start a riot, criminal minds [ 3 ]

063. night lights

After two months of their time off, Spencer went back to work before Madelyn did, but he requested to Emily that he do a month of teaching first. He wanted to stay close to home so that if Madelyn needed him he'd be close.

"Are you sure you don't want me to stay? I-I can stay." Spencer had offered on his first day back.

"Spence, go. Go and be a genius professor, teach, mold the young minds of tomorrow. I will be okay." Madelyn promised.

"Call me if you--"

"I know." Madelyn pecks him on the lips. "Go before I kick you out."

"I love you." Spencer tells her.

"I love you, too." She smiles as he kisses her.

A month later, Madelyn took the psych eval and was cleared to go back to work. She's supposed to start next week and decided to sit in on Spencer's class today, Amelia taking care of the kids.

After his class, the two get to the subway and get on one of the trains.

"So, uh... I was gonna go to the BAU. Emily said I could, uh, help on a case they just got." Spencer says. "But if you want me to stay..."

"No. No, it-- it's fine." Madelyn says.

"I mean, if you want, we-- we could talk to her about you going if you want to start a few days early." Spencer says.

"Let's just go and see." Madelyn says.

"Okay." Spencer nods, smiling as she kisses him on the cheek.

+++

The elevator doors open, the team walking towards them.

"Wait. You're back. You're both back? Why are you back? What happened?" Penelope asks.

"Nothing happened. The seminar wrapped early and we missed you guys." Spencer says.

"Yeah. I chose the perfect day to sit in his class." Madelyn jokes.

"Oh, I missed you." Penelope tightly hugs Madelyn.

"Oh. Hi." Madelyn softly chuckles, hugging her back. "You saw me four days ago."

"Yes, but not here. Oh, I'm so happy you're gonna  be back." Penelope says, giving Madelyn a tight squeeze before letting her go. She gently pats Madelyn's cheek.

"I missed you, too." Madelyn tells her.

"Well, you're both just in time to help us reel in a nasty one." Rossi says.

"Unless--" Emily looks at Madelyn.

"No. No, I'm-- I'm good. I can start a few days early." Madelyn says.

"You're sure?" Emily asks and she nods. "Okay. We'll brief you guys on the way to the jet. Let's go."

"And we'll catch up later." Penelope calls out as they pile into the elevator. "Go, Mighty Professor, go!"

+++

After going over the case on the jet, Madelyn gets up and goes to get a cup of coffee. Spencer glances up when Emily gets up and walks over to Madelyn.

"Hey." Emily gently greets.

"Hey." Madelyn says.

"Are you sure you're ready for this?" Emily asks. "I just-- I don't want you to push yourself."

"No, I'm-- I'm okay." Madelyn says. "I mean, I'm okay to work. I'm not gonna... have a meltdown or anything."

"Okay. But if you need to step back or take a break, Maddie--"