Two days passed before the team had to report back to work. The time off had done all of them a world of good. It had relaxed them after this last case. For the loving trio, it had been a nice little haven for them. For two days they only had to think of one another. Each one of them kept their phones on for work and other emergencies, but nothing cropped up. Aaron managed to get an afternoon with Jack, making the older man extremely happy. While he was gone, his lovers took care of laundry and housework before settling down for a game of poker that lasted until Aaron came home. Naturally, Spencer won more often than not, but occasionally Morgan beat him. Sometimes on his own, and sometimes Spencer let him—though he would never admit that to anyone.
When they went back to work, it was with smiles on their faces. Aaron went in first, as always. The Unit Chief was always in before the rest of his team. Not too far behind him was Dave. Then the others slowly started to trickle in. It looked as if everyone was a little more relaxed, a little happier, after just a simple two days at home with nothing to do. All of them except for Ashley. The girl made as if she was happy, but when she thought no one was looking, there was an uncomfortable expression on her face that didn’t go as unnoticed as she hoped.
Morgan and Aaron both found it hard to keep themselves from venting some of their frustration with the woman. Repeatedly the two had to remind themselves that what Spencer had told them had been lover to lover, not anything connected with work. He had explicitly said that he wasn’t going to file a report and that whatever was going on was between him and Ashley, so they tried to respect him by staying out of it. That didn’t mean that they liked it, though.
To Spencer, it was obvious how hard they were fighting to keep themselves under control and the effort only made him love them all the more. Every time he saw Morgan close his eyes and take a deep breath instead of snap at Ashley, he felt his heart thrill. The same when he would see Aaron put on his shuttered expression and talk just as politely as he always did. The fact that the two not only loved him enough, but respected him enough to let him handle this on his own….it was one of the greatest feelings.
Still, nothing good lasts forever. That was something Spencer would tell himself in bed that night. It was the story of his life. Every time something good happened for him, just when things seemed to be going right, there was always something that came along and messed it up. Always. This time was no different.
The bomb that dropped on them came late in the afternoon. Spencer was sitting at his desk, filing reports—not only his, but some of Morgan and Emily’s as well—when Erin Strauss came walking into the bullpen, marching straight for Aaron’s door. That was the first thing that set off warning bells in Spencer’s brain. He didn’t know why; visits from her were always uncomfortable for Aaron, but they weren’t always bad. But something in his stomach told him that this time, something was very, very wrong.
After Strauss knocked and was admitted to Aaron’s office, the door shutting behind her, Spencer couldn’t resist turning to share a look with Morgan. It didn’t help when he saw the look in his dark lover’s eyes. The same look Spencer was sure was in his. Morgan was just as worried as he was. There was something wrong.
They worked silently for another few minutes—or, at least, pretended to work. Spencer couldn’t help darting his gaze up to Aaron’s office every so often. There was nothing to see, though. The blinds had been drawn. That only made the feeling in Spencer’s stomach grow worse.
Dave’s voce suddenly sounded behind him, making him jump in his seat and drop his pen. “Wonder what’s got her all pumped up all of a sudden.” The senior profiler said.
After taking a deep breath to calm his racing heart, Spencer turned to look up at Dave. The older man smiled down at him and clapped a hand on his shoulder. “Sorry, kiddo. Didn’t mean to scare you.”
“It’s ok.” The reassurance came automatically past Spencer’s lips. His nerves were still eating at his stomach as he turned to look at the office once more and chew on his lip. “I guess we’ll find out when Hotch comes out, right?” He finally said.
Emily leaned forward on her desk, looking between the office and her friends. “I hope she’s not jumping on his case for something again. I don’t know how he deals with that kind of stuff. Politics drive me insane and that’s all it is with her.”
“Aaron’s good at his job. He may not like the politics, but he does well with them.” Dave was attempting to sound reassuring. To Spencer’s ears, the words fell flat.
Silence suddenly filled the bullpen when the door to Aaron’s office opened. Spencer quickly looked down at his files, trying not to be caught watching. Dave held no such qualms. He stood behind Spencer, one hand resting on the back of his chair, watching with one raised eyebrow as Strauss stepped partially out the door. Then she did something none of them had been expecting. “Agent Morgan? Dr. Reid? If you two would come here, please.”
