T W E N T Y  O N E

• THREE WEEKS LATER •

SCOUT GLANCED TOWARDS the clock perched on the wall, counting the seconds between the minutes.

He's supposed to be here by now.

"Hey, Scarlett!" A shrilled, high pitches voice yelled from behind her. Scout's slumped shoulders perked themselves back up as she turned around.

"What's wrong, Cassie?" She said with a cool smile, curving her painted red lips.

The girl scoffed, "Where are you going? We're supposed to go out in like, 15 minutes!"

"But," Scout glanced at the clock again. "I'm off at 4, Bruce said-"

"Bruce said 4, but I can't go out by myself! Please Scar, you know how nervous I get when I don't have a partner with me!"

Cassie pouted at her, crossing her arms. Her blonde hair, tied in a high ponytail and her breasts ready to pop out at any second.

"But - my brother is supposed to pick me up now. I can't have him wait for so long." Scout dropped her bag on her chair, ready to tug off her jacket.

"Tell him to come in, silly."

"What? Nope, no way! I'm not letting him see me like this. It's just plain - weird."

Cassie huffed, "I don't see what the problem is. My dad would come here everyday I had a shift. It was like our own little bonding experience. You know, one on one."

"That is messed up on so many levels, Cas."

"Fine, don't help." She turned her back to walk away but looked at Scout once more when she reacted the door. "Just remember this moment when you ask for a favor, Scar."

"Wait, Cassie. Wait. Okay, I'll do it." Scout took off her jacket and pulled out her heels from her gym bag.

"But don't you dare say I've never done anything for you. And you owe me. Big time."

Cassie squealed, "Great! I'll go wait for your brother outside. Let's see how long it'll take me to drag him in here! I bet I can get him in for free."
She winked and walked away.

Scout huffed and took her hair down from its clip. She reapplies her lipstick and ran her eyeliner around her eyes once more, something she was getting pretty good at.

She better owe me. This is gonna be embarrassing! And with Spencer right there! What the hell?

Her phone buzzed in her pocket before she took it out. It was an ancient phone compared to what most girls at the club had but it had to do.

I'm in a bind here.

yeah? tell me about it

Why is a small blonde dragging me into the Lusty Leopard?

just go along with it, she won't let me leave unless i do a few songs with her

I really don't want to.

just play along, Samuel

Fine.

Scout tucked her phone in her bag and strapped on her heels as quickly as she could. She knew the longer Spencer was out there, the longer he would feel uncomfortable. It was obvious to the two that he wasn't as keen on being in a strip club.

The beating of loud electronic music rang in her ears, something Scout was very used to by now. The FBI would handle all her hearing tests after, Scout grumbled to herself.

"You ready?" Cassie giggled, grabbing her hand and bringing her up the stairs to the stage.

Scout puckered her lips, "Am I ever?"

Another song started and the girls waited until they were introduced by the MC like always. Cassie was jumping up and down from excitement while Scout sighed again, this was her least favorite part of this whole case.

"Gentlemen of New Jersey, bring your hands together for the Lusty Leopard's very own Candy and Ruby!"

The curtain drew itself and neon lights clouded Scout's vision but she ignored them as always. Sounds of hollering and wolf whistled rang in her ears.

"Oh mama!"

"Pretty girl, c'mere pretty girl!"

"Work for it, go on and work for it!"

Scout plastered her lips with a smirk and sent seductive looks at each of the men on her side of the stage. She grabbed the pole and swung herself around until she reached the floor. On her knees, she crawled to the nearest man.

He was a greasy, bald man. And he looked like he was ready to jump on Scout at any moment. She grabbed his hand that had the 5 dollar bill he was waving around and let him tuck it into the elastic of her panties.

A small groan escaped his lips, "You feel so soft, gorgeous."

"You ain't feel nothing yet, handsome." She winked at him and went back to the pole on the stage.

At the corner of her eye, Scout saw him take out another bill from his wallet and began waving around a 20.  They always fell for the same old tricks, she thought to herself.

