Counting Stars // Spencer Reid (ON HOLD)

Chapter 10

Nick and Spencer sat in silence. Spencer wasn't much of a conversational person to being with as he mainly spoke in facts and statistics to anyone but Eliza. He felt comfortable around her and felt like he didn't have to prove anything to her. He always worried that his team viewed him as a child, someone who needed to be protected so he overcompensated by listing on facts and statistics to prove his worth. Reid knew he didn't have to, but he did it anyways. It made him feel valued and of use.

"Spencer, we didn't get to talk much at the wedding," Nick spoke.

"Well you did drink me under the table and the only solid conversation we had was small talk before the actual wedding at the chapel." Spencer spoke in blunt terms.

"Right, well Sophie and I were thinking that since we're family now that you and I should have some bonding time. A guys night out so to speak."

"What do you suggest? Going to a bar and watching a football game? That's not my kind of thing." It was obvious to say that Spencer wasn't used to the term of a 'guys night out.' It was a completely foreign territory and new concept for him.

"I know that, so what I suggested was we go and play paintball. It'll be fun, I could call up some buddies of mine. What do you say?"

Spencer weighed his options. On the one hand Nick was willing to do something that he believed would honestly interest Spencer and on the other hand he knew that if he said no Eliza would be furious. "When would you like to go? I was thinking of calling my job and requesting a week or so off."

Nick smiled. "Great. I've been meaning to ask, what exactly do you do in the FBI?"

"Uh I catch criminals. Mainly murderers, psychopaths, sadists, kidnappers, those kinds of people. We build profiles that help guide us to our unsub or unknown subject."

"That sounds cool. Do you do anything top secret? You know like James Bond."

"I actually haven't seen any of those movies so I wouldn't be able to tell you, and if we did to anything top secret I wouldn't actually be able to tell you."

Nick chuckled. "Fair enough, but the public would know if there was something going on that was an immediate safely hazard right? Or at least would you be able to notify your immediate family?"

"It's complicated, in moments like hose there would be media blackouts where emails and phone lines would be monitored so government agents couldn't warn their families." He thought back to JJ and how she must have felt about Henry.

"So no one gets a heads up?"

"Sadly no, unless one were to break protocol."

"Would you ever break protocol?"

Spencer replied without hesitation, "Yes, if it meant keeping the people I love safe. I usually stick to protocol so it may be a situation of dire need."

"Spencer, every man has moments when they would break the rules if it helped people they love. You don't have to justify everything you do. It's a hypothetical situation that someday may never happen."

"Right, um, so what about your job?"

"Me? Well I'm designing a music hall. In my spare time I've actually been designing homes for fun. I've always wondered what your dream house would look like."

"There would be a decent sized library for one, three or four rooms, kitchen would be pretty spacious, and wooden floors instead of carpet for easy clean up," Spencer listed off things that came to mind.

"That sounds like a house to raise a family in," Nick commented.

"It is, I mean I personally wouldn't invest in a house. I'm perfectly fine in my two bedroom apartment because it's close to the public transport. I see no reason to move."