It had been a week since you put in your request for a specific time frame with undercover cases. Your director accepted as you had proved yourself worthy enough. Earlier this morning, Aaron Hotchner called you to come in for a case with the team. Rivalling gang members were disappearing in Mesa, Arizona.

At first the disappearances were overlooked until police officials connected the men with ties to two popular gangs that each had caused trouble in the area. Certain members had been booked while others hid well from the police. Yet both sides hired random men by threatening their families.

"Other than gang affiliation, what do these men have in common?" Derek asked while looking at the monitor. The faces of 11 men who had gone missing in the last two weeks were presented.

"I did some digging and seven of them had children and a wife where four of them had partners that are pregnant." Penelope presses a button on the remote to show the records she found.

"None of them were single, and none of them weren't fathers." JJ concludes in confusion.

"And there hasn't been any ransom calls or bodies turning up?" You ask as it has been two weeks since the first member had gone missing. Hotch denies your question, causing you to be even more confused on what's happening.

"According to the normal statistics, there's a chance they are either all alive and being held somewhere or they're all buried and have yet to be found." Spencer continues to absorb the case file in his hands. Inspecting each detail.

"Looks like we have some women to interview." Emily says intrigued.

"Wheels up in 20." Aaron states before everyone disperses to grab their go-bag and meet on the plane. You walk alongside Spencer as you both collect your belongings and share ideas on the case.

"You know solving cases is like playing poker as you learn it. Pieces slowly connect as you have many numbers rushing your thoughts."

"Spencer, you're the only one that does math when we play poker. Which is also something you gotta teach me."

He sits down at one of the available seats which you follow to sit across from him. He looks to be deep in thought as he stares at you.

"What?" You ask at his almost perplexed expression.

"You really want to learn how to play poker the way I do?" Excitement starts to flood Spencer's face as you nod at his words.

"Why? It's a lot and everyone else on the team tunes me out or gives up after five minutes."

You shrug your shoulders truly thinking it over.

"It seems cool to have that skill, as well as I might need it if I go undercover. What if I'm supposed to be a poker player at a casino or something and I royally suck at it." You start to panic at the idea of getting caught for a case you aren't even on.

"Ok." Spencer says as he brings cards out.

"Ok?" You ask as he starts shuffling.

"Ok, but if you quit in the next five minutes, I'm not doing this again." He points an accusing finger at you. You smile and eagerly nod.

"I promise I won't."

You lay on the seat with your head upside down as you groan at the cards in your hand. Spencer laughs at your antics as it has only been four minutes and twenty seconds.

"Come on, what is the probability of me having more than one ace in my hand?" You huff as you try to do your best to sort out his full proof equation.

"Uhh like five point something percent?" Fear of being wrong flooded you as Spencer said nothing. You couldn't see his face as you had been sprawled across your seat.

"Did you subtract that from what you may have in your hand?" He asks.

"Yes."

"Wanna look at my cards now?" You sit up, confusedly at his poker face.

He lays his assortment of cards down for you to see just one ace.

"Holy fricking crap- I was right?" He nods with a smile.

"But that's just one card so let's redo the deck and try to get through the game."

It took the entire plane ride but you officially understood how Reid wins every game of poker. You weren't as fast with the math portion but reading people was what you were best at.

Which also was included in the probabilities and more math that gave you a slight headache. You loved math as a high schooler, but a crap ton of mental math repeatedly was overwhelming.

You'd need more time to perfect the craft but now you knew how. And you were prideful.

You and the team grabbed everything you needed and left the plane to head to the hotel.

You and JJ were instructed to speak to the families.

Spencer and Rossi went to set up at the police station while Hotch talked to everyone that was in charge of the case.
Emily and Derek were sent to interview locked up gang members about the missing men.

The door to a mother of two opened cautiously. Melissa Baker sniffed as she held a tissue up to her face. You and JJ automatically assumed due to the grief of her missing husband.

"Hello Mrs. Baker, I'm SSA Jennifer Jareau. This is my colleague and we are here to discuss the matters of your husband." You smile at the woman with true sincerity, noticing her hesitance to let you both in.

"Um sure- I'm sorry for the mess. I haven't had the time to really clean up the place." You and JJ walk through the doors and wait for her to lead you through the house.

