Chapter Text
Spencer faces his coworkers. Garcia, JJ, and Prentiss have the decency to look guilty after his outburst. Derek’s lips are pinched together in amusement. Hotch and Rossi are in an office, having missed Spencer’s entrance.
“Every single one of you went to her pet shop,” Spencer continues. “I only told Garcia!”
“She told me,” Prentiss admits.
“Hey!” Garcia’s blonde hair flies as she whips her head to stare at her. “You agreed to do it!”
He watches his coworkers, his family, bicker amongst themselves. As they do so, he thinks about what they had done. On their own time, they had found a way to visit (Name) while she was working and talked to her. They had gotten to know her, because she was important to him.
“I like her, if it’s any consolation,” JJ murmurs.
Spencer smiles. “I just wish that you hadn’t done it behind my back. I’m glad you want to get to know her; just let me know that you want to.”
All of his coworkers nod and come over to him, hugging him. Derek shakes his hand and Garcia keeps one arm wrapped around his side.
“Don’t worry, Pretty Boy,” Derek laughs. “We all like her and approve of her.”
Even though Spencer doesn’t need their approval, he is more than happy to have it. Their opinions mean a lot to him, and having them accept her means more than he thought it would.
“Thanks, you guys,” he says, smiling at his friends.
Later that night, after work, he makes a stop by the pet shop. He enters and hears the familiar ring of the bell nestled atop of the door. Inside of the shop, Spencer sees someone who isn’t (Name).
“Hey, how can I help you?” The male employee asks.
“Oh, I was…” Spencer balks. “I was looking for (Name).”
The employee smiles. “She went home. But I can help you! What are you looking for?”
Spencer smiles.
///////
The next morning, you wake up to sunlight streaming in through your window. You yawn and glance at your phone to see what time it is. Barely past eight am, which means you are right on time for work. You dress quickly and grab you favorite breakfast before walking out the front door.
Your drive to work is brief and filled with your favorite music. You sing along with the radio, nodding your head to the beat. When you get to work, you turn off the ignition and grab your bag and head inside.
Inside, Leo is working the register and smiles when he sees you. “Hey, boss!”
You grin at him. “Hey, Leo, how are you doing?”
“Not bad! Two customers came in last night and got some dog food, but that was it.”
You nod. You had asked him to tell you everything that had happened in the pet shop last night after you had left. You didn’t try to lie to yourself about who you had hoped would come in.
As you think of Spencer, you turn to the cat display. There are less cats than there had been last night. You do a quick headcount and realize one is missing.
“Where’s Felony?” You ask Leo, turning back to face him. “He was here when I left.”
“Oh, he was adopted last night,” Leo answers.
“What!?”
“I thought you wanted the litter to be adopted.” Leo is confused by your outburst.
You frown. “Yeah, I do, it was just…”
Spencer had been the one to come in and pet him. He had never shown interest in any other pet or cat or anything except for Felony. If Felony isn’t here, would he stop coming?
You had started looking forward to seeing the young doctor in the mornings. He had been quiet and sweet, but intriguing to you. You want to see more of him, but with Felony being adopted…it would be sad if you never saw him again.
The bell at the front of the store tinkles, and you turn to the door. You would recognize the messy hair anywhere.
“Hey, (Name),” Spencer says, smiling when he sees you.
“Hey, Spencer,” you return his smile. Your gaze drifts to the cat display pen located at the front of the shop, near where he is standing. “I’m sorry if you came in to pet Felony; I just found out he was adopted last night.”
“Oh, he did?” Spencer raises his brows. “Well, I just hope he went to a good home.”
“Me, too,” you murmur.
“I actually came in to make a purchase,” he announces, surprising you. “Could you help me?”
“Of course!”
He tells you that he needs a toy for an animal, and you lead him to that part of the store. You show him the different brands that you offer and which ones are best for which pet. You make a recommendation and he chooses that one.
“And I wanted to get some pet food, too,” he says.
You show him the food section, which is ordered by pet type. “What pet are you searching for?”
“A cat,” he says, giving you a small smile.
“Oh?” You can’t hide the surprise in your voice.
“I adopted Felony last night.”
You feel your mouth open in shock. Blinking, you take it in. “You were the one to adopt him? Why didn’t you tell me when I first told you?”
He looks sheepish. “You looked so sad that he was adopted by someone else, I wanted to surprise you.”
“Well, you did,” you laugh.
“I adopted Felony because he is super sweet, but also because it helped me to hold him and pet him. I liked the feeling that he gave me. I adopted him last night, but I had hoped that you would be in the store. You weren’t, so I wanted to stop by the morning and buy some supplies, but also get to tell you,” he says. “I also like the feeling I get when I’m around you. The other part of the reason why I came here was to ask you out to dinner.”
You blush, moved by his speech.
“So, (Name), will you go out to dinner with me?” Spencer’s eyes are full of adoration and his smile is gentle.
You don’t even think about it. “I would love that, Spencer.”