CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX: RODEO TOWN !

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          SPENCER REID TOSSED AND TURNED AND AWOKE IN A COLD SWEAT. He yelped as he thrusted forward in his bed, sitting up and rubbing his face. It awoke his wife, Casey next to him, who was always a light sleeper and she was quick to sit up to comfort him.

"Spence?" She asked as she rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. "Baby, what's wrong?" Casey wonders, placing her hands on his shoulder, rubbing them soothingly. Spencer shakes his head, "Nothing, just... just a nightmare."

          This had been happening for a month ever since the boys were taken. Spencer had been having recurring nightmares ever since then. Every night was the same as the last, Spencer tossing and turning and screaming himself awake. Even Casey's sleeping habits were getting interrupted because of it. A few nights this week already, Spencer decided to sleep on the couch but Casey didn't want him to do that tonight.

"Here, let me go get you—" Casey had wanted to go and get him some warm milk but Spencer was quick to gently grab her hand and shake his head, "No." Spencer looks at his wife and sniffles and asks, "Can you just... hold me?"

Casey didn't even hesitate to nod. If this was what Spencer wanted, it's what he would get. She'd remember all of the times she'd woken up from nightmares just to cuddle closer next to Spencer's side. "Yeah. Yeah, I can do that."

Fixing themselves under the covers, Casey pulled Spencer's head close to her chest and ran her nimble fingers through his chocolate locks, holding onto him like he was going to break away at any second. His soft breathing was enough to guarantee that he had gone back to sleep.

         Casey couldn't find it in herself to sleep after that. She'd been so worried about Spencer recently, she was afraid to fall asleep only for him to thrash awake from a nightmare.

         Since the boys had been taken, it seemed as if Spencer was really struggling with the aftermath. All of the boys had seeked help after their whole ordeal with being taken. Spencer had been seeing a therapist and all but it seemed as though he kept reliving in the moment.

        Casey told herself that all Spencer needed was time. But it didn't stop her from calling Vivian to seek advice from her the very next day at the office. As she grabbed her morning coffee, she held the phone to ear, venting about the current situation with Spencer.

"Is it really getting that bad?" Vivian asked. Casey sighs, "It's not getting bad, it's more so I'm getting more worried. Spencer... he's bounced back like a tether ball most of the time, but— somehow, this is a little different." Casey stated as she closed the door to her office.

       "Well, obviously no one is going to recover from falling into a pit of syringes that quick." Vivian told, reminding Casey that Spencer wasn't going to recover quickly. And Casey knew that, of course. She's taken months recovering from her sister's death. Hell, she was still recovering from that.

        Casey sighs, "It's been a month, Vivian. I'm just really worried about him." She tells.
        "And if he needs more time to recover, he will tell you." Vivian assures. "But as of right now, you need to give him that time. You needed it, I've needed it. I swear, I can't tell you how many times I've woken up to Aaron tossing and turning and screaming in the middle of the night. It's going to be okay."

        "I hope so," Casey tells as she settles into her desk. "Thanks for listening, Viv." She stated. "Of course, call me any time, Casey." They exchange their goodbyes and Casey hangs up and looks down at a photo of Spencer, Christopher and Lennox on her desk. Casey reminds herself that things are going to be okay. It would just take some time.

Suddenly, there's a knock on her office door and Casey tells them to come in. On the other side of the door appears Emily with a file in her hand. "Hey." The older woman greets. "Hey." Casey said.

"How are you two doing?" Emily asks, motioning to Casey and her pregnant belly. "Good, good," Casey lifts her shirt up. "You see that?" Casey had been on her fifth month of pregnancy and her bump was coming in. She hadn't felt the baby kick yet but she knew it was a matter of time before she'd feel it.

Emily chuckles with a small smile on her face. "Oh, my gosh." Casey laughs as she then pulls her shirt back down. "Yeah, I woke up one day and it was there. Anyway, what's up?"

         This then reminds Emily what she walked in for in the first place. "We have a case." She informs.

         After gathering info and getting Garcia to set the screens and files up as well as tablets, Casey called the rest of the team up. It had been the first case since the men had been taken hostage so Casey had wanted to take this lightly for them in the case that it was a long one.

        "Nashville, Tennessee." Garcia announced as they sat down in their seats. "The bodies of Kenneth Jamison, 26 and Wyatt Harmon, 23 were found, shot execution style in the back of the head."

