Title: Oops Is the Worst Word Or Is It?
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: No Warnings
Fandom: Criminal Minds
Relationships: Aaron Hotchner/Spencer Reid
Tags: Second Chance, Getting Together
Summary: There were times that oops could be fun.
Word Count: 3,047
Beta: Grammarly



There were times that oops could be fun. There were times that hearing the word oops had been the cause of everyone running out of a room, especially in the chemistry classes that Spencer had taken at Caltech. The worst time to hear oops was when he was surrounded by young cops who didn't seem to have the sense the universe gave them.

"What did you do?" Spencer asked as he turned to look at the man who was actually older than him but had been in law enforcement for a lot less time.

"There was a string on the floor. I stepped on it. It wasn't visible until I was stepping on it."

Spencer looked at the man who was supposed to have cleared the room of all bobby traps before they had gone inside, the main detective who was running point on the case that the BAU had been called in for.

"Hotch?" Spencer called out over the radio.

"Yes?"

"Get everyone out of here. I'm going to see what kind of device was just tripped. Call the bomb squad just to be safe, please."

"I'm not leaving," the detective said.

"The last time someone set off one of these, not all of the pieces were found, Detective Shriver. So please, stay behind if you want." Spencer knew his tone was a little too hard, given that the detective didn't like him and thought he would be better on the BAU than Spencer. The man had an ego and didn't even want to be working with the BAU, but he had been left with no choice.

"Morgan called the bomb squad; we are pulling back to the range we think is safe," Hotch said.

"Good. I'll see what I can see." Spencer let go of the radio, the distance they were covering, looking for the UnSub. Given the terrain and the interference, they had decided that the Sheriff's Department radios were better than the normal comm system they brought with them.

Spencer followed the line from the left side of the officer's foot and found it was just connected to a leg of the table. He was careful as he moved around the other side. It was connected to the device, and while Spencer wasn't that learned on the type of device it was, he was pretty sure that it was something that was working pressure.

"What's your first name again?"

"Colton," he said.

"Okay, Colton, I need you to look around and see what kind of string or twine there is in this place."

"I see a spool of fishing line."

"Good. Where?"

"I can reach it without shifting my weight at all. Need it?"

"YUes." Spencer looked up to wait for it to be passed down. There was no way to make sure it didn't go off, but hopefully, he could get them both out of there.

Spencer was good at knots and wanted to make sure this one was even better than his best. He did a very big series of knots that had enough give to all the line to slip down to the apex point to make sure that it was taut.

"Okay, when I tell you, I want you to lift up your foot just a little. I'll tap your calf when you need to stop."

Spencer pulled the line taut as he could get it with the boot still on it. He was careful as he got it as close to the boot as possible. Thankfully the step hadn't been right in the middle but off to the side.

"How are you so calm?" Colton asked.

"I have done worse than this before and am good at what I do."

"Bomb squad is ten minutes out," Hotch said.

"Can you click your radio and relay what I am doing to Hotch?" Spencer asked.

Colton did as Spencer asked, giving the bare bones of his actions. Hopefully, they could hold it until the bomb squad got there, and they could take apart the simple device.

"Ready to lift your foot?"

"Yes."

"Go."

Colton lifted his foot super slowly, and as it started to give, Spencer pulled on his line to keep it where it needed to be to avoid going off. Spencer tapped his calf.

"Okay, we will do it again to get it out of the tread of your boot, and then you will leave. Don't run; just walk slowly and clear a path so I can move backward without any issue."

Spencer fed himself a little slack, but he pulled his arm back to tighten it to where there was none before he let go with one hand. The line stayed as taut as he wanted it before he tapped Colton's thigh again, and this time he moved until he was clear.

Colton used the table to make sure he didn't bump Spencer and then got out of the way altogether.

"When I get to the door, I'll tell you," Colton said.

"Okay. Quicky but slow and steady as well." Spencer hoped that Colton understood what he said.

It felt like ages before the all-clear was given, and so Spencer moved backward; he was careful as he moved.

There was nothing in his path, and when he got to the floorboard that was a little raised, Colton warned him. Spencer remembered noting it when they came in, but it was secure, not a place for hidden things since it didn't give. He stepped on the raised part carefully to make sure that his other foot was far behind before he started to raise the first foot.

It could only be fifteen feet from where Spencer had started to the door, but it felt like a mile.

"Go toe to toe from here," Hotch said.

