deep end, cm [ 1 ]

086. dates

"This building has 3 exits -- north, south, and west." Spencer says as he, Hotch, and Emily walk around the train station. "You're here to target a woman, but you don't want to attract attention."

"Well, standing in the middle gawking at passing women would certainly attract attention." Hotch says. "Like you're doing now." He adds, watching Spencer watch a woman walk by.

"What's that?" Spencer turns back to him.

"Just like that," Emily snaps her fingers, "IQ of 187 slashed to 60. Really are getting back out there, huh?" She remarks, walking away. Spencer feels his ears heat up, awkwardly clearing his throat.

+++

Spencer stands at the front desk, the bag of take out next to him.

"Hey." He turns to Lucas.

"Hi." Spencer greets. Lucas smiles as he leans in, giving Spencer a quick kiss. Spencer clears his throat, wishing he could hide his blush as he fidgets and Lucas smiles in amusement at the flustered reaction he has every time.

"So I, um, I brought you dinner. Or whatever meal you want to consider it." Spencer says, pushing the bag closer.

"Sweet. Thank you. Want to stay and eat or you have to go?" Lucas asks.

"No, I-I can stay." Spencer nods. "I can totally stay." Lucas softly laughs.

+++

"Don't you ever get tired of being alone?" Emma asks as the two women walk out of the coffee shop.

"Not really." Jessica shrugs. "Besides, I have Crookshanks."

"Okay, but don't you want to have conversations? You know, with a human?" Emma asks.

"Crookshanks is very insightful." Jessca says with a small smile.

"Right." Emma softly laughs. "You know, it's been made aware that Jackson has a thing for you."

"I don't--"

"You don't date your co-workers, yeah, yeah, we know." Emma says. "But just because there was one bad apple doesn't mean they all are."

"He wasn't the bad apple. I was." Jessica says.

"Okay, but did you break up because of work or other stuff?" Emma asks.

"Kind of both in a way, I guess." Jessica frowns. "I just... I ran away. He tried to help and I ran out. It's not his fault."

"Well, don't let the guilt from it stop you from getting out there. I mean, that was almost two years ago." Emma says.

"One year, eight months, and sixteen days." Jessica states.

"Wow." Emma whispers. "That's creepy."

"It's pretty easy math." Jessica says.

"Right." Emma nods once. "But anyways, it's been... you know, that long. It's time to get back out there."

Jessica sighs, the hairs on the back of her neck standing up as she thinks of what she encountered two months ago. The event she hasn't told anybody but her therapist about. While she feels fairly better, she's far from okay. She was already still struggling enough.

"I can think about it, I guess." Jessica says.

"All I ask." Emma says.

+++

"Star Trek is much better than Star Wars." Spencer frowns.

"No, it isn't." Lucas argues.