A Spencer Reid Story: Love and Loss

Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Prick.

What was that? That hurt? Where did my cell phone go? Where did my gun go? I feel heavy. It’s dark in here. Should I get up soon? I don’t want to get up yet. I’m sleepy. I’m warm. I feel like I’m floating now. I was heavy, now I’m floating. I must be dreaming. I see colors. What are those colors? Who is that? My hair… my head it hurts. Nothing makes sense. Nothing has to make sense. Dreams don’t make sense. It’s cold now. Where did my warmth go? I need to get up for the briefing. I have to catch all the bad people. All of that AV equipment. Gone. What for? Why? Lights. I see lights now. What is happening?

Spencer stirred, his papers sprawled everywhere on the bed. He rubbed his eyes and shook his head. He had fallen asleep with the case file. He looked at the clock, it was 9 PM. He had slept right through dinner and probably right through any kind of meeting the team had set up. He sat up and stretched, being careful not to crinkle any of the papers that he had been looking at. His stomach grumbled. He could definitely use some water and a hearty meal. He stood up, placing the papers back in the folder and placing them on the bed side table. Hopefully the hotel had some sort of place where he could grab a quick bite.

 I wonder what the others are up to. He looked in the mirror, smoothing out the creases in his shirt and running his fingers through his hair to give it a more presentable look. He opened up his door and looked around. Not a soul to be seen.  He went over and knocked on Emily’s door. “Hey Emily, are you in there?” He knocked a few more times. He heard a slight shuffle and then a sleepy eyed Emily opened the door. “Oh sorry Spencer, I just woke up. I haven’t been feeling good and I must have been jet lagged.” She rubbed sleep out of her eyes as she spoke, smoothing down her own hair as well. He smiled.

“It’s alright Emily, I did the same thing. Wanna grab the crew and we can get a bite to eat?” He grabbed at his stomach again, fighting off a hunger pang. She nodded and asked him to give her a few minutes to collect herself. He agreed and said that he would gather the rest. He knocked on Morgan’s door, but there was no answer. He knocked on JJ’s door also to no avail. Hmm, they must all be downstairs still discussing the case. He didn’t even both with Rossi or Hotch. Those two were probably still in the lobby. Emily opened her door and met up with Spencer at the elevator.

“No one answered when I knocked on their door. It might just be you and me, but who knows. They might all be in the lobby, or they might all be eating right as we speak.” There was a ding on the elevator as Spencer spoke. They entered and pushed the lobby button. The doors closed and an awkward silence filled the small space. Reid never particularly liked elevators, especially since that one time when him and Morgan got stuck in one. They weren’t exactly his cup of tea. The doors open, revealing a rather quiet lobby. A few guests were here and there, but mostly for the time of night it was pretty empty. Reid could see Rossi, Hotch and Morgan still sitting at a hotel couch, scotch in their hand and talking. JJ was no-where. Maybe I didn’t knock hard enough on her door.

“Hey, look who’s finally up.” Morgan smiled, motioning with his drink in Reid and Emily’s direction.

“Great, I’m starving, can we please go grab a bite to eat?” Rossi sipped at his scotch.

“Where is JJ?” Hotch asked, his eyes going from Reid to Emily. They both shrugged.

“I knocked on her door but when she didn’t answer I assumed she was either down here with you or off somewhere else. Why? Have you guys seen her? Or?” Reid questioned them as they all shook their heads. That’s strange. “Okay well I’ll go back upstairs and see if she’s asleep. I’ll wake her so we can head out. I’m good with anywhere you guys chose, I’m super hungry.” He turned his back on the group as he walked back toward the elevator. With one glance he shook his head and made his way for the stairs.

Up and up he went until he reached their level. Still not a soul to be seen. He went up to JJ’s door. “JJ are you in there? The crew wants to go out to eat. You wanna go?” He knocked several times.

Silence

“JJ?” He knocked again, harder. Still nothing. Something wasn’t right. Suddenly the elevator opened and a cleaning lady with her cart rolled out onto the floor.

“Excuse me manm,” Spencer approached her. She was elderly and looked up at him with tired eyes. “I seem to have locked myself out of my room, would you be able to let me in?” He pointed to JJ’s door. The old woman nodded her head, her shaking hands reaching into her uniform pocket as she pulled out a card to swipe for the door. She swiped it for Spencer. “Thank you manm.” With a nod of her head she shuffled back to her cart, going back to the first door to start her cleaning shift. Spencer opened the door slowly, his other hand resting on the top of his gun.

“JJ? Everything alright?” He opened the door fully as he spoke, his eyes scanning rapidly. Nothing seemed out of place. Everything seemed right where it should be. The only thing that was quite odd was that all of JJ’s belongings were there, her phone, her credentials, her gun, everything. It was as if JJ just up and left without any of her things and disappeared off into the night.

“JJ?!” Spencer yelled out, quickly checking the bathroom. Absolutely nothing. He did one last scan of the room and then left, propping the door just slightly so he would be able to get back in if need be. He ran back down the stairs, rushing to greet his co-workers who were all in a cheery mood, despite the case.

“Guys, we have a problem. I can’t find JJ anywhere. All of her things were in her room, but she wasn’t. Something’s not right.” His large eyes said it all as his heart pounded. JJ. The one person he had felt the closest with, besides Morgan.

Where was she?