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“Don’t worry, I’m staying right here.”
The words barely made their way through the fog which had currently enveloped your mind. All you could focus on right now was the small scuff mark which had stained the front of your brand new converse.
You had only put them on for the first time two days ago. The team had joked that Spencer was influencing your fashion choices.
Although that was the least of your worries right now.
“We’re going to need to take you to a hospital-”
“No!” That had gotten your attention. No hospital. Not yet.
“Okay.” Spencer replied softly. He put his hands out as if he was about to touch you but then thought better of it and placed them back onto his lap.
That made you realise how vulnerable you must have looked at that point. Spencer had never been afraid to touch you, not in a long time anyway. So for him to be treating you like such a wounded animal scared you.
Then again, you were sitting on the curbside of a road, with an active crime scene still behind you and blood continued to run down the side of your face, dripping onto your bare arm.
“Have I ever told you about the first time I came to New York?”
You realised what Spencer was doing immediately. Distraction. Trying to pull you from your own thoughts and back into the present. Whilst you still weren’t quite ready to face the reality of what you had just experienced, you appreciated his effort nonetheless.
You remained silent but you quickly glanced up to meet his eyes. That was the only indication he took to continue.
“It was on a case. The team teased me about the fact that I had never made the effort to visit even though we live so close but I never saw a reason to go.” Spencer said softly. “When we were done with the case, Derek and JJ took me on a sightseeing bus and you know those stupid foam Statue of Liberty crowns? Made me wear one of those the entire time.”
You lip twitched into a small smile. You could imagine a younger Spencer being cajoled into that by his older team members.
“It was a good memory but you know, that wasn’t my favourite trip I took to New York. My favourite was when we were there for the Krasinksi case, remember? We stayed for an extra two days after the team left and just…acted like two tourists in love without any pressures of our job weighing us down.”
“We saw The Lion King.” You murmured.
“We did.” Spencer laughed. “Still think we got scammed by that ticket vendor, I just haven’t been able to prove it yet-”
Suddenly, you burst into tears.
You weren’t quite sure what it was which broke the dam. But it was well and truly shattered. Uncontrollable sobs came out as you collapsed sideways, thankfully into Spencer’s arms.
Memories of New York had gone and in its place, the thoughts of the past two days flashed forward.
An unsub who had been targeting young women in professional jobs had been capturing them and forcing them into a house-wife act for days, before murdering them, simply because he didn’t agree with women being in high-power jobs.
Whilst you had been going door to door along the street that the last victim had been found, your partner Emily had had to run back to the car to get a better phone signal to call Garcia. This left the unsub (who it turns out had been monitoring the team since you had all arrived), the perfect opportunity to knock you out and shove you in the boot of his car.
You had never thought you would be thankful for getting such a blow to the head that it caused you to be unconscious for hours but you were, because it meant that the unsub had generally left you alone (apart from tying you to a chair with rough rope) and watched you, waiting for you to wake up.
It was only the two hours prior to the team bursting through the basement door that unsub started to have his fun. He slapped you and littered bruises across your body whilst making you tell him that a woman like you shouldn’t be doing a job like this.
Meanwhile, the BAU team had worked in record time, especially Spencer who even though he had been so hysterical with worry that Hotch tried to get him off the case had managed to put all his emotions towards finding you.
As soon as Morgan had released your wrists from the rope, you had bolted. Of course you didn’t get very far, only to the bottom of the driveway of the dilapidated house you had been prisoner in, but you (and Spencer) had now been sat there for a good 45 minutes whilst your team worked silently around you.
“It’s okay. You’re safe. I’m here.” Spencer murmured into your hair. His arms had gently come around you and after you hadn’t flinched or tensed up, he tightened his grip, making you feel secure and grounded.
“I-I w-as so a-afraid.” You gasped out, muffled by his shoulder.
“I know, baby. I know. But I’m here and I’m going to stay right with you throughout.” He pressed multiple kisses to your head.
“Y/N? We’re going to head back to the police station to wrap some things up. I would like you to go to the hospital to get that head wound looked at as soon as you’re ready.” Out of your peripheral vision, you saw Hotch crouch down in front of you, a look of worry and sympathy written across face.
You assumed that’s how all your team members were currently looking at you. It was the same way you looked at all the victims. That’s what you were now. A victim.
“I’ve been given permission to be the person to do your questioning. Or Emily can do it if you would prefer. I won’t let anyone rush you into that, though.” Hotch continued.
“C-can Spence be with me?” You asked quietly, still not looking up at your Unit Chief.
“If you would like that, I’m sure I would be able to break protocol. I want to make this as easy as possible for you.”
“We’re here throughout.” Spencer agreed.
You gave a small nod but didn’t say anything else. Once Hotch had left the two of you alone again, Spencer looked down at you and was apparently reminded of your head injury by the blood which had now pooled onto his own hand.
“I really would like to get you to a hospital, baby. Please.”
You didn’t want to. Once you got up from this pavement, you knew that would be the start of the recovery, mentally and physically. And you weren’t quite sure if you were ready to face that yet.
“We can go home as soon as you’ve been checked over. Get into bed, watch movies or sleep or whatever you want to do.”
It took another five minutes of coaxing before you agreed. Before Spencer gently pulled you from the ground and led you into an ambulance.
It was hard. But Spencer was right. He stayed right by your side throughout and eventually, like all of the BAU team members, you were able to put it behind you. And if anything, made you stronger.