TWENTY-SIX. THE FIRST PRISON VISIT

RHEA HAD REACHED THE POINT OF HER GRIEF WHERE SHE HAD THROWN HERSELF INTO HER WORK TO DISTRACT FROM EVERYTHING ELSE IN HER LIFE. Her classroom was brimming with new artwork from her kids, the walls and ceiling covered in bright, beautiful colours. She'd started a new creative writing corner where all of their poems and short stories were compiled into large binders for them to read, and the personal library that was set up behind her desk now had new handmade bookmarks to go with the various stories she'd brought in. 

Most of her students had been thriving in the new workload, while others fell behind a little. Rhea didn't mind, she was happy to help wherever she could. It was as if it gave her a purpose. To be able to support her kids gave her an incentive to work harder, which in turn made them feel happier, which meant she was doing something good. 

"Miss Reeves?" Winnie asked softly, having waited for all of the other students to file out of the classroom as lunchtime rolled around. Her fingers were nervously twirling her braids and her beautiful brown eyes were filled with deep concern. "Are you okay?"

Rhea hadn't noticed the seven-year-old trailing after her until she started speaking. Briefly pausing from wiping down the tables, she looked under her arm to see the child, managing a smile. "What was that, honey?"

Winnie tilted her head, scratching her cheek. "I, um, I asked if you were okay."

"Of course," Rhea turned, squatting down so they were at the same level. Her eyes were tired, and her face was thinning from lack of self care, but she wasn't about to let a child try and take on her pain. "Thank you for asking, though. That's very kind of you."

Winnie's lip quirked slightly - and Rhea chuckled, poking the small frown line between her eyebrows. "Okay. It's just..."

"Just what?"

Winnie averted her eyes. "You don't look happy anymore."

Rhea sighed softly, looking down at her hands. She twisted the friendship ring she and Daisy shared, and tried her best not to spiral. "Sometimes being happy gets a little hard, even for grownups. But you know what?"

"What?"

Rhea forced a grin. "I'm happiest when I'm in this classroom, where I get to see all of you guys, and Mr Creed, and Principal Brown. I love this school, and I love all you kids."

"We love you too, Miss Reeves," Winnie practically leapt forward to embrace her teacher. Rhea fought back the tears that threatened to spill, holding the girl back just as tight. "You're my most favourite teacher in the whole wide world."

"Oh, thank you, sweetheart," Rhea's voice was soft, as if it would break if she spoke any louder. She let Winnie go and wiped her eyes with the back of her sleeve. "That's a very nice thing to say."

Winnie beamed, not fully realising the emotional impact she had just had on her teacher. 

★☆ 

FROM: PENELOPE GARCIA

Hey honey! Just wanted to let you know that your visitation slot with Reid is on Saturday at 11am. I left a pamphlet with the instructions in your mailbox xx

Rhea stared down at said pamphlet with a sick feeling in her stomach. It was nicely made courtesy of Penelope, and gave her all the information she needed to get to the prison to see Spencer. 

Spencer and prison were two words that didn't belong together. 

She shuddered as she stepped off of the prison bus, the cold weather seeping into her bones. She didn't know why she was so nervous about her first visit - probably because it had already been a month since he'd been sent here, and due to the unclear visitation system, she had been sidelined. It was no one's fault but her own, purely because she had no idea what to do when she saw him for the first time in a while. 

It wasn't as if she didn't want to see him. She missed him more than anything. She just couldn't bring herself to look him in the eye and comfort him when she had no control over the future. She couldn't fix his situation, and that made her feel utterly useless. 

Her mind remained blurry and lost as she was led through to the group visitation room, her eyes scanning to find him in the sea of people. It took her a few minutes due to the anxiety eating away at her, but once she saw him, she felt her heart stutter. 

His hair had grown long and unruly, and as she drew closer, she noticed scuffs on his skin. 

She hardly heard the wolf whistles and inappropriate comments flying her way as she walked down the aisle to sit opposite Spencer. All of her attention was on him, and there was nothing that could change that.

