Mágoa // Spencer Reid

Chapter 44

"Love her soul, protect her heart."
R.H. Sin

Maria decided after her mini revelation to go and see her mum and Naomi. She drove to the graveyard in her battered, red, 2000 Chevrolet truck she had bought it for $750 after her mum had died- it took up a chunk of her inheritance, but she needed a way to drive to and from university. As she approached the graveyard the truck began to make a spluttering noise and it seemed to lose all of it's power and then the check engine light lit up, she let out a groan. Ever since getting the truck she has had so many problems with it, all it does is chip away at her savings.

"One day I'll have a brand spanking new Mustang- and you'll be in a scrap yard!" She complained to her truck, she managed to pull into a parking space in graveyard. She let out a sigh and hit the steering wheel with both hands, she jumped out of the car and made her way to Naomi and her mum's graves. She sat down against the tree where Naomi had died. She pulled a book out of her bag and began to talk to herself as she read.

"I don't get what is going on guys. So Spencer, you remember him right? I assume that you two are always watching me, well I guess I don't know how I feel. And Ruby, the piece of shit has broken down- again." Ruby was the name Naomi had given the truck, after a while it stuck. Maria eventually stopped talking, purely because she wasn't really making any points- she was just rambling to herself.

After sitting with Naomi and her mum for a few hours she called Garica and asked if she could send Derek over because he has fixed Ruby before,
"Sorry sweetness, my chocolate thunder is out on a case- Reid is here though." Maria briefly inquired about the case, it's a local one.
"It's okay Penny I'll be ok, I'll call a mechanic or something." Garcia said she was sorry that Derek couldn't help, Maria thanked her and hung up before attempting to Google some mechanics. She had just found a number and she went to call it when her phone died. She looked down at the screen in disbelief, the only thing she saw was her reflection staring back at her, she let out a small laugh as she looked at her double chin in the reflection. She flung her phone into the passenger seat and started searching for the manual or something that could help her fix her car.

She eventually gave up on searching and decided to sit and read until Garcia sent a search party. Her peaceful reading was disrupted by a sudden tap on the window, Maria's first thought was 'this is it, I'm going to get mugged.' she looked out of her window and saw Spencer, it was only then that she noticed it was raining heavily. She jumped out of the car and the two stood awkwardly for a moment.

"So, Garcia said you were having car troubles." he started and she nodded,
"I told her not to send anyone, I'll be fine." She mumbled as she looked down at her hands.
"let me drive you home, you can get your car fixed tomorrow." He offered and she nodded,
"Thank you, I'll just grab my things." she grabbed her book, East of Eden by John Steinbeck which Spencer had given her, and her phone and her bag. He held open the passenger door for her as she got in, "Thank you Spencer." The majority of the ride was in silence until Spencer had turned the radio on- Us Against the World by Coldplay was playing, the song that they had danced to at her birthday. The air grew thick with things unsaid, there was a build up of tension which the two of them could sense, but neither of them commented.

The song finished just as they pulled up outside Maria's apartment,
"Spencer, you look frozen- would you like to come in for a coffee? It's the least I can do to thank you." he nodded and followed her inside.
"So you're reading East of Eden, what do you think of it?" he asked and she smiled, this is how they used to talk before everything went wrong.
"I want to marry this book and have its babies. I can't remember the last time I've felt so much satisfaction from reading a book! Honestly I am amazed at how beautifully intertwined it is- Sorry, I'm rambling." She let out a small laugh as they entered her apartment. Spencer's eyes scanned the room and he found himself walking towards her bookshelves.
"I see you have filled your shelves, what now?" He asked as she made the coffees,
"I guess I'll get more shelves, but for now I'll have to make some stacks of books." He grinned at her, as she handed him the steaming hot cup of coffee with milk and way too many sugars their hands briefly touched and they both began to blush.

The two sat down and began to chat about books like they used to do, after about an hour Spencer's phone buzzed, he needed to get back to the case.
"I'm sorry Ria, I need to go- This has been nice." He said with a small smile, she returned the smile.
"Okay, yeah it has- I've missed this." She walked him to the door and he lingered slightly before catching her off guard and pulled her into a hug, he held onto her so tight that she felt as though her ribs might crack, she reached her hands around him and they held each other close for a few moments- they were perfectly respecting each others boundaries.

That was until Spencer pulled out of the hug and cupped Maria's face, he brought his face down to hers, she pulled away abruptly.
"Spencer, I can't. Are you still with Evie?" she asked, he nodded as he looked down guiltily.
"I am, but she's not you Maria." Maria took a small step backwards creating a small gap between them.
"Spence, you are an honest man. You shouldn't be acting like this, it's unfair to Evie. And I don't want to be the other woman, it's not right. You do what is right Spencer."