What Goes Around Comes Around

Spill The Beans

It was already dark when I made it back to my apartment. Spencer had insisted on helping inside, but I assured him I could handle things from there.

"Thanks for everything, Spence," I told him.

"Of course," he said. "It was my pleasure. And, um, thank you for everything, too." His cheeks turned a light pink.

"Of course," I mirrored his words. "It was my pleasure. Go home and get some rest. You've done a lot of driving over the past couple of days."

Spencer nodded.

"Goodnight, Jordan."

"Goodnight, Spence."

He started to turn and walk away, but stopped and turned back around. Awkwardly, he placed a soft kiss on my cheek. I couldn't help but laugh. He waved goodbye and put his hands in his pockets before walking away. I stood at the door and waved with a smile on my face until he was out of sight.

When I closed the door, I leaned back against it and let out a sigh. Was today even real? It definitely didn't feel like it. I had gone on a date with Spencer Reid. He held my hand. He bought me a gift. I started to get butterflies all over again just thinking about it.

Although I had had a great day, I was exhausted. I didn't even bother showering before changing and falling into bed.

~

I woke up to my phone ringing. Annoyed, I picked it up and took a look. Morgan. At 6:02 in the morning. What was so important that it couldn't wait until we met at the office? Groaning, I answered the call.

"You better have a damn good reason for waking me up at six in the morning," I grumbled.

Morgan laughed in my ear. I winced at the loud sound.

"Well good morning to you too, Short Stack," he chuckled.

"Couldn't this wait until you saw me at the office?"

"That's the thing," Morgan replied. "Reid's insisting that it's not safe for you to drive with your concussion." I rolled my eyes and sighed. Of course he was. "Since I live closest to you, I volunteered to pick you up."

"Thanks for the offer," I said. "But I can drive myself to work."

"I know you can, Short Stack. But Pretty Boy is going to have a meltdown if he finds out that I didn't deliver on my promise. You know how he is. I'll be by your place in an hour."

Before I had a chance to argue more, the line went dead. Great. Spencer was sending Morgan to babysit me. I appreciated the concern. Really, I did. But at some points during the past few days, Spencer was suffocatingly cautious with me, and it made me crazy. I was hoping it would stop when we returned home, but apparently not.

I got out of bed and hopped into the shower. I felt my muscles relax as the hot water ran over my body. After drying off, I got dressed in my work attire: a button-down shirt and some slacks. I examined my face in the mirror. The cuts and bruises were starting to heal, not as visible as before. I ran my finger over one of the bruises over my cheek and winced. Okay, so maybe they weren't as healed as they looked.

I walked into the kitchen and opened the fridge when I heard a notification on my phone.

Morgan: i'm outside shortstack

I shut the fridge with a groan. I guessed breakfast would have to wait until lunch. I grabbed my things quickly before hurrying out of the building. I found Morgan parked right in front of the entrance.

"You know you're not supposed to park there, right?" I said as I got into the car. "That spot is reserved for emergency vehicles."

"And what are they going to do about it?" Morgan said with a laugh as he began to drive. "I'm the FBI!"