Closer - A Spencer Reid story (2)

18

After her rescue, the BAU gathered in the hospital's waiting area, quietly strategizing while Yn rested in a nearby room. Spencer, however, was distracted, guilt hanging heavy on his shoulders as he stood in the hallway, wracked by his thoughts. The sight of her, exhausted and wounded, still haunted him, and he couldn't shake the gnawing realization that he'd failed to protect her. He couldn't forget the unsub's final taunt during their search, either—the hint that she'd only just begun. Yet, what haunted him the most was how Yn had recoiled from him.

Since she'd been found, Yn had avoided his gaze, her features tense and guarded whenever he was near. It was as though his presence caused her pain, and for all the years he had spent trying to protect her, it now seemed like his face only reminded her of hurt. Spencer clenched his fists, feeling the weight of her silent rejection in the hollowness of his chest.

As the doctors finally allowed him into her room, Spencer entered cautiously, unsure of what reception he'd receive. Yn lay there, her face pale but alert as she gazed out the window, lost in thought. He lingered at the doorway, unsure if she even wanted him there.

"Yn?" he asked softly, forcing himself to sound calm despite the anxiety knotted in his stomach.

Her head turned, but her eyes were distant. "Spencer." Her tone was guarded, wary, and that single word held an edge he hadn't heard from her before.

He approached, keeping his movements gentle. "I just... I wanted to see if you needed anything," he said, his voice quiet.

She shook her head slightly, lips pressing together. "I'm fine," she replied, her words clipped. "You don't need to worry about me."

Spencer swallowed, the air between them thick with tension. "I—Yn, you don't have to go through this alone," he said, wanting desperately to reach through whatever barrier had risen between them. "I'm here for you. Whatever you need, even if it's just—"

"No." Her interruption was firm, her voice trembling as she looked away. "I don't want anything, Spencer. Especially not... not from you."

The words hit him harder than any blow. He tried to keep his composure, but he felt the tremor in his voice as he answered. "Yn, please... I just want to help you."

Her gaze remained fixed on the wall. "You can't help me," she said, her voice hardening. "All you do is remind me of everything that went wrong."

His heart sank, but he nodded, understanding her hurt. He couldn't force her to let him in, no matter how desperately he wanted to ease her pain. And he had no right to push, not after everything she'd endured because of his presence in her life.

Back in the BAU conference room, Spencer struggled to focus on the case details in front of him. Every note, every file felt like a weight pressing down on him, dragging his thoughts back to Yn and the wall that had risen between them. Despite the evidence they had on the unsub, there was a nagging feeling in his gut—something he couldn't shake, something they had overlooked.

Emily noticed his distracted expression, her brow creasing. "Spencer," she said gently, trying to bring him back into the moment. "You okay?"

Spencer took a deep breath, shaking his head to clear his thoughts. "No, I just... something feels off." He glanced around at the rest of the team, who were watching him with a mixture of concern and curiosity. "Why didn't she kill Yn?" he asked, his voice low and tense. "I mean, if she had her right there, captive, it would've been the perfect opportunity. She's a serial killer—keeping Yn alive doesn't fit her profile."

Hotch leaned back, a thoughtful look crossing his face. "You're right. The unsub has shown no hesitation in killing her previous victims, but she kept Yn alive. Why?"