be the one ⇢ s. reid

xxxi.

Loud beeps. Soft chatter. It's what Melanie had been hearing while her eyes were closed. The familiar smell of cleaning products and sorrows infiltrated her nose. She knew where she was. How she got there was slowly coming back to her. Last thing she remembered was being in a pawn shop held hostage and a bullet going through her. Her ears were able to tune into the conversations that were surrounding her. She groaned softly as she began to open her eyes and the fluorescent lights blinding her making her want to close her eyes back again. Though the moment she heard the warm sound of Spencer's voice made it better. 

"Mels, thank god," an exasperated sigh leaves his lips as he desperately takes his fiancee's hand into his own.  "We were getting worried." 

A faint laugh left her lips followed by a dry cough. Quick on his feet, Spencer poured water into a pitcher that was next to her bed into a plastic cup and helped her drink water. The feeling of the liquid was like heaven; coating the dry throat she had managed to get while asleep for what seemed like years if not a couple of days.

  "I was kidnapped by a serial killer. A bullet is nothing." She teased. But seeing the look on Spencer's face, it seemed a bit too soon for the almost dying jokes. "Spence, you can laugh." 

And laugh he did. It was soft, short, and sounded almost fake since he only done so to amuse her. 

"Luke and everyone is out in the waiting room. They wanted to be here for you." Spencer told her. 

"Oh ? How long have I been out?" Melanie questioned. 

"A few hours. We were getting worried after surgery but — " Spencer had paused trying to regain his words. Melanie could sense the feeling from her fiance. She slowly reached a hand out to have the ability to hold his. Seeing that, Spencer immediately took Melanie's hand and gave it a squeeze. He wouldn't admit it but he had thought he had lost the love of his life forever — and once again if it were to happen. It was deja vu almost. " I thought I would have to go through this all over again." His voice croaked and Melanie had looked at him sadly. She thought about Maeve and how both their situations were almost similar. 

Noticing the tears in his eyes, she wiped them away with her thumb. " You're never going to lose me, Spencer." Never was a strong word but at this point, she had to keep her promise the best way she could. 

" I know," he replied softly. 

It was silent for a moment until there was a soft knock on the door. When the pair turned to look it was JJ. Seeing the blonde woman made Spence smile but with Melanie ? There was no reaction. 

"Oh, you're awake! That's great !" The blonde woman exclaimed. "I came here to  check on, Spence. He really hasn't left your side. Tried to get him to eat but he wasn't in the mood for it." 

All Melanie could do was stare at her. Thoughts immediately returning to her. 

Spence, um... I've always loved you.

Melanie couldn't help but to feel heated. She didn't want to. But clearly it was affective considering JJ had felt the daggers hitting her from Melanie's sight. The FBI agent knew what this was about. Profiler or not, it was obvious. The tension noticeable, even by Spencer who wasn't sure if he wanted to speak up. Between JJ and Melanie, both didn't know who wanted to speak up first. 

"Mels —" JJ was going to speak up until Melanie cut her off. 

"Did you mean it?" She asked quickly. 

Spencer, however, knew JJ didn't mean it. Spencer had confronted her about it while Melanie was getting surgery. JJ told him she didn't mean it and was only saying it to make sure Casey didn't do more harm.  He felt relieved knowing it wasn't true, and even if it was Spencer would have turned JJ down in a heartbeat because of the love he had for Melanie. If it wasn't for that, Spencer would have been doing backflips — especially after many years of having feelings for her. 

JJ was trying her best to string words together. She has never felt nervous and she wasn't sure why she would be when she had no feelings for Spencer. 

" DID YOU MEAN IT?!" Melanie snapped. 

Both agents completely jumping back at Melanie's tone; warranted. 

JJ took a step forward. " Melanie, no. I didn't mean it. I love Spencer, but not in the way you think. I would never do that you or to him. Spence knows he's my best friend and there's no way I would get in between him and the person he loves. I needed to make sure we all got out of there alive." 

Despite the words, Melanie's nostrils were flared. She wanted to believe her, and a part of her did. But she had so many questions. Maybe not a whole lot but definitely had questions. 

" Out of everything — everything — you could have possibly have said. That was it ?" She didn't care that she had to say it to make sure they were alive. To Melanie, it was outlandish. And sure, at the end of it all they both could have a serious laugh about it and roll their eyes. But at the moment, a fire was lit inside of her. 

"Mels, maybe you should reserve your energy and talk to JJ about this later?" Spencer suggested; a hand placed on her shoulder. 

But Melanie ignored him and she kept going. " It could have been anything JJ. Like I don't know. One of your kids not being Will's?" Bringing up kids was never a good thing but Melanie was heated. " Or you slept your way to the top ? You could have made yourself convincing! You knew that Spencer had feelings for you for the longest time and to say that type of shit against all of us was uncalled for." 

" Melanie, I'm sorry !" JJ cried out. Both women had tears streaming down their own face. They both needed a breather. The atmosphere in the room already becoming overwhelming. " Can't you see that I did this for you ? For Spencer ?" She sighed and ran her fingers through her hair. " I don't know how many times I can apologize, Mels, but I am hoping you can forgive me." 

Melanie felt a sharp pain on her side. Clearly her outburst had made her remember, once again, she was here because she was shot. 

"Oh shit, Melanie." JJ gasping softly. Melanie looked down to see a blood stain on her hospital gown; a stitch had been open. "I'll go get someone, it's the least I can do." 

Upon leaving, Spencer and Melanie had tried to apply pressure on her wound with the blankets she was given while she was resting. 

"You have to forgive her, Mels." Spencer told her. 

Melanie's eyes met the man's. " Spencer, I'm really not in the mood to have this conversation." She inhaled sharply from the pain. At this point she wasn't sure if it was the pain from her suture opening or the emotional pain from the other night's events. 

It was only a matter of time until someone had come in to fix up Melanie's stitches and provided her another change of a hospital gown and sheets, followed by a celebration committee from her friends and family. When getting a clinician, JJ had informed her team and Melanie's family that Melanie had awoken. Give it up to Penelope Garcia to shower Melanie with light hugs, balloons, and a big stuffed animal. 

This was going to be a long recovery.