"No worries, I think your place is lovely." You say as she led you both to the living room couch.

"Would you girls like any water or anything? The kids are staying at my mother's house so I can turn the stove on if you prefer tea or coffee?"

"We're ok, Mrs. Baker. Thank you." She nods as you began to interview her. For the most part she was straightforward but something was off about her.

Your eyes glance over to the allergy medicine that was new and untouched. She hasn't taken any today, that's why she was sniffling.

It's not grief.

Her hands fidget when we bring up the gangs. She looked askance, but why? What did she have to hide?

"Do you have any idea where your husband is at Mrs. Baker?" Her eyes widened at your slight accusatory tone.

"No, I don't know where he is being held."

"How do you know he is being held?"

"Because if he was dead, he would turn up by now right?" You and JJ share a look.

"Um look... I have to get to cleaning so when the kids come back things will be in order. I have to pick them up in a few hours so if you don't mind."

"We'll get out of your hair." You mutter as she led you and JJ back to her front door and onto her porch. As soon as you both were out the door, she shut it just as quickly.

"She's hiding something, I wonder if the rest of the women are too." You nod as you unlock the car and slip into the driver's seat. You set off to the next location.

"She wasn't grieving, she just hadn't taken her allergy meds yet. And if a family member goes missing... wouldn't you want to keep the rest of your family as close as possible?"

"Unless you were hiding something causing the guilt to push them away." JJ concludes in agreement to your theory.

"If she panics after our visit she will make a mistake, call Hotch to let him know then call Penelope to trace her calls." You tell JJ as she nods at your words before making the two phone calls.

Every single one of the women seemed like they knew more than they led on. All had push away their remainder of family and none had seemed all that sad. You filled Hotch in as JJ was now driving you both back to the police department.

"Look- we're pulling in right now. But Hotch, something is going on with them. Did Garcia get anything on any of them?" You sigh as you unbuckle your seatbelt and exit the car. JJ following you in suspense for an answer.

"They all know each other, they've had several phone calls to one another in the past two months. They either wanted answers or they've been planning something." He says as he makes eye contact with you as you enter the building. You hang up and walk to the conference room where everyone was waiting for you and JJ.

You explained your theory as JJ added more details she had noticed. Rossi was the first to get up and look at the board as you spoke. Once you finished recalling each interview, Rossi sighed.

"What if they found a way to punish the men for getting caught up in the gang activity instead of prioritizing their family. Emily, if you had 10 other women who are peer pressuring you to do something about a shared situation- would you?" He looks at Emily who was looking through files.

"Oh yea... girl power." She sarcastically inputs but proved that she would.

"JJ?" Rossi turned to you and JJ. "HH?" You and JJ share a look, a silent agreement.

"Most definitely-", JJ says at the same time as you, "Hell yea-".

Spencer quirks a slightly nervous brow at you. Shrugging it off, you continue to build the profile.

"Ok well as a group of women, who have no experience with this kind of thing, where do we put them? And how do we lure them? Are they all in the same place or are they spread out? They can't possibly find eleven different spots for each, right?" You ask while looking around at your team.

"We should bring all of them here and question them further-", Derek starts but you shake your head at him, "or not?"

"If we make more contact they might run off or do something stupid. As far as they know; we did standard check up. They knew it was bound to happen but some or at least one might get skittish and make a mistake.
That's what we need right now. They have to doubt each other. They've already seen my face as well as JJ's so I think we should send Prentiss undercover to cause them to divide and get more information." Hotch looked at you incredulously while Emily was surprised.

"We can't keep sending agents undercover to get the job done." Hotch was taken back by your newfound unwarranted authority on this case.

"It's just a suggestion, Hotch. Think about it... Emily shows up at one of their doorsteps. She heard about the gang violence and asks how they had dealt with it. She goes on about how she recently found out that she is pregnant and doesn't know what to do about her fiancé. I'm sure Emily is more than capable of taking care of herself and we may get a lot of insight."
You cross your arms at the discomfort from everyone's eyes on you.

Everyone was agreeing with you, at your aid to convince Hotch.

"She's got a point."

"We have no other leads."

"I was literally a spy."

"The probability of this being successful is higher than if we wait."

"The kid's idea can get us closer to solving this case."

