Title: Comfort
By: nancy
Fandom: Criminal Minds
Rating: PG
Pairing: Spencer/Gideon (pre-slash)
Spoilers: No Way Out
warnings: angst
summary: Spencer needs comfort after what he saw during the case.
notes: off-the-cuff, unbeta'd
***
It was after midnight by the time the dust cleared and they were settled at the small motel near Colgordon. The Sheriff had gone to the hospital to get checked out, her protests overridden by her worried husband. The children had been returned to their franticly relieved parents. Spencer sat in the center of the bed in his room, hugging his knees as his memory kept flashing what he’d seen in the trailer through his mind.
Spencer wasn’t sure why he couldn’t see the children with their parents instead, or something else that was equally as pleasant and comforting, but he couldn’t. The vivid remembrance included the stench of death that had made him gag at the scene and his stomach continuously roiled, adding to his paralysis.
He vaguely heard someone knocking at the door, half-understood that Gideon was there, calling his name, but literally couldn’t move. Spencer rocked a little, trying unsuccessfully to find a way out of the vile images assaulting his mind.
Jerking in shock when someone’s arms wrapped around him, Spencer fought, panicking, but the other was too strong. It took what felt like forever for the low, soothing rumble of Gideon’s voice to penetrate the prison of his mind. Collapsing against him, Spencer turned his face to Gideon’s chest and gripped the soft cotton shirt with both hands, clinging with a strength born of fear and horror. Once he stopped fighting, one of Gideon’s hands stroked along his spine.
“It’s okay, you’re safe, no one’s going to hurt you,” Gideon repeated, over and over. “I’ve got you, Spencer, you’re all right. You’re safe.”
“I can’t stop seeing it. The knives and saws and the bloodstains,” Spencer gasped at last.
Gideon’s lips pressed to the top of his head before he murmured, “I’m sorry you had to see it. I should have kept you with me.”
Shaking his head, Spencer pointed out, “There was no reason. You can’t sideline me because I might see something upsetting.”
Gideon sighed. “No, but I want to.”
The revelation surprised Spencer, but warmed him, countering the bitter cold that surrounded him. He stayed there for a few minutes, enjoying the feel of Gideon holding him, then sighed and started to pull away. To his surprise, Gideon didn’t let go.
Craning his head back, Spencer was going to ask what was going on, but the words died on his tongue. Gideon’s dark gaze kept his entranced. Their lips met in a soft, gentle kiss that stole his breath even as it electrified him. It didn’t last long and when Gideon pulled back, all Spencer could do was stare at him, utterly stupefied.
“I’ll stay the night.”
Spencer nodded agreement, though it had been a statement, not a question.
They stretched out on the bed together, fully clothed, and Spencer wrapped himself around Gideon. Having the other man’s arms around him, feeling the even rise and fall of Gideon’s chest as he breathed, the strong, masculine scent of him, all of it contrived to comfort and keep him grounded in the here and now.
When he finally closed his eyes to attempt to sleep, the only thing he saw was Gideon. Sighing deeply, Spencer relaxed the rest of the way and drifted to the sensation of Gideon’s fingers combing through his hair.