Chapter Text
JJ lay in the darkness of her bedroom, tears streaming down her face. A coward. She had been such a complete, utter coward. She broke up with Will, claiming that long-distance relationships won't work, but that's just half the truth. The other half, the primary reason, was Spencer. Spencer, with his brown eyes. Spencer, with his long hair that JJ wanted nothing but to run her fingers through. Spencer, with his brilliant mind and adorable cluelessness in pop culture. She can still remember the day. When Spencer, unbeknownst to him, shattered JJ's heart into a million pieces.
"JJ, do me a favor and slap me. Because I am definitely hallucinating right now." Emily said out of the blue. Confused, JJ looked over her shoulder. She whistled.
"Well, I'll be damned. What's the event?" Spencer's hair, which was usually messy, was slicked back. JJ sniffed.
"Oh, hello. Cologne?"
"What? Can't I change my looks because I want to?" Spencer demanded in mock-indignation.
"We're just teasing you, Spence. It suits you."
When the team arrived at the bar, the place was half-empty. Their latest case was harrowing to say the least, and all decided to spend a couple of hours together, as regular people, before going home. Except Spencer, who claimed he had to do something.
"Good the place isn't too noisy." Emily said. JJ raised an eyebrow.
"I'm hitting the harder stuff tonight. Last thing I want is to suffer grating noise."
"Uh, guys? Correct me if I'm wrong but, is that Reid?" Garcia said. JJ followed the tech analyst's gaze- and froze. It was indeed Spencer, drinking and laughing with a redhead.
"So that's why." Emily murmured, before calling out. "Hey, Reid! Over here!"
The doctor and his companion turned.
"Hey! Fancy seeing you here. Guys, meet Debbie Marks. Debbie, meet agents Prentiss, Morgan, Hotchner, Rossi, and Jareau as well as our tech analyst, Garcia."
Debbie shook each of their hands, lingering when she came to Morgan's. Interesting.
"Debbie and I have been dating for several months now. She..."
But whatever else Spencer was saying was lost to JJ. One word kept running through her head. Dating. Dating. Dating. And apparently for quite a while now.
"You know what? You go on ahead. I'm beat." JJ said, grabbing her blazer.
"But JJ.." Emily whined jokingly.
"Tomorrow. Night, guys. Reid." She nodded sharply at the doctor.
Much to Spencer's confusion, JJ was ignoring him for the next few days. Whenever he asks her a question, her answers were either clipped or a mere hum. Finally he had enough. He made his way to the blonde's office, which was surprisingly open.
"JJ." Silence.
"Jen." Spencer tried, only to be ignored. The doctor closed the door and shut the blinds.
"Jennifer."
"What?" JJ snapped, looking up from her work. "I'm busy. Go away."
"There you are again. What's wrong with you?"
"What's wrong with me? Nothing. Can't I not be in the mood now and then?"
"Do not bullshit me, Jareau." Spencer replied through clenched teeth. JJ was in Spencer's space in an instant.
"Oh, so we're last name basis now?" JJ snarled. "Huh? Well, let me tell you why I am pissed, Reid. I'm pissed that you kept your relationship with Marks secret from the team."
"From the team, or from you?" Spencer said. JJ opened her mouth, then closed it again.
"That's what I thought. No matter how close we are, you don't have the right to know about my love life."
Someone knocked. Spencer stepped away, still glaring at JJ.
"This conversation isn't finished."
JJ had just finished showering when someone began ringing the doorbell incessantly.
"All right, all right!: She yelled. She yanked the door open.
"Reid." She said, masking her nervousness with cold indifference.
"Jennifer." The doctor replied with equal formality, and somehow Spencer calling her by her full name stung more than him calling her 'Jareau'.
"Wait for me on the couch." JJ went upstairs to get changed, coming back down wearing an oversized grey shirt and shorts.
"Well? Say your piece." JJ said impatiently.
"Seriously? Why should I tell you everything about me? Especially Debbie?"
"Well, you were the first to know when I broke up with Will, why I broke up with him." JJ said.
"Details that, no offense, I didn't ask for." Spencer replied harshly. "Besides, how is this relevant to the situation?"
"It's relevant," JJ hissed, "because I shared something private." They were shouting now.
"Why, JJ? I mean, for once I'm happy. Truly happy. Why can't you be happy for me?"
"I am happy for you!" JJ cried. "God knows I am! It's just-"
"Just what? Huh? If you're truly happy for me, why did you look so pissed at the bar? Why are you mad at me?"
"I'm not- I wasn't-" JJ began.
"Stop lying to me!" Spencer yelled. "Stop lying and just tell me, dammit!"
"BECAUSE I LOVE YOU!" JJ screamed. "I LOVE YOU, BUT YOU WERE JUST SO FUCKING BLIND TO SEE IT!"
Spencer blinked. "You- you love me?"
"Did I stutter?" JJ snarled, before taking a deep breath. "Go. Just, go, Reid."
"Jen, I-"
"GO! GET OUT OF MY SIGHT!"