✔️As Neighbors Do | (Spencer Reid)

Believe

be·lieve

verb

accept (something) as true; feel sure of the truth of.

~*~

Max mentally prepares herself as she sits in the back of the SUV.

She feels as if she is putting on mental armor, all of her feelings leaving her body.

She barely registers the drone of JJ's voice as she relays instructions and fills the rest of the passengers in on the depth of Brian's obsession with Max that was uncovered throughout the prison logs.

Luke drives, and Spencer sits to her right.

Before long, the SUV jolts to a stop, and the agents spring out.

Max's movements are in slow motion, and before she can open the car door, she finds it opened by Spencer.

She can just make out the house behind his shoulder, It's not too different from the house Max lived in with her father and brother all those years ago, save for a for-closure sign that by the mailbox, and the grass being a little over grown (her father would never.)

The blue lights of the accompanying police vehicles are reflecting off the windows and nearby surfaces.

Brian will know she is here.

Spencer takes her by the arm, bringing her back to earth slightly, "Max..." he says softly.

He is scared.

She can see it in his eyes, but it's subtle.

"You don't have to do this," he whispers, "we an figure something else out," he says.

He steals a glance to his side, informing her of his teams presence nearby.

"I can't run away anymore," she says, "it's time I face this, head on..."

He nods slightly, contorting his face to what must be his "FBI look."

"You've got to convince him you're on his side," he says.

"Let him know I am just like him," she says.

He flinches.

"Let him think you believe that, " He corrects.

She blinks at him.

"Max" he says, when she doesn't respond.

Her vision starts to blur but she digs her nails in her arm to stay in the present. It's concealed from him due to her arms being crossed.

"I got it," she says, looking down.

He jerks her head back up so they're facing. His face is set in a stern look.

"Stop," he says softly. She stares at him for several beats, frozen in pools of hazel.

She pulls away from him and nods her head.

He purses his lips and motions to his left, causing JJ to approach with a device and a roll of tape in hand.

She hands it to Spencer and puts a hand on Max's shoulder before saying, "you'll have us in your ear again, but this will help us monitor what everyone else is saying."

Spencer rubs at his brow and motions to Max, informing her to swing her legs over the side of the car and face him.

JJ turns her back to them, giving them space, and Spencer continues his wordless instructions, this time motioning to Max's shirt.