Title: Other Side of the Rain
By: angstytimelord
Pairing: Spencer Reid/Ethan Delacroix
Fandom: Criminal Minds
Rating: PG-13
Author's Note: Spoilers for the Criminal Minds episode "Jones". I've also taken the liberty of creating a last name for Ethan, as his last name wasn't revealed on the show.
Disclaimer: This is entirely a product of my imagination, and I make no profit from it. I do not own the lovely Spencer Reid or Ethan Delacroix, just borrowing them for a while. Please do not sue.

***

Spencer awakened in the dead of night, the darkness all around him, broken only by the soft glow of the streetlight that was just outside his window. He liked the presence of that light; it wasn't bright enough to bother him, and it made him feel safe.

He sat up in bed, frowning at the feeling of unease that had settled over him. Something wasn't quite right; he could feel a tension in the air that wasn't usually here, an anticipation, as though the very atmosphere was holding its breath, waiting for some surprise.

Maybe that was only because Ethan was here, in his apartment. Spencer couldn't hold back the shiver of happiness that ran down his spine at the thought; of all the people Ethan knew, he was the person that this man had come to when he had needed someone.

Ethan had explained why he was here .... somewhat. Spencer felt that there was more to Ethan being here in DC than what he'd chosen to tell, but if there was more to the story, he knew that he would find out in time. He didn't need to push.

After they'd had dinner, they had gone to the hotel that Ethan was staying at and checked him out. He had told Spencer that he would stay there for a few days, but Spencer wouldn't hear of it. He wanted Ethan here, in his apartment, close to him.

Now that the man he'd always loved was here in DC, he felt a surge of hope within himself, something that he hadn't felt in a long time. All of the little worries that nagged at him seemed to have been swept away, as though they no longer mattered in his world.

All that was left was Ethan, and how he felt about this man. He had been granted a second chance at his heart's desire, and this time, he wasn't going to fumble and drop the ball. He was going to make a go of this, even if he might not always do the right thing along the way.

Throwing the covers back, Spencer swung his long legs out of bed, not caring that he was clad only in boxers and a t-shirt. Ethan was more than likely asleep on the couch; he hoped that he wouldn't wake the other man up if he went into the kitchen for a bottle of water.

He padded quietly out of his bedroom and down the hallway, glancing towards the couch, expecting to see Ethan sleeping soundly underneath the sheet and quilt that Spencer had provided. But Ethan wasn't there -- and within a few seconds, Spencer could see why.

The breath seemed to exit his lungs all at once; he was struck by the sight presented to his eyes, unable to tear his gaze away. Ethan was standing n front of the window, his bare body silvered by the moonlight, looking out at the city below the fourth-floor window.

Spencer wanted to stand here and observe Ethan quietly for the rest of his life; he couldn't believe that anyone could look so beautiful -- and so utterly desirable -- simply standing in the wash of moonlight. He was sure that he could feel his heart contract, then expand.

As though he could sense Spencer's gaze on him, Ethan glanced towards him, then looked back out of the window again. He heaved a sigh, raising his hand as though he was gesturing Spencer closer. After a moment of indecision, Spencer went to him, slowly, not sure what to say.

When he reached Ethan's side, he didn't know if he should touch the other man or not; he wanted to, but he was afraid to do anything that might break the spell they seemed to be under. Slowly, hesitantly, he moved his hands to Ethan's hips, finally touching that soft, glowing skin.

The world seemed to tilt and spin wildly on its axis; he was finally touching Ethan, after all these years. This was what he'd wanted since he was a teenager and had been old enough to truly understand desire -- and that desire was flaring hot and high within him.

Ethan was so close that Spencer could feel the heat of his body; all he had to do was wrap his arms around the other man's waist to pull him close, to feel that slim body pressed intimately against his own. But this was enough for now; there was no need to hurry.

"I didn't tell you the whole truth about why I came here," Ethan said abruptly, his voice breaking the stillness of the moonlit room. "Yeah, I got a job here, and I felt like it was time to leave New Orleans, but that's not all there is to it. There's a lot more."

"You can tell me if you want to," Spencer whispered, not wanting to push Ethan into revealing anything that he might not be ready to talk about. "It's not important now, Ethan. Whenever you're ready to talk, I'll be here to listen. I'm not going anywhere."

"I still can't quite believe that you're really here, and that you want me to be here with you," Ethan told him, his voice hushed. "It's like I'm living in a dream, and a part of me is scared that I'm going to wake up from it and be right back where I was before."

