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“You need to be more careful,” Spencer said as he had Aaron sit down.
“I’m fine, Spencer,” Aaron mumbled, wincing as he held the wounded side.
He was home, had been for a couple of weeks, and was due back to work by the start of the next week. However, Aaron refused to relax and chill out.
“No you’re not,” Spencer huffed, lifting his shirt to inspect the stitching, forcing Aaron’s arm to move. “Sit still, will you?
Aaron sighed, holding his arm up as Spencer inspected him, reaching over to the side table and grabbing the cleaning solution and gauze. “Did it reopen?” Aaron asked as Spencer grabbed a gauze cloth and poured some of the solution over it.
“No, but it’s oozing again,” Spencer explained, and Aaron sighed in annoyance, “it wouldn’t happen if someone would just sit still and chill out on his time off.”
“I have things to do,” Aaron said, and Spencer resisted the urge to roll his eyes.
“I don’t think I have to tell you what’s going to happen if this gets infected and worse, which you’re raising the chances by about 10 to 15 percent every time you do something that tugs on these stitches, like reaching up to grab something or picking Jack up. You’re going to have to take more time off if you do that.”
Aaron huffed again, and winced as Spencer started cleaning up the puss before pressing a new cloth against his hip and wrapping it in place around his stomach. “It’s a mental game, Aaron. And you keep losing it. Forget your work mentality, forget that fact that your a boss.”
“And the fact that I’m a dad?” Aaron asked as he accepted the new clean shirt from Spencer.
“Remember that I’m here, so is Jessica. You’re not alone, not anymore,” Spencer whispered. “I know you struggle with that, but like I said. It’s all your brain.”
“My brain is telling me not to push everything onto you,” Aaron admitted softly, and Spencer kissed his temple.
“Well, tell your brain I want all of it. All of the responsibility. How am I ever going to figure out this… thing with Jack if you keep taking all of it?”
“This thing?” Aaron asked softly.
Spencer just smiled a bit. “I don’t think we’re ready for that conversation.”
-7-
“Listen, Aaron—“ Spencer groaned, rubbing his temples. “You have to understand that I just don’t— I don’t know!”
“How can you not know?” Aaron asked.
“Because I can’t see into the future! I’m a genius— yes— but I am not a magician!” Spencer insisted, and Aaron sighed.
“You’ve been studying with him for weeks. How’s he been doing?” Aaron asked, and Spencer sighed. “He’s really worried about this test.”
“He’s been fine, Aaron. He’s doing well, he understands the basic concepts that they’re learning and he’s applying them well. But he hates testing, we know that, and he doesn’t typically do well the first time from what you’ve told me,” Spencer reasoned.
“I was hoping you’d be able to make him more comfortable,” Aaron mumbled.
“And I’m trying, but there’s only so much I can do,” Spencer said softly, and Aaron sighed. “I know you’re worried, but I think he’ll be okay. Like I told him, if he stays calm, relaxes his mind, just breathes and knows that he can apply this, he’ll do great.”
Aaron gave him a face that was slightly pout-like, which made Spencer chuckle as he leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to his lips to wash it away. “Have a little faith,” Spencer whispered, squeezing his biceps gently before grabbing his glass of water and leaving the kitchen to do some work on the dining table.
Jack came home with a 98%.
-7-
“You can’t stay in here and work all night,” Spencer whispered, opening up the door to Aaron’s home office. He didn’t step in, he respected Aaron’s space, but one desperate like-glance and Spencer was walking further inside.
“They want this finished by 9 and I’m barely halfway through,” Aaron grumbled, rubbing his hand against his face. Spencer wrapped his arm around Aaron from behind, resting his chin on his lover’s shoulder.
“Come to bed,” Spencer whispered. “We can deal with this in the morning. What was it you told me? You can’t do your best work unfocused, Aaron. Remember? It’s a mental game, and once again you’re losing.”
Aaron looked up at him, and Spencer smoothed out a worry line on his forehead with his thumb. “Come on, I’ll still be here glaring at you in the morning. And no matter what they say, it’s not too priority because it’s not case, safety, or rule related. It’s feedback. Come to bed, I need you with me.”
