Chapter Text
You sit on a navy blue velvet couch, touching your chin and bottom lip only to realise you can't feel anything. The front desk lady is trying to call your mom multiple times, she was supposed to pick you up after surgery. Seems you weren't important enough. You wait, staring at the white wall across from you, but she never comes. Your surgeon comes up to you but you can't speak, you sign that you need a paper and pen so she brings them to you and you ask her if she can call your friend that is listed on the emergency contact list.
She nods and heads to the front desk, whispering something to her colleagues as they start laughing and you're too out of it to try and make sense of it all.
Ten minutes later you're half dozed out on the soft velvet couch when an old lady walks past you and stares at you weirdly, you feel self conscious realising you've most likely began to swell. Some minutes after that you hear Spencer presenting himself at the front desk, “Hello I'm Dr Reid, here to pick up one of your patients–”
The front desk lady, looking down from her glasses, cuts him mid sentence “They're on the couch, over there.” she points in your direction. You blink hard a couple of times, your hands twitching as you realise your mom isn't here but Spencer is and everything will be alright.
He's walking in your direction, he sits down next to you, your surgeon is finishing her discussion with a client as she comes over to debrief the surgery, “The surgery was a success, nothing went wrong. All four teeths were removed without much of a struggle, you've been so brave!” She tells you then turns towards Spencer, he looks tired, he's wearing a red cardigan over his pale blue plaid work shirt and black, maroon and white tie. You feel so guilty knowing he just finished a case he most likely hasn't slept in days.
“Uh… so you will be taking care of them then? Not their mother?” The surgeon looks awkward.
Spencer nods, “Yes, I will call you with the post-op follow-up.”
“Very well, remember to ice up and take your antibiotics.” She tells you, “If anything at all comes up please contact us alright?”
You nod, Spencer helps you up and leads you to the exit.
You get in his car in silence, “You’re not even swollen, that’s impressive.” he pauses, “I’ll drive slow so it won’t hurt although I doubt you’ll feel anything until tonight.”
It’s awful because you want to reply, you want to tell him how grateful you are that he’s here for you but you can’t even open your mouth yet.
“I’m sorry,” he looks over at you for a second before getting his eyes back on the road, “about your mom. Do you want to stay over at my place while you recover? I’ll take care of you.”
You nod and smile as widely as you can, feeling overwhelmed with sadness and love. Someone is willing to step up and take care of you. Staring out of the window, your eyes are filled with tears that you refuse to let fall. “Amazing, we’ll stop by your place to pick up some things.”
Spencer parks in your front yard, “What do you need?” he asks. An idea grows in your mind, you take your phone out and go on your translation app, you type in what you need and let the phone speaker speak in your place. Spence laughs, “Very well, I’ll be right back.”
He comes back with his hands full, he throws in a duffel bag of clothes you asked for in the backseat of his car and hands you your favourite blanket and stuffed animals. Your cheeks turn red with shame, you’re far too old for this. But then you know Spencer won’t judge you, he’s got stuffed animals too.
The drive to his apartment is short, you feel your cheeks beginning to burn. Spencer notices it, “Don’t worry we’re there, I have ice packs in the freezer ready for you.”
You walk in his apartment, it hasn’t changed since the last time you visited, he puts your blanket and teddies on the couch, “Sit, I’ll put your bag in my bedroom I’ll take the couch–”
“No.” You manage to say, it sends a throbbing pain in your gums, you take your phone out and type, “ I prefer your couch, plus I’ll be closer to the freezer if I need to get fresher ice. ” the robotic voice says.
Spencer sighs but nods, grinning, “Whatever you prefer, you can always sleep next to me like always.”
“ You’re kind enough to let me stay, I won’t take advantage of your kindness and truthfully you snore, it’s fine when we have a sleepover because I’m always too tired to care but I don’t know if I’ll manage to sleep .”
He bursts out laughing, “Okay so this is the real reason, you could’ve started with that, you know? Anyway, so you keep your things here. Let me get some ice and you better not get up from this couch until you’re fully healed.”
You obey, rolling your eyes playfully. The couch is super soft, the pillows are soft and most likely filled with some rare bird’s feathers, you exhale and try to find a position that’s comfortable, Spencer comes back with two malleable ice packs, the ones meant for injuries. He asks, “May I put this on your cheeks?” you nod in answer, “I have some gauze to wrap around so it holds and you won’t need to hold them up all the time. Don’t hesitate to bite if it’s too tight.”
You snort and wince because it hurts to laugh, “Sorry.” Spence apologises but you can tell by his face that he’s not really sorry, he looks smug, the little shit. He’s putting the ice packs on your cheeks and it feels very cold at first but then it relieves you, “Hold them.” he orders as he wraps them with gauze. “Aaand all done.” His smile is bright and genuine, it warms your heart.