Words: 2,682

_______________________

"Oh, come on, that was a good joke." Morgan says, throwing his arms out to the side after his joke got no reaction from Reid.

"It doesn't make sense." The young genius argued with a shrug as his team members laughed.

"Whatever." Derek waved him off, turning away. "At this point, you should write my best man speech for me."

"Yeah." Emily snorted. "Oh, man, I can't believe the team baby is getting married." The dark-haired woman joked. "You make me feel old."

"How do you think I feel?" David asked as he joined them. It was the end of the day, the team hadn't had a case and were just catching up on paperwork and other things that needed their attention.

Shaking his head at his team, Spencer turns away when his phone rings. He checks the caller ID before answering. It wasn't odd to get a call from his fiancée's brother but he was still confused for the reason for the call.

"Hey-" He tried to greet but was quickly cut off by the younger man.

"Spencer, it's Ryder." How could two simple words make it feel like your world was imploding? Two simple words. "She was in a car accident." Unbeknownst to Spencer, the entire team had gone quiet, they were staring at him worriedly. They heard his cut off greeting, only turned in curiosity to see their youngest member looking like he was about to faint. "I don't know much. I'm at the hospital, told them I'd call you. I'm waiting now."

"Where?" The single word barely pushed its way past his lips but when it did, Spencer snapped out of his frozen state and started collecting his things. It almost didn't register when Thomas told him which hospital they were at.

"Hey, kid, what's wrong?" Morgan asked when Spencer hung up his phone, marching towards the elevators.

"Ryder-" Clearing his throat when it cracked, Spencer tried again as he pushed the down arrow button harder than necessary. "She's at the hospital. Car accident."

"I'll drive." Moran didn't hesitate to follow Reid into the elevator. The team heard their youngest member and stood in shock, shouting that they'd meet them at the hospital just as the doors closed.

Spencer has experienced many long car rides in his life, some stretching on for many hours. But the young man would've sworn that the ride to the hospital was the longest one in his life. When Morgan stopped the car, he was out of the vehicle before it was even parked.

"She's okay." Were the first words out of Tommy's mouth as they entered the ER waiting room. "She's getting a CT now, they said she hit her head."

"What happened?" Spencer was barely able to ask. He felt relief hearing that she was okay but he was still worried. She hit her head, that could lead to many complications and any other injuries. And what about the baby?

"Another car hit her. She was coming to meet me." Guilt seeped into the young man's words. Thinking about his little sister hurt because of him, even if logically he knew it wasn't his fault.

"Do they know-?"

"Yeah, I told them." Tommy answered before Spencer could finish the question, already knowing what he was going to ask. "No ones told me anything about it though."

"About what?" Morgan couldn't stop himself from asking as he looked between the two younger men.

"Ryder's pregnant." Deep down Spencer felt bad for just telling him, Ryder had wanted to wait and tell everyone together but it didn't matter now. She could've-

"She'll be okay. They both will." Morgan quickly recovered from the news, guiding his friend to sit in a chair. "I'll go see if I can find anything out."

Resting his elbows on his knees, Spencer runs his hands through his hair. She was okay, the baby was okay, he just had to keep telling himself that. He felt like he was going to be sick. If anything happened to either one of them, he didn't know what he'd do. Getting that phone call from Thomas, his heart felt like it just disappeared, leaving nothing but emptiness and pain behind.

Being so distracted, Spencer didn't notice the others entering the room until a hand landed on his shoulder and he lifted his head. JJ and Emily were sitting on either side of him, solemn looks on their faces. They tried to smile for him but it didn't reach their eyes.

"Ryder Mathews family." A doctor said as he approached what felt like a lifetime later and everyone jumped to their feet, Spencer and Tommy at the front. "I'm Dr. Torres, would you like to speak somewhere more private?"

"No, here's fine." Tommy said before the man even had all the words out. He needed to know his sister was going to be okay.

"Okay." The doctor nodded. "Her left arm sustained a pretty bad break. We had to set it before putting it in the cast. Everything else is minor cuts and bruises. The hit to her head is what I was most concerned with. The CT scan did show some swelling but nothing major. I'd like to keep her overnight for observation, if everything looks good tomorrow she should be able to go home."

