The two had disappeared into the forest for at least an hour.
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In the forest
"Is your neck ok?" Spencer asked as they wandered through the trees, he was the first one to break the silence. Daryl just shrugged slightly. "Had worse." He replied lowly, Spencer could only nod a little.
"Would you have really shot him?" Daryl asked suddenly, genuine curiosity in his voice as he watched the younger man in front of him. Spencer paused for a second, thrown off guard.
"I like to think I wouldn't have, but lately I've been so... angry?" Spencer said softly, his voice cracking a little as he tried to swallow is emotions. Daryl nodded slightly, he wanted to ask some more questions, but he also knew Spencer needed a distraction right now.
"So tell me, how are we gonna go save Merles ass?" He asked crassly. Spencer sniffed slightly and collected himself as he turned to look Daryl in the eye. "They where up on the roof when they found my group. And while saving them they got surrounded by walkers on virtually all sides. From my understanding Merle was on the roof shooting of rounds while under the influence." Spencer said, pausing to get daryls reaction as the man paused to take a deep breath. "Y'all just left him up there to be eatin?" He asked, his voice wavering a little. Spencer shook his head.
"That's not the full story." The younger man explained. Daryl just sighed for a moment and crossed his arms before gesturing for Spencer to continue.
"After he was cuffed they came up with a plan of escape. It included a quick getaway no one was expecting. T-dog was in charge of the key but when he tried to unlock the cuffs he tripped and dropped them down a drain." Spencer said softly, giving Daryl a moment to process the information.
"After that he had not choice but to escape. However in the process he did manage to lock the door to the roof with a padlock and a heavy chain. So the chances of your brother being alive have doubled from roughly 10% to an extremely high 80%." Spencer stated. "It's not a 100." Daryl stated as he sniffed slightly. Spencer nodded solemnly. "I know, but I can't lie to you either. The 20% uncertainty is due to the fact we have no idea what type of drug he ingested, or when the last time he drank water was. In all likelihood, if you do find him he's going to at the very least be quite drowsy, weak, and very thirsty. We also don't know what his frame of mind was like when he left." Spencer explained, the facts of it all rolling off his tongue with ease.
The man shifted again. "Merles always been an asshole but he didn't deserve this." Daryl said. Spencer bit his lip. "I know." He said quietly, his eyes filling with a deep sadness that wasn't there when Daryl left. "I hope you find him, I- I don't ever want you to know how it feels losing a sibling." Spencer stated seriously.
Daryls mind raced.
"Who was the kid?" He asked suddenly and it took all spence had to hold back his tears.
"He uhhh- he's my godson. JJ... she didn't..." Spencer tried to say it, but he just couldn't bring himself too, none of his group could. As if saying it out loud made it real. Daryl knew Spencer needed to hear it though.
"She died." Daryl stated plainly, and Spencer could feel his tears starting to fall he tried to choke down his sobs "Do-don't say that!" Spencer yelled, his anger spilling out as he glared at Daryl. The hunter didn't take offence though, instead he grabbed Spencers arm in a gentle, but firm grip, and he said it again. "Spencer, JJ died. She's gone, and even I can see what denying that is doing to you. Your angry at people and your lashing out, it ain't healthy." Daryl stated. Spencer shook his head and tried to yank his arm out of Daryls grip.
"What do you know! You met her once! You couldn't possibly understand what I need! she... she was kind, and beautiful, and I loved her so, so much! Sh-she would have been an amazing mom... she would have been..." Spencer yelled, his anger turning into harsh, nearly painful sobs as he the reality finally hit him.
Daryl didn't say anything else, instead grabbing the younger man and holding him tightly while he wept.
They stayed like that for a long while before silently heading back. Only taking a second to pause just beyond the trees. Spencer pulled the small, half finished figure out of his pocket and held it out to Daryl, only for it to be pushed back into his hands.
"I'll finish it later, I gotta go get my brother first." Daryl said lightly, watching as Spencer pocketed the little wooden figure once again.
something changed between them then, something more than just a simple friendship brewing between them as they left those woods.
The second Spencer left the forest it was like walking into a different world, people where loud, henry was crying and his team was stressed and worried. Each of them bounding to him with matching looks of concern on their faces as a few others from their new group stood a ways away with apprehensive and nervous faces.
Penelope was the first to break the silence as she carefully passed henry to Spencer. The poor boy sniffling and whining as he reached for the young genius. "I know, your probably feeling a lot right now, but he started crying the second you walked away and no ones been able to calm him down since." She explained frantically.
The second Henry was in Spencers arms he seemed to calm down though, his little hand reaching up to grab at the geniuses chin.
