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Spencer doesn’t even know how it happens.
It’s late, he’s tired, and he’s heading back to their hotel for the night when he bumps into someone. Within seconds they have him pinned up against the building behind him, even as apologies sputter out of his mouth. He hopes that this isn’t their unsub, that he’s just pissed off and is going to kill him for a minor annoyance. When he gets a good look at their face, he finds himself even more surprised.
“Dean Winchester?” He asks, unable to keep the words from falling out of his mouth as surprise colors his tone.
This was undoubtedly Dean Winchester. Even though Dean has changed some over the years since they last saw each other, his hair, general facial structure, and the smattering of freckles across his face remain the same. He looks into Dean’s eyes, wondering if he could get a read on his intentions. Maybe they would be warm, as he remembered from when he saved Sam, or cold, as seen on the tape when he shot up that bank.
For a moment, they looked black—fully black, with no iris and covering the sclera. But he blinks, and he’s looking into wide green eyes. It must have been a trick of the light. His eyes aren't warm and comforting or cold and ruthless—they’re scared.
“Kid?” Dean asks, and Spencer is kind of surprised that Dean recognized him after all these years, given they’ve only met twice before.
It’s reasonable for Spencer to remember Dean—he’s still on the FBI’s most wanted list, though the case went cold after they disappeared without a trace three years ago. Spencer hates to admit it, but he thinks about them often.
Dean falters back, almost like he had been struck, letting go of Spencer’s shirt. It’s only then that Spencer notices the weapon in his hand, and it makes his stomach turn. It looks like a knife, but the blade was crafted out of a human jaw, the teeth providing a serrated edge. He has seen a lot of things in his career as an agent, but this image will be unforgivingly seared into his mind.
“I’m sorry, I—“ Dean starts, but he abruptly turns away, disappearing into the night.
Spencer steps after him, but he’s gone like he merged with the shadows and disappeared entirely.
The next day, there is no trace of Dean Winchester anywhere, and Spencer later learns that the killings have stopped. He doesn't know who or what was causing the murders, or why Dean was in town that night.
Spencer thinks about it for a very long time.