Lose Her If You Love Her (Spencer Reid/Criminal Minds/AU)

Chapter 3 - Panic

*Poppy's POV*

Crap. Crap. Crap. How could I not have noticed it? Nearly all of them had a huge, visible link to me. Three of them bullied me...but Emily, why Emily? Could it be...she was like them? She never actually...cared about me? Maybe that was why chiefy asked me if I killed them... I couldn't comprehend it anymore, it was too much. I shot to my feet and began coughing madly. Suddenly, I couldn't breathe, all I could see was Emily's smiling face. No, no, no! Tears sprang to my eyes and before I could pass out, I felt someone slamming my back, trying to help me to breathe.

"Poppet, you okay? What's wrong?" Hotch gripped my shoulders.

I shook my head. "I hated them, it's pretty clear that I hated them. But Emily...she had always looked out for me, always been there. But...the only way she'd fit into the one link that I can see amongst them, is if she had lied to me the entire time. Please say she didn't, Hotchy, please? Please say she didn't lie to me!"

I lost it.

*Spencer's POV*

I just watch as she screamed and raved at Hotch, who was desperately trying to contain her. It was one of the most horrific things I have ever seen, watching a human being descend into a frenzy of utter pain and distress. Whatever was running through her mind at that precise moment had caused her to lose whatever precious control she had kept and lose it all? I glanced at Gideon for a second, before Morgan, Gideon and I rush forwards to help Hotch.

Together we all calmed her, soon she was just simply sobbing in my arms, no longer clinging onto Hotch. I felt awkward but I didn't want to let go. I looked at Hotch for an idea of what to do, but he just grimaced and started to fix his suit as she had nearly ripped his shirt, thankfully she hadn't strangled him with his tie.

Slowly, Poppy pulled away from me and wiped her eyes on her blouse sleeve. Her eyes widened in shock when she noticed that she had been clinging onto me instead of Hotch. "S...Spencer? I was hugging you? What just happened?" She sounded and looked incredibly confused.

Hotch sped over to her and pulled her into his arms. She squeaked and struggled away, whining. "Poppet, you had another episode, do you not remember?" Poppy shrugged and shook her head. "Oh well... back to the case..." He coughed and looked over at the body. "We should set up a HQ"

Hotch and Poppy instantly began to pretend like nothing happened, though Poppy couldn't look at me. I shared confused glances at the others, what the heck was going on between those two? What did we not know? But we couldn't ask any questions as they had sped off.

As we followed them, Morgan ended up next to me "what just happened?"

I shrugged. "I have no clue, evidently she suffers from them often, Hotch knew of it. I'm sure Hotch will explain when we've finished this case."

Before long, we had arrived at the town's precinct. Poppy squealed in excitement, all horror and distress vanished, and launched herself at a young man leaning against the wall beside the door.

"Pops!" He yelled in surprise and swung her around in the air. "I knew Aaron was here, but I didn't realise you'd come as well!" The man was a head taller than Poppy, but had similar blonde hair that reached the nape of his neck and owned the exact same pair of electric blue eyes that Poppy possessed.

"Joshy! Put me down, put me down! Now!" She squeaked and kicked her legs out, narrowly missing kicking Hotch in the manhood. Joshy or whatever his name is, finally set her down on the floor and laughed heartily.

"Mind it Pops, I think Haylie would want more kids. Aaron, my man! Nice to see you down here, never thought I'd see you both in this ol' town. Now, Poppy, what the heck is going on?" He slapped Hotch's back and then faced his younger sister.