Hotch's eyes never leave yours as he works through your plan.
Squeezing your arms as they're crossed against your chest. Determined yet craving your boss' validation.

"Ok but we can't keep putting our agents on the line every case you are present." He points at you in a stern attempt to scold you. Yet the smile on your lips grew.

"Thanks Hotch- I'll prep her." He nods before he leaves the room. Desperate for caffeine to subside his worrisome headache.

"Ok was it just me or is HH giving Hotch a run for his money?" Derek broke the silence. They all laugh.

"Was I that bad?" You ask nervously.

"Kid- I've never seen you so focused on a case." Rossi pats your shoulder.
Bashfully smiling as you look at the floor while shaking your head.

"I think the second job is helping." JJ nods as she nudges you to gain your attention to the room of your supporting team.

"Ok let's get prepped before Hotch changes his mind." Emily says as she gets up from her seat and tosses you her SUV keys. You catch them easily before following her out of the police department.

Emily's hotel room was filled with laughter. You darkened the circles under her eyes, the only makeup on the dark haired woman was to make her look stressful. She was dressed in maternity clothes. A thick cardigan covering her.

"Ok so who are you?" You ask as you laugh while putting her hair in a low messy bun. Her short hair causing certain pieces to fall out and frame her face.

"My name is Nora Sanders. I'm 26 and not ready to be a mother. I'm unemployed and my fiancé works as a paramedic. I just found out he steals certain drugs on duty and helps sell them to some gang. I told him about the baby and he thinks he's protecting our future family but he's stupidly endangering us instead."

She couldn't hold back her laughter. You started pacing listening to her sob story, and she couldn't help but laugh at your antics.

"As long as you sound more convincing than that, you'll be fine." You sarcastically quip.

"I'll be fine, don't worry about it. And don't sass me." She laughs through her words but you couldn't find an ounce of the situation humorous.

Convincing Hotch to let Emily go undercover was a big deal. If she got hurt because you made a desperate call, you'd be in deep shit. You're barely with the team now, you went against Hotch's wishes, and you took charge when you have no authority to do so.

If this plan fails, this might be the breaking point you've been stressing over for years. It's a mystery how you've been able to keep this job for so long. Yes, you are more aware during the cases now yet it's still not 100 percent. It's not enough... and it will never be enough.

You are still barely hanging on. Before it was a single frayed string and now it's a new strand. When will you you have two hands on a rope? When will you start swimming instead of barely keep your head above water?

"Hey,"
snapping your eyes to your coworker, you paused as she sighed, "where did you go?"

You blink back your unshed tears out of confusion.

"What?" You hesitate to ask, fearful that she noticed you going through your mindweb again.

She grabs your hands while remaining seated on the bed. Pulled to sit by her side. Her hands never release yours, though it's not like you wanted her to.
You accepted the comfort Emily brought to you.

"For a moment, it's like we have all of you... and the next," you allow a few tears to slip, "and the next; you're somewhere else. Somewhere we can't reach.
It makes me scared, HH.
I'm scared that one of these days we won't recognize you anymore or you leave. Please help me understand why... I hate seeing you like this without answers."

You choke back a sob; disbelief crowds your mind like fog. No one has called you out for being lost in your mindweb like this;
never like this.

"I'm scared too..." you couldn't help but fully breakdown, you thought you were doing better.

You thought you were better.

"Prentiss, it feels like I'm not even myself. All the time- it's like I'm watching myself from the outside. Even right now, I'm watching myself talk to you from a different perspective.
It's like my body is a puppet being manipulated by strings and my mind is controlling it. I'm not fully here the way I want to be.
And I get so lost in my head sometimes that I forget what I'm doing or if I'm really here."

Emily holds your hands in a tight grip as you spill your guts to the poor woman who should be preparing.

"You feel that?" She asks as her grip tightens.

"Remember that you can still feel me, you're not as far away as you think. You feel this which means you are connected to your body. You are one person."

You nod accordingly before releasing her hands to wipe your tears away.
And grossly wiping your nose against the back of your hand.
You had to cut this short; you were both expected soon.

"Might not want to grab my hands now." You pathetically say in attempt to push away the density that seems to wrap around you both.

"Maybe you should try to talk to somebody about this?"