Aaron took Spencer’s hand and kissed the back of it before setting the pen down and shutting the file before allowing Spencer to drag him out of the room.
When he went to retrieve them in the morning, he noticed most had been done objectively, and the subject questions had been left blank. He smiled, packing them away and going back downstairs to leave with Spencer for the day.
Spencer smiled at him and didn’t say a word.
-7-
“Your blinds are shut,” Spencer whispered as he stepped into the office. “They’re never shut.”
“I’m trying to keep Rossi away,” Aaron said honestly, and Spencer chuckled, sitting on the edge of Aaron’s desk in front of him.
“Uh oh,” Spencer teased.
“He thinks he knows everything about me,” Aaron mumbled.
“Doesn’t he?” Spencer asked, and Aaron tapped him on the leg gently. Spencer laughed a bit again. “C’mon, with how long you two have known each other…”
Aaron hummed, letting the hand that landed softly on Spencer’s thigh rest there for a minute. Spencer rested his own hand over it, squeezing gently.
“What was he saying now?” Spencer asked gently.
Aaron sighed, shaking his head slightly. “Nothing important, he’s just trying to rile me up.”
“Mhm,” Spencer hummed, unconvinced. “Aaron…” he whispered, only lightly pushing.
“How long have we been… just us?” Aaron asked, and Spencer hummed with a small head tilt.
“35 days. Or 5 weeks. Or a month and 4 days,” Spencer whispered, and Aaron hummed. “You kissed me on October 26th, and it’s now November 30th.”
“And do you think that amount of time is decent?” Aaron asked, and Spencer raised an eyebrow in question.
“Decent for what?” Spencer asked.
“Decent for a label.”
“Are you ready for an official label?” Spencer asked, and Aaron sighed, leaning back in his chair. “Aaron, it could be a month, it could be a year, regardless, you cannot put a time limit on what you are or are not ready for.”
“But if I don’t do something I’ll continue to feel- feel like this for the rest of the time we’re together, and that’s not fair to you.”
“Feel like what?” Spencer asked softly.
“Guilty,” Aaron whispered, and Spencer’s face significantly softened. “I feel guilty. I feel like I’m holding you back, putting the responsibility of being a new parent onto you. And I feel guilty because of Haley– or because I can’t stop loving Haley.”
“No one’s asking you to stop loving her,” Spencer whispered.
“But that’s not fair–”
“Why?” Spencer asked, “Forgive me, Aaron, but I’m confused. She was your longest relationship, she was your wife, she is the mother of your son. Of course you love her. Not only that, but you lost her in a violent and horrible way. I’m not hurt seeing her photos, I wish she was still here, for you and for Jack.”
“It feels like I’m betraying both of you,” Aaron admitted.
“I can’t speak for her,” Spencer whispered, squeezing Aaron’s hand. “But I can speak for me, and to me… you’re not betraying anyone. You’re moving on in a healthy way, you’re aware of your love for her and exploring another… feeling for someone else.”
“We’re in a relationship,” Aaron whispered, and Spencer slowly nodded. “I’m ready for that label, I think. Actively acknowledging that– that we’re together, we’re in a relationship. I can do that, I think I’ve been doing that.”
“Good, that’s one step closer,” Spencer said softly, brushing a hand against his arm gently as he stood.
“What’s the next step?” Aaron whispered, and Spencer hummed.
“We’ll get there,” Spencer mumbled, “For now, work through the words you’ve said, and try not to let it hurt.”
“I need you– I’ll need you to help me with that.”
“You have me.”
-7-
Spencer lifted Jack with a small grunt, letting the boy wrap his arms and legs around him and rest his head on Spencer’s shoulder. They were out and about with the team, they’d just finished dinner and the team wasn’t quite done celebrating so they decided to walk and talk for a while before they all started calming down enough to go home. Luckily it was kid-friendly, so Henry and Jack were hanging out, but it wasn’t long before Jack got tired.
