My First Love [Spencer Reid Fanfic - 1]

Chapter 52 - About Face

"What else is the whole life of mortals but a sort of comedy, in which the various actors, disguised by various costumes and masks, walk on and plays each one his part, until the manager waves them off the stage?" - Erasmus

Halloween was approaching and we were all in the bullpen. Emily's phone rang and she answered it. "Hello?"

"Hello Emily."

Emily shrugged. "Who is this?"

"What's your favorite scary movie?"

She looked around the bullpen. "Okay, who is it?" A bloody knife fell on her lap and she stood up, glaring at Spencer. "I'm gonna kill you, Reid."

Spencer turned his attention to her. "What did I do?" His hazel eyes widened. "Emily... behind you." He gulped.

Emily looked behind her and saw someone wearing a black robe and a ghostly white mask, making her scream.

I took off the mask and laughed at her reaction. "You should see your face, Em."

"I can't believe I fell for that." Emily sat back down and sighed.

Morgan tapped her shoulder. "In your defense, Cassie is a genius and she can pull off over the top pranks."

I took off the robe and threw it at Spencer. "Sorry, Em."

She laughed. "Next year, I'm gonna get you."

Spencer looked at Hotch's office. "Hey guys! Isn't that David Rossi?"

I glanced at the window and my blue eyes widened in awe. "I have all his books."

Hotch and Rossi walked out of the office. "Conference room. Now!" Hotch demanded and we all stood up. I couldn't believe I was about to meet my idol.

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We stepped inside the conference room and I couldn't help but stare at David Rossi. He was so charming in person. "Everyone, this is David Rossi. He just came out of retirement." Hotch stated. "These are agents Morgan, Prentiss and Jareau. Doctors Reid and Porter. And our analyst Penelope Garcia."

"I have all your books, sir." I blurted out and blushed in the process.

Rossi looked at me and smiled. "You have good taste."

He tried to shake my hand and I recoiled. "I wrote a thesis inspired by your book Compulsion: Understanding Criminal Behavior and it got published."

"So you're the Dr. Porter who refuted my work." Rossi seemed impressed. "I wasn't expecting such a pretty and young girl."

"We should get back to work." Hotch retorted sternly.

JJ stood in front of the screen and clicked the button. "Michelle Colucci was found killed in Dallas, Texas, after posters with her face on it were spread around the neighborhood before her disappearance."

"Are the flyers a taunt?" I asked.

"It could be an intimidation tactic." Morgan suggested.

Emily grabbed one of the flyers. "Wouldn't you be scared if you found this on your door?" She asked Morgan with a grin.

Spencer looked at the screen. "Is this MO on ViCAP?" He asked.

"I already asked Garcia to go through it but there's nothing in the database." Hotch announced. "Wheels up in 30."

"You have your own jet now?" Rossi asked with a confused expression.

"A lot has changed." I said with a soft smile as I left the conference room with Spencer. Having Rossi on the team was going to be fun.

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Rossi, Spencer and I went to Michelle Colucci's home and found the flyers scattered around the room, as well as a white mask on display. "This is new!" I commented.

"The unsub probably feels ignored on a daily basis." Spencer commented.

"Which is why he leaves white masks behind. It's not a taunt, it's a cry for attention." I finished his thought and he smiled.

"How long have you two been dating?" Rossi asked and I immediately averted his gaze while Spencer left the room.

"The victim was tortured, assaulted and had her face cut off. He's stripping her of her identity." I tried to change the subject.

Rossi scribbled something on his notepad. "Warning her was a way to instill fear."

I nodded in agreement. "Which could mean he had a prior contact with her. This was personal."

When we arrived at the station, everyone was on edge. Hotch approached us. "Enid White disappeared after finding posters with her face on them."

"He didn't wait for too long." Spencer pointed out.

"What else is known about this victim?" I asked.

"Garcia is searching her entire life to find a connection to Michelle Colucci." Hotch filled us in.

I glanced at him. "If we find a connection, there's a chance we'll find the unsub. He knows these women personally." Hotch nodded and left the bullpen. I had no idea if the unsub was devolving or escalating.

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Garcia called us with news. There was nothing that woman couldn't find. "Get this... Both Michelle Colucci and Enid White worked at a communication technology building called Techco." She informed us.

"The unsub probably works there too." Emily stated. "That's how he met the victims."

"Did you trace the call that was made to me?" Rossi asked nonchalantly.

"Yes, sir." Garcia replied with her usual cheery tone. "It was made from Techco."

Hotch walked to the door. "We should go there. The unsub is probably in his most vulnerable state." We all nodded and rushed to the building.

Thanks to Garcia, we found the unsub's name. Max Poole. Morgan and I went to his cubicle and discovered a bunch of flyers on his computer. "This guy is sick." Morgan noted.

We took the elevator to the lobby and we stepped out, Poole pointed his revolver at us. "Mr. Poole, put your gun down." I asked politely.

"No!" He shouted and was about to pull the trigger when Rossi shot him.

I grabbed his revolver and handed it to the CSU. Spencer rushed to me. "Are you okay?"

"Yes." I walked up to Rossi. "Thank you. You saved my life."

"Don't mention it, kid." Rossi smiled at me and I felt reassured. My idol saved me and was remarkably humble about it.

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Halloween was Spencer's favorite holiday so I decided to prepare something for him. It was our first holiday as a couple and I couldn't be happier.

I got his favorite candy and put it in different bowls throughout his apartment, decorated everything with fake cobwebs, candles and a big banner saying HAPPY HALLOWEEN. It was all last minute, so it didn't look great.

Spencer walked into his apartment and his hazel eyes widened. "What's all this?" He asked surprised.

"I decided to surprise you." I grinned widely.

He wrapped his arms around my waist and kissed my forehead. "I love it."

"I figured we could read Edgar Allan Poe and hand out candy for kids in the building." I jumped in excitement and he laughed.

"You're so cute when you giggle." He stated and I blushed.

"And you're cute when you say I'm cute." I kissed the tip of his nose. "Happy Halloween, Spence."

Spencer kissed my lips softly. "Happy Halloween, Cass." Despite being inexperienced when it came to romantic relationships, ours seemed perfect. He was so gentle, understanding and adorable. I could not imagine my life without Spencer Reid in it.