        "When did the murders occur?" Erik wonders. "They estimated that Kenneth's murder was roughly a week ago and Wyatt's was a few days ago." Emily informs.

       "The outfits... are also a part of that MO, I'm assuming?" JJ wonders, gesturing to their country-like clothing. Dressed in jeans and cowboy boots, cowboy hats beside their heads, dressed in flannels and regular white-T's.

Garcia then chimes in, "Actually, there's a small town in Nashville where everyone dresses up all country-like." Luke raises a brow, skeptical if Garcia's even telling the truth. I mean, it was Garcia and Luke could be gullible at times. "Really?" He asks.

Garcia nods, matter-of-factly. "Yup, they even ride on horses everywhere. Not even proper technology where they're at." She stated.

"Hor—Horses?" Spencer stutters, as if he's astounded at this brand-new info he had no idea about. Garcia nods with a smile on her face. "Mhm."

Casey keeps Spencer's reaction in her back pocket and then decides to get her team to focus back at the task at hand. "Back on track to the murders here, they also discovered the bodies in a remote area in the woods."

"Their faces were planted down in the ground and their wrists tied up." Emily adds. "He didn't even move them from their positions." Rossi tells as he checks the tablet of the crime scene photos.

"The face in the ground indicates he didn't want to look them in the eyes while he killed them. That's why he shot them in the back of the head, maybe there's a regret there." Spencer tells.

"There was two bullet holes in Kenneth's head while there was one in Wyatt's." Matt commented. "Maybe slight hesitation during Kenneth's murder." Tara shrugs at the possibility.

"Well, hesitation or not, he won't stop." Casey tells as she stands up and then thwarts her face towards her technical analyst. "Garcia, I'd like for you to come with us on this case."

Garcia salutes at Casey. "Aye-aye, Captain." Casey looks around. "As for the rest of us, wheels up in 20." Before everyone walks out, Garcia speaks up again.
"Also, I thought I should let you know, they required that we dress up like them over there. They don't wanna draw suspicion to us being newcomers and all."

Everyone takes a look at one another, wondering if Garcia is actually serious about this. "So, we..." Tara begins and JJ finishes off with, "Dress up?"

"Like cowboys?" Spencer's face lights up as he asks. It's actually the first time Casey had seen his face light up since what happened. "Essentially, yes." Garcia nods.

With that, everyone walks out, leaving only JJ and Casey in the room as they watch Spencer be the first to leave, most likely to get his costume in order.

"Seems like Spence is going to be living in his alternate universe today." JJ comments and Casey shrugs, "Yeah, I'm thinking he needs it."

After everyone had gotten their outfits in order, they headed to the jet to head to Nashville. They had begun their debrief shortly. "Are they really thinking serial here? I mean, we only have two murders." Matt tells.

       "They think he's going to strike again, so yeah. Safe to assume that maybe he will." Casey told.

        Suddenly, Tara walks away from the coffee machine with a jacket that seemed to be too complicated to put on but she had worn it anyways. "I don't understand the dress code thing." She comments.

       "Well, they said it's been a long time since the FBI has shown up, they basically just want us to blend in." Emily tells. "Are they worried that their unsub's gonna escape or leave town if they see us?" JJ questions.

        "That's what they're afraid of. Honestly, it's kind of not a bad idea. I've been wanting to get out a blouse and slacks for a while." Casey tells, motioning to her outfit. Jeans, matched with a jean jacket and cowgirl boots.

          Suddenly, Spencer walked out from the bathroom. Eyes were on him as he had come out, completely decked out in the country-style. He wasn't in his usual business attire, he was wearing completely the opposite from that. He was wearing a flannel, jeans, a belt buckle and it was topped off with a cowboy hat. He definitely looked the part, Casey would've even mistaken him for another person.

         "Someone's having fun." JJ comments with a small smile on her face. "I just... had this... lying around." Spencer tells, a tiny bit embarrassed for a moment but his wife's lingering and maybe hungry glances at him helped regain a tiny bit more confidence one by one.

       "Me likey." Casey smirks, Spencer blushing at the comment from his wife. "Okay, Reid. Keep it in your pants." Rossi jokes and Casey rolls her eyes.