Suddenly, Cassie grabbed her wrist and brought her closer to the center. Scout felt like rolling her eyes but ignored it. The crowd of men got even louder as the two girl fondled each other to switch sides.

Scout grabbed the pole again and spun around one more time as the song drew to a close. When she landed on her feet, her eyes made contact with Spencer's.

His mouth was agape. His eyes were as wide as golf balls. And his - bulge  - was anything but unnoticeable.

Scout felt her cheeks burn.

"Oh, that was so much fun, wasn't it?" Cassie shrieked as she dragged off Scout from the stage, letting the next two girls start their performance.

She nodded but couldn't say anything, her eyes still on Spencer.

"Hey, what are you- ohhh. I get it!" Cassie followed Scout's eyes at Spencer. "I liked it when my daddy watched me too. No need to be embarrassed, Scar."

"W-What? No!" Scout shook her head.

"Then do you want to, you know? Help him out?" Her eyes flashed with excitement.

"Cassie! Are you crazy? Did you forget? Brother, he's my brother!" Scout whispered but yelled at the same time.

"Oh," Cassie smirked, devilishly. "Then you don't mind if I make a quick buck then, he is your brother, of course. But that doesn't mean, I can't."

Scout rolled her eyes, "Yeah, go ahead. If he lets you."

Cassie squealed again and walked over to Spencer.

Scout groaned and walked away, not wanting to see whatever she was going to do to her teammate. Instead, she walked to the back room and gathered her things. She felt lightheaded and needed to smell something besides flavored lube and body sweat.

Surely Spencer would have said no. He wasn't the type of guy to enjoy his time at a strip club, much less take on a offer from a stripper, Scout reasoned.

A little voice behind her head started to whisper too. Yeah, but you're a stripper. Does that mean he'll never like you?

I could care less if he liked me. This is all apart of the mission, nothing else. Scout nodded to herself and walked back out to the main floor of the club.

When she got out, Scout found Spencer waiting by the door and he sent her nervous smile when they made eye contact. She nodded and walked out, not wanting to talk about what went on inside and the two got into the beat up car.

"So," Scout slurred. "Any leads?"

Spencer shook his head, "No, Garcia is looking into the last victim. But she can't find anything. Even that picture you posted on Facebook with her got deleted."

"It did? I didn't even notice." She took out her phone.

"That's the whole point. It was made to be discreet, but we got a lead. Apparently, they left some trail that was connected to your account."

"In English?"

"It kind of like a backdoor they locked behind them. They didn't erase it from the server so that means if Garcia can figure it out, we can find a way into their system."

Scout nodded and looked at him, "It's a good thing you thought of posting that pic-"

She froze. A shine from Spencer's left hand distracted her. It was the kind of shine that she was very used to but still bothered her.

"What?" He frowned at her.

"Why do you have body glitter on your hands?" She peered are him.

"Huh?" Spencer glanced down and shrugged. "I don't know, I was doing laundry before I came to pick you up. It's practically everywhere at this point."

"Right, okay. Slick, Spence." Scout rolled her eyes.

"What? I don't understand."

Scout chuckled darkly, "Don't pretend. I saw you look at Cassie during the performance. And I bet you just couldn't wait to take up her offer after. What'd you grab at? She's very giving if you ask nicely."

"Gah, Scout! Are you serious?" Spencer exclaimed, frustration overpowering his nervous and feelings of anxiousness.

"What? It's a strip club, Spence. It's not like you're in the wrong!"

"You know me, Scout." He grinded his teeth.

"I also have been given the opportunity to know several men because of this mission. It's been quite insightful if you ask me. And Cassie, she's one of the good ones. She's been a favorite ever since she started working there."

"Are you being serious?"

"Oh ho, I am being completely serious! I bet you were sooo excited when she dragged you into the club with her top ready to burst. She's always had that effect on men and gets called for private dances all the time. Even by a few women!"

"What?"