You shake your head begrudgingly- almost in a way to shake yourself back into your own body; yet failing.

"I tried for years. Never helped at all, I ended up worse actually. It's like when I talk about it more; I speak it into existence. So if you see me losing myself- don't ask; just snap me out of it."

She nods slowly understanding why you hadn't confided within the team more.

"Well let's get you cleaned up and then we should head to the police department."

Emily thankfully changed the subject quickly. You were grateful to hear how concerned she was, but you couldn't help but blame yourself.

This is why the team seemed distant. They did care. But they didn't want to walk on eggshells around you.

It was your fault.

But you understood why... it was just a hard pill to swallow; forcing yourself to accept it regardless.

You got up and made your way to the bathroom. You washed your face and took a moment to yourself to look at the state you were in.
The dark circles under your eyes were noticeable, the distant look in your eye furthered the realization that you were still not ok.

The second job started to help,
then it didn't.
Spencer remains as the one change in your life that helps...
to a certain degree.

You knew why going undercover was so easy for you. Being someone else was easier than being yourself.

Sighing to yourself as you grab a clean towel to dry your face, you turn off the light and walk out.

"C'mon honey, let's go." Emily says as she hands you your things as you both start heading out the hotel room. You give Emily a weak smile and walk out the door she was holding open for you.

You pray that this goes well. It'll haunt you if not.

"So let me get this straight- Melissa Baker orchestrated a whole operation to lock them up. All at one location, to teach them a lesson?" Hotch tried to clarify as Emily came back from getting information.

"Yes sir, the women are unaware that the main gang members had threatened them and the children.
The victims kept reiterating it would be their last job but they wouldn't stop. I assume due to the fact that they would be blackmailed relentlessly if they tried to leave."
The agent explained.

"So that means-" Hotch starts yet you cut him off.

"Holy shit- we're arresting all of them."
You exclaim in shock.

"Unfortunately yes, but we still don't know where the men are being held. She invited me back to her house to discuss further details. We were cut short since her kids came back from school."

"Alright, for now everyone go get some rest. We'll come back tomorrow and see if Prentiss can get more info."
Your boss says dejectedly, hating the idea that Prentiss will go back to one of the unsubs.

Everyone packs up and tidies the conference room. The team taking separate vehicles back to the hotel. Morgan, Rossi, Emily, and JJ leave sooner than the rest of you guys.

Hotch drove while you were in the passenger seat, Reid being quiet in the back middle seat.

"Good call today, agent." Hotch says as he looks at you for a split second.

You nod slowly before muttering a small 'thanks'.

"No I mean it, without your forceful suggestive direction, we wouldn't be close to closing this case.
Even though it was definitely unprofessional to speak to me in such a way..."
He trailed off in a teasing tone that made you smile.

"I admit- I may have gotten carried away... but you should've seen their faces when you left. Hotch, it was hilarious."
You laugh at the memory.

"I think Morgan almost choked on his coffee." Reid retorted while beaming.

"Yea I noticed." Hotch remarked as he rolled his eyes.

"Anyways, I'm assuming things have gotten serious between you two." You and Reid cut your laughter short as if you were both caught.

"The ring, it's not a normal engagement ring. Yet you're wearing it on your left ring finger. It has Reid's birthstone, and you both arrive at the same time for work. So I'm assuming you're sleeping at each other's apartments." Your boss' eyes never leaves the road as he profiled you both.

"It's a promise ring, we've been dating for a year. We just recently applied a label to it. But don't worry, Hotch, we remain to keep things professional at work." Reid explains to the older man causing him to nod at your boyfriend's words.

"I know, I trust you both...
but can one of you please tell Morgan and Garcia more information soon because I can't handle them berating me for details." You share a look with your boyfriend who shrugged at you.

"I'm sure we can work something out." You say as you guys finally pull in at the hotel.

"Thank god."

You were finishing up a conversation with Reid and Morgan. Everyone was back to working, the three of you were getting some coffee, and on your way back to the conference room.

"That's not what happened. Derek is being overdramatic as usual." Spencer, who is humorously irritated, explains.

"And when did this 'bar accident' happen?" You ask before sipping your sugary coffee.

"Early June, a year before you joined the team." Derek states with an amused glint in his eye.

