Echos of a Genius | Spencer Reid

Dexter

Stephie

Spencer stood in the doorway of the briefing room, where I was trying to keep myself busy, sorting files. His face pale, his hand clutching an envelope. He hadn't said a word in the last few hours we've at the office, just pacing back and forth like something was chasing him. My heart clenched when I saw the look in his eyes — fear. I'd seen it in him before, but never like this.

"Spence?" I asked, my voice small, already knowing I wasn't going to like the answer.

He didn't move for a moment, just stood there, frozen. Then, wordlessly, he walked over to me, setting the envelope on the table between us. I stared at it for a second before reaching out, the weight of whatever was inside already sinking into my stomach.

As soon as I tore it open, I wished I hadn't.

There was a note inside, addressed directly to Spencer in jagged, messy handwriting I wish I recognized it. My hands shook as I read the words.

"I'll deal with your wife first. Then I'll come for you."

Attached to the note was something worse — a photo. My ultrasound. The one we had pinned on the fridge, the one we'd looked at together with so much hope, so much excitement for what was to come. Except now it was smeared with what looked like blood, a cruel reminder that nothing was safe, not even in our own home.

The room spun, my heart hammering in my chest. I looked up at Spencer, his face twisted with guilt and fear. He didn't need to say anything. I knew who it was from. Cat.

"How did she...?" I couldn't finish the sentence. My voice cracked, tears threatening to spill as I tried to hold on to some semblance of control.

Spencer dropped into the chair beside me, his hands trembling as he reached for mine. "She was inside our house," he whispered, his voice thick. "Fuck, Steph."

The world felt like it collapsed in on itself, the air knocked out of me. I couldn't breathe, couldn't think. My mind raced back to every moment Cat had tormented Spencer, but this... This was different. She wasn't just threatening me — she knew about the baby. Our baby.

Hotch's voice broke through the chaos, though I hadn't even heard him come into the room. "Stephie," he said, his tone firm, but there was a weight in his words that sent a chill down my spine. "You need to get far away from here. From Spencer."

I blinked at him, feeling like I was trapped in a nightmare I couldn't wake up from. Leave Spencer? The thought made my stomach churn, but I knew Hotch was right. Cat wasn't going to stop. She was coming, and she wouldn't stop until she had me — or worse, until she took everything from me.

"I'm not leaving him," I muttered, my voice unsteady.

"You have to," Hotch said, more insistent now. "For your safety, for the baby. We'll protect Spencer, but she's after you."

I turned to Spencer, the fear in his eyes mirroring mine. Neither of us said a word. But in that moment, I knew we were both thinking the same thing: this wasn't just about us anymore.

"Stephie needs to go, far away from here." He looks at Spencer now, as if he's expecting Spencer to be the one to force me out.

Spencer looks at me as Hotch finishes his sentence. We all know he's right, that with Cat out I should get the hell out of dodge for a little bit, especially with me being pregnant.

"To where Hotch? There's no where we can put her where Cat won't find her. We should just stay right here in the office." Spencer is not thinking straight, clearly.