The Story of Us

Chapter 22- The First Step

The first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem. That's the one thing that seems to be holding Spencer back. He can't admit that he has a problem because that would mean reaching out for help and he didn't want to seem weak. He'd always feared being weak since his father walked out on him and his mother. So he kept quiet and slowly drowned while everyone turned a blind eye out of fear of losing him.

Despite the two-week time frame since Amanda had punched him, Spencer was still sporting a pretty nasty black eye. Although it may have been more because of the darker circles that were present due to his drug use than the actual punch. It does turn heads whenever he walks into the conference room, however. Nobody knew how he got it. Emily suspected because Amanda had been the last to talk to him and Hotch suspected because he saw how harsh Amanda had been with Spencer lately and the way he avoided looking at her while telling the lie.

Neither one said anything about it and by this time, the rest of the team had stopped questioning Spencer on how he had gotten it. It turns out that their new case was in New Orleans. There was a serial killer that was killing men. The police thought they died in the hurricane they had a few months back until they found another body. The killer had sent a letter to the old detective that was on the case but he had died in the hurricane and now his son was the lead.

They all quickly boarded the plane and about halfway into take off, Spencer tells them about his friend, Ethan, who he says he believes lived in New Orleans now. He tells them that they grew up competing with each other and both had their hearts set on the FBI until he dropped out. Emily makes a joke about him leaving because he couldn't take it and Spencer gets snippy. Amanda shoots him a glare.

"I remember Ethan," she speaks and Morgan turns to her with a grin.

"I always forget you and Spencer went to school together. Did you compete with Pretty Boy and his friend?"

She grins. "I don't compete, Morgan, I win, and for your information, no I didn't. I did use to sleep with Ethan but I was a bit of a slut in college."

"Amanda," Hotch patronizes and she shrugs, pretending not to hear Spencer mutter something about just in college.

"What, I'm not calling other people names, I'm calling myself them. Plus I'm only being honest," she jokes and Aaron rolls his eyes as JJ comes out to give them information about the murders, what little didn't get destroyed in the hurricane. Right before they land, Hotch tells everyone where to go, leaving Amanda to go to the station with him, but as they arrive, she turns to him. "Look, I know you don't really need me yet and I kind of have something to do here."

"What business could you possibly have in New Orleans?" He questions skeptically.

"You'd be surprised. I'll be quick though. I promise." He studies her before nodding. "Thanks, Aaron. I'll be back." He steps out of the car and Amanda watches him walk into the station before driving to a small bar that seems to be closed. When she walks in, however, nobody says anything to her so she walks to the bar where she sees the man she's looking for. "Now how did I know I'd find you in a bar?"

"Why doesn't it surprise me that you're in a bar in the middle of the day?"

"Well, I was looking for you, Ethe."

He turns to her with a smile. "Amanda Hotchner, it's been a long time."

"That it has," she says with a smile of her own as she hugs him.

"What brings you to the Big Easy, Amy?"

"I'm actually here on a case."

"A case? You joined the bureau?"