"So while I graduated from my FBI training by the time I was 24. Reid was walking on top of bar tables, damn near blacking out, by the time he was 28?" You laugh as your trio entered your designated area.

"And now you're 28, I'm 32, and Morgan is checking out retirement homes." Spencer quipped as he gave Derek an amused look.

"Ok kid, I officially back off from telling embarrassing stories." He says as he sits down at the table and looking through his portion of the paperwork.

"Boy Genius has jokes now?" Rossi interestingly asks.

"Apparently." Morgan mutters as Spencer nods his head with a proud smile.

Your phone starts to ring which cuts the conversation short. The caller I.D. showed it was Prentiss, causing you to quickly answer as you were filled with concern.
You put her on speaker.

"Hey listen- I got the location. I sent it to you and Hotch. I'm heading to the hotel to change right now. It's time we close this case." She quickly states.

"Ok meet us there? We'll send a swat team to each woman's house so they can make the arrest." Hotch says as he walked closer to your phone.

"See you guys in a few." Emily hung up.

The whole team got ready and coordinated with the sheriff. The sheriff got in contact with several swat teams.

One team arrived quickly to pick you and your team up to check the location.

It was an abandoned warehouse in the middle of the desert.

Swat had canvassed the area and gave the greenlight to enter the building.

You hear some shouting of 'clear' as you tensely walk down a stairway to the basement.

You soon see a cage filled with the men you and your team has been looking for. Their eyes widened at the sight of you, but they were restrained and gagged. You raise your gun more as you check all your angles quickly, which was a mistake.

"Make any sudden move and I'll shoot them." You pause as you hear a familiar voice.

"Turn around and drop the gun." You turn to your left and see Melissa Baker pointing a gun at the cage; then she pointed it at you.

You put your hands up in surrender as your mind moves a thousand miles per minute.
She is not an experienced gunman.
You could make the shot before she can even think to retaliate.

"I don't want to hurt you, ok?"

But you can't always be the Heart Hunter... you should at least to try and talk her out of it.

"But I will if you get in my way- put the gun down now."

Or you can wait for the team to find you, they're just upstairs...

Yea right.

"Melissa please think about this ok? Your husband was being threatened, they all were. The gangs threatened them- as well as you and the children." Her face faltered a moment.

"No- no, you are lying. That bastard wouldn't stop. He chose them over his real family."
She realigns her gun to you as it fell shortly at your previous words.

"That's not true. Me and my team found evidence of the threats.
I promise. Just let them all go."
You say as you try your best to not let your voice shake.

You weren't scared...
you were impatient.

You can feel your finger itch at the trigger.

Your body screaming at you to just get it over with but you knew better than to give in.
Right?

Then you hear Spencer call your name as he starts to walk down the steps.

Everything froze for a moment.

You watched Melissa as she fearfully flicked her eyes towards the stairs,
aiming her gun,
and starting to squeeze.

You quickly aim your gun and shoot.

Your bullet flew...

right through her heart.

You heard Spencer gasp as he takes a cautious step back, raising his gun again to assess the situation only to see what had happened.

A bullet hole implanted in the wall near his head.

Swat had infiltrated the space, releasing the men just to cuff each one.

You clicked the safety on your gun and put it back in its holster.
Your hands shook as you did so.
Tears brimmed your eyes relentlessly.

You couldn't save her.
You shot someone through the heart...
again.
You couldn't talk her out of it.

You look at Spencer as his eyes connect with yours. They softened at the realization of what happened on your part. He walks up to you and wraps his arms around you.

"You saved my life, if you pulled the trigger any later-
she would have killed me."

You soak in his words and let it hit you.

Spencer almost died.
You pull Spencer in closer as you sob.

Your tears soaked the FBI vest he wore. He held you as each of the men were being escorted out around you.

Once they all left, Spencer led you out of the basement while you gave Melissa Baker one last look.
You felt so much guilt until Spencer helped you realize that she almost killed him. You were now so grateful that you pulled the trigger.

But you were still shitty at talking down unsubs.

Your nickname and reputation proceeded you.

You soon left the building and you took your vest off. Tossing it into the black SUV.
Spencer followed your actions before he closed the distance to hold you again.

He trusts you with his life and you almost gave him a reason on why he shouldn't... just because of your personal conflicting issues.

