Disclaimer - i don't own anything, apart from a lot of shame, almost a year since my last update, yikes :/

The Stories We Could Tell

Spencer winced as he watched Lacey haphazardly dump some books onto a shelf while awkwardly using her left elbow to push them to the back, so the ends weren't hanging off the side. Her splint, once white, over the last week and a bit had turned an off-white colour from the day to day tasks she was carrying out. Which mainly consisted of reading and watching reality shows.

"Are you sure that you're going to be okay?" Spencer asked, noting that his girlfriend was now rearranging the books into an order now that they were on the shelf.

"I'm going to be fine Spencer," Lacey huffed as she attempted to slide a heavy tomb further to the left awkwardly crossing her right arm across her body. "I have spent the last week lying on the couch, doing nothing. I am working today and going to night classes." She said, turning round to give him an inexpressive look.

Spencer nodded awkwardly, gripping his satchel strap with one hand and pushing his glasses up with the other. He watched as Lacey walked back towards the pile of books that had been stacked up behind the desk while Lacey had taken sick leave.

"Okay, well, I'll see you later then?" Spencer asked moving towards the door, sensing that Lacey was getting more annoyed by the minute. He glanced back to see Lacey waving absentmindedly at him, while reading the back of one of the many books that she was sorting through.

Rossi watched through his office window as the kid moved away from his desk, solely focused on his phone, to grab another cup of coffee. Double checking the time Rossi rose from his desk to intervene before the kid accidentally burned himself, while attempting to pour a cup of coffee and reading from the small screen at the same time.

Rossi arrived just in time to push the mug into the falling stream of coffee from the jug, smirking as the kid finally looked up in surprise. Jerking the jug back, causing the liquid to splash up to the opening, a few drops splattering on Reid's hand. Rossi raised his eyebrow, not saying anything waiting for Reid to share what had him so distracted. He expected the kid to share what puzzle, or literature had him so distracted but instead he watched as Reid quickly stuffed his phone into his trouser pocket without saying anything. Girl trouble then, he deduced as Reid's face slowly turned red.

"Flowers usually work," Rossi mentioned smoothly, grabbing another mug from the cupboard, deciding not to turn his full attention on the kid. "That or a nice Ossobuco alla Milanese." He added, nodding at his own mug, watching as Reid moved to pour some coffee for Rossi. "Then again, I'll be the first to admit that I don't have the best track record for relationships. Still something to consider." He smiled as the kid nodded awkwardly, still a distinct shade of red, swiping his coffee mug off the counter and leaving the kid to mull over his words of advice.

Spencer grabbed the folder from their last case, trying to finish the paper work before the end of the day, hoping to get away slightly early to see Lacey before she had her night class. He sighed as he realised he would need to visit Garcia's lair to confirm some of the information to finish the current report. He walked into Garcia's office to see Morgan and Garcia arguing over some takeout, most likely their lunch. He groaned internally knowing that the pair would be playing off on each other to tease him about his situation.

"Pretty boy," Morgan called out, using his chop sticks to hit Garcia's away from some dumplings sat in the container on the desk. "A little birdy told me that you had some relationship problems going on, grab a seat and tell us all about it."

"There's trouble in paradise? Why was this not mentioned my chocolate Adonis?" Garcia gasped head snapping up from inspecting her own meal, glaring quickly at Morgan before turning her attention to Reid. "Sweetness, tell mama all about it!"

Reid sighed realising that he wasn't going to escape the third degree that his co-workers had decided was crucial for him. "There is no trouble," he said, ignoring Garcia as she patted an empty seat near her.

"That my man," Morgan said pointing in Reid's direction, "is the face of a man drowning in relationship problems. What have you done? Missed date night? Missed your turn to buy the take out?" Morgan teased ignoring Garcia's attempts to steal some of his lunch.

"I haven't done anything," Spencer said, huffing as both colleges gave him a look of disbelief. "Why does everyone think I've done something?"

"Wine and Dining, my man." Morgan said, smacking Garcia's utensil out of his food to grab some himself. "Covers most wrongs," only to be interrupted by Garcia.

"Bunnies, oh my god, cuteness is needed, so much cuteness, buy my goddess a bunny." She cooed, ignoring Morgan's look of disbelief.

Spencer ignored both of them deciding that he could just get the information from J.J, turning to leave the office – something he should have thought of to begin with, ignoring Morgan's call for him to come back.

"You can't stop the love!" Garcia called, as he walked down the corridor towards the bullpen.

"My office door is always open if you need to talk" Hotch said, pausing beside Reid's desk in the mainly empty bullpen, a large pile of folder tucked under his arm. Before turning away, and heading back towards the mentioned room.

J.J laughed as Spencer dropped into one of the couches in her office, slumping low in the seat.

"One of those days then?" she asked moving from behind her desk to sit next to her friend.

"I just want Lacey to be okay, and I don't know what I did wrong." Spencer admitted, dropping his head back onto the top of the cushion.

"Okay," J.J said "and has she given any indication that she isn't okay?"

Spencer sighed, "No, but I'm just worried." He admitted, "Her arm still hurts and she's working alone in the shop and moving heavy books around all day."

"Lacey's been cooped up for weeks, doing nothing, she's probably just upset that you don't think that she's able to go back to work, you have to remember she's a grown up and can make her own decisions." J.J said, grasping Spencer's hand.

Spencer nodded listening to J.J, smiling as she squeezed his hand, glad that he had her to reassure him.

"I think you both need to take a minute, calm down and then apologies to each other tonight." J.J said, patting Spencer's hand one last time, before turning the conversation onto the case files that she was stuck doing.

"Spencer looked up from his book as he heard the front door of his apartment open, his legs folded under him as he was curled up on the couch. A few seconds later he heard Lacey's bag drop onto the floor on the opposite end of the couch.

"So, I owe you an apology," Lacey said, dropping onto the couch beside Spencer. Spencer dropped the book onto his legs, turning his head to look at his girlfriend, noticing that she looked exhausted. "I was a really mean this morning, my wrist was sore and I was in a mood and I shouldn't have taken it out on you."

Spencer thought back to what J.J had said that afternoon and smiled at Lacey. "I should have listened to you the first time you said you were okay, instead of badgering you all morning."

"Well you were right, i shouldn't have pushed to do a full shift by myself, but i didn't want to admit it. We're quite a sorry pair, aren't we?" Lacey said, "Truce?"

"Truce." Spencer agreed, smiling as Lacey reached over to pull Spencer into a hug. He quickly pulled himself away and grabbed an ice pack, bottle of water and pain killers form the kitchen, before returning to his seat on the couch.

"Thank you," Lacey said, kicking off her faded sneakers and accepting the items from Spencer. "Anyway,what was happening at your worked today that caused Penelope to send me multiple texts with just pictures of rabbits and exclamations marks?"

Spencer huffed a laugh before explaining his teams attempt at sharing relationship advice, wrapping his arm around Lacey as she leaned into his side.

Slightly shorter chapter as i attempt to get back into the style/flow. Review to let me know what you think, or to voice your disbelief at my ability to keep on track with my updates. Sorry ¯\_(ツ)_/¯