A Well Respected Man - Epilogue
Title: A Well Respected Man (Epilogue)
Author: ar_poe
Rating: PG/PG-13
Pairing: Morgan/Reid
Warnings: Drug recovery, very mild slash (all fluff)
Summary: Spoilers for 'The Big Game' and 'Revelations.' What happened during Dr. Reid's group therapy and throughout his recovery.
A/N: This is the last chapter of A Well Respected Man, guys. I think this story has run its course.
Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds.
Final Chapter - Epilogue
Spencer wasn't home yet and he was taking a lot longer than usual after his therapy session. I was starting to get antsy.
I sat at the kitchen table, tapping my fingers impatiently as Clooney watched me from his corner at the opposite side of the kitchen. He watched, seeming to be just as worried, and finally tossed his head down to rest on his paws, a giant sigh escaping as he did so.
I groaned then and stood up quickly from the chair, beginning to pace when I heard the lock in the door turn and the door slowly open as Spencer walked through the doorway.
“Where've you been?” I asked quickly before Spence even had time to enter and close the door. He stood in the doorway with a shocked expression on his face and blinked a couple times before looking over his shoulder to the door.
“At one of my meetings.” He said bluntly and pointed to the door, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
I let out a breath and let my shoulders relax. “I was just starting to get worried. You're usually home before now.”
Spencer just shrugged and offered a quiet 'sorry' as he made his way into the apartment, stripping off his bag and jacket and shoes before finally collapsing on the couch. I followed him and picked up the television remote as Clooney trotted his way in as well, pausing in front of Spencer with a hefty pant as he waited for his usual treatment.
Spencer tiredly ran his hand over Clooney's head and made his way to place his head in my lap all at the same time. It had been a little over three months since I had taken Spencer to Chicago, and ever since then, it seemed like Spencer was much more comfortable with the way things had been working out, much more affectionate. But hell, I wasn't complaining. I enjoy the cuddling much more than I ever let on. I placed my hand on Spencer's head and ran my fingers through his hair, the one thing that always relaxes Spencer into sleep, and had to stifle a snort at some of the similarities between my two boys.
Spencer's hand tiredly dropped from Clooney's head and landed near his chest, leaving Clooney semi-content as he flopped down on the floor in front of the couch. At this point, I was pretty sure that something had gone on tonight that Spencer wasn't telling me. He hadn't really acted any differently, and actually, this is pretty much our normal routine on his therapy nights, but I just knew.
Almost as if he were reading my mind, Spencer sighed but didn't move. “Nothing's going on, Derek. There's no unexpected visitors, no Dilaudid, no pain-killers. I just walked home tonight instead of taking the metro.” He said quietly, eyes still closed. I looked down to his face, probably looking slightly shocked. Sure, we're all profilers, but it's always a little unnerving how Spencer can seemingly read and understand me better than anyone else.
“I didn't sa -”
Spencer suddenly pointed at his head and my hand. “You stopped.” He said quietly, obviously the only explanation I'd be getting. I scoffed then and looked back up at the television, my hand running over his hair once more.
0-0-0
“You've been tossing and turning for four hours now, Spencer.” I said tiredly, slightly annoyed. “It's 4:30 in the morning. We have to go to work soon.”
Spencer sighed then before finally throwing his head back on his pillow, clasping his hands over his abdomen. I sighed, too, giving up all hope on sleep, and propped myself up on an elbow to get a good look at Spence.
“What's wrong?”
“Can't sleep.”
“Obviously.”
Spencer closed his eyes then and took in a deep breath. “Sorry to wake you up.” He murmured, turning over on his side with his back facing me.
“Hey, now.” I rebutted, fully awake now and alert that something was definitely off. I leaned over and tried to roll him back over, but he stubbornly remained still and stiff as a board. I couldn't help but laugh then, partially out of amusement and partially because it was so damn early and I couldn't help myself.
“I love you, you know that?” I said happily between laughs as I watched the back of Spencer's head.
He turned over then and looked up into my face as I laughed. “Will you marry me then?”
I returned Spencer's gaze with a smile still on my face, but shocked nonetheless. I was completely taken aback and I felt like I was frozen, but I'm sure the happiness never left my eyes.