Hotch soon came over after speaking to the sheriff. He sighs at the sight of you both.

"You two should head to the hotel and pack your things. The team and I will take care of everything else."

"Thank you, sir." Spencer says as you weakly smile at your boss.

He filled the rest of the team in on what happened after talking to one of the men that was held captive.

You and Spencer leave in a spare car. Spencer rested a hand on your thigh while he drove silently. Once you had fully calmed down, you grab his hand and give it a gentle squeeze.

You will be ok.

He will be ok.

You grabbed your clothes as you were about to take a shower. Spencer got his own ready so he could be prepared for his turn.

As you were about to close the bathroom door, you hesitated.
You didn't want to be alone.

"Spence?"
He hummed in acknowledgement as he laid out two hoodies for you both, it will be cold tonight.

"Can you join me?"
Nervously fiddling with your clothes as you ask him.

He turns to you with a reddened face.

"Are you sure?" He stammers through his question but once he fully sees you, he relaxes.

"If you don't want to-" he cuts you off by grabbing his clothes and walking up to you.

You take a deep breath and widen the door to let him through then close it after he walked past.

You were glad that Spencer took it upon himself to take care of you.
You sat near the sink silently as he turned the shower on and waited for it to get to the right temperature.

"Ok it's ready... come here." He gently whispers to you.

He delicately unclothes you before doing so himself. He steps in before grabbing your hand to lead you in after him.

Once you are both inside he closes the glass door. Leading you under the shower head, you face away from him.
Letting the water run on your face for a bit.
He moves so he's in front of you again but he's behind the shower head.

"Turn around." You do so and wipe your face, ridding the droplets from your eyes.

"Lean your head back." You follow his directions as soon as they come.

He starts massaging your scalp as the water runs through it; alongside his fingers. He washes your hair fully before rinsing out the suds.

"All done."

You take a step forward and turn to face him. Grabbing his hands and pulling him towards you.
He allows the water to run all over him.
You pull him down further to give him a quick peck.

"Thank you." He softly smiles at your gratitude.

"Always." He says as he gently squeezes your hands in reassurance.

"Now get down on your knees." You emptily laugh as his eyes widen.

He does so regardless as he moves his hands to your hips instead, after you release his hands. You run your hands through his hair, letting the water soak through.

You start the same process as he did for you while he gives you kisses against your stomach time from time.

You soon finish washing his hair completely. You bent down to kiss him, breathing through the kiss as you felt like you both can finally relax now. Pulling away before pecking his lips two more times.

He gets up and pulls you in. You both simply held each other for a while before finishing up in the shower.

After drying each other's hair and body, you both then start dressing one another. Finally, Reid was brushing your hair as you sat beside the sink again.

You faced the mirror watching him as he focused.

"You know I love you, right?"
You ask as he sections a piece of your hair that needed detangling.

"You know you saved my life, right?"
His eyes find yours in the mirror. Watching the reflection patiently.

Nodding solemnly, your eyes trail to your hands in your lap. Your mind wandered to when he promised himself to you. A question arose at what he had told you at the time.

"If I lose myself,"
you cut your whisper short to speak louder- he needs to hear the severity in your voice,
"if I lose myself.. would you wait for me?" Nervously finding his eyes once more.

He allows his hands to stop working on your hair; letting your words echo through him.

"If you needed to find yourself, I would wait for you. I'd wait every lifetime for you. And if you needing to do so doesn't have me in it- I'll wait for you to allow me.
By the time you could even decide you'd never allow me to have you again... I'd still wait."
He shrugs as he continues to run through your hair.

"Say you made it clear that you would never allow me to have you again,
I'd wait.
And say you changed your mind later down the road,
then I'd be happier than ever.
Do you understand that I've waited years to tell you how I felt? All I've done with you is wait, what more is years or decades?"
It was meant to be romantic but it made you feel more guilty.

How could you not know? How could you never have noticed?

Why didn't you develop feelings before he told you?

You loved Spencer, yes. Yet why not the same way he did at the same time?

Maybe it was because of obliviousness,
or maybe he would be another thing to worry about that caused you not to sleep at night.

"I'm sorry." You mutter as your eyes watered.

He sighs as he catches the look on your face. He put the brush down, finished with his job.

