You really, really couldn’t do this without him.

Okay, maybe that’s an exaggeration. You could do this without Spencer, sure; you just really didn’t want to. He’d known JJ for much longer than you had, and you figured he’d be of much more use in consoling her over the death of her husband, Will. You were, admittedly, panicked. You weren’t good at this!

You weren’t like Rossi who words flowed so simply to— which, made sense, because his books wouldn’t do well if he wasn’t— or Spencer, who was worlds better at talking people down than you were. Though, you figured, even the most carefully crafted get-well wishes couldn’t assure her much. Even the efforts of Penelope were fruitless, and that, really, was saying something.

The day of Will’s funeral was what you were dreading, particularly. You’d tried your hand at directing some soothing words at JJ, and immediately decided you were making the situation worse. You’d given up any and all hope that Spencer would be graced with a trip to DC, with him being on assignment. An assignment that was probably very important and official or some bullshit like that. Either way, one that you were not entitled to the details of. While Emily and Penelope stayed behind for last minute preparations, you fled back to your and Spencer’s apartment to finish getting ready.

During events like this, you had to admit, your heart ached slightly upon seeing things like his empty side of the bed. You stared at it through the bathroom mirror, almost like he would materialize if you looked hard enough. Though, selfishly, you were almost glad that at least he was still on this plane of existence. You knew the grief of you and the grief of JJ were incomparable, and so you didn’t try.

“You look beautiful,” said a familiar voice.

You jumped. You were already resigned to the fact that this was a cruel trick of the mind, designed to solace you. Still, you turned around, and you realized this trick was all his, and it was anything but cruel. He was here.