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For having such a high IQ, Reid sure felt like an idiot right now. Why the hell did he go into the lab before they checked it? He had so many regrets, like not spending more time with his mom. If he made it out of this, it would be the first thing he did: go to see his mom. And trying more things, being more adventurous and spontaneous. Maybe say 'Yes' once in a while when Morgan or Prentiss asked him to go out to the club. So many things... But right now, all he could really think about was you. His colleague he'd had a crush on since forever, but had always been too scared to ask out. What a cliché.
He had to talk to you. After recording the message to his mom, he realized he needed to tell you the truth. He couldn't die without saying the words at least one time.
Beeping tones made him more anxious before he heard your voice float through.
"Spence? Oh my god, Spence, are you okay?" Your voice was frantic, scared. It sounded like you'd been crying.
Spencer swallowed thickly, "H-hi, I'm... okay, for now. I just," A pause. He couldn't bring himself to do it. Was it selfish? To tell you he loves you when he might die. "I wanted to hear your voice."
He could hear the commotion of the office in the background, you chuckled at his reason. "How's it looking over there? Hotch said Dr Nichols might have had a protege?"
Reid felt himself relax as you talk about the case, this is why he loved you. You were always so good at making him at ease, getting him to calm down when his head raced with thoughts and theories.
After discussing the case, and not really coming up with anything new, he knew he couldn't keep you on the phone for long. You had to help the others find this guy, and he needed to find a cure.
"Uhm, I- well, there's something I've been wanting to tell you. For a while now, actually, but I've been too much of a coward to do it. Scared of rejection, or that it'll ruin our friendship. A-and I really value our friendship, but I might not make it out of this so…" Great, he was ranting, his last possible conversation with you, and he sounded like a bumbling idiot.
He was about to continue when you cut him off, sounding on the verge of tears again. "Spence, I refuse to think that this will be our last conversation, so, if you have something important to say, you can say it to my face the next time I see you. Okay?" Sniffling carried through the speaker as he bit his lip to hold back his own tears.
"Yea-yeah, of course, I'll… see you later."
You gave him a soft bye before hanging up.
The lights were blinding as he tried to open his eyes. His head felt groggy and heavy. When he finally could get his eyes open, he was met with the sight of Morgan, eating something… red? "Are you eating jello?" His voice carried weakly across the room.
Morgan looked up at him, smiling brightly as Spencer sat up a little, "Hey, kid. How you feeling?" Standing from where he had been sitting, Morgan went closer to the hospital bed.
"Is there any more jello?" No one else was in the room with them, why was he disappointed?
Morgan was still smiling, "I can go and get you some, and get a doctor in here." He turned and walked out of the room, and just as he did, you showed up.
You greeted Morgan at the door before turning your eyes to Reid, your whole face lit up as you saw him awake. "Spence!" You hurried forward, taking the chair Derek had occupied not so long ago and moving it closer so you could sit by his side. "How are you?"
Spencer couldn't help but smile at you, "I'm okay, better now." He watched as your cheeks flushed at the implication, "I- I love you." Oh no, he hadn't meant that. Well, he did, but not now, not like this! He thought for sure you'd leave, tell him he was stupid or something, but all you did was smile.
You grabbed his hand closest to you, "I know, Spence, despite what you think, you haven't been very subtle with your feelings."
It was his turn to blush now. He was sure he'd screwed up, you were gonna tell him you just saw him as a friend, and he'd hate himself for the rest of his life.
"I love you too, Spence." His mouth actually dropped open a little, and you laughed at his response. You squeezed his hand gently.
His heart felt like it was gonna jump out of his chest as you leaned over to him. His whole body was tingling as you kissed him, your lips softly connecting with his own for a moment.
"Maybe we can go out on a date? Once you've been cleared to leave the hospital, that is." You were still pretty close to him, hand holding his tightly, like you were afraid to let him go.
His other hand comes up to your face, pushing a loose strand of hair behind your ear. "I'd really like that."