"And the baby?" Spencer sometimes wondered if doctors kept people in suspense on purpose.

"As soon as we were informed of Ms. Mathews' pregnancy, I called down our top OB/GYN. She was immediately checked over and I'm happy to say everything looks good, the baby is okay, very healthy."

"You can see her now." Dr. Torres said after everyone let out a giant breath of relief. "I'll have someone show you to her. You can all go in since it's a normal room, not the ICU, but it's late, I'm sorry to have to say that everyone who's not immediate family can't stay too long."

"Thank you." Spencer nodded, taking another deep breath as a nurse walked over, giving them a smile as she led everyone to Ryder's room.

"I called Steve, he and Natalie are on their way." Tommy informed Spener as they walked. "I'll call them again in a minute, update them."

"Yeah, thanks." Reid told him sincerely before everyone stopped in front of a door. The others stayed back, allowing Tom and Spencer to go in first.

Ryder was lying in bed, her head resting on the pillow as she looked out the window and into the dark night. It wasn't much of a view but she didn't feel like watching the old tv that played silently in the corner. She didn't want to be here, she hated hospitals with a passion.

The loud click signaled the door opening and Ryder turned her head to look over, smiling when she saw Spencer and her brother entering. "Hey." She greeted with a small smile. "I'm okay, I promise. Just a little sore." She cut in before they could say anything, the worried looks on their faces speaking volumes.

Both men approached her side, Spencer's hand softly coming up to cup her cheek, thumb hovering over the butterfly bandages on her forehead. His eyes closed and he left out a sigh, finally letting himself accept that she was really okay.

"Ry, I'm so sorry." Tommy whispered, his hand resting on his sister's knee.

"For what? You're not the one who hit me." Ryder told him, annoyed that he'd even think that this was his fault. "It was my decision to go out, no one else's. It was just an accident, they happen."

"And you," She started, turning her attention away from her brother and towards Spencer. "Stop running ever outcome that could have been through your head. Okay? I'm fine, we both are."

"I know." Spencer sighed, leaning into Ryder's touch as she brought her right hand over to rest on his cheek. "The teams here." He informed her after a moment of just letting himself be comforted by her. "And they know, about the baby."

"That's okay." Ryder said. "We were going to tell them soon anyway."

"Steve and Nat are on their way." Tommy told his sister, moving up to her side when Spencer moved around the bed so he could hold Ryder's hand that wasn't in a cast. "I was going to call them again after I made sure you were okay, let them know too."

"Thanks, Tommy." Ryder smiled up at her brother. "Don't keep them waiting, you know how Stevie gets."

"I'll be right back." He said, placing a kiss to her forehead, careful to avoid her injuries before stepping from the room and telling the others they could go in.

"Aww, sweetie." Penelope was the first to enter, none of the other team members tried to argue on the matter, they knew they'd lose if they did.

"I'm okay." Ryder was quick to assure as everyone gathered around her hospital bed, her grip on Spencer's hand tightening. "Thanks for coming, you guys didn't have too."

"Of course we did." Emily said from beside Spencer, placing her hand on Ryder's knee much like Thomas had.

"You're apart of our family." JJ told the younger woman, standing on Emily's other side. "We look after one another."

"She's right." Morgan nodded. Everyone had felt their hearts drop at the news of Ryder being in the hospital. And once news of her being pregnant reached their ears, they fell all over again. "We're glad you're okay. Both of you." He smiled at her from the foot of the bed. Now that he knew she was okay for sure, he could be happy and excited for them.

Ryder felt her lips pulling up in a big smile as she brought her hand, and in turn Spencer's, to rest on her stomach. "Sorry we didn't tell you guys sooner, we just wanted to wait a bit."

"No, we understand." JJ spoke, smiling down at the younger woman.

"I'm so happy for you guys." Garcia nearly squealed from Ryder's left side. "I'm spoiling this child and there's nothing you can do to stop me."

"Wouldn't dream of it." Ryder smiled up at the bright blonde. She wanted to do more but she was tired, there was no energy left in her.

