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Comfort	By : cr8zymommy Category: 1 through F > Criminal Minds Views: 5991 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds nor the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story

Chapter List
- 6
- 7
They had barely been out on the road, only a block away from the house they’d just left, when Morgan decided it was time to start the conversation. He didn’t bother trying to talk to Spencer right away, or to ask him to put the journal down. Instead, he just grabbed it out of the young man’s hands, tossing it into the backseat. The “Hey!” of protest that Spencer gave rolled right off Morgan’s shoulders.
Focusing on the road, Morgan only let himself sneak a quick glance at Spencer’s face. “Rarely do we get alone time on a case, Spencer. I’m not wasting the little time we’ve got here with you reading a journal.”
The younger man sighed, but he didn’t protest anymore. He simply readjusted in his seat, turning his body just a little so that he was facing more toward Morgan. “Sorry. I just, I get caught up like that when I work. But I don’t need to tell you that. You already know…”
Morgan moved a hand off the wheel and reached over, setting it down on Spencer’s leg, cutting him off before the ramble could really kick in. If he hadn’t known that Spencer was upset about something before, he would have after that. It wasn’t the younger man’s typical ramble; that was the kind that came from nerves.
When Spencer was quiet and Morgan was sure he had the younger man’s attention, he spoke. “Tell me what you’re thinking, Spencer. Please.” His words were said softly, with a gentle touch reserved for those he loved.
For a long moment he thought Spencer would either ignore him or brush him off. That was a typical way for the young genius to deal with things he didn’t want to talk about. Aaron and Morgan had been working hard at trying to get Spencer to open up and it seemed to slowly be working, but there were still too many times that Spencer shut down on him. Now was one of those times. “I’m fine, Derek. It’s just been a long morning so far.”
“Bull.” His hand on the wheel tightened for a minute. He took a deep breath to calm down and level out his tone; it wasn’t Spencer that he was upset with. “You’ve been upset since you and Seaver went to the hospital this morning. Why don’t you tell me what she said to upset you so much, Spencer.”
Out of the corner of his eye he saw Spencer sigh softly before shrugging. “Nothing I haven’t heard plenty of times before.”
Morgan didn’t stop to think before he jerked the car over to the shoulder of the road. Once the car was in park, he spun to look at his young lover, the anger he’d held back before now coursing through him. Had he really heard him right? “What did you just say?” he demanded angrily. He couldn’t believe he’d heard him right. Was he saying that other people had told him he was useless on the team? Morgan swore he’d find whoever had the balls to say that to Spencer and knock them flat on their ass. No one spoke to him that way! No one!
Immediately Spencer was reaching over, taking Morgan’s hands in his. Those big hazel eyes went wide with worry and his tone was gentle, soothing. “Derek, Derek, breathe. Please, Derek, just calm down a little. Calm, please.”
“You tell me what the hell these people are saying to you and who’s saying it, Spencer.” Morgan’s voice had become even harder. He was having a difficult time controlling his fury at the moment.
Spencer’s eyes were drawn to something outside the car for a minute. Quickly he let go of Morgan’s hands, shifting his body in his seat as his cheeks heated. One of his hands came up to cover his face. Turning his head, Morgan saw why. The other SUV had parked up ahead of them, obviously thinking something was wrong. One of the doors had already opened and Aaron was on his way over. Because it was Aaron and not any of the others, Morgan didn’t put as much of a lid on his temper as he might have otherwise. Still, he fought to bring it under some kind of control.
Their older love walked to Spencer’s door, waiting as Spencer rolled the window down, one hand still hiding his face. “What on earth is going on here?” Aaron demanded seriously. There was concern in his voice, but they were on the clock and being their boss took precedence at the moment over being their lover. “Did something happen?”
“No!” Spencer rushed to say right as Morgan snapped out “Yes!”
With one look Aaron summed up the scene between the two. He paused, watching their faces. Then he shook his head. “Stay right here.” He ordered them. “And shut up until I get back.”
