DISTRACTION | Spencer Reid Fanfic

14

I silently sipped my coffee, watching Y/n's movements as she discreetly inspected each bottle. Once she was satisfied, she chucked everything back in a bag, with a sigh and disappeared into her bedroom. She returned empty handed.

"What is this, exactly?" she proclaimed when she materialised. She pointed at me and then at herself.

Her reaction perplexed me. "I... er." What was I supposed to say? I didn't know myself.

"Was this like a one-time thing? Because that's fine. It's just... ummm. I need to know." She stood boxed in the doorway as far across the room as she could be.

I spluttered on my coffee. No words rolled of my tongue.

She waited. Time passed excruciatingly slowly. She folded her arms across her chest. "I'm okay, if you want this to be a one-time thing."

"NO!" I stood up quickly, making the chair screech across the hardwood floor and accidently splashing some of my coffee on the counter. Y/n involuntarily took a step back. "That's not what I want." My words linked together in a mumble.

Y/n hesitantly nodded. She leaned over the counter, picking up a cloth and wiping down the counter.

I lined up behind her and stopped her by placing my hand on her arm. She froze immediately under my touch. "There's a reason why I came to you Y/n." I was staring at the back of her head. I spun her around, lifting her chin so that I could see her face. "I want..."

My phone shrilled in my jacket pocket, stopping my thoughts. I dug through my pocket retrieving my phone.

"Reid," I sighed, keeping my eyes looked on Y/n.

Did Hotch have a sixth sense? He always called when I was in the middle of something. Of course, we would have a case right now. Hotch's first questions was always how quick I could get in.

"That depends, how quickly do you need me?" I frowned and dropped my hand from Y/n's face.

My answer surprised Hotch. I could hear it in the tone of his voice. "Is everything alright?"

"Yeah. I was just kind of in the middle of something." I realised that my conversation with Y/n would have to be continued at a later date. I created some distance between myself and Y/n. I paced a few steps away.

"Get in as soon as you can, Reid."

"Yeah, okay. I'm on my way." I pursed my lip and took a deep breath. I looked at Y/n sideways. "I have to go."

I slipped my shoes on and straightened out my clothing. I would have to change into my spare clothes at the BAU.

Reaching for the door, I stopped and turned back. "Y/n... Can I have some time to gather my thoughts and find the best way to articulate it to you?"

Y/n nodded slowly. "Sure."

I caught a taxi to the BAU. I was hoping to grab my go bag unnoticed and freshen up in the gym changing rooms. The issue was not collecting my bag. That all went by with no hitch. It was while I was in the changing room that I was bombarded.

"Kid. You did not just work out." Derek laughed as he swung open the changing room door. "Who are you toning up for?"

I rolled my eyes and continued to fold up my day-old clothes. "How did you know I was here?"

Derek slumped down on the bench opposite my locker. "Anderson said he saw you come down here." Derek tightened his shoes laces, then his jaw fell open. "Are they yesterday's clothes?" He abandoned his shoelaces and yanked the shirt from my hands. "You didn't go home last night," he concluded, chucking the shirt back to me.

I shot him a pointed look and passively packed my bag.

"Did you regret it?" Derek asked.

I zipped up my bag with a huff. "No." I dropped to the bench beside him. "But before we could talk about it, Hotch called."

"That man really knows how to time his calls," Derek chuckled.

"Forget it. Let's go." I marched out, lumbering my bag behind me.

"Are you going to see her again?" Derek chanced the conversation again in the elevator.

I shrugged my shoulders. "Maybe. I hope so."

"What did you say before you left?"

I cringed at the thought. "I shot myself in the foot. That's what?"

Derek narrowed his eyes. "What did you say?"

"That I was going to take some time and gather my thoughts."

Out of nowhere a thump landed on my arm.

"Ow." I clutched my arm.

"Oh, did that hurt?" Derek sarcastically mocked. "Good. For someone so smart you can be dumb sometimes. 'Time to gather your thoughts.' I'm going to guess you didn't need much time to think about it when you were unbuckling your pants."

Derek looked more than disappointed.

"That's not what you say to a girl before you leave. Especially not when that you actually want to see again."

As the elevator door slid open, Derek shook his head at me and sauntered out of the lift leaving me to walk out alone. 

The case could not have gone slower if it tried. Anytime we thought we were getting somewhere; we would hit another roadblock. The case frustration didn't mask the hollowness that resided inside me since left things with Y/n.

It was worse at night. When I was alone in my room. Nothing to distract me. I would recall my every encounter with Y/n.

It was during our final night in Washington state. We had finally wrapped up the case, but we were exhausted beyond reproach that the executive decision was made to stay a final night.

I had my room plunged into darkness, letting myself sink into the soft bed and press my head against the cold, hard headboard. I needed to speak to Y/n as soon as I got back. I had had a significant amount of time to think about everything.