He places his hands on your shoulders before leaning down to kiss your cheek.
Resting his chin in the crook of your neck. Allowing his hands to drop and wrap around you; securing you.

"You have nothing to be sorry for. I was the one who didn't tell you sooner."

You weakly smile at Spencer in hopes it would ease his mind, or maybe ease yours.

"I don't think I'm ok, Spence.
But don't forget how I truly feel about you... you have me now."
His grip tightens around you as your hands began to rest on his arms against your chest.

Applying small affections to your neck and shoulder. He breaths you in drunkenly.

"I know." He claims against your skin.

"Good." Hints of humor behind your words as they matched your time in the back of the ambulance with him.

"Great." Smiling against you in recognition also before reluctantly releasing you. He mentions the fact that you both had to pack as he helps you down from the marble slab.

You both had started packing everything up. Your phone rang- which paused the music you had been playing as background noise.

"Who is it?" Spencer asks as he places his unwashed clothes into a duffle bag.

"Morgan." You say before picking up.

"Hey HH, the team wants to go to this bar/club, it's a club minus the strippers so it's technically a bar I think, uh before our flight. Do you and pretty boy wanna join?"
You huff in delight at the memory of the story you were told this morning.

"Hey Spence, do you wanna get a drink with the team?" He shrugs mindlessly.

"Only if you want to." You nod and ask Derek what time.

"Like right now-" a knock rang through your hotel room that you were sharing with Reid.

Spencer moves to open the door and raises his brows unamusingly at Derek's beaming smile. He drops his hand that was holding his phone as you had hung up on him.

"Y'all ready?" He sings in excitement.

You grab Spencer's hoodies, tossing one to him before putting the other on as you walk through the exit.

Derek and Spencer watching you impatiently pass them at the doorway. They shared a quick look before racing after you.

"She really needs this drink, huh?" You hear Derek ask Spencer behind you in the hallway.

"The case may be the sub-sequential reasoning behind it." Spencer mutters back before hurriedly moving on by reaching you and grabbing your hand. You walk alongside each other through the light brown decorated halls of the hotel.

"Garcia, they are holding hands, I'll update you more as the night goes." Derek speaks aloud the sentence he is typing to send to your favorite tech analysist. You roll your eyes as you reach the elevator.
Spencer quickly pressing the button that dictates you want to go down a few levels.

Arriving at the bar, you see your team wait in front of the building.

The girls quickly dragging you away from Spencer.

You apologetically shrug at Spencer before you were rushed into the club-like bar.

It seems very popular due to its crowded population. You made the mental note as JJ and Emily starts ordering for everyone.

"Oh and a water please." You input loudly, thinking for your boyfriend.

"We already got you a mango margarita." Emily shouts so you can hear her over the loud thumping. The music relentlessly vibrating your whole body.

You shake your head before yelling Spencer's name.

"Can you keep a tab open? The man that's paying is right over there."
Emily points at Rossi who was sitting with the rest of the guys at an open booth.

He spots her as she wears a knowing smirk.

He already knew what she was doing as he rolls his eyes. Getting back into the conversation the men were having.

"Poor Rossi." You shake your head in false pity. The girls laugh before planning the night between you three.

"Once we get the drinks we should wait a bit before we go dance." JJ states while Emily nods.

"We?" You ask in awe.

"Oh come on-"
Emily starts before grabbing each side of your face and shaking you gently,
"we need to get you out of that pretty little head of yours."

JJ raises her brows before overexaggerating a nod.

"What about-"

"Nope." Emily cuts you off.

"But I-"

"Not a chance, sweetie." JJ adds on.

You huff as you exasperatingly raise your hands and drop them.

"Fine." You shout as they smile in succession.

The bartender places all your drinks down onto a tray, Prentiss swiftly snatching it with a flirty smile.

The bartender awkwardly waved at her, in a way to say 'no problem' after she said her appreciations to the socially anxious younger man.

You three walk over to the booth that had a good view of the whole place.

"How'd you score this spot?" You ask to no one in particular.

"I know a guy." Rossi shrugs it off.

Of course he does.

You situated yourself between Reid and JJ.

The team talked about different topics while drinking idly as Spencer quietly sipped his water.

