Boy Meets Girl / Criminal Minds Fanfiction.

It's a Curse

Spencer struggled with how he was going to approach the subject of Ryder with his team. He wanted her there when he told them, wherever there was. It was a rare moment for Spencer, not knowing how to do something.

He was thankful to Emily as well for not saying anything to the team, but he didn't miss the looks she gave him whenever he left to take a phone call or rushed out of work some nights.

He even considered asking Emily for advice at one point but decided against it and the problem soon got pushed to the back burner as a case came up and he had to give all his attention to it.

And little did he know that when they returned from their case that the perfect opportunity would present itself.

"Team dinner, my house, tomorrow night." Rossi announced to the room, not even voicing it as a question as he wouldn't take no for an answer. The team tries to get together to have a calm dinner on occasion, usually hosted at Rossi's.

The team goes out a lot, usually for drinks and or food but half the time the whole team can't come and being at a crowded bar or someplace else with lots of people isn't the same as a quiet sit down that the team can relax and enjoy each other's company outside of work. It was the perfect opportunity.

"Um-" Was all Spencer was able to get out before being interrupted by Morgan.

"No, not this time, kid, you are not canceling." He said sternly as he pointed at him.

"No, actually I was just wondering if..." Spencer trailed off, glancing first at Hotch then at Emily, the latter giving him a small nod of encouragement as she figured out what he was trying to say. "I was wondering if I could bring someone." He finally got out, hating the feel of everyone's eyes on him.

"Uh, of course," Rossi said as he shared a look with the others. "The more the merrier."

Nodding his head, Spencer continues collecting his things before making his exit, not wanting to stick around for the questions he was sure the others had, briefly catching Emily's eye as she sent him a smile.

It was almost like a weight off his shoulders but it was replaced by a pit in his stomach that he guessed would be there until dinner the next night came.

"Ryder?" Spencer said as he stepped into the apartment, setting his stuff on the table, turning around when he didn't get a response, the sight of a barstool knocked over catching his eye. "Ryder?"

Walking closer, Spencer felt his heart drop and his hand go to his gun at the sight of blood, a decent-sized pile on the floor, a trail leading down the hall.

Keeping his gun holstered but his hand near it, Spencer follows the trail down the hall until he came upon the cracked bathroom door, slowly pushing it open to reveal Ryder sitting atop the closed toilet with her bloodied wrist in her lap.

"Ryder?" Spencer says for the third time, finally catching her attention as he rushing to his girlfriend. "What the hell happened." He asks as he takes the towel from her, lifting it slightly to see a gash down her small wrist.

"I'm an idiot, that's what happened." She told him, trying to laugh it off but he could hear the pain shinning through her voice.

"Shit, this need stitches," Spencer said as he put pressure on the wound, trying to ignore the way the towel was becoming soaked.

"Is it really that bad?" Ryder asks, looking down at the wound, happy that she wasn't affected by the sight of blood.

"Yeah, come on, I'm taking you to the hospital." Spencer said, not leaving room for argument as he helped her to her feet and led her out of the bathroom. "Where are your keys?"