Spencer struggled with how he was going to approach the subject of Ryder with his team. He wanted her there when he told them, wherever there was. It was a rare moment for Spencer, not knowing how to do something.

He was thankful to Emily as well for not saying anything to the team, but he didn't miss the looks she gave him whenever he left to take a phone call or rushed out of work some nights.

He even considered asking Emily for advice at one point but decided against it and the problem soon got pushed to the back burner as a case came up and he had to give all his attention to it.

And little did he know that when they returned from their case that the perfect opportunity would present itself.

"Team dinner, my house, tomorrow night." Rossi announced to the room, not even voicing it as a question as he wouldn't take no for an answer. The team tries to get together to have a calm dinner on occasion, usually hosted at Rossi's.

The team goes out a lot, usually for drinks and or food but half the time the whole team can't come and being at a crowded bar or someplace else with lots of people isn't the same as a quiet sit down that the team can relax and enjoy each other's company outside of work. It was the perfect opportunity.

"Um-" Was all Spencer was able to get out before being interrupted by Morgan.

"No, not this time, kid, you are not canceling." He said sternly as he pointed at him.

"No, actually I was just wondering if..." Spencer trailed off, glancing first at Hotch then at Emily, the latter giving him a small nod of encouragement as she figured out what he was trying to say. "I was wondering if I could bring someone." He finally got out, hating the feel of everyone's eyes on him.

"Uh, of course," Rossi said as he shared a look with the others. "The more the merrier."

Nodding his head, Spencer continues collecting his things before making his exit, not wanting to stick around for the questions he was sure the others had, briefly catching Emily's eye as she sent him a smile.

It was almost like a weight off his shoulders but it was replaced by a pit in his stomach that he guessed would be there until dinner the next night came.

"Ryder?" Spencer said as he stepped into the apartment, setting his stuff on the table, turning around when he didn't get a response, the sight of a barstool knocked over catching his eye. "Ryder?"

Walking closer, Spencer felt his heart drop and his hand go to his gun at the sight of blood, a decent-sized pile on the floor, a trail leading down the hall.

Keeping his gun holstered but his hand near it, Spencer follows the trail down the hall until he came upon the cracked bathroom door, slowly pushing it open to reveal Ryder sitting atop the closed toilet with her bloodied wrist in her lap.

"Ryder?" Spencer says for the third time, finally catching her attention as he rushing to his girlfriend. "What the hell happened." He asks as he takes the towel from her, lifting it slightly to see a gash down her small wrist.

"I'm an idiot, that's what happened." She told him, trying to laugh it off but he could hear the pain shinning through her voice.

"Shit, this need stitches," Spencer said as he put pressure on the wound, trying to ignore the way the towel was becoming soaked.

"Is it really that bad?" Ryder asks, looking down at the wound, happy that she wasn't affected by the sight of blood.

"Yeah, come on, I'm taking you to the hospital." Spencer said, not leaving room for argument as he helped her to her feet and led her out of the bathroom. "Where are your keys?"

"In my purse, on the table." Ryder told him as she held her wrist to her chest as Spencer grabbed them before returning to her and leading her outside and to her car where he then drove them to the hospital.

"This is a pretty nasty gash." The nurse said as she started stitching up Ryder's arm, having numbed it and stopped the bleeding. "Mind if I ask how you got it?"

"I wasn't paying attention," Ryder reluctantly admitted, watching the nurse work. "Broke a glass, tried to clean it up, somehow ended up with this. Probably would've bled out on the bathroom floor if Spencer hadn't come home."

"Ah, been there, I've always been clumsy." The nurse says as she continues her work.

"It's a curse." Ryder mumbles, turning her attention to Reid as he stands by her side, holding her uninjured hand in his own.

"You scared me half to death." He told her, squeezing her hand.

"What can I say, it was my turn." Ryder joked.

"And we're all done." The nurse said, half of her cheeriness faked as she's been on her shift for many hours. "Just keep the wounded area clean and dry, change the bandages daily."

"Thank you." Ryder tells the lady politely, standing from the bed and walking with Spencer to sign some papers before finally leaving the hospital. Ryder didn't like hospitals and didn't want to be in there any longer than she had to be.

"I'm canceling dinner tomorrow." Spencer says once their both seated in Ryder's car.

"What?" She asks, having no idea what her boyfriend was talking about.

"The team's having dinner at Rossi's tomorrow and I told them I was bringing someone. But I'm going to cancel." Spencer explained as he navigated through the streets.

"What? No, I'm fine." Ryder said, not wanting to miss out on this opportunity to finally meet Spencer's team. "Really Spence, it's not that bad. I'm okay."

Quickly glancing over at her and seeing the hopeful look in her eyes, Spencer realized he couldn't tell her no. "Okay, if you're feeling okay we'll go."

"Yes!" Ryder said as she sat straight in her seat, suddenly feeling tired, a yawn escaping her.

