The Louvre | Spencer Reid ✓

s i x t e e n - "late lovers"

I had a day off today, but Spencer didn't so I would most likely be sleeping or just hanging around the apartment all day. It was around noon and I just finished lunch, I decided to go look for a book to read.

I'm not usually one to read for fun, but living with someone who is obsessed with books makes you curious. I'm looking through his bookshelf- mostly old classics or books in different languages, nothing really I would be interested in. As I'm looking, a cream colored book caught my eye. It didn't look old, but it looked like it had been read a million times. I grab the book and look at the title The Narrative of John Smith.

I've never heard of the book but I know it's by the same guy who wrote the Sherlock books, so why not. I walk over to the couch and sit down. I open the book to find a message that someone has wrote.

"Love is our true destiny. We do not find the meaning of life by ourselves alone- we find it with another" - Thomas Merton

When I read the note, I find it a bit strange, but I don't take it to heart. It was probably there before he bought the book or something.

I continue to read the book for a bit and it's pretty enjoyable. Since I'm not like Spencer, I can't read a whole book in one sitting, so I decide I'll take it to work with me and read it on my lunch break. I get up and go over to the kitchen where I keep my work bag. I slip the book in the front and go back to the couch to watch some TV.

———————

It's been a few days since I started reading the book and I'm still not finished. I just got off a 12 hour shift and just want to go home and sleep.

It's around 11pm when I enter our apartment. When I walk in I find an interesting sight- books are all over the place and Spencer is pacing through the apartment. I slowly close the door, set my bag down, and take my shoes off.

"Spence?" I question carefully not knowing what is wrong, "what happened?"

He continues to pace around, his hands running through his hair, he looks pretty distraught, "I can't find it."

"You can't find what?" I ask and go over to pick up some of the books on the floor.

"My book, I-I can't find it."

At this point I'm very confused as to why Spencer is this worked up over a book, I know he loves his books but this is different, "What book are you looking for?"

"The one Ma- the um, The Narrative of John Smith."

I look at him with a confused look, "Oh I was looking through your bookshelf the other day and I decided to read it."

Spencer's eyes go wide, "Where is it?" He demands.

"Umm it's in my work bag."

He quickly goes over to my bag and grabs the book, he looks it over like he's making sure nothing happened to it, "Why would you take it?"

"Excuse me?" I ask not knowing why he's acting this way.

"Why would you take this. Don't touch my stuff," he walks back over to the bookshelf and carefully placed back in it's original spot. He looks angry and and quite frankly I'm pissed that he's not telling me what is wrong.

"Spencer what the fuck is going on, I'm sorry I took the book, I just wanted to read it. What is the problem?"

"It's none of your business Rose."

I scoff, "Yes it is! I'm your girlfriend I think I deserve to know why you are acting like this over a book!"

"We all have things we keep to ourselves."

I'm done at this point, "Whatever," I say and grab my bag and walk out the door, "When you want to tell me what the problem is, call me."

I'm driving in my car, tears in my eyes. I don't want this to be the end, this can't be the end, I love him. I would normally go to Leah with relationship advice, but I decided on a different route.

I walk up the path to her front door and I ring the doorbell. I stand there nervously waiting for someone to answer. The door swings open to reveal JJ in her pjs, she look like she just got up.

"Rose?" She questions, "What are you doing here? Are you ok?"

After looking at her I realize that it's in fact 2am, my sense of time is all messed up from my work schedule, "Oh my god, I'm sorry I forgot it was nighttime I should get going, you have people-"

"Hey, it's ok. Come in."

I look at her for a moment then slowly take a step inside her house. We both walk over to the couch and sit down.

"Im sorry," I say, I can feel the tears starting to form again, "for intruding."

"No, no it's ok, I wasn't really sleeping. Anyway, Will and the kids are visiting family in New Orleans. What happened?"

I sigh in relief that I'm not disturbing her too much, "Umm, me and Spencer got into a huge argument and I-I don't know what to do," my cheeks feel hot and burn from the tears.

"Aww babe," she says and pulls me in for a hug, "if you don't mind me asking, what was it about?"

"Well I came home from a shift and the apartment was a mess, books all over the place. I ask him what happened and he's freaking out over a book and then I realized I was reading it so I had it. He got all mad at me for touching it, but he wouldn't tell me why he was so mad," I sniffle.

JJ pulls back, a concerned look on her face, but at the same time she looks like she knows what's wrong, "What is the book called?"

"Um The Narrative of John Smith."

She gives me a comforting smile, "Rose, I first want to say, I know he loves you so so much. Ever since he met you, he has been head over heels for you and I know you guys will get through this. Second, I do know why that book is important to him, but it's not my story to tell, all I can say is someone who was important to him gave it to him a few years ago."

All I can do is nod my head. How could someone respond to that.

"Trust me when I say that you guys just need to talk it out and you will be fine. Spencer can be pretty closed off, but it just takes time."

I nod my head again.

"Did you want to stay the night?" JJ asks, "you could sleep in the guest bedroom if you want."

"A-are you sure I know you just got back from a case."

"Trust me, it's fine," she says and places a hand on my shoulder. I thank her for letting me stay then we both get up and go to our rooms.

I lay down flat on the bed and look up at the ceiling. All I can concentrate on is Spencer and what happened. I just want everything to be ok.

———————

a/n- :(

anyway, I actually ended up scrapping the chapter I was writing before this because I literally couldn't think of how to write it, don't worry it was nothing important or very entertaining lol.