Spencer slid his foot back and did as Hotch said. He trusted that he was being led correctly.

"And now, when you slide back, you are going to be going down a step on the outside porch."

Hotch's hands on him didn't startle him. He was pulled back at the same pace he had been walking before. There was more than enough line on the spool that Spencer wasn't worried about.

"Morgan's got everyone back well beyond the line. The detective made a stink and has Morgan pissed off at him. So, it's just me here, and I know you were okay with Colton, but I wanted to be here for you."

"It's okay; I'm good with this. Do'nt worry. Is my path clear?"

"Yes. As soon as I figured out what you were doping, I had Morgan help me clear the area. I also have a brick that we are going to wrap the line around and then tighten it and set it down. If it goes off, it goes off. As long as we are far away from where this is, I don't care if it goes off."

"Agreed. I want that detective's head."

"Oh, that's the least of his worries. He was blaming Colton. It's fine. I'll make sure that nothing happens to Colton about this."

Spencer stopped when Hotch squeezed his hands on Spencer's shoulders. He turned when he was pulled that way, seeing the massive brick that Hotch was talking about sitting on the table.

"Get a good hold on the line, wrapped a finger or something. I'm going to wrap the line around and then place it; then we will slide the brick back until it's taut."

It was easy to place all trust in Hotch at this moment. Spencer knew why he was the one who was picked to stay back. Morgan might have more knowledge about the bomb that would go off, but he and Spencer sometimes had a feedback loop between them. This was much calmer than it would be otherwise.

"Ready?" Hotch asked.

As soon as Spencer nodded, he started to do what Hotch wanted him to do. He settled in as he passed off the spool to Hotch. As soon as Hotch started to settle the brick down, Spencer began to move his finger, letting just a single loop of string off as he kept it taut until he was free of it and Hotch had the brick pulled back.

"Let's get out of here."

Spencer followed Hotch out, not thinking about anything but putting his feet in front of the other. It was tiring, being on alert like that for as long as he had.

"Are you okay?" Mogan asked as he handed over a bottle of water to Spencenad and then to Hotch.

"Yes, just tired. Hopefully, the bomb squad can do something, and we can figure out who the UnSub is." Spencer looked at the group of people.

"We have," JJ said as she handed over the tablet with a deed on it.

Spencer read it over and frowned, then looked around again for the detective.

"We chose to take him into custody and then wait for you two to get back instead of radioing it," Morgan said.

"Reid?" Hotch asked.

"The detective we have been working this. This cabin is in his wife's maiden name."

"You commented about how rare her maiden name was, and when the deed came through, I was sure it was her," JJ said.

Spencer nodded. He looked at the deed again. The town they were in didn't really have digital records. Prentiss was at the town hall working on finding everything they could about everything. It had worked out in the end for them.

There was a lot for Spencer to process from the case, but the biggest was that he was probably the one that was the target of the cabin blowing up. It was the only thing that made sense. He had needed a break, and Hotch had agreed to let him go on the raid because he needed to get out of his head.

"We can go home," Spencer said. He walked over to the back of the van that had brought out the equipment they had used to set up the command center to search the woods and sat down. "I'm going to nap back here. Can I have your coat, Morgan?"

Morgan tossed it over, and then Hotch tossed his coat as well.

Spencer balled up Hotch's, using it as a pillow, and then Morgna's over his upper body. He was exhausted from the bomb stuff and the fact that he had been up most of the night working with Prentiss on reading files about the area to get a good read of what was happening.

"How long do you think it will take him to realize that the detective wanted him dead?" Morgan asked.

"I'm sure that he already has, Morgan. Not much escapes him when it comes to that. He'll talk it out with someone when he's ready, don't push him."

Spencer wondered how long Morgan would actually hold to that.

---

Dropping his last paper into the shred pile on the desk, he made sure his notes were all correct on the files on the computer before he sent it and started the process of shutting it down. He was ready for a few days off.

The team would be off for the rest of the week since they had worked back-to-back cases for a while. The long weekend was much needed. Five days off was close enough to a vacation for Spencer.

Spencer took his time packing his bag as he wasn't sure what he wanted to get for a late dinner, and a few minutes to think it over was a good idea.

There was a stack of books at home that he was planning to spend at least the next day reading before he started to do things that involved his body as much as his brain.

He shut off the light in the bullpen since he was the last one there before he headed to the elevator.

The doors were closing when his phone started to ring. He looked at the number and smiled. He wasn't going to answer as the carrier he used didn't like the building, and it would drop on him.

