criminal minds | one-shots ✓

16. an old friend

when spencer knock, knock, knocks on the door, he's more nervous than he thought he'd be.

the place is nice, especially for an apartment in new orleans - there's a long hallway with lush green carpet and the wallpaper is striped white and beige - it's almost nicer than spencer's.

he's worried about the reaction he'll get; showing up out of the blue, for a debt he feels is long overdue by now, and he didn't even bring a gift. should he have brought one? would it have sent the wrong signal?

it'd always been easy with ethan when they were younger - until life got in the way. now he wasn't sure.

he hears the knob turn and he looks up as he opens the door.

"spencer?" he asks, surprise evident on his face and in his voice and the aforementioned rubs his neck, sheepishly.

"hey." maybe this was a bad idea, "i know this is kind of out of the blue, but i just wanted to day thank you."

ethan raises his eyebrows, "what for?"

he shrugs, "you're advice."

ethan's eyes soften and he smiles a little, giving him a once over, "you look happier."

"i feel happier. thanks to you."

there's an awkward pause, and spencer clears his throat. "anyway, i should go -,"

"you wanna come in?" ethan asks at the same time, and he looks up at him.

"really?"

"yeah," he says, grinning, "we have a lot to catch up on." he holds the door open wider, "come on."