“What?” I managed to say, my face relaxing a little bit. Spencer's mouth snapped shut as he blinked a few times, obviously thinking of what to say next. “You know, gay marriage is actually legal in D.C. As well as in Connecticut, Iowa, New Hampshire, and Vermont. New York, Rhode Island, and Maryland recognize gay marriage, but they don -”
“Spencer.”
He stopped talking then and looked around the room for anything to occupy his mind. I felt like I couldn't formulate any reasonable sentence despite my happiness.
“It's late.” Spencer whispered and rolled back over, wrapping the covers back around himself. I watched him roll over as I took in the last seven minutes and tried to wrap my head around them.
“Wait a second.” I replied. I rolled him back over and examined his expression. “You just gotta give me a second, kid. My mind's not as sharp as yours.” I added with a wink, causing Spencer to roll his eyes. It took me another couple of seconds to get my thoughts in order, partially because I was still pretty stunned, and I also couldn't help the way my stomach flipped whenever he, unconsciously, acted this adorable.
“You wanna get married?” I could feel the corners of my eyes tighten and crease as a smile began to form across my face again, a feature I was never too proud of back when I was a kid.
Spencer bit his lip then and I could of sworn I felt his heart beat pick up and begin racing.
“Well... yeah... That's kind of why I was a little late coming home tonight.” Spencer answered cautiously, and he began to explain further when I gave him a questioning look. He gracefully made his way from under my arms and rolled over to his nightstand, opening the drawer, and revealing a small dark green box.
He leaned himself up against the headboard then and casually handed me the box. I opened it with an arched eyebrow, revealing a small and very thin silver band.
“It matches the one I gave you a few months ago. They go together.”
“You've been planning this for a few months?” I asked, my smile turning into a full widespread grin now. Spencer bit his lip again and nodded. I looked back down to the band, curious to see if anything was etched into it like in it's matching ring, and when I saw the bold script inside, I couldn't help but lean over and kiss Spencer.
I love you.
“I love you, Spence.” I mumbled. “And that's a yes.” I added with a wink as I pulled back.
End.
A/N: So, that's it, guys... Hope everyone enjoyed the story! I'm a bit sad now, this series was my first fic. I'm sad that it's over...
Author: ar_poe
Rating: PG/PG-13
Pairing: Morgan/Reid
Warnings: Drug recovery, very mild slash (all fluff)
Summary: Spoilers for 'The Big Game' and 'Revelations.' What happened during Dr. Reid's group therapy and throughout his recovery.
A/N: This is the last chapter of A Well Respected Man, guys. I think this story has run its course.
Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds.
Final Chapter - Epilogue
Spencer wasn't home yet and he was taking a lot longer than usual after his therapy session. I was starting to get antsy.
I sat at the kitchen table, tapping my fingers impatiently as Clooney watched me from his corner at the opposite side of the kitchen. He watched, seeming to be just as worried, and finally tossed his head down to rest on his paws, a giant sigh escaping as he did so.
I groaned then and stood up quickly from the chair, beginning to pace when I heard the lock in the door turn and the door slowly open as Spencer walked through the doorway.
“Where've you been?” I asked quickly before Spence even had time to enter and close the door. He stood in the doorway with a shocked expression on his face and blinked a couple times before looking over his shoulder to the door.
“At one of my meetings.” He said bluntly and pointed to the door, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
I let out a breath and let my shoulders relax. “I was just starting to get worried. You're usually home before now.”
Spencer just shrugged and offered a quiet 'sorry' as he made his way into the apartment, stripping off his bag and jacket and shoes before finally collapsing on the couch. I followed him and picked up the television remote as Clooney trotted his way in as well, pausing in front of Spencer with a hefty pant as he waited for his usual treatment.
Spencer tiredly ran his hand over Clooney's head and made his way to place his head in my lap all at the same time. It had been a little over three months since I had taken Spencer to Chicago, and ever since then, it seemed like Spencer was much more comfortable with the way things had been working out, much more affectionate. But hell, I wasn't complaining. I enjoy the cuddling much more than I ever let on. I placed my hand on Spencer's head and ran my fingers through his hair, the one thing that always relaxes Spencer into sleep, and had to stifle a snort at some of the similarities between my two boys.
