Criminal Minds: The Replacement

Chapter 12

--- Laura Evans Point of View ---

~Present Day: After Emily got back from the park~

I woke up from the sound of a dish clattering. I was on my couch. Why was I not in my bed.

Then I remembered Spencer coming over. Kissing him, then moving towards the couch together. I decided we were moving to fast, and he agreed. We stayed up until dawn talking.

I looked at the clock. Wow I slept in. Then my eyes moved to the kitchen.

"Good morning sleepyhead," Spencer said sheepishly.

"Uh good morning to you too," I replied.

On my kitchen island the was table was set with scrambled eggs and coffee.

"Wow. You did all of this?"

"Yeah, I thought you would be hungry..."

"I am, thank you."

Spencer kissed me lightly than sat down. I took a sip of my coffee.

"Mmm, did you use the coffee machine?" I asked.

"Yeah- I hope you don't mind."

"No no of course not, I've actually never used it before." I admitted. "This is really good."

I took a bite of the scrambled eggs.

"These too!" I exclaimed. "How did you learn to make them so good."

"My mother- it was one of the few things she cooked for me as a kid." Spencer replied.

"They've gotta be some of the best scrambled eggs I've ever had!"

Spencer laughed. "Besides this, anything else that I cook will probably poison you."

"Aw... That's to bad, I love to cook, though." I said. "But I don't get to do very much because I usually have no one to cook for."

"You should cook for me, I love pasta by the way."

"Me to! Italian food is my favorite! There is actually a really nice Italian restaurant nearby- I eat there like four times a week, it's amazing."

"Hmmm, I'll- we should go sometime."

As in a date?

"Yeah we should. It's a date."

Spencer smiled, "Yeah, a date."

We finished breakfast and Spencer left to change his clothes and such. He was picking me up at eight for our 'date'.

The rules about dating other members in the same unit is clear- and I don't want to break that and I want to stay on the BAU. It doesn't seem fair. Oh well, I'll talk to Spencer tonight about it.

For now my greatest problem is what to wear...


--- Spencer Reid's Point of View ---

I can't believe I just did that I asked her out without even meaning too. Haha, Morgan would be so proud of right now. He was always tell me which girls to flirt with and what to say. It never ever came easy, but with Laura it just did.

I learned a lot about her. Her life in New York, more about her family, and life before Quantico. I shared information about my family history, information that took me years to tell the team (this was when when Elle and Gideon were still here). Talking to Laura comes easy and I think I like her more than just the 'like' way.

I was familiar to this feeling actually. I can recall exactly how it felt when I got back from LA, the empty feeling without Lila Archer. She's long gone, but with Laura, even though I know I will see her in four hours, I miss her so much.

I got to my apartment only to find JJ standing my the door.

"JJ! What are you doing here?"

"I need to talk to you about something. It's important."

"Are you okay?"

"It's not about me."

Then I saw her look me up and down, and raise her eyebrows. I knew what it looked liked- my clothes from yesterday were wrinkled and my hair was messier than usual.

JJ looked shocked, "Did you... um..." Then she had a look of realization. "You were in that elevator for hours with the new girl. Did something happen between you two?"

My face must have given it away. "Laura... nothing... errrmm."

"Oh Spence, I know you may have a crush on her but you need to hear what I have to say."

We went inside my apartment, and into the living room. Each wall was covered in bookshelves and there were two couches and the only parts of the walls that were not shelved was where the TV sat (but that was in top of a shorter bookshelf) and the large open window. I like the natural light.

"What is it?" I asked impatiently.

"I can get Emily to come back to the BAU permanently. But there needs to be an open spot."

I wasn't an idiot and JJ knew that, and she didn't go into an explanation about it, I just guessed.

This was insane. Out of line. Crazy.

"So you want to Laura to quit or you are going to fire her. Either way you need a good reason to fire her or you need to do something that'll make her want to quit. You plan on making her life a living hell and ruin her career??"

"Sit down Spencer," JJ ordered. I didn't even realize I was standing. "No I am not going to ruin her career, I am going to get her to transfer to another department. It can be in Quantico if you like so you can see her. And it's not just me. Hotch agrees as well."

"That's only because him and Emily had been seeing each other before she left!" I was yelling now.

"You knew abou-" JJ began.

"Of course! Everyone did! You are not the only profiler around here you know." So she was going to make me chose between Laura and Emily.

I hated how she spoke so calmly.
"Please Spencer this is Emily. We protect out family and we do what we can for our family." JJ continued, "I came to ask you for you help, and let you know what's going on before you got to involved. Clearly," she said looking me up and down, again, "I was too late."

There was silence in the room.

"JJ you have always been a good friend to everyone, but you have got too see things from my perspective, and Laura'a perspective too. You don't even know if Emily wants her job back!"

Then the idea popped into my head.

"What if it were Elle who came back clean and better," I continued, "and you did this to Emily? And you never knew her? Wouldn't you regret that?"

"Of course. But this is different. We can get Laura a promotion in a different department, and she will have a great job, and Emily will be in the BAU. It's a win win situation."

She stood up to leave. I walked her to the door, opened it and gestured for her to leave.

"I love Emily and I want her back just as much as you, but I don't agree with what you two are doing. Good bye JJ."

"Spence..."

"Good bye," I repeated closing the door on her.

Oh no. I want Emily back and I want Laura here too. Hotch couldn't seriously be agreeing to this... Would he?

I can imagine him trying everything, and he hasn't. So all I have to do is keep Laura in the BAU, give her a heads up about what they were trying to do, and Hotch will find a different method.

I hope. Because I think may be falling in love with Laura Evans.

I dialed Laura's number. "Hey, we need to talk..."



TO BE CONTINUED............