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Chapter Nineteen: Hunter or Prey?
The moment Harper opens her eyes, the memories flood her mind. She feels a pang in her stomach every time she replays her kiss with Spencer, her cheeks flushing even while alone in bed.
Despite her happiness, she can't ignore the doubt creeping in her mind over how they had left things yesterday. She still had no idea how to navigate a relationship with Spencer through her commitment to work, and Harper had a feeling this was only the beginning.
She groaned, leaning over to check her phone. No new messages from Spencer.
She chewed her lip, her fingers hovering over her phone as if it would ring if she stared hard enough.
Feeling slightly dejected, she began to get ready for work.
Spencer had not slept and was pacing the empty BAU office in the early hours of the morning as he perfectly relayed yesterday's events. He wanted to kiss Harper again, and again and again. But his desire clashed with an intense anxiety over her mention of the Replicator.
He was able to accept that perhaps he wasn't being rational but given the extremely small pool of examples – it was logical to conclude that there was an increased danger for the people Spencer dated. He felt all his fear and guilt from when Harper shot the Unsub to protect him return.
The flash of Maeve's terrified face crept into his mind, an unbidden reminder of what could happen. He clenched his fists, trying to grip onto control he didn't truly feel.
He felt guilty for distancing himself too. Harper was right in saying he tended to shut her out. It wasn't just her, it was everyone.
He could feel himself doing it right now – being snappy with his team, not engaging, appearing unfocused. He knew that everyone could tell. As usual, they didn't say anything. In some ways, Spencer was grateful for it.
Morgan watched him from across the room, brow furrowed as Spencer snapped at Garcia over something trivial. Hotch's gaze lingered, the silent understanding that something was brewing.
Strauss had already tried to take the team off the Replicator case twice, saying they were 'too close' and weren't focusing on their current cases. She was always saying ridiculous and annoying things, always making their lives harder. Spencer knew that if he brought up to the team Harper's involvement with the case, or - God forbid - indicated their growing relationship, either Strauss or Hotch would take him off immediately. And he couldn't afford to be out of the loop if he was going to protect her.
So he didn't text her, as much as he wanted to. He drowned himself in his thoughts.
As Harper arrives at work, she's distracted, the events of the night before replaying in her mind. Her thoughts are pulled back to the present when she spots Vanessa pacing outside her office, a frown on her face and a coffee clutched in her hand. Seeing Harper, Vanessa motions her over.
