Title: Too Late To Cry
By: angstytimelord
Pairing: Greg Sanders/Spencer Reid
Fandom: CSI: Las Vegas/Criminal Minds
Rating: PG-13
Table: 1drabble
Prompt: 34, Innocence
Disclaimer: This is entirely a product of my imagination, and I make no profit from it. I do not own the lovely Greg Sanders or Spencer Reid, unfortunately, just borrowing them for a while. Please do not sue.

***

Greg sighed, looking up at the clock with a frown.

He always hated waiting, even if only for a phone call. Patience had never been one of his virtues, and it never would be.

Spencer was away on a case, and he was waiting eagerly for his boyfriend to call him. He was in Texas, which wasn't too far away, so Greg hoped that Spencer would be able to come to Vegas for a while when the case was over.

This long-distance relationship thing wasn't easy, but so far, they were making it work as best they could, taking things one day at a time.

He'd never thought that he would be in a relationship like this, Greg mused, but then, he had thought that he'd never be involved with anyone seriously. He hadn't planned on falling in love.

No, that certainly hadn't been on his agenda when he had met Spencer.

He'd thought that Spencer Reid would simply be another client, someone to entertain for a night -- or a few nights -- and send on his way.

But Spencer had changed his life, in so many ways. Amazingly, Spencer loved him just as much as he loved Spencer -- another thing that he hadn't thought would ever happen. He'd never believed that anyone would fall in love with him.

Desire him, yes. He understood desire -- it was what fueled so many of the crimes he investigated as a CSI. Desire was plain and simple.

But love .... love had been a question mark to him in so many ways, before he had met the love of his life and the pieces had all fallen into place.

He hadn't been able to offer Spencer his innocence -- but Spencer obviously hadn't been expecting that. Still, Greg wished that he had been more pure, able to give Spencer something that he had never given to anyone else.

There was no use to wish for that, he told himself firmly. It was impossible, and anyway, innocence could be highly overrated.

Still, he'd held onto a bit of his innocence, until it had been ripped from him.

The horrible experience he'd been through had stolen that part of him that believed he was safe, the part of him that felt being an escort didn't bring any real dangers for a man who knew how to protect himself.

Greg closed his eyes, not wanting to remember Foyet's face, wishing that he could just erase the entire experience from his memory.

The last of his innocence might have been ripped away during that time, but he had learned some valuable lessons. And that experience had changed his life forever, given him a new direction.

He wasn't going to cry over that lost innocence. It was far too late for that. It was over and done, and he needed to move on.

He had Spencer now. And in the end, loving him was all that mattered.

***