The Unfortunate Ride

Chapter 20

11/08/2017. David Rossi's House, Virginia. 11:32 hours.

Spencer clenched the cushion of the sofa in a white knuckled grip, his teeth gritted in agony and sweat beading his forehead. JJ perched precariously next to him and gently massaged the back of his neck in an attempt to ease the genius' tension. She had opted to watch Spencer for some time as David left the house to get some groceries for his planned meal. Spencer's leg was elevated on the reclined footrest on the sofa. A young fiery-haired nurse was seated on a foot stool next to the footrest, a blue plastic apron draped around her neck and tied tightly at her waist over a pale grey scrub tunic. The nurse concentrated intently on her task, zoning out the mumbled curses leaving the unsuspecting man's lips as she peeled away the dressing. She squeezed a tube of sterile water directly into the wound, eliciting a gasp from Spencer.

"Dear god! Please make it stop!" Spencer's right hand clenched into a fist. JJ stilled, her hand still clasping his neck. She cautiously eyed his fingers opening and closing in frustration.

"Spence?" Spencer had an overwhelming urge to hit something, which in other circumstances, would have made him chuckle; after all, Derek Morgan was the one known for punching walls, not Spencer Reid. JJ also seemed to catch on and reached for his hand. His fingers had curled in on themselves once again, forming a tight fist. Her hand grasped his, almost in an effort to both comfort and restrain him. If there was one thing that Spencer gained from his time in Millburn, it was his explosive temper. She had witnessed his temper first hand when Cat Adams had kidnapped his mother.

Metal chair legs screeched across the tiled floor as Spencer kicked the chair back away from the table in the interrogation room. His hazel orbs blazed with fury at the crazed expression of Cat Adams seated at the table.

"Tell me the truth!" screamed Spencer.

"I am. You want to know the truth? Your mother is an Alzheimer's-ridden moron who's getting dumber day by day, and if she's dead, it's your fault." In a split second, Spencer's hands were wrapped around Cat's neck and he slammed her into the wall. JJ leapt into action, trying desperately to pry the man's hands away.

"Spence!" yelled JJ.

"I'm going to kill you," growled Spencer, his hands not loosening from the neck of the woman taunting him.

"Spence."

"I'm going to kill you." Spencer's hands tightened.

"Spence, she's pregnant. Spence, she's pregnant. Stop it!" JJ successfully prized the long, snaking fingers of Spencer Reid away from Cat's throat.

"I'm going to kill you," responded Spencer in a low, dangerous voice. JJ grasped him around his upper arms and tugged the taller man away.

"Come on. Come on." Spencer wrenched himself away, and with one hand grasping his head, hair curled around his fingers, he stormed out of the room.

The nurse's prodding was not showing any signs of abating. Spencer's eyes were squeezed shut, tears of pain leaking from the corners. JJ returned to gently squeezing the back of his neck whilst cradling his balled up fist. His brown curls brushed against the back of JJ's hand.

"It's okay, Spence. You're doing really well." Spencer did not open his eyes but tightened his fist.

"It hurts so damned much. I can't take much more of this incessant poking and prodding," replied Spencer vehemently though clenched teeth.

"I know, I know. She's almost done packing," responded JJ in a tone she used with Henry or Michael when one of them was hurt or sick. At the final shove of absorbent gauze being forced into his wound, Spencer let out a choked gasp, tears freely falling. His fist slowly opened out, his hand trembling beneath JJ's palm. JJ pulled the taller man in close. Spencer turned slightly and wrapped his lanky arms around her and buried his head into her shoulder. He sobbed loudly and openly into JJ's pale blue blouse. JJ gently stroked his hair as saliva, mucus, and tears soaked into the material of her shirt.