Escaping to the Genius

Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Spencer stood outside Celeste's door that night after she fell asleep. He had to call in and tell Hotch that Celeste needed him, so he wouldn't be able to come in.

She had been terrified to be alone for even a moment, and he couldn't risk leaving her here and going across the country.

Even now, she wouldn't fall asleep unless he was there. Sighing he closed the door and walked back to the living room, where he fell to the couch.

"What am I doing?" he muttered to himself. He wasn't cut out to be a father, or even just a full-time caretaker. He couldn't relax her, no matter what he did. He felt useless to take care of her. That was the one thing he needed to do-take care of her-and after a single sentence from Brent, she was in a puddle on the floor.

He rubbed his face with his hands and sighed, sitting back with a heavy sigh. If he couldn't comfort a little girl-his little girl-then what use was he in the field? Facts and statistics, that's all he knew.

"Uncle Spencer?"

He sat up abruptly. "Sorry, sweetheart. I thought you were asleep."

She sat beside him. "Are you okay?" As he opened his mouth, she said, "Don't just say yes. You're helping me; let me help you."

He chuckled a bit. "I helped you?" She nodded.

"So what's going on?"

He shrugged.

"Come on, Uncle Spencer. I'm a big girl; I can handle it." She smiled a bit.

He smiled back. "I never said you couldn't. I know you're a remarkably strong girl, especially for your age."

"Thank you." She smiled at the praise. "So, talk to me."

He sighed. "I don't know how to help you. And if I can't help you, then who can I help? I don't know these other people, but you..." he shook his head.

Her smile faded. "Uncle Spencer, you know you have helped me, right? A lot. I wouldn't be here without you."

"I know. But after one call from him, you practically flinch away from me."

She lowered her eyes. "I literally meant that I wouldn't be here."

He looked at her curiously. "Yeah. You'd still be in Iowa."

"No, Uncle Spencer. I wouldn't be here." She was afraid to look up at him, afraid to see his reaction when he finally understood. Afraid to see that she had disappointed him.

Instead of feeling his disappointment, she got a hand on her shoulder and him saying, "You were so strong for so long. All you had were my phone calls. Honestly, I'm not surprised. I don't like it, but I'm not surprised."

Tentatively she looked up. "So you know that you've helped me more than I could ever ask you to, and one day of being afraid won't change what you have done."

He didn't respond, but she could see him mulling over her words. "Go to sleep, Celeste. I need to go to work tomorrow."

~

Confidently walking, Celeste stood a few yards from Morgan. Spencer was talking to Hotch behind closed doors.

"Hey, Mia." He sat back and twirled the pen in his hand. "How're you doing?"

"Good. Better than yesterday." She smiled weakly. "Thanks for coming over; it made Uncle Spencer and I both feel a little better, knowing I had someone more than Garcia there in case he showed up."

"Course, Mia."

She nodded and walked away. She wanted to start getting her criminal justice degree, so needed to find Garcia.

"Aloha, sweetness." Garcia smiled. "What can I do for you?"

"I was wondering if I could borrow a laptop." Celeste perched on a chair and Garcia spun around.

"Sure! What for?" she asked as she retrieved one and handed it off.

Celeste flipped it open. "I want to start on earning my criminal justice degree."

"You're here; why not actually attend the college?"

She shrugged. "Online, I can easily choose when to take the final exam. Besides, I don't have to potentially be around perverts this way either."

Garcia chuckled. "Alright. Let me know if you need anything."

Celeste zoned out as Garcia started to talk over a case with the rest of the team. She had just enough money left to pay for the classes.

When her name was mentioned, she looked up from the screen. From Garcia's computer she could see everyone, and Spencer was looking at her. "What?" she said, wriggling under Hotch's scrutinization.

"I asked if you wanted to come, or if you were okay at the apartment."

Rossi said, "Look, no offense, but this is a nasty crime scene. I don't think Celeste should be anywhere near it."

Spencer still looked at her, ignoring Rossi. She grimaced a bit. "I don't really want either."

"Don't worry, you can stay with me," Garcia said. "No one gets past me and my mace."

Celeste nodded. "Thanks, Garcia. There you go, Uncle Spencer. I'll stay here with Garcia."

He nodded, Hotch told them to get ready to leave, and Garcia severed the connection.