My Partner Against Crime

Chapter 20

Spencer loads my suitcase in the trunk and we both get into the car. We barely pull out of the driveway and he already starts with curiosity.

"So tell me about him."

"Don't get weird and jealous, okay?" He nods.

"Adam was my first real relationship. We met in college, my roommate dragged me to a party, that I really didn't want to go to. I ended up sitting on the front steps outside and he came out to escape the chaos too. We ended up leaving and just walking around campus...He was my first love, my first everything really." I smiled at the thought of him.

"He's a lawyer, but just a couple years ago he joined the Marines."

"Why did you break up?"

"Once we really started working we weren't able to spend as much time together. Plus I was traveling so much. I was in Quantico, and he was working in California. We never fell out of love or anything like that, it was just being apart that we both knew we couldn't deal with."

"Are you saying you're still in love with him?" He stiffens.

"No, I'm just saying there's no bad blood." Part of me is scared of seeing Adam. We were together for so long, talked about getting married, we lived together, my family loved him. It's scary going back to that.

"Are you sure I shouldn't come with you?" I know he wants me to want him there, but I don't. I don't want to have to deal with Spencer meeting Adam, or him being out of place in the situation.

"I'm sure... Are you going to be okay while I'm gone?" I feel uncomfortable about leaving Spencer alone. I'm pretty sure he's still using, and him having the house to himself makes it easier for him.

"I'll miss you, but I'll be fine." He says sarcastically.

"I'm serious, Spencer." He glances over at me with a worried look.

"I'm not going to be around to help you if something happens again. If you feel like using, just call me. This is getting to be a real problem, Spencer. If you get randomly tested you could lose your job."

"I'll be fine, as long as you are." We pull into the airport, and over to the drop off area. We both get out of the car, Spencer pulls my suitcase from the trunk. He sets it on the ground next to me and shuts the trunk. I pull him close to me and hold his face in my hands.

"You are the smartest person I know. Please, don't do anything stupid." He nods and kisses me. He hugs me and rests his chin on my head.

"I love you." He pulls back and waits for my response.

"I love you too. I'm not sure how long I'll stay, but I'll let you know what's going on, okay?" He nods.

"I better get back before Hotch fires me." He smirks.

"Not funny." He sends me off with one more kiss, before I roll my suitcase into the building.
-

"Hey, M." My brother, Jason picks me up from the airport.

"Hey." I hug him tightly.

"Thanks for picking me up. I totally forgot to figure out who I'm staying with." I watch out my window as it starts to rain, a rather rare sight in California.

"You can just stay at my place. The kids are out of school today so, I'll let you entertain them." I love my nephews, and they're a great distraction for whatever I have to face with Adam.

"Oh by the way, I don't know if Avery wanted me to tell you without her but.. she's pregnant." His face lights up.

"Oh shit! No way?"

"Yeah, we're having a girl." His smile grows, I feel so happy for him. Jason has always been such a great dad.

"Does everyone else know?" We pull into his driveway.

"Everyone. It's been a few months actually, I'm sorry we never told you, you're always so busy." I get out of the car and wait for Jason at the garage door.

"Never too busy for news like that... Well I'm really happy for you guys." We walk into the house greeted by the sound of my nephews running around the home. I flinch as something flys across my vision and nearly comes in contact with my head.

"Woah." Jesse's eyes meet mine and he immediately wraps his arms around my waist.

"Hey, J! What're you guys doing?" He pulls away and holds up a toy gun.

"Just shooting at the wall." He plucks a foam bullet from the wall.

"Sounds fun, where's your brother?" I walk further in the house and sit on the couch.

"I think he's reading in his room."

I love watching Jesse and Bo grow up. Jesse is much more outgoing, and more of a typical boy. Bo, likes reading and has always been so sweet.

Jesse leans against me on the couch as we waits for his younger brother.

"Where's Spencer?" He shoots foam bullets at the wall.

"He's still in Quantico, working."

"Did he stay because he's jealous of Adam?" Bo comes down the stairs smiling. I ignore Jesse's question and get up to hug Bo.

"Hey, you." Following right behind him is my sister in law, I immediately notice her showing stomach.

"Shit. You really are pregnant." She smiles widely and hugs me.

"I'm sure Jason told you, sorry about the late message." Bo leans against his mom.

"I guess that's what I get for devoting my time to murderers." Jason comes down the stairs.

"Mar, I put your stuff in the guest room. Are you hungry? You must be after that flight."

I follow him into the kitchen, he opens the fridge and starts searching around.

"Yeah, I am." I look around making sure we're alone.

"Do you think I made the right choice coming?" He pulls out an orange and tosses it to me.

"I don't think there was really a right or wrong here. You're very busy, and you two haven't seen each other in years, plus this isn't exactly just a catch up kind of visit. I don't think you're doing anything wrong by coming to see him." I nod, and peel the orange. Jason takes out a pot from the cabinet, and a box of pasta from the pantry.

"I know you love your pasta."