That sick feeling in Spencer’s stomach grew even more. He had to swallow down the lump that suddenly built in his throat. Unable to help it, he was all nerves as he rose from his chair, his hands immediately going to his pockets to keep from wringing them. Morgan looked calm and cool as he too rose and moved with Spencer up the walkway to their boss’s office. Neither looked behind them at their friends as they walked inside and Strauss shut the door behind them.
The first place Spencer looked was over to his boss, who was standing behind his desk, his face set into an unreadable mask. Only because they knew him so well were Spencer and Morgan able to read the living fury that was buried deep in the man’s eyes. Whatever was going on, it was bad—and they both had a feeling they knew what it was. Only one thing they could think of would call them all up here at the same time. Either Strauss had finally heard the rumors about Morgan and Spencer, or she knew about the three of them. Either could prove disastrous.
Erin Strauss moved to stand by the window for a moment before turning to face them. “I assume you two have figured out why I’ve called you up here?”
Words wouldn’t come to Spencer. He licked suddenly dry lips, trying to think of what to say, what to do. Morgan, however, stayed calm and steady. “My apologies, ma’am, but I’m not sure what this is about.”
Instead of Strauss answering, it was Aaron who spoke next, his voice hard and flat. “Apparently an unnamed source has informed her that the three of us are in a relationship. Though, I’ve yet to be told who this informant is.” The last part he directed at the Section Chief, who returned his look with a cold stare of her own. “The name of my source is unnecessary, Agent Hotchner. What is important is the validity of the claim. My source says they heard the words from your own lips. So far, you’ve done nothing to deny this.”
“And why should I, ma’am?” Aaron turned to face her now. There was nothing on him that showed any inner turmoil. “Even if I did, it wouldn’t be believed. So what’s the point of making tiring arguments that will eventually lead us nowhere?”
Strauss leveled him with a serious stare. “I suggest you watch your tone, Agent Hotchner.” She warned him. Then her eyes were traveling over the other two in the room. In that expression, Spencer could see something different in her gaze. A slight discomfort, he thought. Was it discomfort at the idea of their relationship? Her next words changed his opinion. “Something needs to be done about this. As it is, I’m unsure as to what. The rules on fraternization are clear. According to policy, I should let all of you go, or at the very least transfer two of you.”
I should. Spencer held on to those two words. Maybe her discomfort wasn’t at their relationship. Maybe, just maybe, Strauss didn’t want to lose three members of the team. He held no delusions that she cared about them. Time and time again she proved that she didn’t. But even she would have a hard time replacing three well qualified, seasoned agents.
It was that knowledge that gave Spencer the courage to finally speak. His voice startled all three occupants of the room. “Protocol would suggest that you, at bare minimum, reprimand us, ma’am.” He started out slowly. Each word was chosen with caution. “I suppose that it is logical for you to choose to fire us, or to transfer two of us, although transferring wouldn’t really put a stop to this alleged relationship.” Don’t incriminate yourself. No one had some right out and admitted or denied anything. Use your words cautiously. “And if you fired us, you would lose three very capable agents. I doubt that the director is ready to lose any of us. So that means that a different resolution must be met.”
Morgan was watching him with wide eyes, practically trying to will him to silence. Aaron just had that contemplative look on his face. They both knew him well and knew that he wouldn’t say anything to mess this up, but Spencer could see that Morgan thought his words were rash and Aaron most likely was catching on to what Spencer was trying to do.
The Section Chief looked directly at Spencer, making him want to squirm. “Do you have any suggestions for this different resolution, Dr. Reid?” Her voice was hard, but it was curious. That was what he’d been hoping for.
His hands gripped a little tighter in his pockets and he took a deep breath to keep himself calm. “If the complaint made to you was verbal and not written, then my suggestion would be for you to observe, ma’am. If no one but you and your complainant know of these allegations, then it allows you to act with discretion. You could observe our interactions to determine if this alleged relationship affects our work in any way. If it does, you would have just cause to pursue this in whatever manner you deem fit. But if it does not, then I see no reason why this team should lose three of its members.”
The three men couldn’t help but hope when they saw her watching Spencer contemplatively. When she spoke again, it was slow and thoughtful. “The last thing the Bureau wants is to lose three good agents. But I’m not sure I want to potentially lose my job if these allegations came to light and it was known I did nothing about it. If certain people discovered your relationship…”
“Alleged relationship.” Aaron interjected.
Strauss eyed him for a second before nodding. “Your alleged relationship, there could be trouble that comes down not on just you three, but on myself as well. I don’t quite know if I want to risk that.”
