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JJ was reading a book Spencer gave to her as a present on her birthday, biting her lip (the book was quite out of character for the doctor, given that it was a drama) when from the top of the book she saw the giver of said book looking out the window. Now it wasn't unusual for the doctor to stare into space most of the time, but what caught JJ's attention was the leg. Spencer's leg had been shaking ever since they boarded, his fingers tapping his knee erratically. Closing her book, JJ made her way to Spencer.
"Hey." She said softly. "Everything all right?"
Her friend looked up. "Hmm? Oh, nothing."
JJ raised an eyebrow.
"It's just, the case just hits too close to home. I mean, how could they do that to him? Bullying is one thing, but beating the child to death just because he was 'odd'? Unbelievable."
JJ tensed as she pieced it together.
"Spence, were you-"
"Oh, nothing like that." Spencer said hastily, then frowned. "Although I was shoved down the stairs once. All twenty steps."
JJ took Spencer's hand.
"I'm so sorry you have to go through that." She said quietly, then grinned. "Also, joke's on those assholes. Look at where you are now."
Spencer chuckled. "Yeah, I guess that's the upside."
JJ noticed how tired the doctor was, and she stretched out an arm wordlessly. Spencer moved in closer, his head on JJ's chest. She kissed the top of his head, before resting her head against the headrest of the seat.
"Sleep, my love." JJ whispered, before closing her eyes and drifting off to sleep as well.
"Hey, Reid."
Spencer looked up. Morgan was beside him , making his own cup of coffee.
"Yeah?" Spencer asked as he emptied a packet of sugar on his own drink. "Something wrong?"
"What's up with JJ today? She barely spoke to any of us, and she's acting cold. You two fought late night or what?"
"Um, no." Spencer replied as he went back to his desk, worried.
"Stop pestering me, Prentiss." Spencer heard his girlfriend literally snarl at the brown-haired woman.
"Pester? I'm merely asking you a question. What's your problem?" Emily spat back. Apparently their interaction had been going on for while now. Sensing that the situation won't de-escalate any time soon, Spencer cleared his throat to announce his presence. Both women looked at him with venomous looks. Spencer shook his head at Emily. I got this. Emily stormed off back to her desk.
"Ready when you are." Spencer told his girlfriend quietly. If there's one thing he knew, it's to let JJ make the first move.
JJ took a deep breath. "I'm so sorry. It's just, these past three days are starting to get me. We're no closer to getting the UnSub, and each passing day diminishes the chance of his victim being alive." She looked up at Spencer, eyes bright with tears.
"Hey, what's wrong?" Spencer asked. That's when JJ broke.
"I'm so tired, Spence." The blonde sobbed. "I'm so, so tired. Of this search, of facing the victims' families to say that their child's killer is still at large, that we let them down. That we failed."
Spencer cupped the blonde's chin, planting a kiss on her lips.
"We'll get him, JJ. We'll get Roland, and justice for the victims."
"I don't deserve you." JJ mumbled.
Spencer gave his girlfriend a smile. "And yet here I am."
Spencer woke up with the other side of the bed empty. Swinging his legs off the bed, Spencer made his way to the kitchen, knowing that his girlfriend would be there. Sure enough JJ was bent over some folders that she took home, occasionally sipping a cup of her favorite peppermint tea.
"These are overdue." JJ said without looking up.
"I wasn't going to say anything." Spencer replied as he made himself a pot of coffee, sitting before the blonde. JJ yawned as she grabbed another folder, and Spencer grabbed her hand to stop her.
"Enough. It's one-thirty in the morning."
JJ scrubbed at her face. "I'm nearly done. I only have-"
"What's bothering you?" Spencer then interrupted. "You're only like this when stressed. What is it?"
Taking a deep breath, JJ submitted. "My mom's back in town."
Spencer frowned. "I thought you two were good?"
JJ raised an eyebrow at her partner. "You can guess her plus one."
Spencer tensed. Her step=father was nothing but hostile to both of them, even acting suspiciously around JJ. Spencer lost count of how many times JJ had to kick him under the table every time they had dinner to prevent him from going for the old man's throat.
"Dance with me."
JJ looked up with a jolt. "Excuse me?"
Spencer grinned sheepishly. "Stress reliever? I know it sounds stupid but-"
JJ smiled. "I'd love that, actually. Just don't step on my toes."
"Hey! Spencer laughed. "That hurts. But I promise."
Spencer led JJ to the middle of the living room, playing a soft, slow tune as he and JJ gently swayed to the beat.
"You're so beautiful you know that?" Spencer whispered, nuzzling JJ's hair. The blonde let out a chuckle.
"The intelligent and illustrious Spencer Reid, being sappy? That's a first."
"I'm not exactly a robot. I still have feelings. Sadness, happiness," Spencer's voice dipped low, "and desire."
JJ shivered as her boyfriend traced her spine before slowly, lazily, circling the small of her back with his spine.
"Spence," JJ whimpered, both need and want sending her senses into overdrive, "Spence, please."
The two crashed down on the sofa, and neither waited.