Peter Reid

Chapter 16 ~ Nice to Meet You

Spencer's POV

~3:00 am~

Spencer was quiet as he left the apartment, leaving Peter breakfast and a text to explain his absence. He hated leaving his son home alone but there was something bothering him about the case. So, he headed to the library by the college that stayed open 24/7 for students. Quickly heading to the correct section of the library he grabbed a few books before sitting down at a table. Finishing two of them as fast as he could, he could feel the exhaustion in him. He quickly stood, his vision going blurry for a moment only to turn around and bump into a short blonde woman making her drop the five books that were in her arms. "Shit I'm sorry," she apologized. He blinks before shaking his head making her tilt her head up at him. "I'm not sorry?" She asks and Spencer winces.

Wanting to correct his mistake he rambled, "No, I meant- it's not a problem. I got up too quickly, got disorientated."

She smiled and it's kinder than most. "Gwen," she sticks out her hand and he smiles back.

"Dr. Spencer Reid," he replies. However, then they both remember the books on the ground. They both bend down and pick up the books, smoothing the wrinkled pages. "Studying?" He questions once he reads the title of the book, Hacking Darwin: Genetic Engineering and the Future of Humanity.

The blonde blushes, "yeah. There was something bothering me. I figured might as well get up because I wouldn't get any sleep until I got an answer."

Spencer nodded, "I like researching at night." And she seems pleased at his answer, making him feel a little awkward, "Sleeping after studying is also said to consolidate information and improve recall. One thing to note though, do make sure you are still getting an average of 8 to 9 hours of sleep nightly. Interestingly, some research has suggested that studying at your most tired time can help your brain retain higher concentrations of new skills, such as speaking a foreign language. This apparently even has a name to it: sleep-learning."

Gwen raises an eyebrow, "wow. I never knew... that would've helped me in high school." She complains and Spencer shrugs, "so what's got you here at this time of night, doctor?"

He feels heat on his cheeks and curses his lack of sleep. "the psychology of serial rapists turned killers" She blinks, thrown off. However, she's setting down her books next to his and pulling out the chair next to his. He nods and goes over to the shelf pulling out a few more books and sitting back down. They sit side by side, but Spencer can feel her stare as he turns page after page. By the time his phone buzzes with a word, his team is in the city, it's been a little under an hour. He leaves his phone open on the text chain on the table as he puts his group of books away.

However, when he grabs it. It's open on contacts, showing a new contact, Gwen Stacy. He blinks at it before looking at the woman. She's blushing but trying to play it cool. A smile breaks free, he sends a quick text to her number.

Spencer: Nice to meet you, Gwen Stacy.

Delivered 4:13 am

She relaxes in her seat and Spencer grabs his bag, before pausing. "Judging by your reactions and actions, it's wouldn't be awkward to ask you out for dinner in the future?" He asked gently, hoping not to come off wrong.

Gwen's smile was heartwarming, "not at all. In fact, I'd tell you how I'm free all of this coming Thursday. It's my day off, so we could even go out for a little while longer." She said matching Spencer's tone.

He nodded, "Would you like to get lunch and maybe dinner depending on the timeframe this Thursday. Of course, I may need to reschedule depending on the case. However, I should be able to make it." Spencer said a smile forming, twisting his phone in his hands.

"I would like that..." She tucked her hair behind her ears. "Are you a police officer? My dad's the captain for the NYPD, George Stacy."

He tilted his head remembering the man from a case a while back. "FBI actually," he answered, and his phone buzzed again. "I should go, good luck with your studies Gwen."

"See you around Spencer," she replied, and he made his way out of the library and down to the police station.

He made it to the station before his team and quickly got settled into the room they were letting the BAU use for the case. He was given files and quickly read through them. "If my daughter could read that fast, I'd fear she'd never stop reading," a voice came from the doorway. Spencer set down the folder and gave the man a wave. "Captain George Stacy, thank you for coming in."

Spencer tried not to look surprised, "Doctor Spencer Reid. It wasn't a long trip, not for me at least." He smiled and the man came all the way in, looking at the few things Spencer had pinned up.

"Where is the rest of your team?"

Spencer glanced at the clock, "they should be here any minute. I don't work through Quantico, so I had less travel time." He said and stood next to the man.

He nodded and tried to hide his tiredness. "Thank you anyway, it's not every day you see such a violent case. While my family's not part of the victim type, I've taken to see this city as my family as well."

That struck with Spencer, "it's hard to stay unaffected in cases with children involved." He stated.

Captain Stacy chuckled, "You'd think that once my children finished college, I'd stop seeing them as kids."

Spencer felt his social awkwardness stepping in, "how um, many children do you have?" He winced at his tensed voice.

"I've got 4, a daughter and 3 sons. Do you have any kids?" He asked kindly and Spencer twirled a marker to stop himself from tapping the table.

He nodded, "a son."

Just then Spencer's saved from small talk with the Captain when his team arrives. Even Garcia walks in. "Excuse me," the Captain says and walks over to his team. Spencer stays in the room and grabs his markers to start the geological profile. However, within the next two minutes, he's stopped again.

"Spence!" Garcia cheers and pulls him into a hug. He smiles and pulls back. She doesn't let him back up too far, "I brought my things. I figured we could stay here together." There was a smile on her face but as he glanced at the others, he saw the small fears in their faces.

He nods, "sounds good. I started on the geological profile and have a few books I think might help with the MO; something's off." There was a wave of relief in his words, and he gave quick hugs to his team before people were heading out and getting started.

HELLOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! I am so tired. College sucks!!!!!! Anyways just in case, if you were confused, the BAU team was fearful that Spencer would want to be in the field because last time he was he was shot. So, yeah... hope you like it!

Also, I love Gwen Stacy and well, I think she and Spencer could fall in love. She's very patient and forgiving in relationships. Plus she fell for Peter Parker, the nerdy boy with a heart of gold. So, I think it would work out. Just think of her as Emma Stone still because well, she's an amazing Gwen Stacy. Feel free to argue with me or ask questions! If you piss me off I just won't answer the argument, simple as that!

Love Y'all!!!