Help! Not Just Anybody

Three

After that night the relationship between Y/N and Spencer became more relaxed. Rather than disappearing off to her room in the evenings when he was home, she'd now stay downstairs, working on her laptop once Ella was in bed. Sometimes Spencer would work, other times he'd read, occasionally he'd sit and watch TV. And sometimes he'd help her with her school work.

Very often her essays would start up a conversation between the pair, it sometimes lasting for hours after which Y/N would realise that she'd hadn't completed half the work she'd set out to. But she still enjoyed it. Dr Reid was exceptionally intelligent, which she of course already knew. He was a genius after all. But he wasn't conceited with it, at least not most of the time.

They were more at ease around each other, developing a friendship of sorts rather than just a professional relationship. Both Y/N and Spencer looked forward to their Saturday nights where they'd catch up on the Game Of Thrones episode that had aired earlier in the week, the only exception being if Reid was on a case or if Y/N had pre existing plans with friends in which case they'd reschedule. Sometimes they ordered take out in, sometimes they shared a bottle of wine. Sometimes they'd channel surf afterwards and settle on a film, Y/N often then falling asleep on the couch.

It was one of the those nights when things got weird. Y/N had passed out, light snuffles coming from her mouth. It was late spring and very warm and she was dressed in a t-shirt and shorts, her legs tucked up underneath her on the couch. Spencer chuckled lightly to himself at the snores she was making, hauling himself off the couch and clicking the TV off. Bending over Y/N, he shook her shoulder lightly.

"Y/N... Y/N"

She stirred, looking around the room in the confusion that she often felt when she'd woke up from a nap. Her long hair had fallen forward covering half her face and Spencer reached his hand out to tuck it behind her ear, not thinking twice about the movement until he realised she was looking at him, her eyes wide.

Reid stared back, the dim light from the lit lamp reflecting in her eyes. She really was attractive he thought to himself, his hand still near her ear. Very gently he cupped her chin and Y/N found herself leaning into his touch, nuzzling his hand almost. The atmosphere in the room suddenly felt thick, like the air did on a hot humid summers day, and neither of them moved.

A loud yell came from the top of the stairs.

"DADDY!!"

Spencer jumped, pulling his hand away from Y/N and dashing up the stairs to his daughter wondering what on earth had been going through his mind.

He made his way quickly to his daughters room, finding her eyes stained with tears. A nightmare. He climbed onto the bed with Ella to soothe her, wrapping her up in a hug and telling her that everything was going to be alright.

When he left her room twenty minutes later, he encountered Y/N on the stairs. She looked at him carefully.

"Is Ella okay?" she asked.

"Nightmare. She's fine now..... Y/N?" Spencer wanted to address what had happened downstairs, but all of a sudden he doubted himself. Was there anything that needed to be addressed?

Or had the moment all been in his head?

"Yes, Dr Reid" Y/N waited, trying to control her facial expression and not knowing what to say if he mentioned what she thought he was going to mention.

His brow furrowed and then he seemed to give himself a tiny shake.

"Have a good night's sleep. I'll see you in the morning."

Y/N nodded, walking down the hall and into her bedroom, waiting for her bedroom door to be fully closed before she exhaled deeply.

Well that had been a close call.

...

When they lay in their respective beds the next morning, both Y/N and Spencer were replaying the events of the previous night in their heads.

It had been such a small moment between them but it had stirred something deep within Reid, something he hadn't felt in years. There was no denying that his daughters nanny, his employee, was attractive. Anyone with eyes could see that much. But there was more to her. She was smart and she was working hard to be able to earn her degree with her ultimate aim being to help other people. She was also funny, and wasn't afraid to test and challenge him during the lengthy conversations they'd had. And the way she was with Ella? His daughter adored her...

Which was why Spencer needed to forget about that moment, that undeniable spark he'd certainly felt. Because he could NOT mess this up for Ella. No. Push it away, far far away.

Y/N was having similar thoughts. Dr Reid was her employer and she enjoyed this job, she loved that little girl. Yes he was an extremely attractive man and that fact that he was eleven years her senior wouldn't have bothered her in the lightest. They'd definitely bonded more recently and therewas a connection there between them. As he'd looked into her eyes last night, his hand gently cupping her face, she'd seen it, she'd felt it.

A longing. Something that she now felt deep in the pit of her stomach.

Perhaps she was just lonely, she posed to her herself? It had been a while since she'd been in a relationship, although she'd had her share of one night stands.

No. That wasn't it. She was happy being single, she could take or leave the company of another man.

This was different. Or.... It could be very different if they were to let it be. But she couldn't. No, no way.

She needed to forget about last night, even though she knew he'd felt it too. In fact, she was betting herself that Dr Reid was probably lying in his bed giving himself this very same talk.

Dr Reid lying in his bed....

NO! Do not go there, Y/N.

No. He was her boss and she was his employee. It was a stupid crush. Nothing more.

That was all it was.

She hauled herself out of bed and into her shower, hoping to wash away these thoughts.