Forgetful

Chapter 2

"Devolving? What does that mean?" Prince questioned, looking at Rowan for his answer.

Instead, however, it was  Spencer who answered. "In many cases, serial killers evolve: they sort of find how to perfectly execute their MO. In cases of devolvement, the killer loses their sense of perfection. They feel the need to kill more frequently and less perfectly. This is where they make mistakes."

Prince hadn't looked away from Rowan, who was busying herself with the map she was struggling to lay out.

The slightly socially unaware Spencer Reid started to pick up on the fact that this man was angling his body towards her, the slight flush in his cheeks, they way his pupils were more dilated than when he walked into the room.

Spencer involuntarily stepped towards her to help her lay out the map.

Rowan's phone started ringing again.

"It's Hotch." She told Spencer. She hadn't looked at Prince to see the way his eyes were combing her over.

"You've got myself, Spencer, and the police chief." Rowan told him.

"He's got another girl." Hotch told them. "She's a brunette."

Spencer muttered something under his breath.

"What does that matter?" The police chief asked.

"It changes our victim pool." Rowan said.

"Our victim pool?" He pressed.

"We figure out why he's taking the victims, we figure out who is hurting them."

-

"Rowan?" Spencer asked, looking up at her. She was sitting with her back against the wall, the book open in her lap.

"Yeah?" She didn't look up at him.

"You... You love me, right?"

She looked up at him now. He didn't look away from her.

"Of course. You know that. What made you ask that?" She stood up, abandoning the book, and sat on the bed beside him.

"I- I don't know. I just... The police chief, he was interested in you." Spencer told her.

"Do you think that I would go for a guy wearing too much cologne and knows nothing about anything? Spencer, I love you. And I love our daughter. I would never do anything to lose either of you." She placed her hand on his cheek.

"I know." Spencer tried to smile.
"You'll be right there by my side. Nothing's going to happen." She promised him.

He nodded and she kissed him, pulling him to his feet.

"Come on. I'm pretty sure that Elizabeth will want to hear your voice."

Spencer nodded. He took her hand as she dialed Penelope.

"Is this my favorite mother ever?" Penelope answered the phone.

"When was the last time you got any sleep, Penelope?" Rowan asked, laughing softly.

"Three days ago. Elizabeth likes to stay awake." She told them.

"Is she awake now?" Spencer asked.

"No. Now she's asleep. It's only when I want to go to sleep that she wants to play." Penelope laughed like it was no big deal.

"Try to get some sleep." She advised.

"Will do."

They ended the phone call and Rowan looked at Spencer.

"Are you okay?" She asked him.

"Yeah, of course." He answered, tracing her jawline with his index finger.

"Okay. Do you want to go to sleep?" She pressed.

"I'm not tired."

She stood and pulled him to his feet by his tie. "Then let's go to sleep."

"I just said-"

"I know what you said, Spencer." She kissed him. "So listen to what I'm trying to say."

Spencer kissed her back.

She pulled away, just enough to look in his eyes. "I love you, Spencer Reid. And nothing will ever come between that."

-

"Spencer, calm down." Rowan put her hands on his shoulder, trying to get her husband to look her in the eye.

"We need you in the field." Morgan reminded him.

"You want her to stay at the police station alone?" Spencer demanded of Hotch.

"We need her here. We need everyone else in the field."

"I'll be fine." She promised him. "Nothing is going to happen."

"What are you scared of?" Morgan pressed. "I mean, it's a police station. It's going to be the safest place possible for her."

Prince walked inside the room the team was assembled in. "Everything okay in here?" He asked.

There was a moment of silence.

Morgan noticed the way Spencer's demeanor changed when he walked inside. It made sense suddenly. Spencer was jealous.

"Everything's fine." He answered, patting Spencer on the back and headed out the door.

Rowan didn't look at Prince despite the fact that Spencer was watching him out of the corner of his eye. She hadn't let go of Spencer's shoulders. She gave them a gentle squeeze to pull the attention back to her.

The police chief walked to the two of them standing there. He put a hand on Rowan's shoulder. "We sure everything's okay?"

Rowan stepped away from the both of them. "Spencer-" She tried to stop him before he walked out the door but it was too late.

"Problems in paradise?" Prince asked.

Rowan took a deep breath. "Spencer and I are married, Prince. I would appreciate it if you would not continue to touch me or ask about my personal life. We are both here to do a job and that is as far as this will go."

"I never meant anything. I'm sorry if I came on too strong." Rowan gave a single nod before leaving him standing there.
"You just wait, missy. You just wait."