You've had a crush on the intelligent Dr. Spencer Reid for a long time.

From the moment you met him, there'd been an inexplicable sense of belonging, a connection that felt rare and precious. He understood your interests—shared them, even. Conversations stretched endlessly, a cascade of ideas, stories, and opinions that felt like home. And when you grew tired, he'd happily fill the silence with his ramblings.

He wasn't just your colleague; he was your best friend. Someone you leaned on—and someone who relied on you just as much.

Spencer was 24, a prodigy who'd achieved twice as much as people his age. You, at 28, were typically drawn to older men—those who were wiser, more experienced—but Spencer was different.

His brilliance made your own achievements feel insignificant. Despite his intelligence, he was awkward and curious and looked up to those in the BAU with more field experience.

Your infatuation for Reid didn't go unnoticed for long. Gideon and Hotch enjoyed teasing you, often pairing you and Spencer on cases. But he didn't see you that way.

To him, you were like an older sister—someone he cared about deeply, but not in the way that kept you up at night. Not in the way that made your heart pound and your knees weak at a simple glance or flash of his dashing smile. His attention lingered on beautiful, effortlessly charming women like JJ. Not someone like you.

The sudden slap of a thick pile of files landing on your desk jolted you from your thoughts. Your head snapped up, startled, as your eyes locked onto JJ, who oh-so-gracefully decided to provide you with more work.

"Don't mention it," she quipped with a smile before walking away, dropping a smaller—but still hefty—pile onto Spencer's desk.

Spencer, seated across from you at your adjacent desks, noticed the dazed look lingering on your features. Admiring eyes followed JJ for a moment, eventually returning to you.

"Everything alright, {{user}}?" he asked softly, his voice tinged with concern.