Morgan contemplated saying something in response to that, but a look from Aaron warned him that now wasn’t the time. So he watched and stewed as Aaron made his way to the other SUV, going to the passenger’s door. A moment later Dave stepped out, taking the keys from him and moving to the driver’s door while Aaron made his way back over.
Looking over, Morgan saw how red Spencer was behind his hand. Situations like this were mortifying to the younger man. He hated causing a scene in any way, shape, or form. Personally, Morgan didn’t care in the least that they might have ‘made a scene’. None of that was as important to him as taking care of one of the men he loved. And that was the center of his focus right now. His mind was still wrapped around the fact that Spencer had been insulted by other people. Plenty of times, apparently! He couldn’t help how angry that made him. No one had the right to talk to Spencer that way!
Aaron was back at Spencer’s window again, his arms folded so that he was leaning in. “I just bought us a short amount of time so this had better be good, you two. Obviously this isn’t work related and I can’t waste time on a case to indulge in being Aaron. Right now I need to be Hotch. You two know how this has to work.” When Morgan started to say something, Aaron held a hand up and shook his head. “You’re too pissed to talk right now, Derek. I need this short and quick. Spencer, tell me what the hell happened. Please.”
Bringing his other hand up to hide his face, Spencer shook his head. He was obviously beyond uncomfortable with this. But Aaron just reached in, stroking his hand over Spencer’s hair gently. “Does this have something to do with what Seaver said to you?”
“You know?” Spencer looked up, surprised.
Morgan tried to reign in his temper. The last thing Spencer needed was yelled at right now. He took a few deep breaths before he said “She told me a little of what she said to you, baby boy. I didn’t mention it because I wanted you to talk to me about it. But I told Aaron.”
Yet again Spencer buried his face. “Oh man.” He muttered. “No wonder you got so upset. I can’t believe I just told you that.” The last part was more to himself than to either of them. His eyes turned to peek out for a moment at Morgan. “Give me a heads up that you know next time! Better to just ask me outright than to try and trick me.”
Aaron looked from one to the other. “Someone tell me what happened, now, before I start getting pissed off.”
The look on Aaron’s face said he wasn’t kidding around. Morgan reached over, resting his hand on Spencer’s leg once more, trying to calm the younger man down as well as use the contact to bring himself back under control. “I asked him to tell me what Ashley said or did that upset him and he told me it was nothing he hadn’t heard plenty of times before.” The anger was back again, making Morgan narrow his eyes. It pleased him to see the same angry look cross Aaron’s face. “I got pissed, so I pulled over so we wouldn’t wreck.”
“Is there someone on the team other than Seaver that’s treating you badly?” Aaron demanded. The patience in his voice was totally gone now, replaced with the same anger that was in Morgan. Neither one of them would tolerate someone putting down their youngest. Spencer didn’t speak, but he shook his head no. “Is this the first time Seaver’s said something to you?” This time, there was no response. Aaron’s voice went a little harder. “I’m asking as Unit chief right now and I expect an answer to that question.”
Spencer’s hands dropped down into his lap and his chin lifted a little. Eyes closed, Spencer took a deep breath, visibly gathering himself. After a short pause, he opened his eyes again, looking much calmer than before. The blush was completely gone and there was a slightly defiant light in his eyes as he looked at Aaron. “No.” He said firmly. All signs of his discomfort were gone now. His gaze traveled back and forth between Aaron and Morgan as he spoke. “I’m not going to play this game. Not with them and not with the two of you. If I can’t handle a little personal conflict with other agents than I don’t deserve to be on a team. I have no official complaint to make about Ashley or about any other agent, nor do I plan on it. Quit treating me like a child and let me handle this on my own.”
“As the leader of this group, it’s my job to straight out conflict between agents.” Aaron pointed out.
But Spencer was already shaking his head. “Only if it becomes a problem, which it hasn’t. This hasn’t affected my work and I don’t intend to let it. If it was anyone but myself, you’d let this go, Aaron. You know you would. The both of you would. If it was Seaver and Emily, you’d step back and let them handle it, only stepping in if it got too out of control. I’m expecting you to extend me the same courtesy. At the moment, this isn’t a problem to my team.
