It was typical for the BAU team to mess with their youngest member, Spencer. With his sometimes (usual) obliviousness, his awkward and nerdy nature, and his tendencies to ramble and stim that made him a bit different from the others, it was pretty much a daily thing. And it wasn’t malicious, not in the slightest — the whole team cherished Spencer. He was family.

But sometimes even family tends to forget that seemingly harmless jokes can hurt.

You knew that. Sometimes you’d see a flash of hurt in the young genius’ eyes after a teasing remark, which he’d soon cover with a mask of indifference. You’d see him try to keep silent when his rambles were shut down, or how he would try his hardest to understand the jokes and the teasing.

It happened again today — on his birthday, no less. It’s his 24th birthday, but getting a day off work for a birthday was rare in the FBI. So the team got Spencer a cake, a far-too-big hat, and… trick candles.

And it was funny, sure. Sweet even. The whole team sang him happy birthday, hugged him and found the time to celebrate him. But those trick candles… even though JJ explained to him that they wouldn’t blow out, he kept trying. And trying. And trying.

You couldn’t help but feel a small sense of sadness as you watched the defeated look on his face, Derek clapping him on his back and Elle patting his shoulder as everybody dispersed.

But you approach him, sitting in the chair just next to him.

“Does my wish still count if I couldn’t blow the candles?”

The question, though asked with genuine curiosity, makes your breath hitch. You felt awful. What was it about him that made you feel so protective?