Entrance Cat threw open the door and bolted inside. She didn't even take the time to close the door to the car. Didn't stop at the nurses station to check in; Michael had given her the room number. Thankfully the nurses didn't stop her. Her expression probably said it all, with the puffy red face and tears streaming down her cheeks. They had seen it before. She raced down the halls, her feet couldn't carry her fast enough. When she finally saw the number she was looking for she stopped and took a deep breath, trying to calm her ragged breathing.

The room she entered looked just like any other hospital room she had been in, but the atmosphere was overwhelming. Of course she knew the feeling of death, she had plenty of patients whose families were angry at her or upset of the loss of their loved one. But it was different to be a part of the grieving family, knowing someone you care about is going to die and being powerless to stop it.

Rosie was laying in the bed in the middle of the room with Michael on one side and bunch of machines hooked up around her. Cat walked to the side opposite side of the bed from Michael and grabbed Rosie's hand. It was cold, the skin much paler than it had been when she and Spencer were over for dinner just a week before. Blue and purple bags covered the nearly translucent skin under Rosie's eyes. Cat let out a short sob and then a hiccup, unable to hide her sadness from the last member of her family. As much as she loved Michael, Rosie was the last connection she had to her father. She had taken raised her when her parents couldn't, stood by her through the hardships after the incident. Rosie knew her little quirks, like how she only wanted to eat rice and butter when she had the flu or she needed a cold glass of milk and a story before going to bed or that when anything Lion King related came on it needed to be sung at the top of her lungs. Simple things that they mutually understood about each other would be gone, and although she could tell Spencer or Michael it just wouldn't be the same.

"Shh sweetie, it's okay," Rosie murmured, her voice as quiet as a mouse. She rubbed her thumb over Cat's hand but it was as light as a feather.

"I thought I was prepared for this but I'm not. I can't let you go," Cat said through her constant hiccups. Michael reached across the bed to take Cat's free hand and giving it a tight squeeze, a welcomed touch.

"It…will be okay. I know…you will be…just fine. Both of you will…" Rosie's breathing was labored. Her cancer finally taking its toll on her after nearly two years. "I'm glad…you are here. I love you…both. Take…care of one…another."

"We will Rose," Michael said softly. "I love you so much, darling."

"I love you Aunt Rosie." They stayed like that, holding each other, until the machines' beeping got louder and faster warning of Rosie's dropping beats. Nurses ran in to turn off the alarms since she had signed a DNR. It only took another ten for the machines to show that Rosie was gone. Michael rested his head on the bed, only the shaking of his shoulders indicated that he was truly crying. Cat's sobs sped up and she pulled her hand from her aunt's. She couldn't bear to be in the room any longer. When she got to the hallway she went to the wall and put her back to it and slid down onto the floor. Pulling her knees to her chest and resting her head against them she let out all of her pent up emotions. Anger, sadness, frustration, everything came pouring out of her. She hadn't cried like this in years, not since a sad little girl sat outside her father's office with a stuffed bunny rabbit.

It was not until a strong arm wrapped itself around her shoulders that she finally looked up to see the commotion happening inside her aunt's hospital room. Michel had gotten up and was standing off to the side while nurses unhooked her the machines from her aunt. Cat looked to the side to see who had sat down with her since Michael was clearly still with Rosie. She was met with concerned brown eyes and a sad but warm smile.

"Hi. Muffin?" Spencer held up a chocolate chip muffin on a plate.

"I can't believe the cafeteria actually had a chocolate chip muffin," Cat tried for a joke but her tone was still full of sorrow, followed by another hiccup.

"Yeah, it was a little odd," Spencer looked at the muffin before setting it down again. "I'm so sorry."

"It was bound to happen eventually, I guess I just never realized how soon it would come. Even working around so much sickness and death I was never prepared for it to happen to me again." She looked at Spencer and knew he had caught her little slip up, but thankfully he said nothing. "It's just, I have no one now. I'm alone again."

"You're not alone. You have Michael," Spencer pulled Cat close and she rested her head on his shoulder. She looked at Michael through the doorway, he met her eyes and they smiled at each other sadly. "And you have me. I told you, I'll never leave you."

"I love you, Spence."

"I love you too, Cat."