"Let's just get you home."

"Good idea." Ryder mumbled, leaning to rest her hand against the cars cool window.

The next thing she knew, Ryder was being shaken awake by a hand on her shoulder. "Five more minutes." She mumbled, drawing a small laugh from Spencer.

"You can't sleep in the car, Ry." Spencer told her. He hadn't wanted to wake her but Spencer knew he wouldn't have been able to get her out of the car and up to the apartment without doing so anyway.

Grumbling, Ryder opened her eyes with a yawn and allowed Spencer to unhook her seatbelt before he went around to car to help her out of it. "I'm sorry."

"You don't have anything to be sorry for, let's just get you upstairs so you can sleep." Spencer said as the two made their way inside and up to Ryder's apartment.

Letting Spencer lock the apartment door, Ryder walks passed the kitchen and living room, down the hall and into her bedroom, sitting on the bed to remove her pants so she wouldn't fall over.

After fighting off the tight fabric, Ryder stands before walking over to retrieve her sleeping shorts and slipping them on before removing her slightly bloodied shirt. She'd probably just throw it out, she didn't like that one much anyway.

"You feel okay?" Spencer asks the younger women as he wraps his arms around her from behind, his hand skimming over the uneven ridges in her skin, reminding him of the first time he'd seen them.

It had been a night a lot like her birthday. Spencer had come over, the couple having plans to go out, and found Ryder in her studio lost in her head. He had watched her for a moment before reminding her of the time, causing her to rush to her bedroom, shedding her shirt as she went.

He hadn't meant to watch her but his eyes had landed on her back and he found himself walking closer to her as his eye caught sight of the marks on her smooth skin. He had asked her about them carefully, not wanting to make her uncomfortable, but he'd already seen them and there was no way he could've ignored them.

She had acted like she didn't mind, but Spencer could tell by the shift in her body language that she was uncomfortable about it and he had apologized for asking but she just shook her head and reminded him of the time she'd spent in foster care before being adopted. She didn't give any details, she had just said, "I'm sure you know better than anyone that not all people are good people." And left it at that.

"I'm okay, just tired." Ryder said, pulling Spencer from his thoughts and back to the present time. "My whole arm is numb."

"The feeling will be back by morning." Spencer told her as he gently lifted her injured arm in his own. "I walked in and saw the blood, I didn't know what to think." He told her as he pulled her into his arms.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to worry you." Ryder said as she wrapped her arms around Spencer, being careful with her injured wrist. "But now you know how I feel every time you walk out that door." She told him, pulling away to look up at him, only half-joking.

"Yeah," Spencer mumbled against her lips before kissing her. "Come on, you need sleep."

Nodding her head, Ryder pulls away, grabbing a random T-shirt she assumes was Reids and throws it on before climbing into bed.

"Goodnight," She says to Spencer, her voice muffled by the pillow she was burying her face in.

"Goodnight, love." Spencer whispers with a smile, leaning over to place a kiss on Ryder's cheek.

Ryder has been nervous before, many time actualy, she's had trouble with anxiety in the passed. It's safe to say this was one of those times.

"What should I wear? Do we need to bring anything? Are you sure they'll like me?" She asked Spencer as she looked through her many clothes, Spencer watching her in amusement from his seat in her desk chair he had rolled over.

She had asked him these question already and he had assured her that it didn't matter and of course they would love her. She would calm down for a few minutes before jumping back up, her nerves preventing her from sitting still.

"Don't look at me like that," She told him with a pout when she turned to see his face. "I just want tonight to go perfect."

"I know, me too." He told her as he stood. The truth was Spencer was also nervous, he knew the team would like Ryder, it's impossible not too, but the was still scared about how the night would go.

"Okay, it's fine," Ryder said, to herself or to him Spencer wasn't sure, but he guessed it was a mixture of both. "Should I go casual casual, or dressy casual?" She asked him as she battled to get her emotions under control.

"Whatever you decide will be perfect." Spencer told her as he crossed his arms, leaning against the doorframe.

"That's no help," She told him before turning back to her clothes, trying to decide over pants or a skirt.

After much debate with herself, Ryder finally decided on some grey jeans with a pastel pink sweater that hung loosely on her thin frame, deciding to wear her black hightops. The only jewelry being some earrings and the necklace Spencer had gotten her for her birthday. Her hair styled into loose curls.

"You look beautiful." Spencer told her as he took hold of her hand.

"And you look very handsome." She said as they walked out of her apartment. "We're not going to be late, are we?"

"We'll be fine." Spencer said as they loaded into her car, Spencer choosing to drive as Ryder's never been to Rossi's before.

"Okay." Was all Ryder said as she looked out the window, wringing her hands in her lap.

Reaching over with the hand, not on the steering wheel, Spencer grabs both of her hands in his, drawing her attention to his face.

"We'll be fine." Spencer told her one last time, and she truly believed him.