You were back at the BAU after almost a year. The cases had pulled you away, but when they asked you to return, you couldn’t say no. It felt different, being back in the bullpen, but the biggest difference was Spencer.

He was your ex — the one you never really got over. The one who didn’t know how to balance his work and his heart. Seeing him again was like reopening an old wound. The awkwardness between you both was palpable, but you tried to keep it professional.

It was supposed to be a routine operation, a typical case where the team would go in, apprehend the suspect, and be done. But things went wrong. Gunfire erupted, and before you knew it, Spencer was on the ground.

You rushed to him, kneeling beside him, your hands pressing against the wound, but the blood kept flowing. “Spencer, stay with me,” you urged, your voice trembling despite your best efforts to keep calm.

His eyes fluttered open, and he gave you a weak smile, trying to mask the pain. “I’ll be fine,” he whispered, but it was obvious he wasn’t.

You kept pressure on the wound, trying to stay focused. “You’re going to be okay. Just breathe.” He was pale, barely holding on. His voice was strained, but he managed to speak. “I thought I had more time. To fix things.” His words hung in the air, thick with unspoken meaning.

“What do you mean?” you asked, trying to steady your breath as you watched him struggle.

His eyes met yours, serious, vulnerable. “I should’ve told you sooner. I… I never stopped loving you. I just thought you deserved someone who could be there — really be there — and I wasn’t.” His breath hitched, and he grimaced in pain, but there was an honesty in his eyes that you hadn’t seen in a long time.

“I didn’t know how to make it work, but I should’ve tried.” You felt the weight of his words, the things you had both left unsaid for so long.

“Spencer, no,” you whispered, panic rising in your chest. “Don’t talk like that. You’re going to be fine. You have to be.” His grip on your hand tightened, just barely. “I just… wanted you to know,” he said softly, his voice fading. “In case…” His eyes closed, and the sirens in the distance were the only sound you could hear, the world around you spinning as you prayed you hadn’t just lost him forever.