A knock sounded at the door and it opened before anyone could speak again, revealing Tommy with Steve and Natalie. The latter of who rushed to her friend's side faster than she'd ever moved before. "Oh my goodness, you're okay. You're okay, right? And the baby's okay?" The model fired off the questions in rapid succession, having taken the place Garcia stood when the woman moved back. But once she realized what she'd said, she clapped a hand over her mouth, unaware that the people in the room already knew.

"I'm fine, we both are." Ryder assured her friend as Steve joined his girlfriend's side. "And they know."

"Even me." Steve smiled down at her, in no way upset that he'd only just found out. She wanted to wait to tell everyone, he understood that. He was just relieved that his best friend was okay. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm okay." Ryder told both her friends, hand still tightly clasped onto Spencer's. She couldn't bring herself to let go. "I'm sorry, um, you two haven't met everyone." Tommy might have met the team but Steve and Nat had yet to do so. "Guys, this is Steve and Natalie, my friends." She introduced, allowing everyone else to go around and say their names.

"It's good to meet you all." Steve nodded to everyone. "I just wish it was under different circumstances."

"That's on me, for not introducing you guys sooner." Ryder mumbled to the room, wanting to lift her hand but figured it was just easier not too. She was so grateful that they all came to check on her, but she was tired, hurt and just wanted to be alone with Spencer.

"That's okay." Nat spoke up, seeming to catch on to her friend's exhaustion. "You're okay, and that's what matters. Now, as much as we all want to stay, you need sleep."

"She's right." Emily nodded, smiling at Ryder when the younger woman looked up at her. "If you guys need anything, you just let us know, okay?" Ryder finally let go of Spencer hand then in order to return Emily's hug.

"Will do. Thank you." Pulling back, Emily makes room for JJ who also moved in to hug Ryder. "Thank you for coming."

"Of course."

Garcia was next then the others, all saying their goodbyes and wishing Ryder well. "We'll let you get some rest." Hotch says after everyone was still lingering around. Ryder had been trying to stifle her yawns since they got there. He knew everyone had been scared, he had been too, but he knew Ryder needed to be alone. And not just because she needed rest. He'd also be sure to let Reid knew not to show up for work for a while.

"I can stay if you want, but if not, I'll be back tomorrow." Tommy tells his sister as Spencer sees everyone else out.

"Thanks, Tommy. You go home, okay?" Ryder told her brother as she hugged him. "I love you."

"I love you, too, sis." Placing another kiss to her forehead, Tommy leaves his sisters side, and says a few words to Spencer before following the others out.

When Spencer saw everyone out, he'd been sure to tell them thank you once more. He loved his team, his family, he appreciated them so much but he'd be lying if he said he wasn't a little glad they were gone. Ryder was so tired, he just wanted to make sure she was okay, really okay. He couldn't do that with everyone around.

"I just realized how horrible I must look." Ryder says when Spencer rejoins her side, grimacing at the thought of how she looked.

"You're beautiful." Spencer smiled, taking hold of her hand. "As always. Try to get some sleep?"

"Lay with me?" Ryder asked, face falling now that everyone was gone.

"Are you sure? I don't wan-" He was worried he'd hurt her, she'd said she was just sore and he was inclined to believe her but he didn't want to accidentally hurt her more.

"Spence, please." Tears filled her eyes, Ryder wasn't even sure why. Maybe it was just hormones. Maybe because she could've lost her unborn child, could've died herself. All of the above.

Seeing her like this made Spencer sick. He just wanted her to smile, he hated seeing her so sad, broken. Wasting no more time, Reid climbed, carefully, onto the small hospital bed, slipping his arms around Ryder as the tears started to fall.

They were quiet at first, just salty streams falling down her face. But the silent tears became louder as she sobbed into Spencer's chest. The thought that it was selfish to cry entered her mind at some point. She was fine, in the end. The worst of her injuries was a broken arm and a bump on her head. Her baby was fine, she'd most likely be out of the hospital the next day. So, why be so upset?

The question went unanswered. Spencer just held Ryder tightly to him, even after she'd cried herself to sleep.

__________________________________