He looked at them again, face serious. “It’s a problem to my lovers, but not to my boss and not to my co-worker. Later, if my lovers want to discuss it with me, maybe we will. But not here, not now, and not while we should be working. I’m not wasting precious time with this.”
Unbuckling his belt, Spencer reached to open his door, waiting until a shocked Aaron stepped back out of the way. Once out, Spencer moved around and climbed into the backseat. He didn’t look at either one of them as he grabbed the journal Morgan had stolen from him before and he started to read right where he’d previously left off.
The only thing Aaron could do was climb into the passenger’s seat. He and Morgan exchanged surprised looks; neither one had expected that kind of speech from Spencer. But they both knew he was right. This was not something for working hours. There was a job to be done and an Unsub they needed to catch before he could hurt anyone else. The rest of this would wait until they were off the clock and alone together. Still, Morgan promised himself that the three of them were going to have a long talk at the soonest opportunity. He wasn’t going to let something like this fester in Spencer’s mind. At the same time, Aaron was promising himself that he was going to keep a closer eye on Ashley and refrain from pairing her with Spencer unless he absolutely had to. No need to create even more of an opportunity for conflict.
Just as Morgan started the car back up, he felt Aaron’s hand slide into his. Then he heard Spencer shift in the backseat, his long arm reaching up between the two front seats so that his hand briefly rested over theirs. A small smile tugged at Morgan’s lips. Maybe they were all a little worried and annoyed right now and maybe Aaron and Spencer were right; they were on the clock right now. But that didn’t mean they couldn’t take a little bit of silent comfort from one another while they did their jobs. Morgan pulled the car back out onto the road, their hands staying linked together until right as they pulled into the station.

The day seemed to drag slowly for the team. Pairs were sent out to do interviews here and there and people were brought in to talk to them, but there wasn’t much that they could go on. The only one who didn’t seem to be frustrated with the passage of time was Spencer. He was seated at a table by himself in an interrogation room—per his request—reading through the journals and trying to gather as much information as possible. The only break he’d taken was when Dave came to bring him coffee and he told Dave that this was, without a doubt, their Unsub. Once he’d seen the content of the first few, Spencer had jumped ahead to the latest journal to check for the names of the recent victims. They were there.
After that, he asked that he be left alone to finish what he could. It took him a little while to not just read the journals, but to analyze the handwriting as best as he could. All the he was trying to label the place that the Unsub might have taken the victims to.
Meanwhile, the others were trying to get as much information as they could about the man who lived in that house. Garcia had a tag on his information so if he went to a bank, used his ATM, or used his credit cards, she would know about it.
They had gathered back at the station close to dinner time to try and plan out what to do next. Dave opened his mouth to try and suggest they get a quick bite to eat before continuing to work when the door to their conference room opened and Spencer rushed in, a stack of journals in his hand. “The club on Dillard street.” He told them while he tossed the journals on the table and moved to the map. He lifted a finger, tapping on the marker that indicated the first abduction site. “His journals say he’s making a perfect circle out of these clubs here. Once he reaches the end, he starts all over again. It’s the system he’s been using for a while now.”
“For a while?” Emily looked up from the file she’d been reading at the table. “How long has he been doing this, Reid?”
Spencer moved over to one of the boards, flipping it so he could use the other side. He grabbed a pen and started to write while he spoke. “The journals start two and a half years ago. Our seven victims don’t even begin to touch what he’s done. Not just here, but over state lines. Four different states, actually.” He made four columns on the board and labeled each one at the top. Washington, Oregon, Idaho, California. Under Washington he put the seven victims they already knew as well as four others. In Oregon, ten. Idaho, seven. California, seven.
The team looked at those names and gaped. Thirty five. There were thirty five women up on that board. Morgan was already pulling out his phone and calling Garcia to give her the new list of names. This was above and beyond what they’d thought they would find.