Spencer's hand tiredly dropped from Clooney's head and landed near his chest, leaving Clooney semi-content as he flopped down on the floor in front of the couch. At this point, I was pretty sure that something had gone on tonight that Spencer wasn't telling me. He hadn't really acted any differently, and actually, this is pretty much our normal routine on his therapy nights, but I just knew.
Almost as if he were reading my mind, Spencer sighed but didn't move. “Nothing's going on, Derek. There's no unexpected visitors, no Dilaudid, no pain-killers. I just walked home tonight instead of taking the metro.” He said quietly, eyes still closed. I looked down to his face, probably looking slightly shocked. Sure, we're all profilers, but it's always a little unnerving how Spencer can seemingly read and understand me better than anyone else.
“I didn't sa -”
Spencer suddenly pointed at his head and my hand. “You stopped.” He said quietly, obviously the only explanation I'd be getting. I scoffed then and looked back up at the television, my hand running over his hair once more.
0-0-0
“You've been tossing and turning for four hours now, Spencer.” I said tiredly, slightly annoyed. “It's 4:30 in the morning. We have to go to work soon.”
Spencer sighed then before finally throwing his head back on his pillow, clasping his hands over his abdomen. I sighed, too, giving up all hope on sleep, and propped myself up on an elbow to get a good look at Spence.
“What's wrong?”
“Can't sleep.”
“Obviously.”
Spencer closed his eyes then and took in a deep breath. “Sorry to wake you up.” He murmured, turning over on his side with his back facing me.
“Hey, now.” I rebutted, fully awake now and alert that something was definitely off. I leaned over and tried to roll him back over, but he stubbornly remained still and stiff as a board. I couldn't help but laugh then, partially out of amusement and partially because it was so damn early and I couldn't help myself.
“I love you, you know that?” I said happily between laughs as I watched the back of Spencer's head.
He turned over then and looked up into my face as I laughed. “Will you marry me then?”
I returned Spencer's gaze with a smile still on my face, but shocked nonetheless. I was completely taken aback and I felt like I was frozen, but I'm sure the happiness never left my eyes.
“What?” I managed to say, my face relaxing a little bit. Spencer's mouth snapped shut as he blinked a few times, obviously thinking of what to say next. “You know, gay marriage is actually legal in D.C. As well as in Connecticut, Iowa, New Hampshire, and Vermont. New York, Rhode Island, and Maryland recognize gay marriage, but they don -”
“Spencer.”
He stopped talking then and looked around the room for anything to occupy his mind. I felt like I couldn't formulate any reasonable sentence despite my happiness.
“It's late.” Spencer whispered and rolled back over, wrapping the covers back around himself. I watched him roll over as I took in the last seven minutes and tried to wrap my head around them.
“Wait a second.” I replied. I rolled him back over and examined his expression. “You just gotta give me a second, kid. My mind's not as sharp as yours.” I added with a wink, causing Spencer to roll his eyes. It took me another couple of seconds to get my thoughts in order, partially because I was still pretty stunned, and I also couldn't help the way my stomach flipped whenever he, unconsciously, acted this adorable.
“You wanna get married?” I could feel the corners of my eyes tighten and crease as a smile began to form across my face again, a feature I was never too proud of back when I was a kid.
Spencer bit his lip then and I could of sworn I felt his heart beat pick up and begin racing.
“Well... yeah... That's kind of why I was a little late coming home tonight.” Spencer answered cautiously, and he began to explain further when I gave him a questioning look. He gracefully made his way from under my arms and rolled over to his nightstand, opening the drawer, and revealing a small dark green box.
He leaned himself up against the headboard then and casually handed me the box. I opened it with an arched eyebrow, revealing a small and very thin silver band.
“It matches the one I gave you a few months ago. They go together.”
“You've been planning this for a few months?” I asked, my smile turning into a full widespread grin now. Spencer bit his lip again and nodded. I looked back down to the band, curious to see if anything was etched into it like in it's matching ring, and when I saw the bold script inside, I couldn't help but lean over and kiss Spencer.
I love you.
“I love you, Spence.” I mumbled. “And that's a yes.” I added with a wink as I pulled back.
End.
A/N: So, that's it, guys... Hope everyone enjoyed the story! I'm a bit sad now, this series was my first fic. I'm sad that it's over...