Peter Reid

Chapter 4 ~ Leaving Hurts

Spencer's POV

          Alex Blake, a motherly figure to Spencer, gently shakes him awake. She smiles at him kindly, "We're here." For a second Spencer could pretend that he didn't have to leave them, that everything was fine. Spencer gives her a small smile before grabbing his things. With a single glance at Hotch, he made his way out of the jet and towards an SUV. However, he was surprised to see another car, Erin Strauss' car was parked next to the SUV, and she gestured him over. He sighed and made his way over. As he got in, he looked over at his team who were working on piecing everything together.

Strauss pulled out onto the road before she said a single thing. "Dr. Reid," she started, and Spencer couldn't bring himself to look over at her as she drove. "Now, I understand your situation and I do understand why you've made this move." The older woman said as if she was talking about a Chess game. "I know you told Aaron that you'll be resigning to take care of your son. However, I'd like to offer you another job. It would be a shame to lose your skills just because of an accident. I've talked with the board, and they are willing to make you an offer of a unique job based on your situation. The job includes you going over cold cases and trying to figure out something we might have missed at the time. You'd be able to do them in your own time and take as much time as you need on each one. You'd simply have to call your tech analyst and she'd keep track of hours for you to be paid. That way, if needed your team can call you if they need and you can go with them if you ever decide to come back. However, it wouldn't need you to travel or be in any danger. Make your own schedule and still be a part of your team unofficially." Strauss pulled into the FBI building. "Dr. Reid, Aaron made your case, he gave you this option."

Reid was trying to breathe. Hotch had given him this... this was too much. Spencer itched to accept the job and he could feel tears building up. He opened his mouth and said, "thank you."

She had a small smile on her face as she got out of the car. "Every detail will be sent to you. Keep us in the loop, Dr. Reid."

As she went in Spencer tried to get over his shock. Slowly he made his way to his desk and started packing everything away. Once his stuff was gathered, he took a steadying breath. He knew that the fact his team hadn't made it back yet, was Hotch giving him a moment to calm down and he was grateful. This team was his family... but so was Peter. If they were here, they'd try to talk him out of this. Sure, they didn't know the reason behind it, but he knew that they'd try. He already wanted to cry and dig his heels in the ground forcing everything to slow down around him. He wanted to throw a fit about how unfair it was, but it wasn't unfair. No, he couldn't think like that. Not when Peter's bruised body, limp under the building, was burned into his mind.

Garcia pulled him out of his thoughts, slamming into him squeezing him into a hug. She was crying, "Oh my poor boy." She pulled away only enough to see his face, "I am so sorry, Spence. If there is anything I can do, say it and I'll make it happen." He knew that she wanted to beg him to stay, but he also knew that she wouldn't allow herself to ask. Not when he looked the way he did.

"Just... I want him safe Pen. So, could you leave him out of all this? Just, lie for me?" Spencer mumbled and Garcia tilted his face to look at her.

"Only for visitation rights, Nevada, right?" She joked.

"New York, Queens... I'll make sure Peter knows all about you."

Garcia laughed, "Aunt Penelope Garcia," she gestured. "It's got a good ring to it right?" She was happy but the tears were still falling.

He sniffed and laughed, "yeah it does." He pulled her back into a hug and tried to hold it together, "thank you."

Then the rest of their team came in through the door. He could hear the change in their behavior. "What did we miss?" Morgan asked.