Breaking Barriers - S.R.

34

It took a long time, but I finally managed to doze off. I only became aware of this when the sound of Spencer's phone ringing jolted me from my sleep. I reached for my bedside lamp in a haze as Spencer murmured his name into the phone. Through the dim light, I could see a confused expression on his face, but he didn't look like someone that had just been woken up; he looked as if he had been up for quite a while. He didn't say much to the person on the other end of the line before he jumped out of bed and frantically started throwing his clothes on.

"What's going on?" I asked, my voice thick with sleep.

Spencer's head snapped up to look at me like he had forgotten he wasn't alone. "I have to go to the hospital. There's been an accident."

"An accident? With who? What-" I sat up quickly, pushing my messy hair back from my face.

"The team was following a lead on Scratch and I-I don't have time to explain everything right now. I have to go." His words were shaky and rushed.

"Let me come with you." I said, scrambling out of bed and reaching for my own clothes scattered around my room.

"No, you should stay here and get some rest." He stopped me by placing a hand on my arm. "I don't know how long I'll be."

"Spencer, I can't sleep here alone. Not now. Especially knowing someone is hurt." I replied, staring at him nervously.

I don't know if it was the realization that I had just been through something traumatic myself and refused to be alone, or if he just didn't want to argue with me, but Spencer didn't fight me on it. "Get your stuff, let's go."

I nodded, throwing on the rest of my clothes and grabbing my bag before I followed Spencer out the door, practically running to keep up with him. Neither of us spoke on the way to the hospital. Spencer had a white-knuckled grip on the steering wheel as he drove much faster than normal, and I kept my questions to myself due to how tense he seemed.

I was nervous as we walked quickly but quietly through the hospital, Spencer's hand wrapped tightly around mine. I had no idea what we were walking in to. JJ spotted us as we rounded the corner and I took in her bandaged head and disheveled, frantic appearance.

"Rossi is in that room with Luke." She pointed behind us. "He wants to talk to you."

Spencer nodded before looking over at me, clearly concerned with leaving me.

"Go, I'll wait out here." I rushed out, before he had time to speak.

"Tara's in surgery, you can wait with me." JJ offered, wrapping an arm around my shoulders and ushering me to the seating area. Spencer walked off without another word.

"I'm sorry for intruding." I said shakily, tugging at my sleeves in discomfort. "Spencer was with me in my apartment and I c-couldn't be there alone." I didn't realize I was crying until I felt tears sting my skin. I wiped them away quickly.

JJ's anxious demeanor changed almost instantly as her motherly instincts took over. She looked at me, placing a comforting hand over my own. "You're not intruding. I completely understand."

I nodded in understanding, biting back my emotions. "A-are you okay?" I asked, looking up at the bandage on her face.

"I'm fine. It's just a few stitches." She assured me.

"JJ, what's going on?" I finally mustered up the courage to ask.

She looked at me for a moment before swallowing harshly and lowering her voice. "Scratch set up a trap and we fell right into it. Walker is dead and Emily is missing."