“He’s refined his technique.” Spencer told them. He put the pen down and moved over to the journals he’d brought with him. Opening one, he sifted through it to the page he wanted. “His earlier kills were much more hesitant. He didn’t quite understand what he was doing. He experimented with his herbs as well until he found these two that fit his needs. He won’t stop, either. He’s convinced that these women really do want him and that eventually he’ll find the one strong enough and beautiful enough to be his…he says his mate.”
Aaron walked over to look at the map that was hanging up. “You’re positive it’ll be this club, Reid?”
“Yes, Sir.” The automatic reply would have made Aaron smile at any other time. Right then he was too focused on his work. Spencer’s reply just made him nod. “Good. We’ll patrol. Last night’s attack probably upset him, throwing him off his game. He’ll have to go out again tonight.”
“He’ll be sloppy.” Dave added in. “Even though he took the girl, he’ll want to take another tonight to make it perfect. The ritual isn’t right if something messes it up. He’ll be compelled to go out again tonight. If we patrol the club, we’ll probably have a good chance of seeing something.”
Aaron turned around and nodded at Dave. “He’s right. We’ll split into teams and work both the inside and the outside of the club. Prentiss, you and Seaver take the inside. Morgan, why don’t you go in with them? You three should blend easily in a club. Reid, Dave and I can watch the outside to see if we can catch him leaving with someone. Hopefully we can nail this guy.” With his orders, the team started to prepare themselves to leave.

*I know I skip over the case work here, but I’m not that great at it and I really didn’t want to write it. The case isn’t really important to the story anyways. Sorry if that upsets some of you.*
The BAU team sighed as they all settled in to the jet the next morning. It had been a long night for all of them and they were more than ready to head home and relax. After waiting outside the club for two hours, their Unsub was finally caught as he came out to his car, mostly dragging the woman with him. Aaron, Dave and Spencer had confronted him while Morgan, Emily and Ashley had come out of the club to back them up. Once they got him at the station, interrogation had been easy. With the journals to back them, the man knew that he wouldn’t be able to get away with everything and had given a full confession.
The woman that he’d been trying to take had stayed the night at the hospital to get the drug out of her system, but she was being released to go home that day. With everything wrapped up nicely, the team had happily gathered their stuff and headed to the jet to go home.
Since they’d been up all night, it didn’t take long for them to start to fall asleep. Emily was the first one out, with Ashley close behind, the two of them almost leaning into one another. Over on the couch, Spencer was curled up, knees to his chest and arms resting on top of them. His head was resting there and his face was relaxing as he too drifted off. On the other end of the couch sat Morgan, his typical headphones on, his eyes closed. He could have been awake as he listened to his music or he could have fallen asleep already. It was hard to tell.
That left Dave and Aaron sitting across from one another at one of the tables. Aaron was filling out a few reports that would need to be turned in when they arrived home. A small part of his mind was enjoying the fact that they would soon be home and he would be free to go with his lovers and be somewhere that they wouldn’t have to work so hard to be quiet. It might make it a little easier for them to have their ‘talk’ that had been delayed for work, too. Lost in thought, he wasn’t paying any attention to things around him until Dave spoke in a soft voice. “So, you going to tell me what’s going on between Reid and Seaver?”
Looking up in surprise, Aaron found Dave’s smiling face looking at him. “Excuse me?”
“Oh, come on, Aaron. I’m not an idiot. Reid looked upset yesterday when he and Seaver got to the house and Morgan sent Seaver to work with us, something that isn’t typical for him. Add on that you deliberately kept Reid with us and you’ve been short with Seaver. All that points to her having done something to upset him.” Dave summarized with a roll of his eyes. “So, I repeat. You going to tell me what’s going on?”
He should have figured that the other profiler would have picked up on it. There really wasn’t much that Dave missed. “She made some comments to Reid about his apparent uselessness in the field. Implying that he was simply the brain of our team and that we sent him on useless trips to keep him away from the field.”
Dave let out a low whistle, his eyebrows climbing. “No wonder Morgan looks like he wants to bite her head off. Are you going to have a talk with her about respect inside the team?”