        Spencer furrows his brows at Rossi. "Keep what in my pants?" He asks and Rossi then looks confused. "I was talking to— Casey." He gestures and Casey sighs. "I knew changing my last name would start to get confusing after a while."

         Everyone had still been getting used to Casey's last name change and it was getting difficult with the team always called Spencer 'Reid' and now calling Casey 'Reid' since it was the same last name of theirs.

        "Just yesterday, Garcia wanted to see Casey about something and Anderson sent in Spencer." Erik shrugs, "It's just gonna take some getting used to."

         Garcia shrugs at the team. "It's not that hard for me. I just call one 'fair maiden' and the other 'boy genius'." She pats down her floral print dress topped off with a sun hat. Casey would've mistaken her to be from Nashville with how well she was pulling off her outfit, too.

        "Anyways, back to the task here." Emily tells. "When we land, Garcia, Dave, Reid and I will go down to the PD, JJ, you, Tara and Luke check around town, see if Wyatt or Kenneth had any enemies and Reid, Matt, Erik, you guys head to their ME's office."

           There's a pause and everyone nods but Casey. She then leans over to Emily, harshly whispering to her. "When you say Reid, do you mean—?" Emily looks over at Casey and sighs, "Casey, you're with me, Garcia and Rossi."

         Casey nods at the clarification. "Thank you." Everyone softly chuckles or shakes their heads, composing their laughter.

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The case didn't take too long to solve. It was actually quite easy to figure out who their unsub was, especially with Garcia at earshot distance. It only took them a day and a half to catch their guy. A jealous sadist stalker with an obsession with the local bartender's daughter and killing any man she had mere connection with. He even went as far as killing her best friend, who knew what he was, throwing the victimology completely off.

Luckily, JJ and Spencer had saved the bartender's daughter and Luke and Erik caught the unsub and took him into custody.

"I'm actually surprised at how quickly we got this together." Tara stated as they all began to pack up at the PD. "Well, sometimes, cases are faster than others." JJ shrugged.

"The troubling part is the jet not being able to get here fast enough." Emily stated, checking her cell phone for the umpteenth time and pulling up to see if she could get a signal. The network connection there was such shit, but it was worth a try.

"Have you tried calling and seeing what's up?" Garcia questioned. "They said it's an issue with the engine. They're gonna most likely be here in the morning. Meaning, we're staying in town tonight." Casey told.

Honestly, Casey didn't mind staying in town tonight. And from Spencer's reaction to that, he didn't seem to mind either. She wondered how the rest of the BAU would take it, surely they wouldn't mind spending a night there as well.

Suddenly, the chief of the PD had spoken as he stood there, listening to their conversation. "Well, if y'all wanted, we're having a celebration together at the local bar." He informed.

"Celebration for what?" Rossi wondered. "We're always having a celebration here. Tonight, it's, uh, Taco Tuesday. And especially since you saved Lil Sydney, the locals want to do something special for y'all. Feel free to come tonight if y'all want. The more, the merrier." The man told.

Everyone looked at one another, shrugging in agreement. They could definitely use a time to cool down tonight. They had a bed and breakfast that they were offered. Of course, everyone would have to pair up based on a low amount of rooms. But the pairings were easy to make. Spencer and Casey in one room, Emily and JJ in one, Tara and Matt, Luke and Garcia, Erik and Rossi.

Later on in the night, the team had decided to go to the bar to have their fun. Towards the middle of the night, dressed in their best country party clothing, the girls wearing either jean skirts or flowy dresses and the men wearing flannels and cowboy hats, Casey found herself sitting with the girls, Erik and Rossi as Matt and Luke danced their hearts off, Spencer excusing himself in the bathroom for a moment or so.

Garcia had come back with her hands full of drinks. "Everyone here is so nice! I got these drinks for free!" She cheered. "I think it's just a little southern hospitality for saving the bartender's daughter." JJ commented, creating a funny country accent at 'southern hospitality'.

"Yeah, what made you think she was going to be next, Emily?" Tara wondered, curiously, on her second drink of the night. Emily shrugs, "Well, Sydney was the target of the unsub all along. She never showed any attention or affection towards him but she showed that attention to Wyatt and Kenneth on two separate occasions and decided that if he couldn't have her, no one could."

"And then when Riley suspected him and then he figured that she'd tell and then—" Casey sighs as she thinks back at the fact that she wasn't able to save Riley, Sydney's best friend in time. Emily looks at the woman and nudged her head forward, "We can't save everyone." She reminds and Casey shrugs, "I know."