Once he was on the ground floor and the doors were open, Spencer opened up the app and called Hotch back.

"Hey, I was just getting in the elevator," Spencer said instead of waiting for Hotch to give him a greeting.

"I figured since I knew you were at work still. I'm glad you are getting out of there."

"That report from the kidnapping case was kicked back to me again, and the changes they wanted are again covering up what really happened.d I sent it back the same and CC'd you as well as Cruz on it. Then I finished the rest of the stuff. I might have made the case before more technical than I should have, but I'm pissy."

"I would be as well. I'll make sure that it's not kicked back. I'll check with Morgan and the rest."

"I got the kickback after they had left, so it'll be waiting for them in their inbox when they get back."

"I'll file that into the deal with later file. Did you drive in today?"

"No, I didn't. The Amazon is getting a few small things fixed on it. My guy found a few parts that were in better condition than what was already on the car. Why?"

"I'm still in town. I had a dinner meeting tonight, and Jack's already asleep. I'll take you home. I can be there in a few minutes."

"Okay. I'll get outside and wait in the normal spot." Spencer smiled at the guards who were by the doors. The ones on duty were used to him coming and going at all hours.

Spencer didn't like leaving anything to be done later. He wanted it done when he was fresh on it. It didn't change his opinion, but it made sure he had a good grasp of the rest of his work before he took on other cases that he consulted on from a long distance.

Hotch pulled up a few minutes later, opening the door before Spencer got there. Spencer hadn't let him get out and open the door for him, so he settled for doing what he was doing here.

"Thank you," Spencer said.

"You are welcome. Was the report that bad on what they wanted to be changed?"

"I would say that someone on that squad of officers had a friend in a high place and doesn't want it known that they are a racist asshole."

Hotch hummed and looked at Spencer until Spencer buckled in. There were times when Hotch was a mother hen.

"We need to talk," Hotch said once they were on the highway.

"About?"

"Us."

Spencer stiffened and gripped the seat belt strap harder. This was not where he thought that this night was going to go.

"I thought there was no us. You said there couldn't be."

"I thought that there not being an us would make it easier if something happened to you. Yesterday, I learned that was not true."

"And so you ambushed me?"

"I offered a ride as I have done many times before. I hoped you were willing and still there as I assumed you would be. We tried it, Spencer. Well, I tried it after telling you that I could never act on this. I was...I can't say that my age wasn't a part of it, but in the end, what I wanted to have happen was going to happen. I can't be apart from you if you still want this."

Spencer knew that he should answer right away, but he wanted to think about what Aaron was offering there without any kind of bias.

"I can't just...I need time to think about it," Spencer said.

"Of course," Hotch said.

"Can we get dinner for me somewhere before taking me home?"

"What are you feeling?"

"I am not sure. There is not a lot open near my place this time of the night that is things I like or would eat."

"I know a place that has something you'll like." Hotch smiled at Spencer before looking back at the road.

Spencer felt like he needed to fiddle with something. There had been a single kiss between them before Hotch had thrown cold water over it all. Everything he had said had been about him and his feelings on the subject. It had been centered around Hotch's feelings, Hotch's wants, so Spencer had felt like he couldn't say no. It was good to know that Hotch was regretting it, even if Spencer didn't want that anymore.

There wasn't an ounce of anger about it. Spencer understood everything that Hotch said. He wanted to be taken a chance on, and that was the part that hurt. Hurt was the best term for it all. He was hurt, and he didn't like it. No one had gotten close before the BAU team had slipped under his skin. For a while after Gideon left, Spencer thought that maybe he needed to go back to that, but he didn't like the thought of not being close to Morgan and JJ at the time.

Then Hotch got under Spencer's skin, and things took an even harder turn when things happened that caused Spencer to fall in love with the man. Spencer had been in love for a while before Hotch had even kissed him. For a few brief moments, he thought he would get what he wanted. Then it changed. Spencer's feelings were not Hotch's to manage, so Spencer had tucked it all into a box.

That box was hidden deep so he could keep the friendship he had because, at the end of the day, he would rather have the friendship than nothing.

"What kind of food did you eat for dinner?"

"Picked at a salad as the place that I hate," Aaron said.

"Then why don't you pick something you're in the mood for, and we can have a date?"

"Yes."

Spencer waited for Hotch to lay his hand on the gear, and he reached over and covered it with his own, a smile on his face.

The End