“That was the plan.” A wry grin curved Aaron’s lips as he remembered Spencer’s passionate speech in the car. It had surprised him but it had also made him a little proud. It was good to see the younger man learning to stand up for himself and speak his mind. “Reid basically told me that I needed to butt out. He said that he has no official complaint to make about her and that until he does, I need to let them resolve it between one another.”
That had Dave laughing softly. “Kiddo’s getting some backbone. Nice to see.” He paused, looking over to where Emily and Ashley had finally leaned in to one another in their sleep, almost looking like they’d just slumped against the other. “Maybe the Unit Chief shouldn’t talk to her, but a friend could have a little talk about manners.” He suggested. Turning back to Aaron, he threw him a wink. “Reid hasn’t said for me to leave it alone and I’ve pretty much taken to showing Ashley the ropes around here. I’ll give her a gentle little reminder about the importance of everyone on the team and the types of things she shouldn’t say.”
That was perfect. Aaron couldn’t stop the quick grin that spread over his lips. “Officially, I can’t control your conversations, Dave. Outside of that…thanks.”
“Anytime. Probably better than you or Morgan saying something to her, anyways. You’re both a little too…invested to keep a level head.”
Those loaded words made Aaron freeze. It took everything he had to keep his composure and not betray all the secrecy they’d worked towards. Before he could figure out something to say, Dave gave another laugh. “Relax, Aaron. I’m not about to say anything. I haven’t yet so far and I’ve known for quite a while. I’m happy for the three of you.”
“What?” It wasn’t the most intelligent response, but Aaron really couldn’t think of anything else to say. He was stunned by the fact that his friend not only knew about his relationship, but had known for a while now. And he approved! How had Dave figured it out? They’d been so careful with one another at work and even off work when there were others around! I was right earlier. There’s not much that slips past him.
Dave reached over and patted Aaron’s hand where it sat on the files. “Relax. I’m the only one that knows anything. Trust me. Anyone else thinks it’s just those two. I’m the only one that’s really seen beyond that. To a person who knows you as well as I do, it wasn’t that difficult to see the way you care for them. Both of them. You three have done wonderfully for one another.”
For one brief second Aaron kept quiet, debating what to say or how to act. But he gave up that internal debate with a soft sigh. This was Dave, a man he had known for a long time and a man he respected. They were good friends, on and off the clock. And if he was honest with himself, it felt wonderful to be able to openly talk with his friend instead of being so secretive. With one last glance to make sure the girls were really asleep, Aaron let himself smile at Dave. “They make me happy. Happier than I’ve been in a long time.”
“I can see that. You guys seem perfectly matched together. Three different personalities that just kind of mesh. It’s made you happier and a little more relaxed. Morgan’s definitely happier and mellower than before. And Reid seems to be flowering under the attention. You two have given him the security to get more of a backbone.”
“He’s more confident to speak his mind now that he knows he has people who love him for him.” Aaron agreed with his friend. “He’s still so self-conscious most of the time and we know he worries that we’ll leave him. But I don’t ever see that happening.”
Dave’s eyes traveled over to where Spencer was sleeping. “Me either. You guys are like a unit, but he seems to be your center. If it was just you and Reid or Morgan and Reid, the relationship might lean more towards caretaking. You and Morgan alone would be too volatile. Two alpha males constantly battling to be the dominant. But together, you all balance one another out.”
“That’s exactly it.” In short words, Dave had summed it all up. It made Aaron’s smile grow a little bigger.
Turning back to Aaron, the older profiler gave a grin. “Just wanted to let you know that I’m happy for you guys, basically, and that you have someone who’s on your side. On that note, I think I’m gonna go ahead and go lay down now.”
As Dave rose, Aaron sat back in his seat and watched his friend. “Hey, Dave?” He waited until Dave looked down at him before he said “Thanks.”
“Anytime.” Dave gave a chuckle and moved back over to his seat.
Aaron smiled as he looked back down at the folders on the table in front of him, his mood a little uplifted. Focused on his work and on the conversation he’d just had, Aaron never noticed the pair of eyes that were barely open, watching him as they had been for most of the conversation. Oblivious, he happily went back to work.
- 6
- 7
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Comfort