Deciding to push down the negativities of the job, Casey grabs her glass of water and held it up to Emily. "Well, it was quick thinking on your part, Em." Emily clinked her mug with Casey's as Erik had come walking towards them with his cell in hand.

"How's the missus, Turner?" Garcia wondered, sipping her drink through her straw. "The missus is doing just fine, Garcia." Erik tells, putting his cell in his pocket. "I caught her in time before Emma was going to bed."

JJ makes a sympathetic face and smiles, "Aw, good for you. I lost signal before Will could even hand the phone over to the boys."

Casey looks over towards Matt and Luke line-dancing with one another, having the most fun they have probably ever had. "Looks like Matt and Luke are having a fun time together." Casey points to them as everyone begins to chuckle at them.

"Karaoke anyone?" Garcia wonders, motioning to the stage and Emily shakes her head as she grimaces, "Count me out." Rossi then interjects, "Ditto. But I think I'll go get another drink. Anyone else want one? On me?" Tara nods, not wanting to pass that offer up. "Of course."

Erik had decided to go and join Matt and Luke's dancing as JJ, Tara, Emily and Garcia followed behind Rossi in hopes for more drinks.

Outside of the bar, Casey peeked and realized her husband was nowhere to be found and nearly panicked but quickly noticed Spencer outside and settled down for a second before deciding to go to the bar to get something for him that wasn't alcohol and after she got what she needed, headed out to Spencer outside, with the cup of joe in her hand.

          Spencer had been sitting on the porch swing outside, the cold breeze blowing through, making things a little chilly. Spencer seemed to enjoy the quiet for a moment and Casey could tell he was.

          Casey looked at him carefully and speaks finally, getting his attention. "Hey," she spoke, making him nearly jump but sigh in the realization that this was his wife. "Why aren't you in there?" She wondered.

         "I'm not really in a rodeo mood," Spencer answers honestly. "Figured I'd just be a buzzkill."

         Casey could tell that now was the time for a talk. And it seemed like Spencer may have needed it right now. So, she decides to join him on the porch swing. "What's up?" She asks.

          Spencer avoids the gaze coming from his wife and shrugs as he looks at the ground, "Nothin'." He then feels her grab his hand. "Spencer." The man looks towards Casey and sees the pain in her eyes. A pain he's caused.

         "It's me," Casey told. "You know me and I know you. I know when something's wrong. And I have been more than patient with you. But, baby, I'm really worried about you." She says, showing her care and affection about the situation. She's worried and he can see it in her face.

         Spencer takes a split second more to himself before deciding to finally talk to Casey. He knows that he needs this more than ever now. Looking down in his hands, he decides to open up. "It's like I'm back in that pit." He starts with admitting. "And all of these nightmares I keep having. They either take place there... or in prison again... or when you and I were taken hostage and just how... powerless I felt each time. Every night it's different. It's either you, or Christopher... or Lennox. I'm supposed to save you... and... and... I always fail." He explains and Casey grabs his hand, nearly squeezing it now.

       "I had no idea." Casey admits and Spencer shakes his head, "Of course you haven't." He then looks back at Casey. "I'm the one that's not talking about it." He then thinks about the fact that the reason their relationship ended was because of lack of communication. But Casey understood all that he needed was time and thank God he'd had that and he'd had her. "And I'm sorry." He tells.

         Casey shakes her head, "It's okay." She then looks him in the eyes as she makes him face her. "But you need to know... that you're still here. I'm still here. All of us are still here for you. I just... I want things to be okay. I want you to be okay." She looks him carefully in the eyes this time. "And I will never ever... let you go through something like that again."

         Spencer knows she can't guarantee that but he hopes, he just hopes that things are okay as of right now. And that maybe one day, all of these bad things are worth it. But every bit of it is as long as he can see his wife and children again.

        Casey then holds the cup of coffee she has in her hands towards him. Spencer takes it in his hands and looks at Casey. "Don't worry, it's decaf," Casey tells. "And did you know coffee drinkers tend to live longer?"

        Spencer chuckles at this moment, knowing he's usually the one bringing the coffee facts. "Yeah, uh, research has linking moderate consumption and that's about three to four cups per day, with a longer life span, plus a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and Parkinson's, according to—"

        "Oh—" Suddenly, Casey feels something and then halts Spencer. "Spence." The man looks at her worryingly and furrows his brows in concern. "What's wrong?" He asks.