"I said, she's the best! And she's new. What? You want to hear more about how great Cassie is?"

"No, I mean go back!"

"Wha-" Scout stopped.

Spencer pulled the car over on the street and put the parking break on. His finger ran through his hair and Scout noticed how the flecks of glitter shined on his head. The bubbling feeling inside her started to subside.

"You said women ask for her? What women?" Spencer questioned.

Scout shrugged, "I don't know. Lesbians, I'm guessing. It's not unheard of, really."

"I'm not talking about lesbians. I'm talking about the fact that women are willing to opening ask for a specific girl at a men designated strip club."

"Yeah, I don't see what's wrong with it."

"Scout, look around. This is New Jersey, and not the progressive side of the state. This is rural and red neck. How many open lesbians do you think there are?"

"I don't see what your getting at, Spence."

He sighed once more, "You never said women were asking for private dances at the club. Have you ever been asked to?"

Scout shook her head, "It's always been someone different. A crowd favorite, the best girl we have at the time - oh crap."

"Yeah," Spencer nodded. "Let's get home and call Hotch."

***

Spencer pressed the red button, ending the video call between Garcia and Hotch. It was late, well it was early. 6 in the morning, but he was exhausted.

He glanced at Scout. Her eyes would flutter open and shut every few seconds from exhaustion. Spencer placed a hand on her back, waking her up.

"Hm?" She hummed, sleepily.

"Time for bed, you're tired."

Scout blinked her eyes away and got off the chair, shaking her head. "No, it's fine. I don't mind helping with the research. Hotch needs-"

"Hotch would want you well rested for tomorrow."

"Fine," She groaned, not putting up a fight. "But I'm gonna take a shower first. I'm covered in glitter and sweat, along with germs that I don't even want to know."

"Yeah. You should go do that." He took his arm off her, suddenly feeling very gross when she mentioned germs.

"What's wrong, doc?" She smirked. "Can't handle some tiny old bacteria cells?"

"Some of bacteria can kill you. I'd rather not take the chance."

"Yeah, so can this job. In case you forgot." She stuck her tongue out at him.

"Did-" He blinked. "Did you just stick your tongue out at me?"

"Yeah so? I can do it again. See?" And she did.

Spencer chuckled, "How old are you again?"

"How dare you ask the age of a woman? That's so rude." She mocked.

Scout walked towards the bathroom before she turned back around, leaning on the door frame. Her smile from a few seconds earlier faded and she looked at him grimly.

"Hey Spence?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you think we can do it?"

Spencer face turned ghostly pale, mortified at her question. "W-What?"

She rolled her eyes, "Not that, you sicko. I mean, do you think we can do this? This mission, I mean. It's been three weeks and we just got a big lead. Do you think we can figure it out in time?"

"I do. I'm sure we can." He nodded, trying to calm down.

"And Spence?"

"Hm?"

"I'm sorry for - yelling at you. I know that you didn't do anything with Cassie. My clothes are always covered in glitter, I just - didn't think about it."

She pointed at Spencer's right hand, the same hand he used to touch her back and wake her up. It was covered in glitter, matching his left.

"Don't mention it, I'm getting used to it by now." He shrugged and started to work on his laptop, typing away.

Scout stood there standing and watching him, the ghost of a smile playing on her lips. The bubbling feeling completely faded away in her stomach. She turned around and walked to the shower.

"Don't get too used to it, Spence. I won't be covered in glitter anymore and you won't be able to use me as an excuse any longer."

Spencer chuckled, glanced at the closed door of the bathroom, and went back to work.

Reminder, comments are love and motivation.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:
finally, we've arrived at act two! expect darker subjects (ooo)
adult themes (ahhh)
and bad language (yeeee)
*wink wink*
if you could only hear my evil laughs for everything that i have planned ;))

a special thanks to readers who comment:
@deborahsellis
@_stxdia_
@alisknig
@sixtimesless
@cmgg_lover
@mycats17
@ell_hound

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