Cold Hands ✔️

nineteen

chapter 19; I need validation, but also for no one to know me

Soon it was just Adeline Ripper in the office, the lights dimmed and everyone long gone. She sat at her desk, scribbling away on the report she had to fill out. She yawned and took another sip of her coffee.

Adeline wasn't planning on going home tonight. She wasn't proud to admit it, but she was scared. This man was infatuated with her, so he probably knew where she lived. She felt safer staying overnight in the FBI offices.

Spencer Reid had just returned back to the office to grab a book. He had made it out of the elevator when he stopped, seeing Adeline at her desk with the lamp turned on. He saw her rub her eyes with the heel of her palm, returning her head in her hands and working away. 

He walked towards Adeline but kept quiet, not wanting to freak her out. He went to his desk and looked over at Adeline, who's eyes were closed. A small smile etched onto his face, taking in her appearance.

"You know-" he started, startling Adeline "I feel like I just found out why you are earlier than me each day." Adeline smiled.

"Oh so you can tell jokes? I thought you were a robot." She straightened out, popping her back.

"It's nearly 11, you should go home." Spencer said, fidgeting with the strap of his bag.

"Yeah, yeah I know." Adeline hesitated, staring blankly at her report. Spencer noticed her biting her lip.

"You know I get what you're going through." Reid spoke, taking a seat at his desk. Adeline stole a look at him before looking back at her desk silently.

"A few years ago we were working a case, and our unsub Tobias Hankel had multiple personalities. He had his own, his dead father, and the angel Raphael. JJ and I went out to question him, and I got overpowered in the cornfield. He kidnapped me and..." He trailed off. He shook his head and continued talking.

"He made me choose victims for him. He injected me with a lot of Dilaudid to keep me sedated. He live streamed a beating to the team. I was able to misquote a piece of scripture, which led the team right to me. For months afterwards I struggled with my new addiction." He looked down to fidget with his fingers, his voice cracked slightly.

"So better than anyone on this team I know what you went through. How scared you were, terrified that you might be killed, scared that you will never leave. Scared to go home." Adeline looked over at Reid. She didn't know the extent of what happened. She was surprised with how much he was sharing with her. 

"I'm not telling you to not be scared, because it's a rational feeling to feel right now. But what you need to do is talk to someone about it." He muttered. Adeline nodded, but if she was even a little like the rest of the team, she wouldn't reach out. Reid stood up.

"I can take you home if you want. Make sure your apartment is safe." Reid told her, looking down at her. She sighed, she knew she shouldn't spend the night here. She was glad he offered, Adeline hated the thought of going to a dark and empty apartment.

"I would really appreciate that. Thank you." Her voice was soft and kind, and the two gathered their things to leave. The elevator ride was quiet, the two of them finding comfort in the quiet.

When they got to her apartment, Reid checked every room. He  made sure to check behind curtains, even under the bed. Adeline offered him some coffee, and Reid accepted. He only agreed to find out more of who she was, he reasoned. To defeat your enemy you must know everything about them. Ripper had a lot of personal effects and it made this part easy. He stopped at a picture of Ripper when she was young with her arm around a friend.