The Red Lounge ~Spencer Reid x Reader ~

Flames

Honesty, and forgiveness.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wq-fRtqyC0c

Derek picked me up in record time. He no doubt sped through the streets, flashing (however expired) credentials at anyone who dared stop him. And by the way he nearly broke the doors when he slammed them open, you would think heaven had come to seek retribution for the scorned. His eyes zeroed in on me and I stood, curling myself against his body when he wrapped his arms tightly around me. I gripped his grey shirt, burying my face in his chest as tears of anger, frustration, pain, and fear fell, making the fabric dark. He didn't try to make me speak, didn't try to ask me why I was standing in the middle of MPD all but downright sobbing into his shirt, he just let me cry, his eyes daring anyone who tried to come near me to say something.

I didn't have to see to know that Keith was being escorted out of the police station. I heard him whistling a taunting tune as he passed. I gripped Derek's shirt tighter, and he tightened his embrace in response. I felt his body turn, and I could tell from the way his hands twitched that he put two and two together. "Is that-?" I nodded into his chest and I swore I heard a growl.

"Can we just go home? Please." He nodded against my head, pressing a kiss to the crown of my hair before he grabbed my jacket and bag for me, placing a hand on my back before he led me out to his truck which was haphazardly parked in the 10-8 lot. Someone looked like they were ready to say something, but a look from an older cop, and a quick 'Agent Morgan', with a dip of his head and the younger cop backed off. Derek returned the dip of his head and opened the door to his truck for me.

Only when he was helping me up did he realize that the bandage on my leg was not for a bloody mess, but for a tattoo. "Whoa, hold up. Did you get some ink?" his face spread out into a big grin and I couldn't help but smile through the pain and anger.

"Just what you'd notice." I replied, pointing to the massive work of art on my thigh.

"That's beautiful." He said, examining it closer, when his eye caught the poppy, he stopped, then his dark eyes flicked up to mine and I smiled a watery smile at him, which he returned. "He'd love it." He said quietly, and I nodded. Derek closed the door then, and by the time he was in his seat and we were pulling out of the station, my head was against the window and my eyes were closed.

I felt him drape a coat over me before I fell into that half sleep that only really happens in a car or on a plane. My dad always called it the "soldier's nap", because in an instant you would wake up with the slightest sign of danger. Mine came in the form of my phone ringing with the ringtone I specifically set for Spencer. I shot up, snatching the phone out of my purse and declining the call.

Derek stared at me in concern, looking quickly between me and the road. "Okay, you really need to start talking." He demanded and I sighed, pulling the black leather coat he had draped over me up to my shoulders. I wasn't cold in the slightest, but it brought me comfort.

"There's nothing to talk about." I insisted, watching as rain started to splatter on the windows in a light drizzle.

"(Y/n), are you serious? I just picked you up at a police station, where you sobbed into my chest, and now you woke from a dead sleep to decline a call. I know you know that I can't let that go." He replied, turning down the music in the car.

I sighed, rubbing at the bridge of my nose when I felt a headache coming. "That guy, his name is Keith. He was harassing my friend, I called him out, he got banned from our work." Derek nodded, following along despite the vagueness of the response. "Then he showed up at my work, called me a slut, which you know," Again he nodded, angrily gripping the wheel. "And then tonight, he showed up at my friend's tattoo parlour when all of us were there. We have no idea how he found us, or why he's even here considering he lives in Baltimore." I shook my head glaring at a droplet making its way down the glass.