ask
verb
say something in order to obtain an answer or some information.
Morning, Quantico Office
Spencer exits the elevator and quickly walks into the bull pin, somehow only 15 minutes late.
Everyone else was already there, and Rossi is leaning on Spencer's desk checking his watch.
When Spencer makes it to his desk, he puts his messenger bag down on top of it, and Rossi shakes his head and he looks at him.
"No one would have blamed you for coming in a little later, kid," Rossi teases.
Luke stops short on his way to the coffee pot to chime in "catch the sunrise this morning?"
He's past them now and calls behind him, "Though I wasn't expecting you to look quite so well rested, sorry I couldn't be there by the way," Luke is walking backwards now, "but I hear that might have worked out better for you." He turns his back to them with a grin.
Spencer shakes his head and looks at Rossi, "Garcia..." he says.
"We're just yanking your chain kid," Rossi says, "she seems nice."
"She is," Spencer says simply, and sits down at his desk.
Rossi still leans on the side of it, reading his micro expressions.
"I don't mean to pry kid, and it's not just because I made a bet with Prentiss, but—- I thought you'd be practically skipping in here this morning and whistling..."
"Uh..."'Spencer looks around.
Luke and Penelope are in conversation over the espresso machine, Matt sits at his desk with his tongue between his teeth, reading a file, and J.J, Tara, and Emily can be seen upstairs through the glass window, talking.
J.J sees him, and gives him a wave before continuing her conversation.
Spencer looks back at Rossi, dropping his voice and leaning in.
"I thought so too, but I'm pretty sure she lied to me this morning."
"Lied?" Rossi says question in his voice as he shifts uncomfortably.
He explains the exchange from this morning, and Rossi's demeanor softens.
"So you didn't actually ask her about it."
Spencer shakes his head.
"Kid, you can't profile your girlfriend, it could literally be anything. Maybe she has a creepy uncle or something and she didn't want to have that kind of conversation over morning after coffee."
Spencer furrows his eyes brows, and gives in to his tendency to blurt out pieces of information as he connects them.
"She avoids the topic of her family, and doesn't offer information about herself readily. She puts a lot of effort into controlling her expressions, feigning disinterest because it helps her manage her emotions, and it works until they explode out of her like water from a dam..."
Rossi a smirks at this, but knows he has to interrupt him before he gets lost.
"Kid. We profile killers because it helps us anticipate their next moves. I'm going to tell you right now, that doesn't apply to normal women."
Spencer goes to interrupt him, but Rossi continues. "It's normal for people in our line of work to be a little paranoid, yeah...? That's especially true for you, given everything you have been through...But generally speaking, it works for us, helps us catch the bad guys... But there is a vast world of people out there that aren't psychos, ok? You like her?"
"Yes" Spencer says, flatly.
"Normal people have secrets and dirty laundry. When she's ready she will tell you, whatever it is, and you'll just listen, and not try and analyze it or fix it, and decide if it's something you can handle. Besides, I highly doubt she knows about everything under your bed, right?"
Spencer laughs shaking his head.
"I didn't think so. That's what you really need to be worried about" Rossi says, hitting him in the back and standing up straight.
"You're right." Spencer says.
Just then, Emily calls from the balcony "I need everyone up here, we've got a case."
Max had back to back appointments from the time she got into the office until she broke for lunch.
She hadn't checked her phone since, so she didn't see the text Spencer sent earlier.
"Hey, just wanted to let you know I got called in for a case, so I'll be out of town for a few days, can I call you tonight if I'm able?
"Oh! Well... be careful. And yes." She texts back.
Later that night, around 8:30
She plays through through different scenarios all day, none of them turning out positive when he calls.
God, what do I say if he asks.
"Hey," she said
"Hey," he parrots.
He seems normal... She thinks to placate her racing mind.
"You catch a bad guy yet?" She says.
"Not yet, but I think we're making progress"
"Where are you?"
"I can't say... at least while it's ongoing."
"Oh, duh. Sorry."
"That's ok, I don't expect you to know the ins and outs of FBI investigation," He says playfully.
She knew more than he thought she did, but the fact that he doesn't seem to know that calms her.
"What are you doing right now?" He continues.
She paces her apartment. "Well I need to clean up after dinner and do some laundry."
"Yeah, your sheets are a mess" Spencer said, his voice lowering.
Max smiles.
"Look, that's why I called," he says, she hears him take in a deep breath.
"I think we both got a little... caught up in everything last night. I really don't want to make you feel uncomfortable, or be pushy—" Max feels her stomach lurch.
She tries to steady her breathing.
He's going to ask about the call. She thinks.
"I—- I mean I'm sure it's obvious at this point, but... I really like you. Like, I never do stuff like that, like last night... and, I like spending time with you..." he starts to ramble and her mind goes blank.
"...And I know we are kinda in a weird position, living next door to each other, so I just wanted to get that out there before anything else happens, because if you're not in the same place we can—"
He's not going to ask. Her thoughts drown out his voice.
"Max?" She hears hims say.
She snaps to and says, "Yeah. I mean... maybe when you get back we can... try to figure all of that out. I'm... im looking forward to seeing you... when you get back."
"Yeah," she hears the smile in his voice. "I'll try and text when I can, but it will be spotty until I'm on my way back."
"That's ok. Just tell me when you're back," she says, "and be safe."
He didn't ask.
✈️
"Everybody has a chapter they don't read out loud." -unknown
