𝓭𝓮𝓼𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓮𝓭 ➵ 𝓼. 𝓻𝓮𝓲𝓭

Chapter 22: You Aren't The Same

{tw - mentions of murder and violence, possible blood trigger}

AFTER THE JET landed in Ohio, everyone went off in their different directions, you driving the SUV on your way to the latest crime scene as Spencer read a book in the passenger seat.

"So how many times have you read that one then?" You smile, your eyes remaining on the road.

"Thrice." He answers shortly.

You nod and your smile grows, letting out a small breath of air as you tap your fingers against the steering wheel.

Spencer looks up from his book and closes it, his eyes raking over your nervous body language.

You notice his gaze and hesitate before speaking, "I haven't been home in a while. Just nervous, I guess..."

He leans over and places a reassuring hand on your knee as you drive, "You'll be fine, Y/n. I promise."

Your eyes flash from his hand to him, nodding and turning back to the road.

Soon, you park the car outside of the latest crime scene and hop out of the vehicle, wearing your latex gloves as you approach a barn.

You share a weary look with Spencer as you enter through the large doors, an overwhelming scent of animal waste and carcasses hitting you like a brick. You scrunch up your nose in disgust before spying where the victim is positioned with their back on full display, face down in the hay.

You both approach it through the crowd of CSI and officers, and you finally focus on the markings on the back of the victim.

"They're hieroglyphics..." you mumble, inching closer to the body.

"It doesn't mean anything if you can't read them." One of the passing officers scoff.

You perk your head and stand in his way so he can't continue walking, "As a matter of fact, I can read and perfectly understand hieroglyphics."

The officer looks down, ashamed before walking off, leaving you to stand there proud. When you turn back around, Spencer is admiring you with raised eyebrows. His gaze makes you cower, almost ashamed of what you had done.

"So go on then, genius," Spencer urges with a smirk, "Tell me what it says."

You crouch down and look at the markings even closer, Spencer following suit at your side. As you work out the individual letters in your head, he watches you closely and admires how focused you are. When you feel him looking at you, you look up and raise your brows before looking back down at the victim.

"You have a secret sassy side, you know that right?" You taunt, getting closer to finishing the secret message.

'5 5-' is what you have so far.

"Maybe I do, maybe I don't," Spencer shrugs, "So when did you learn hieroglyphics?"

You shrug and tilt your head, "I'm not a natural born genius, but I do read from time to time. Plus that Ancient Egypt paper I wrote came in handy."

'5 5 5 7 4-'

"You're smarter than you give yourself credit for." He smiles. 

"I wouldn't say I deserve credit, Spencer." You say, but your voice quietens as you finish the message written on the victim's back.

"What is it?"

You hesitate, "It's a phone number."

"Should we call it?"

"That's what this guy want us to do! Why would you call it? God, you call yourself a genius!" You facepalm.

Spencer proceeds to take out his phone despite your warning, and you hit the underneath of his hands so the phone goes flying upwards. You catch it in your palm and bring it closer to your body, making sure he can't get it back.

"No," you assure firmly, "We are not going to call a random number that was carved into a dead woman, Doctor Spencer Reid."

He narrows his eyes at you before shaking his head, "We have to do something."

"And calling the number is not that something."

Spencer sighs and admits defeat, both of you raise to your feet and beginning to walk away as you return his phone.

"So what do we do?"

"You're the doctor with three PhD's, you figure it out." You advise, crossing your arms over your chest as you finally reach the light of the sun again.

Spencer stops walking as you get just a metre away from the car, and you turn around to face him.

"Something...happened to you recently."

"Yes I know, Spencer." You scoff, "I was kind of there when I was abducted by my father."

"I know, I know that...just..." he turns his head away, like he's analysing you, and it's only now you realise that's what he's been doing.

"You're trying to profile me." You say quietly, making his turn back to you, "Don't do that, Spencer."

He looks you up and down and you can tell there's something on his mind that he wants to say, but probably can't decide whether to or not.

"There's something else you want to say." You raise a brow, "Do it. Just say it and let it out because I really can't-"

"You're not the same as you were before!"

His raised voice quietens you, but not as much as the words themselves. Your lips part and your eyes widen, taken aback by the foul words he decided to use. No words can make it out of your parched throat, and Spencer just watches you before a look of guilt crosses his face.

"Y/n-"

"No." You cut him off, your voice unexpectedly calm, turning around and beginning to walk past the SUV, "Don't apologise. You made it perfectly clear what you think. Don't apologise for your opinion."

"Y/n, I didn't mean it," he calls out, but you ignore him, "At least just get in the car."

"I'd rather walk, Reid."

His surname is now unfamiliar to your tongue, but you couldn't care less as you walk away and head to a place that is familiar.

Word Count
996