"Ok it's time- I'm feeling a buzz and I need to get on that dance floor." Emily says as she gets up.

"Oh no..." Your eyes widen, you also felt tipsy but not enough to get dragged onto the dance floor.

"Oh yes..." JJ says as she exits the booth and offers a hand to help you out.

"What?" Spencer asks as he confusedly looks amongst the women of the team.

"Count me in- those ladies look lonely." Morgan states as he followed Emily out.

You sighed as you grabbed JJ's hand. Turning to face your boyfriend as you left the booth, being yanked away as you screamed a 'pray for me'.

His eyes widened at the sight.

Emily had linked her hand with JJ's as she led you both to the crowded spot.

"HH, you gotta learn to let go sometimes." You nodded begrudgingly.

She was right but you hated that fact.

She found a good spot in the mix and released JJ, who in return released you.

You cautiously looked around, only to find Morgan being grinded on.
You curl your lips down; not a sight you wanted to see.
Rolling your eyes before taking a breath. Emily moved to grab your arms, placing them around her shoulders.

She held your hips- guiding you.

You both found a good pace and rhythm and that's when you started to relax.

You were not dressed for the part as you were surrounded by a sweaty group. Bodies pressing against each other and getting lost in the beat.

Emily stepped away, grabbing your hand to spin you. Laughing as she pressed her front side to your backside as you both swayed your hips. Grinding on one another.

JJ quickly took a picture before joining the line in front of you. You grabbed her hips to pull her closer.
You were actually having fun.

Once the song ended, you all split apart and started doing different dances. Occasionally laughing at one another when a random man wanted their time with one of you three. Singing along crazily to the random songs that pulsed through each of you; you realized this was a great distraction to your stresses.

You didn't care you didn't dress for the part, you were having fun while partying... and that's all that matters.

It quickly started to get too hot for you so you told the girls you'd be right back.

Making your way back to the booth, you noticed Spencer beaming at you.

You take his hoodie off your sweaty body. Folding it then handing it to his open arms.

"Can you hold this for me please?" He agrees as he sets it in his lap.

"You having fun?" He asks as he hands you your refilled drink. You nod as you drink as much as you desired.

Trying desperately to calm your erratic breathing.

"I shouldn't have worn grey sweats and a cropped t-shirt though." You stressfully say.

"It's not like Derek gave us any spare time to change before we left."

"Yea it's like he wanted me to overheat." You joke before setting your drink down.

He laughs as he fixes the sleeve of your shirt absentmindedly.

"Y'know if you ever want to join me, you can." You suggest.

"I'd need a drink for that-" As soon as he says that Rossi comes back with shots. Aaron following him with a full tray for himself.

"Go ahead, kid. Dance with your girl. I'm DD tonight."

"But you had a drink." You question the older man.

"A drink won't do anything to me. Now don't complain... get lover boy out there." You nod as you hand Spencer a shot and take one yourself.

You both down them, scrunching up your faces in disgust.

"Ok come on Spencer before I regret that shot." He sighs as he takes his hoodie off, setting it down with yours before allowing you to drag him through the sea of people.

As you and Reid are light weights, once the alcohol kicked in- you both danced freely.
He was more so awkward about it but as you both stared at each other,
dilated pupils and beaming smiles,
it didn't matter.

That night resulted with you and the team hungover leaving the plane and walking into Quantico.

You and Reid will refuse to speak of the quickie, that you both thought was a good idea, which happened in the bar bathrooms. Protection was used, thankfully. Although you now need to question why Reid brings condoms around.

Nevertheless, it still was not the brightest idea you two had that night.

Mistakes were made by the whole team sadly.
Hotch got wasted for once.
Rossi didn't.
Emily and JJ shared a kiss due to a drunken bet.
Derek got a number from a married woman.
You and Spencer did it in a grotesque bathroom.
And Garcia missed it all.

The team all had embarrassing looks on their faces, although Rossi was more so just annoyed, as they all went inside their place of work.
Leading Garcia to question and scold each of you at your return.

(:̲̅:̲̅:̲̅[̲̅:♡:]̲̅:̲̅:̲̅:̲̅)

Author speaks!!
My longest chapter so far.
Please comment any suggestions or ideas or corrections etc. I wrote this while listening to a Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, and Kesha playlist.