Ghost of You ~ Spencer Reid

Ch. 13 | The Call

"I would bend back to you if you left the door open, I know that I should hate you."
- I should Hate you, Gracie Abrams

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January, 2005:

As I drove home from work, the rain fell, blurring my windshield. It had been months since the incident with Spencer, we had been friends ever since. I wouldn't allow my feelings to mess with that. Then  my phone rang, Garcia's name displayed on the screen. As badly as I wanted to decline, work was important.

"Hello?" I said, attempting to keep my voice steady.

"Have you left the office yet?" She said, something obviously bothering her.

"Yeah, why? What's going on?" I replied.

"You need to turn around and come back now." She said quickly before hanging up.

Silence hung in the air as I turned on my turn signal and made my way back to Quantico. Luckily I hadn't been gone long and I was at the building, back in the bullpen in no time.

"Hey, what's going on?" I asked Hotch as he walked with me into the round table room and handing me a file. No one else but Hotch and Garcia were in the room. Something strange was going on.

"Y/n, I need you to know now if this is too difficult for you then you don't have to work this case."

"What is that supposed to mean? What the hell is going on?" I basically pleaded. Hotch simply nodded grimly at Garcia to start presenting the case.

"A woman's body was found in New York this week, badly beaten. This murder could possibly connected to nearly 20 other murders in the area over the past two decades, judging by the tattoo on each of their wrists."

"What does this have to do with me?"

"The FBI has selected you to go undercover  and use your profiling skills to determine who the killer is," Hotch responded grimly.

"Do I have a choice?"

"You always do," Hotch replied. "We'll support whatever your decision is."

"Who would go if I don't?"

"For age accuracy, it's possible it would be Dr. Reid, but I can't be 100% certain."

"I'll do it," I responded almost instantly because of Hotch's answer. I couldn't let anything happened to Spencer. I'd rather be there knowing he's here and he's living his life.

"Go home and get packed. Say your goodbyes. They don't know how long you could be gone," Hotch stated grimly.

"They said...they said it could be years," Garcia choked out.

"You are scheduled to leave first thing in the morning," Hotch said, heading for the door. "Good Luck." It almost looked as though he was sad. Then Garcia pounced on me, wrapping me in a suffocating hug.

"Don't forget about me okay?"

"I could never."

——

I sat in the darkness of my apartment, packing the essentials. It was quiet. I tried not to let my thoughts roam, or my tears fall. But as I looked around my bedroom, thinking of what I could need, my eyes grazed the picture frame containing a photo of me and Spencer taken a few months ago.

I sighed, walking over to the table and picking up the frame. Things seemed simpler then despite it only be a few months prior. I think he's who I'll miss the most.

That's when Hotch's words rang through my mind, "Say your goodbyes."

I then walked into my living area, and towards the front door. My keys sat on a hook by the entrance, that I quickly removed them from as I raced down the stairs. Before I knew it, it was almost 1 am and I was at my co-workers door step.

It's only going to be a year. I thought to myself. Not much could possibly change in a year.

With that thought I took a deep breath and allowed my hands to curl into fists, nails digging into my palms as I rap on my best friends apartment door. This could change everything.

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A/N: I know this is just a mini chapter of sorts and I'm sorry for that but I thought this part was important to include as the final flashback, especially before what happens next. Thank you for all your love and support!