Here to Help!

2.

"There you go, babe. I brought you your favorite dish.", Spencer said as he placed the takeout food on a plate right in front of her. Ruby smiled.

"Thank you, that's really kind."

Spencer sat down opposite of his girlfriend and they both started to eat in silence. After a while, Reid decided to talk to Ruby about her odd behaviour.

"So...do you wanna tell me what's going on with you?"

Ruby gulped and paused eating, not looking into his eyes. She silently had hoped that he would actually drop this topic, but she should have known better.

"W-what do you mean?"

"Come on, don't go that way. I can see that something i bothering you. You know you can talk to me about anything."

"I know, Spence, but it's nothing, really. Just a bad day at work."

Spencer let it go for a few and observed his girlfriend. Suddenly, he took notice of many things which seem to be weird about her. It was super hot outside today and she was wearing a thick long sleeved shirt. Also, she looked pale, if not to say sick and he kind of thought she looked thinner than usual. Something was seriously going on and Spencer really wanted to help her, but as long as she wasn't open to talk to him by herself, he couldn't do anything. He did not want to pressure her into talking. So he needed to be patient, but he wanted to give it one last try.

"Baby, I don't wanna push you to talk about it or anything. Just know that you are not alone. I am here for you and we can fight this together. Whenever you feel ready to talk, I will be there. You can count on that. I love you with all my heart, Ruby. Just know that you can trust me."

Ruby smiled and reacher for his hand. If it all would be so easy, but it was too difficult.

"Thank you, babe. I love you, too."

He leant over the counter to place a sweet loving kiss onto her forehead before they both finished their meals in silence.

"This was exactly what I needed tonight, Spencer. Thank you!", Ruby said as she put hers and his plate in the sink. Silently, the agent got up and walked towards his girlfriend, putting his arms around her waist, pulling her closer into him before kissing her carefully. They parted after a minute to catch their breaths when Spencer took Ruby's hand.

"What about watching a movie and cuddling up on the sofa?", he suggested and looked at her.

"Sounds perfect. I just go and change quickly, but you can go and pick the movie. I'll be right there.", Ruby replied as she squeezed Reid's hand before letting go and running off to their bedroom. She went inside and locked the door behind herself before she let out a long sigh.

It hurt herself that she needed to lie to him, but it was for the best, for both of them. She needed to protect him. She went over to her side of the bed and grabbed her pjama to change. As she pulled off her shirt she was wearing all day, she inspected the blue and purple bruises all over her upper arms and her stomach. She got lost in her thoughts as she heard a know at the door.

"Babe, you coming?", Spencer said from the other side of the door.

"Yes, sure. I'll be right there." She rushed to pull over her long sleeved pjama shirt checking if all bruises were covered before she changed her trousers. She took one last look in the mirror. She really needed to convince Spencer that she was fine. She did not want to draghim into this. This was her battle. And eventhough she was scared, she needed to hide it from her boyfriend for as long as possible.

Smiling at her broken reflection in the mirror, she unlocked the door to join Reid on the sofa, dreaming of having a carefree evening.