What Happens Next

II. Uncle Spence

JJ stared at the caller ID on her ringing phone in confusion. She hadn't spoken to her former coworker in years. She felt a ball drop in the pit of her stomach, and she knew that she could not be hearing good news. 

"Spence? Hi. Is everything okay?" 

"Uh, JJ, yeah. . . hi. Um. No-" Spencer paused and breathed in deeply, nervously trying to figure out what he could say to his former best friend that could possibly make her want to say yes to his impending request.

"What's wrong? Are you hurt? Are your kids okay?"

"No, no, the kids are great I think, it's not that. Um, I just- I think I need a place to stay," he stammered out. He winced at the sound of his own words.

"What?" 

"I- I- I'm so so sorry for asking you, I know I haven't been in your life in so long, and it's so out of line for me to be asking but I really, uh, I really don't have anywhere to go."

"Oh, Okay, um, okay, well I don't live in Virginia anymore Spence I don't-"

"You live in New Orleans, now. Right. . . Um okay, well I will uh. . . talk to you later. . ."

"No, Spence, hang on. What's going on? Where are you?"

"I um. I just got out of um rehab-" his voice rose in embarrassment, and he lowered it to a soft mumble, "and I have been asked not to come home."

"Oh. Oh god, Spence. Okay. Um," JJ trailed off, inventing a solution in her head, "well I can drive down and pick you up- I'm living with my mom in Pennsylvania right now. I'm sure Henry can watch the kids for a little bit. I can come get you."

"No, JJ, it's okay. I can figure something else out. Maybe I can stay with Rossi and Krystall."

"How about I have him send a car for you and I will meet you at his place in a few hours?" JJ pushed, not wanting to leave her old friend alone. As much as she trusted Rossi to protect him, selfishly, she wanted to be the one who was there for him. She missed her best friend.

Reid didn't respond, his mind spinning, trying to figure out another way to get through this. He knew that if he was left alone he would be dead by the end of the night, but he did not want JJ or Rossi to have to take care of him. His hand, frail from disuse, played anxiously with the zipper on his dark blue sweatshirt. 

"Spence?" JJ prompted.

"Okay," he forced out, breathing a sigh of both pain and relief.

"Okay. Spence, it's gonna be okay. I will be there to pick you up soon, okay? Do you want me to call Rossi for you or do you want to do it?" She asked, already shifting into mom-mode. She rummaged through the cabinets, pulling out three boxes of mac and cheese and laying them out on the counter. She grabbed a paper towel and wrote out the instruction to heat up the frozen meal for grandma, and she ran upstairs to Henry's room, all before Reid could reply. 

"I think I need to call him."

"Okay. Hang in there okay? I'll be there soon." JJ knocked on Henry's door and awaited his response.

"Okay," Reid said, hanging up the phone.

"Henry, I have to go to DC to pick up Reid. I set out a couple boxes of pasta, and I need you to heat up a meal for grandma. Can you hang out with the kids and make sure everyone is okay?" JJ asked, breathless from anxiously running around the kitchen, and up the stairs. 

"Okay? What's going on?" Henry asked, pulling his headphones off his ears and down around his neck. He spun in his chair to face his mom, taking in her panicked demeanor.

"I'm not sure. I'll let you know when I know more, okay? I have to go, you're okay here right?"

"Yes, mom, I've done this before."

"Okay, love you honey, bye!" 

"Michael, Matthew, Emily," JJ yelled into the air, "I'll be back later tonight, okay? I've gotta go pick up uncle spence!"

Uncle Spence, she thought to herself, I haven't used that name in years. 

She rushed down the stairs and into the living room. She kissed her mom atop her white blonde head, and smiled, saying simply that she had to go and that she would be back soon. She grabbed her bag, and slipped on her stupid red crocs Henry and the kids bought her for mothers day as a joke. Within minutes, she had her GPS routed to Rossi's house, and she was back on the phone with Reid.

"Did you call him?" She asked, without wasting time.

"Yes. He sent me a Lyft," Reid replied, sniffling softly.

"Hey. It's okay. You're going to be okay, Spence."

"It's just a little hard to see that right now, y'know? I've got a bag of almost nothing, I'm sitting outside this rehab facility that has basically become my home, and my wife won't let me talk to my fucking kids!" he yelled, standing up and shoving the handle attached to his lightweight red rolling suitcase, sending it to the ground. 

"Listen, I know it doesn't seem like it right now, but it will be okay," JJ assured, questioning herself on whether or not that would be true. She knew how much he loved his family, how much he loved his kids. She had no idea how he would survive if he could never see them again.

"Yeah. Okay," Reid replied sarcastically. He closed his eyes tightly, and winced at his own words. He pressed the heel of his hand into his eye, and sighed, "Sorry, sorry."

"It's okay."

"I think my ride is here, JJ. I've gotta go," he said, pacing back to his seat and grabbing his bag.

"Okay Spence, call me when you get there alright?"

"Yeah," he replied, ending the call and bowing his head. He walked quickly to the car that had pulled up along the front of the parking lot, and confirmed it had been sent for him by Rossi.

The driver was kind, he allowed me to play my own music, and did not question my eclectic music taste. His car smelled like axe body spray, and mint gum, but it wasn't overpowering from the back seat. His seats were clean, black leather, and inside the pocket behind the passenger seat was a collection of magazines stashed for the riders pleasure. 

We made subtle small talk, but he didn't press, and he made me feel calm, and safe for the duration of the 45 minute ride.