“I wan’a go home,” Jack whispered, and Spencer hummed softly as his eyes scanned for Aaron in the group, quickly finding him.
“Okay, bubs, let’s get your Dad,” Spencer whispered, kissing the side of his head without a second thought.
Jack jumped as Derek suddenly laughed really loud, and he whined, unhappy with the sudden noise grating against his ear. “Aaron,” Spencer said, feeling Jack tense up in his arms and getting the chief to turn around. The sternness in his voice caught everyone's attention, and voices quieted down but didn’t stop as Aaron retreated from Rossi’s side and stepped over to the duo.
“He wants to go home,” Spencer whispered, rubbing Jack’s back. “He’s tired and I think overstimulated, sounds are setting him off.”
“Okay, let’s get back to the car,” Aaron whispered back, and Spencer nodded as he turned to walk back the way they came as Aaron said goodbye for them before catching up.
Spencer could feel Jack fiddling with strands of his hair, but he didn’t say anything as they walked quite silently back to the car, Jack slowly falling asleep in Spencer’s arms by the time they reached the vehicle. Aaron opened the backseat for him, and he set Jack down, buckling him in despite Jack’s whining. Aaron carefully shut the door and Jack leaned against it.
“My place or yours?” Aaron asked as Spencer walked around to the passenger side.
“Eh, let’s do mine. I’m sure he’d like to cuddle Gal tonight,” Spencer said as they both got in, careful not to slam the doors as Jack was slowly falling back asleep. Aaron nodded, and after turning the car on and safely getting out of his parallel park, he rested his hand against Spencer’s leg.
Spencer carried Jack inside the apartment building and followed Aaron up, the boy quickly fell back asleep in Spencer’s arm, and the genius laid him down while Aaron handled Galaxy trying to jump on him. He laid the boy down on the couch and carefully allowed Galaxy to jump up and curl up with Jack, as if sensing she could now lay with her favorite boy.
The adults met in the kitchen, and Aaron smiled. He pulled Spencer in and for a while, they were silent as they watched the two sleep on the couch.
“I don’t think you understand just how good with him you are,” Aaron whispered as Spencer slowly pulled away from him, the constant touch starting to make his skin itch.
“I just listen,” Spencer shrugged. “He’s very good at telling me what’s wrong.”
“He feels his safetest with you,” Aaron said softly, and Spencer smiled. “You know… Christmas is coming up.”
“Mm, you won’t celebrate thanksgiving, but you’ll do Christmas?” Spencer asked.
“Thanksgiving isn’t a real holiday, it’s a scam to sell turkey and mash potatoes,” Aaron scoffed. “Haley hated it.”
“So do it,” Spencer hummed, “What? Were you going to get me a Christmas present?”
“Yes, but,” Aaron chuckled. “I know Jack’ll want you with us. So… if you’re open and wanting or willing…”
Spencer smiled, “If it’s not thanksgiving, Christmas is about family–”
“And you are family,” Aaron cut him off, getting Spencer to glance over at him from where he’d opened the fridge to grab a water. “So don’t start with that. Unless you’re referring to going back home to Las Vegas.”
“Mm, you were correct with your first assumption,” Spencer chuckled. “My family never celebrated the holiday’s, other than halloween but I typically did that by myself because I could run outside and go up and down the street in my homemade costume. Christmas and such was much harder without a job when your mother’s slowly losing her mind.”
“So, you’ll be with us?” Aaron asked.
“Should our lives allow it, I’ll try,” Spencer said softly. “Just don’t expect me to understand it all, because I still don’t know why anyone thought Santa Clause was a great idea. He’s a ‘jolly fat man’ who watches children? We profile and catch those people.”
“It's different. Because this guy breaks into your house, eats your cookies, and leaves toys,” Aaron said, sarcastic with a smile.
“Right,” Spencer drawled, before laughing lightly.
“Spencieee” Jack whined from the couch, still half asleep but catching both of their attentions. The boy repeated the noise and Spencer set his water down to walk over to the whining boy as Aaron smiled and watched from the small kitchen.