Stripped - Complete

Chapter Six - Christina

4 hours and 35 minutes till we get to Los Angeles and the jet was fueling up. It had turned in to a full blown case and I was not prepared to see my parents. We were about the board the jet when my phone went off. A text from my sister Avery. I open the text and read that she wants to FaceTime. I ask Spencer to tell the pilot to wait for me. I FaceTimed my sister and sat on the stairs to the jet.

"Hey, what's up?" I said after the call connected.

"Hey, do you have time to talk? I don't want to take you away from anything." Avery said with a determined look.

"No, I have time, Spencer told Emily and the pilot to wait from me, they'll be going over the case.

"It's about Mom, things with Dad are bad. The arguing, slamming door and even throwing stuff. I'm worried about Lucia seeing things. I really believe Mom would get better if Dad wasn't here. While at school I had a look online for some rehab centres maybe you could check them out?" She

"Check you out, good work Ave, okay text me what you found and I'll help when I can" I said standing about to get on the jet.

"Okay, thank you Chris. I'll call you soon" She waved goodbye before I could tell her I would be able to see her in less than 5 hours. I put my phone in my pocket and headed into the jet to see Luke sleeping, JJ on the phone to probably Will, Rossi was reading a book, Tara was playing on her phone and Spencer was playing chess himself. I sat on the seat across from Spencer.

"Mind if I play?" I asked as I sat down.

"Sure, Gideon was the last person to beat me" he said smiling.

"Better make some room for me then" I laughed.

As we started a new game the team became interested, Rossi and Lewis were the first to gather and then the rest joined.

"6 moves till checkmate" Spencer said.

"What do I get if I win Spence?" I said smirking at him.

"What would you like?" He asked.

"If I win, you let me get you drunk" I asked. Spencer laughed and agreed. After the terms were set we continued that game, Spencer had 4 moves left and right where I wanted him. Spencer moved. 3 till checkmate. I moved. 2 till checkmate. I looked up at Spencer smirking and Checkmate. Spencer's jaw was on the floor and so were the rest of the teams. I got to my feet and walked away to get some tea.

"I'll be cashing in my reward after work tonight and don't worry I know great hangover cures" I say laughing and taking a sip of my milky tea.

After I finished my tea and my win had sunk in I walked over and sat with a now reading Spencer. He didn't look at me until I sat across from him. He looked defeated but also worried about me getting him drunk.

"Can I just give you a list of drinks I don't like?" Spencer asked putting the book down.

"Trust me, I know what you don't like. I am a "genius" like you" he laughed, forgetting I was a female version of him and that I used air quotes while describing myself as a genius. Everyone else in the jet was asleep so it was just us.

"Yes, yes you are. I assume you know a good place to drink in Los Angeles" he asked.

"Oh, of course I do but before that I need to tell you something" I said smiling shyly.

"My name isn't McIntyre originally, it's Merrick" I said, Spencer sat up in his seat.

"Merrick? Merrick doesn't even suit you in anyway. I'm assuming with what your parents did you didn't want to be associated with their name" He said. I smiled at how much he understood me.

"That's exactly why but there is more. I saw the news and my father was arrested for taking money, he has done that sort of thing before but people continue to hire him" I say sighing.

"It's okay, if he's in prison you wont have to see him at all" he said patting my hand. I was in shock, Spencer had never touched me before. Not one hug or high-5, nothing. I felt strange and I wasn't sure what had made him do it. After a couple of minutes talk, Spencer and myself had fallen asleep and after what felt like 5 minutes we were woken up by Emily. We had landed in LA. Home Time for the first time in a really long time.