Morgan shifted his stance a little, his expression as neutral as he could make it. “But do you want to risk losing three agents in one move, ma’am?”
“I don’t have to lose you. There are other teams, other departments, where your able minds could be put to work. A transfer wouldn’t stop this alleged relationship, as you pointed out, Dr. Reid. But it would be easier to overlook if you three were not on the same team anymore. One of you could stay here while two of you transfer out.”
They could see that she was seriously thinking about this. None of them wanted to transfer. Spencer didn’t know if he could bring himself to work on any other BAU team and none of the other jobs she would transfer him to in the Bureau were of any interest to him. His mind scrambled for something to stop this; to bring her back to the idea he’d suggested.
In an instant he decided to lay all his cards out on the table. His chin lifted the slightest bit. “Is this your intent then, ma’am? To transfer us away from this team?” He was surprised by how cool his voice was. Beside him, he felt Morgan’s fury almost radiating off of him. Aaron was looking like he was ready to say something, anything, but the look on his face said it would be temper talking. Spencer gave him the briefest shake of his head, requesting that he let him finish this. To his surprise, Aaron gave him a minute nod in return.
Strauss crossed her arms almost defensively over her chest. “To protect us all, it’s the only option I see available. I just don’t know if I want to risk the option you suggested, Dr. Reid. I don’t know if I’m willing to put my neck on the line with yours. A transfer seems the most logical response.”
He nodded, as if he’d expected nothing less. And he hadn’t. He’d known that would be her answer. With deliberate movements, Spencer stepped away from Morgan and up to Aaron’s desk, stopping at the edge where he could look at both the Section Chief and the Unit Chief. Calmly he reached into his pocket, pulling out his credentials. As wide eyes watched, he laid them down on the desk. “Consider this my official resignation then, ma’am, Sir.”
His words seemed to echo around the room. Behind him he heard Morgan’s surprised “Reid…” Even Aaron had a pleading look on his face. It was nothing compared to the shock that Erin Strauss wore openly, though. “What?” she exclaimed.
“I love my job, ma’am. I love what I do. But I refuse to work on another team with agents I do not know and who do not know me. There is no other department here that I would want to work in. The BAU and this team are my family.”
“So you’re going to quit because you’re being transferred?” Strauss demanded. There was a hint of panic in the edges of her eyes, though. There was one thing Spencer knew from the first day he started here; the FBI did not want to lose his brain. They had brought him in early, younger than any other agent on record, because of his brains. That wasn’t something they would want to lose.
Putting his hands back in his pockets, Spencer looked at her and shrugged. “I’m sorry, ma’am.”
“Where are you going to go, Reid?” Aaron asked him.
It was the question Spencer had hoped he would ask. It took everything he had not to smile at the man. “I’ve been approached by the CIA, Department of Defense, DIA, MCIA, NGA, NSA, OICI, Homeland Security, DEA, INR, and a few other places, Sir. It shouldn’t take me long to find a fit. Though most of them have come to the understanding that I didn’t plan on leaving my job, some of them still pursue me for work and some of them I do consultations with. It wouldn’t take much to turn a consultation position into a full time job.”
Strauss made a low, angry sound in her throat. “I’m not fond of threats, Dr. Reid.” She almost growled at him.
He turned serious eyes to her. “Nor do I make threats, ma’am. I spoke with the utmost sincerity.” Just one last push he thought to himself. Adjusting his vest, he stepped back. “Now, if you don’t mind, I need to speak with the team and clear out my desk. Sir, Ma’am, Morgan.” With those goodbyes, he turned and headed to the door.
His hand had just touched the knob when Strauss spoke again. “At the first sign of trouble, I will transfer the group of you.” She announced firmly. “Prove to me that this won’t change your work. Prove my fears wrong, Agents.”
Spencer turned slowly, meeting her gaze for a moment. “Yes, ma’am.” Was all he said. He’d pushed her enough for the morning. The other two echoed his sentiment.
With one last look at them, Strauss picked up Spencer’s credentials off the desk, walking over to him to hand them to him. He took them silently before opening the door for her. She said not a single word as she left the office. Just as quietly, Spencer shut the door behind her. Then he turned wide eyes to his lovers. All of a sudden a grin was spreading over his lips. They both wore the same expressions. The truth had come out and somehow, so far, they’d survived it.