The Dangers of Falling (A Criminal Minds Story)

XXI

    Returning back to the B.A.U. was exhilarating. I had forgotten how much I had missed the rush, missed the team, missed the building and its strange smell of cleaning supplies.
    Everything felt good and everything felt right. Even though Spencer and I couldn't spend too much time together during work, we were able to go on Friday night dates and we'd carpool together to work.
    About four months later, on a long Friday night after a tough case, I sat on the jet, watching the North Dakota landscape fade away below us. I had gotten the jet thing down to a science: Spencer and I would sit next to each other, reading, Morgan sat nearby, his headphones on as he looked out the window, JJ and Emily talking quietly or listening to a podcast, Hotch and Rossi looking over old case files.
    I wondered how I could have gone longer than a week without being there. I missed Morgan and Garcia's playful banner and the way that Rossi would tease Spencer about his extensive knowledge of things that nobody should know.
    "Anyone want to grab a burger?" Emily asked once we had gotten off the jet, walking through the doors.
    "Man, I would kill for some McDonald's right now." Morgan said in response.
    "Did you know that McDonald's is actually one of the worst things you could put in your body?" Spencer asked, and I shared a knowing smile with Garcia who whispered an 'I told you so'. "In fact, the high sugar in that food can be linked to heart disease." His voice drowned out as he sped up to continue rambling to Emily and Derek who looked clearly annoyed.
    Garcia walked over to me. "What did I tell you?" She asked, linking arms with me.
    "You told me." I responded with a laugh.
    "That I did, cupcake," She said, smiling. "Okay, despite the fact that Reid is going to make me watch the entire Supersize Me documentary again, I could really go for some fries right now." I laughed again. "Do you want to come?"
    "Yeah, I don't want to hear it from Reid," I answered.
    "I don't blame you. Okay, Princess, see you Monday." She patted my back and walked forward to meet Emily and Morgan who were grabbing their coats.
    "Bye, kids. See you Monday," Morgan said, stepping on the elevator. I waved as Garcia and Emily joined them. The elevator closed and they were gone. Rossi left his office and headed towards Spencer, said goodbye, and then got on the elevator, too.
    "I'm heading out," Hotch announced, leaving his office. My eyes narrowed as I organized my desk.
    "Wow," JJ said with a laugh. "We're staying after Hotch?"
    "It's a miracle." I chimed in, and I saw one corner of his mouth turn up in a smile.
    "Yeah, well, if I make it, I can still see Jack before he goes to bed, so..." He gave another smile before getting on the elevator. "See you all Monday."
    "Bye." I said.
    "See you Monday." Spencer called as the elevator doors shut. JJ grabbed her things.
    "Okay, I'm gonna head out, too. There's a bed waiting for me at home, so." She announced with a laugh. I laughed with her.
    "Okay, JJ. See you Monday."
    "Bye, guys." I watched her get on the elevator and disappear. I sighed, turning around to face Spencer.
    "I'm gonna go wait by the car," I said, pointing towards the elevator. "I'll see you down there, okay?" I turned around and started to walk towards the elevator.
"I love you, Andy."
    "What?" His words shocked me and I stopped dead in my tracks.
    "I love you. I tried to hide it, I tried to deny the fact that all I wanted to do since the moment you got to the B.A.U., since the moment you walked through that elevator door that I wanted to kiss you. I love you so much that when you told me John Hinckley Jr. was one of the many killers who read the Catcher in the Rye I didn't correct the fact that he never actually killed anyone. I love you so much that I can't imagine my life without you anymore. Because it's you, Andy. It's always been you." I laughed, completely blissful in the words I was hearing. Spencer Reid loved me. I turned around, smiling.
    "I love you, too." I responded. "I truly, truly, love you, too." He smiled and walked toward me, intertwining his hand in mine. We stepped onto the elevator together and I looked out into the bullpen.   
The world is full of unknowns. I've learned that now. And as I watched the B.A.U. fade away, I realized that I didn't know what I had with Spencer, but I did know there would be a tomorrow.

THE END