         When Casey feels it, she grabs Spencer's hand and pulls it towards her stomach and all of a sudden, Spencer can feel it now. "The baby's kicking." Casey smiles and this causes Spencer's own heart to warm.

           Spencer remembers the last time Casey had been pregnant, it took nearly eight months for him to feel Christopher kick but at five months, he was already able to feel the baby kick. He smiles and places both hands on Casey's stomach, covered by her fall orange colored dress.

           "Hi." Spencer speaks awkwardly. "Hi. I'm... I'm your dad. And the wonderful person carrying you is your mom. We're your parents and we love you... so much." At this moment, Spencer reminds himself that things are very much worth it. The little things like this, they were all worth it.

          Spencer kneels down and kisses Casey's stomach and his eyes light up like they had previously down before and Casey smiles, catching a glimpse of the man she'd fallen in love with before. And loving the miracle that was here, growing inside of her belly even more now.

           After that, Spencer and Casey cuddled on the porch swing, Spencer's hand rubbing back and forth on Casey's stomach as the baby only kicked two more times after that. As they sat there in silence, Casey had decided to speak once more, breaking the silence.

          "I think I should change my last name back to Willows." Casey tells, then causing Spencer to furrow his brows in confusion. "What? Why?" He wonders.

          Casey sits up a bit, facing Spencer. "Well, it's the reason why I didn't change it in the first place. People getting confused, calling the wrong person. I mean, haven't we dealt with enough issues? Look, as much as I would love to be Mrs. Agent Reid, I just don't think—"

           "No." Spencer interrupts and Casey is taken aback by the word so suddenly. "What?"

           Spencer shrugs, "No." He sits up a bit now too. "You have called all of the shots in our relationship for the past few years. Especially very recently. I want something of my own. So, no, you're not changing your last name back. You're staying Mrs. Reid."

            Casey's eyebrows raise in amusement and she smirks, "Wow."

         "What?" Spencer asks.
         "It was honestly just a thought but damn." Casey blushes a bit. "You're hot when you take control."

          Spencer looks down, blushing a bit now and Casey leans to peck his soft cheek. Suddenly, a song begins to play inside and it sounds like a slow, country song. Casey's ears perk up as she listens for a second. "Oh, I love this song." She smiles.

         "I never took you as someone that likes country music." Spencer comments as Casey stands up suddenly. "I only like some country music. Not a lot. Come here." She grabs his hand as she lifts him up out of his seat. "What?" He questions.

        "Come here, just... just dance with me." Casey pulls him up and Spencer shrugs, "Okay."

          The Reids suddenly begin to slow dance to the song playing inside, smiling and watching each other every now and again as they hold the other close. They suddenly begin to do what the song says, Spencer mimicking the movements.

You lift my feet off the ground
You spin me around
You make me crazier, crazier
Feels like I'm falling and I'm
I'm lost in your eyes
You make me crazier, crazier, crazier.

Spencer lifts Casey off the ground and spins her around for a second, making her break out in a chuckle at the motion and making her fall in love with him even more as he spins her around and holds her impossibly close.

When he spun her one last time, her back faced against his chest and he stuck his nose into her neck and inhaled her, holding her as they swayed back and forth and suddenly, Casey just didn't want to be anywhere else. It was as if they were the only ones in the world at that moment. The only ones existing, living, loving, laughing, dancing. Spencer probably was the most content he'd ever been in his life, holding her and swearing on his life that he would love her forever and endlessly and Casey knew that.

Tomorrow, they'd go back to their regular lives as agents and parents, but tonight, they could just be Spencer and Casey Reid, two married lovers that were happy and bound to get the happily ever after they so deserved.

I KNOW I KNOW I KNOW
I'VE BEEN SLACKING
IM SORRY

i honestly just posted because it's my silly man's 44th birthday today! <333

happy birthday to the man that practically saved my life,  matthew gray gubler! i love you so much bby <333

anywayssss
thank you guys for reading
this was short solely because y'all deserved a fluff chapter after everything that's been happening with my babies
i love you all and hope you enjoyed this
-mya <3333

p.s. five more chapters until this book ends and it's all over after that :(