Invisible String (Reid/Alvez)

Champagne Problems

"Je... Jennifer, you don't know..."

"I do know. I know two inmates, Frazier and Duerson, killed your friend Delgado in front of you. And I know they wanted you to move their heroin, and I also know that if you didn't, you would have been next, right? Spence, anyone in your spot would have done the same thing."

"You wouldn't have."

"Yeah. Yeah, I would have, Spence. If someone was threatening my life, you bet your ass I would. It doesn't make you a bad person. 'Cause you know who does think like that, that... that in you doing what you had to do to survive somehow makes you a psychopath? She does. She does. Because she... she knows."

"That's the secret. What I don't want to admit about myself. 

"Hold up. Let's play this out, because she will not lose to you twice. She already said that this wasn't about the two of you being the same."

"Then she's all about the game. She thinks that I cheated last time because I lied about her dad, so it's integral to her that she beats me by following the rules."

"Yeah, but, Spence, she controls the rules, and she will change them to ensure that she wins." 

"Which means that I'm locked in. Like she is. And she needs me locked in, playing by her rules a game I can't win, so she... I got it."

Spencer composed himself to go in and talk to Cat, while JJ set up to stream their conversation to the team. 

"Streaming now." JJ said.

"Ok, uh, listen, you're gonna hear a lot of weird stuff, like Spence saying he is the father of Cat's baby. Don't let that distract you." Prentiss chimed in. 

"Uh, I'm sorry. Full stop. Why would Spence say he's the father of..." Garcia started.

"Quiet." Emily cut her off.

Luke had no idea what he just heard. The father of Cat's baby? Spencer?  He would never. Especially since he started dating Luke before he went to prison. He wouldn't...right? He didn't even listen to Spencer talk to Cat. He couldn't How could this happen? This couldn't have happened. It didn't happen.

"You're at the one-yard line." Cat mocked. Luke began listening again. 

 "You're not pregnant with my child. You got pregnant with Wilkins to put me in as compromised a position as possible. But it should be mine. I wish it were mine. Because you and I... We deserve each other. That is the real secret."

As disgusting as it was, Spencer got it right. That was the secret. The team had rescued his mother, and Luke couldn't help but be jealous as the two were reunited. He knew it was selfish, wanting Spencer to himself. But, come on. He didn't get to see him for so long. And he knew he would have to wait even longer, as he watched Spencer leave with Diana. 

Emily came to the team, telling them about the text Morgan received from Scratch. They drove to the location, and crashed their cars. Scratch took Emily. And killed Walker. Of course he did. He always had to make his appearance at the least convenient moment. 

The first time Luke spoke to Spencer after he got out of prison was in Rossi's hospital room. Rossi told them about Cubs tickets, and they both thought he was crazy. He called them assclowns, which concerned Spencer.

Luke drove himself and Spencer from the hospital, back to the BAU to meet with Garcia and Simmons. The tension in the car was unbearable.

"So, um... how are you doing?" Luke asked, awkwardly.

"What do you mean 'how are you doing?' Scratch took Prentiss, how do you think I'm doing?" Reid snapped.

Luke couldn't believe he was so hostile. He knew prison was bad and that Spencer was worried, but he didn't expect him to be like this. He was just trying to talk to him. 

Luke took a deep breath, and composed himself. He decided to stay silent for the rest of the drive.

When they arrived back at the BAU, Luke mentioned to Spencer that he had post-traumatic stress from prison. Spencer didn't react angrily like he did in the car, but Luke still felt guilty.

When they finally figured out where Scratch took Emily, Luke was the one who took Scratch down. Spencer had been looking for Scratch, but when he found Emily with Simmons, Emily pleaded with him to stay with her. 

Luke found Scratch hanging off the building. He called out for help, but Luke just watched. It was protocol. If he tried to help, Scratch could have pulled him off, too. So, he watched as Peter Lewis fell to his death. A victimless crime. 

It wasn't until the next week that Luke spoke to Spencer again. As much as he wanted to call or text to check on him, he didn't know where he stood. After all, Spencer had broken up with him. As far as Luke knew, Spencer only broke up with him because he was in prison. But, Luke didn't know how Spencer felt about him anymore. Going by their previous conversations, Spencer wasn't all that interested.

At Stephen Walker's funeral, Spencer stood, staring at the casket, as everyone walked away. Luke didn't know if it was the best idea, but he went over and touched Spencer's should. With a slight nod from Spencer, Luke turned to leave with the rest of the team. Luke couldn't lie. He had hoped that Spencer would talk to him. He understood that Spencer felt responsible for Walker's death. He knew this wasn't a good time. 

Luke didn't know if there would ever be a right time. Or if Spencer would even want to talk to him.