"It's ok, I've got him now. Also, I'm ok now too, I didn't mean to worry you guys." Spencer said before looking up, realizing they where still looking over him quietly.
. Where Penelope stood holding a crying Henry. "Hey a know your like super busy and stuff. But Henry hasn't stopped crying since you gave him to me and I don't know what to do." She said panicked. "No problem. We should be almost done soon. I can take him now." Spencer said, carefully grabbing the crying child from her arms.
Daryl watched as the young man rocked the infant, the little ones cries slowly quieting. He nodded to the woman outside the door and carefully closed it before sitting back down.
"Who's that?" Daryl asked quietly. Spencer bit his lip. "This is my godson Henry." Spencer stated. Smiling up at Daryl slightly. Daryl leaned over to look at the baby. "Why can't his momma take him?" He asked softly. Spencer paused slightly. "His mom didn't make the trip." Spencer answered. He voice shook.
Daryl stared at the boy as understanding claimed his features. "Why are you taking care of him?" He asked softly.
"I'm not the only one. I mean, I've got my team. They're pretty much all the family I have." Spencer replied smiling sadly at the boy in his arms. "Ya know his mother was like a sister to me. She was so supportive, and sarcastic, and amazing." Spencer stated tearing up. "I hope he grows up to be just like her." He whispered. He then took a deep breath and wiped his eyes.
"I hope you find him, I really do. I don't want you to know what it feels like to lose a sibling." Spencer said sincerely. He stared into Daryls blue eyes. Daryl stared back. "Ya know, I don't think I'll even be able to mourn her with all the things happening right now." Spencer stated. He was still struggling to keep his tears back.
Daryl stood up. Spencer was expecting him to just leave. However what the archer did next surprised him. Daryl stood next to him and hesitantly put a hand on Spencer's shoulder. Spencer looked up at him.
"M' sorry for your loss." Daryl mumbled. Spencer smiled up at man. Unknowingly making his heart skip a beat. Daryl then cleared his throat and smirked a bit. "And I guess the little guys only kinda ugly." He jibed, obviously trying to lighten the mood.
Spencer stared at the man for a bit before laughing. "Gee, thanks." He said in between giggles. Daryls smirk softeners a bit. And almost turned into a smile.
"Let's get back out there. I'm sure the others are waiting." Spencer said. He turned in his seat and used Daryls shoulder to stand up. He turned to Daryl and smiled a bit before motioning to the door.
"You think you could get that for me?" He asked. Daryl nodded and opened the door for the young man with the baby. "Thanks." Spencer said.
The two walked out and quickly noticed the small audience they had. Spencer turned towards Hotch. "The next course of action should be a plan on how to save Merle." Spencer stated. Rocking the now slightly fussy Henry. "I'll go help them rally up a team. I know Rick and Daryl will go. So I just need to sort them out." Hotch replied.
"And I think you should probably try to feed him again." He said. Glancing down at Henry. "Good idea." Spencer responded. Hotch could tell Spencer was tired. They all where. But with Reid it was probably multiplied by ten. "Get some rest while your at it. Your one of our best, we need you. And when we get a little down time we're gonna talk about your reaction to Shane earlier." Hotch stated. Reid sighed.
"Is it a 'your in trouble' kinda talk?" Reid asked nervously. "No, it's an 'I'm worried about you' kind of conversation." Hotch replied. He put a hand on the boys shoulder. And they shared a look.
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A few hours later they where ready to set off. The group that was going consisted of T-dog, daryl, Rick, Glenn, Morgan, and prentis. Hotch wanted to go but decided he should stay back for jack. And Spencer. But he didn't need to know that.
As the group climbed into the truck. They where surrounded by people making sure they said goodbye. Garcia was of course listing all of the things she'd do to punish Morgan if he didn't come back ok. Hotch was telling prentis to not do anything stupid. Rick was hugging his family. And reid tried to help Glenn gain a little confidence.
It was only when Daryl stepped on the horn that they finally pulled apart. They all stepped back as Daryl went and grabbed the handle of the sliding door. He and Spencer made eye contact.
They paused for just a brief second. "I hope you find him." Spencer said. Daryl smiled, just the tiniest bit. "Me too." He said, just slightly softer than normal. The engine started and they met each others eyes just one more time before Daryl closed the door.
This did not go unnoticed by Hotch. He looked between Reid and the truck. As it clicked. "Ahh, so you too have figured it out." Rossi said. Now standing next to Hotch.
"How long do you think it'll take for them to notice?" Rossi asked. Hotch smirked. "I'd say about a month or two." He said. "Care to make it a bet?" Rossi asked.
Why not?