Why Don't You Come Over?

that makes two of us

Spencer sat at his desk, his gaze fixed intently on the chessboard before him. The pieces were arranged in a familiar pattern, the black and white squares forming a grid of possibilities. He studied the board, his mind racing through the potential moves and countermoves, lost in the intricate dance of strategy and tactics.

Suddenly, a voice broke through his concentration, causing him to startle slightly. "Check. Checkmate in three moves," said a familiar voice behind him.

Spencer turned to see Gideon standing next to him moving the pieces on the board, a knowing smile on his face. 

"What?" Spencer asked, blinking in confusion.

Derek with a grin chimed in, "You know, you'll beat him when you start learning."

Spencer furrowed his brow, puzzled by Derek's cryptic remark. "Learning what?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.

"To think outside the box."

Spencer frowned. Lost in thought, he returned his gaze to the chessboard, the pieces blurred and indistinct before him. He couldn't shake the feeling that there was something he was missing, some key piece of the puzzle that eluded him.

Just as he was about to delve deeper into his thoughts, Elle's voice cut through the silence. "Question for you," she said, her tone serious.

"Shoot," Derek replied, turning his attention to her.

"The Footpath Killer," Elle began, her eyes narrowing in concentration. "Why did he stutter?"

As Spencer heard her voice and saw her approaching, a subtle flutter of nerves coursed through him.

She mesmerized him, her presence casting a spell that left him captivated. He watched as she leaned against her desk, her movements graceful and fluid, while Derek spoke beside her. Her proximity to him, right beside his desk, only heightened his awareness of her.

Try as he might, Spencer found it increasingly difficult to focus on the chessboard before him. His attention kept drifting back to Elle, her every gesture, every word captivating him in a way he couldn't explain. It was as if she held some inexplicable power over him, a magnetic pull that he couldn't resist.

Just as Spencer's thoughts began to spiral, a blonde figure appeared beside Elle, interrupting his reverie. 

It was JJ, their new media liaison, her vibrant energy filling the room as she launched into conversation. Spencer forced himself to listen, nodding along absently as JJ chatted animatedly with Elle and Derek.

But trying as he might to follow the conversation, Spencer's mind remained fixated on Elle, her presence a constant distraction that left him feeling off balance. He couldn't shake the feeling of excitement that danced in his chest whenever he looked at her.

As Hotch's voice broke through the chatter, commanding everyone's attention to gather in the conference room, Spencer felt a sense of relief wash over him. The sudden shift in focus provided a welcome distraction from his tumultuous thoughts. 

As he rose from his desk and followed the others into the room, he couldn't help but notice Elle's lingering gaze on him.

He turned to meet her stare, his heart skipping a beat at the intensity he found there. For a moment, they locked eyes, a silent exchange passing between them, before Elle finally broke the spell.

"Hey, Reid," she said softly, falling into step beside him as they made their way to the conference room. "You seemed a bit distracted back there. Everything okay?"

Spencer blinked, caught off guard by her sudden attention. He could feel the heat rising to his cheeks as he struggled to find the right words. "Um, yeah, I'm fine," he stammered, his voice barely above a whisper. "Just...lost in thought, I guess."