"What was so bad about New Orleans that you had to leave? Did you have problems with some of the people there, or what?" Spencer couldn't hold back the question, even though he'd told himself that he wasn't going to pry into Ethan's past. It was really none of his business.

"I ...." Ethan sighed, closing his eyes and leaning back against Spencer. "I was involved with a guy for a while. It started out great. But then, the more we experimented in the bedroom -- playing around with bondage, in particular -- the more abusive he got."

Spencer had to repress a shudder at Ethan's words. He'd seen enough of that sort of thing in the years that he'd worked with the BAU, and he didn't want to think of Ethan being caught up in that kind of bad situation. "Ethan -- he didn't .... hurt you, did he?"

Ethan sighed again, his body seeming to sag in Spencer's embrace. "He did a lot of things that it's probably better I don't tell you about," he murmured, shaking his head. "It's not something you need to hear. And I got away from him. That's the important thing."

Spencer nodded, swallowing hard and pushing the rest of his questions back. But there was one that he had to ask, even if answering it might be painful for Ethan. "Were you running from him? Did he threaten you? Is that why you got a new job and came here?"

Slowly, Ethan nodded, turning his head slightly. Even though they weren't directly facing each other, Spencer could see the pain etched into his features -- and the few tears that had escaped to trickle down his cheeks. "Yeah. I .... guess I was kind of running to you."

"I'm not the strongest person in the world, Ethan. You should know that," Spencer told him, keeping his voice soft. "But I'm glad you came to me. I'll keep you safe, Ethan. I won't let him get near you again. And you're right -- the important thing is that you got away."

Ethan nodded, raising a hand to wipe away his tears and taking a deep breath. "Yeah, you're right. I kept thinking about that during the whole drive here. Telling myself that I came out on the other side of the rain, with fewer scars than I thought I'd end up with."

"From what I can tell, you don't have any physical scars," Spencer murmured, unable to keep his hands from moving up Ethan's sides, caressing the other man's soft skin. "I guess all of them are on the inside, where they can't be seen. I hope I can help them fade, Ethan."

"They've already started fading, just being here with you," Ethan whispered, his voice so soft that Spencer almost had to strain to hear him speak. "I think I started healing the second I decided to leave New Orleans and come to DC, just because I knew you were here."

"This is what I've wanted for a long time," Spencer told him, his voice gaining strength as he spoke. "I didn't have the nerve to say it when I should have, but I'm saying it now. I've always wanted to be with you, Ethan. You coming here was the right thing to do."

"I always wanted you, too," Ethan admitted, his voice still very soft. "But I didn't think you could want me. I guess that's one of the reasons I ran away after that first day of FBI training. I was afraid that you might reject me if I told you how I felt."

"I'd never have done that," Spencer whispered, his heart aching. All of the time they'd wasted, when they could have been together .... resolutely, he pushed that thought out of his mind. They were together now, and he had to focus on that fact, not on the past.

"You're here with me now," he continued, stroking one hand down Ethan's arm. "You went through the rain and came out on the other side of it. And I want to make sure that there'll only be bright days ahead for both of us. I can't promise that, but I'll try my best."

"It's enough that you're here for me," Ethan told him, his voice hoarse with emotion. "I don't know what I'd have done if I didn't have you, Spencer. I'm just grateful that you still feel the same way about me. I almost thought those feelings had faded away by now."

Spencer shook his head, his arms tightening around Ethan's slim waist. "Nothing could ever make what I've always felt for you fade away," he said softly, feeling his heart swell in his chest. "I've always loved you, Ethan. And I always will. No matter what happens, I'm here for you."

Ethan turned slightly in his arms, their gazes meeting and holding for what seemed like an interminable length of time. Spencer could feel himself learning towards the other man, knowing that their lips would meet within seconds, anticipating the contact.

When his lips brushed against Ethan's, he was sure that he felt lightning flash through his veins; there was a connection here that he could never possibly have with anyone else. He had never felt like this when he'd kissed any other person -- not that it had happened a lot.

This would be the beginning of the rest of their lives together, a night that he hoped they would both look back on with warmth surrounding their hearts. Maybe it was a mistake to jump into a relationship so soon, but he was willing to take his chances.

Moving away from Ethan, he took the other man's hand in his own, leading him down the hallway to his bedroom. He didn't know exactly what might happen between them tonight, but wherever this was leading, he meant to follow that path until they reached their destination.

***