Tears clouded her eyes at the sight of his bruised face. She hardly knew anything besides what she could squeeze out of JJ and Garcia. They didn't want her knowing anything that would freak her out, which left her scared, and in the dark. 

"Stop looking at me like that," Spencer said softly, his eyes dark from lack of sleep. She wanted nothing more than to reach out and touch him, but she couldn't. He seemed so...off. That was no surprise, but it didn't hurt any less to see him this way. "Rhea, I'm fine."

"Do you really think I'm gonna believe that?" she quirked an eyebrow, causing Spencer to smile slightly. She lifted her hand to the glass - he did the same. It was the closest they could get for now. "I miss you, Spence."

"I miss you too," Spencer's fingers curled as if he could hold her.

She was trying to figure out what to say - what do do other than comfort him and try to make him forget about his current situation. But she kept drawing a blank, and felt awful every time. 

"Baby, do a spin for us!" someone called, causing Spencer's jaw to tighten. His head whipped around to find who had yelled, and Rhea knocked on the glass to regain his attention. 

"It doesn't bother me," she assured him. It was only half true. She hated the way the words made her skin crawl, but he didn't need to know that.

"It bothers me," Spencer grumbled, eyes averting to the table. "I...I hate that I can't stop it."

"It's not your job," Rhea insisted, tilting her head to the side. Her hand tangled in her braids, twirling them around her fingers as a self-soothing technique. "Besides, you're not gonna be in here much longer, right?"

Spencer exhaled. "I hope so."

A silence fell between them. Rhea didn't mind too much, she was too busy soaking in his figure. He looked like an entirely different person here - in a prison uniform instead of his usual attire, fatigued, and lacking stimulation from his job and hobbies. He was a shell. 

He looked up to meet her eyes. "What?"

Rhea thought for a second. "Your hair."

He instinctively reached up to touch it. "What about it?"

How was she supposed to tell him she wanted to run her fingers through the curls? Her cheeks warmed at the thought. "It looks nice. I like it long."

"Really?" he perked up a little. 

Rhea then chuckled, gesturing to his body. "You've gotten some muscles, too."

Spencer smiled, grateful for the slight lift in mood. He ran his hand down his arm unconsciously. "Maybe I can finally beat you in an arm wrestle."

"Oh, I don't know about that," she teased, shifting in her seat and leaning forward. She too was thankful for the change of subject. "But I'd still like to see it. You know I like my men strong."

What was that on Spencer's lips? A smirk? "Maybe I should start doing push-ups in free time, then, if this is what gets your attention."

Rhea grinned. "You know you're the only man for me, pretty boy."

That caught him off guard. He dipped his head and chuckled, his cheeks flushing a deep red. It was funny, a few words from her had turned him back into the stuttering agent he had been only months ago. It was as if for a moment, they'd forgotten their dire circumstances. "So, what have you been up to then? I mean, I'm sure you've been bored without me around."

"Oh, of course," Rhea replied, as if it were obvious. She adjusted her sleeves, thinking for a moment. "Anderson and I went to the movies. We saw that one with Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe...The Nice Guys? It was funny, but I don't think it's your cup of tea."

His eye twitched. "Anderson?"

"Yeah, we've been hanging out," she said, not noticing the jealousy flicker across his face. "Well, technically he's my unofficial security detail. He's been really good to have around, actually. We've been doing some personal training."

"Personal training," Spencer repeated, brows raised. Rhea nodded, lacing her fingers together in front of her. "But you already know how to fight."

"He didn't know that," she shrugged, smiling cheekily. "You should've seen his face when I knocked him on his ass."

"Atta girl," Spencer couldn't help but return the smile. 

And that smile? The sight of his lips turning up, even for the fewest of seconds?

That was enough for the light inside Rhea to brighten, even just a little. 

★☆ 

not a fan of this chapter but i haven't updated in yonks due to mental health tingz so here ya go xoxo