Atlas: A Dr. Spencer Reid Love Story

Hurt (Johnny Cash)

WARNING: The following chapter discusses the subject of rape and sexual assault towards women; if these topics are triggering for you, please take caution.

-end of Season 8: 2013-

Veronica didn't believe she could hold on to anything as tightly as Spencer's hand at that moment. 

She stood on the opposite side of the glass to the room that he was occupying. There was a fire rushing through her veins that wanted her to leap – to scratch and claw her way through the enraged and loathing moments she had because of him, but there was also an overwhelming amount of panic and despondency that nearly caused her to vomit.

She could still remember the nights she would awake in a cold sweat at the thought of him returning, crying endless tears until she exhausted herself back to sleep; she remembered the showers where she was unable to touch herself, only allowing the water to run down her body - even that caused an undesirable sensation; she remembered dissipating into a shell, unable to hug her own mother. 

Veronica shuddered at the memories, her jaw clenching. She intently stared through the glass as the officers secured his cuffs against the table legs.

Spencer turned his gaze towards her, "Veronica..." He trailed off.

"Spencer, I have to," She pointedly declared, unable to look away from the man beyond the glass.

"You don't have to do this," He achingly whispered, releasing her hand as he set it against her soft cheek, craving her eye contact.

Veronica raised her hand to gently set against his. A soft sigh escaped her lips as she turned to face Spencer. Without another second, she molded herself against his figure, feeling his chest rise and fall as his scent lingered against her nose. Her lips traced the bare skin against his neck as her head rested in his crook. Spencer comfortingly rubbed her back as he dug his face in her massive curls, tightly shutting his eyes as to feel intimate seclusion with her - just for a minute.

"Yes – I do," She sternly spoke, releasing herself from him and strutting out of the room, walking to the next door over. 

Spencer slumped, dropping his eyes to the floor with a low sigh escaping his thin lips. 

The officer stationed outside gave a quick head-nod before opening the door and escorting her inside, continuing to guard the door as Veronica stiffened once her feet hit the tile of the interrogation room.

Silence seeped into every crevasse as the man slouched against the table, refusing to even acknowledge the existence of the new presence in the room.

Veronica took a step forward, the small heel of her boot clacking against the floor. It was that noise that caused his head to cock slightly in her direction, sneering at the sight of her shoes. Veronica froze in her spot as his eyes slowly trailed up her body – eerily examining each subtlety she held. He appeared like any creep would when sexually staring down a young woman, but once his gaze reached her face, his expression turned into a terror that seemed more intense than Veronica's own.

"You..." He unfathomably spoke.

It was that single, stuttered word that gave Veronica every ounce of courage she was seeking. With her posture straightening and her tension rushing off, a glare comforted her face as her nostrils flared. 

"Me," She spoke in a steely manner.

"I remember you," He gruffly spoke, a sly smirk now gracing his lips.

"And I remember you," She factually spoke, not letting him win the battle of glares they were currently contesting in.

"God - how long's it been? You definitely look older," He spoke in distaste, glancing at his hands before returning to view Veronica.

Veronica sneered, "Well a lot's changed in ten years. Am I not young enough for you now? I know your type is the drugged, curly-haired teenage girl," She grimaced, her hands clenching along with her jaw.

He lightly chuckled, causing Veronica to boil further, "You still got those pretty curls, though," He darkly scowled, his southern drawl dripping with each word.

Veronica scoffed, slowly shaking her head, "I spent years hating these curls because of you," she growled, taking a step towards him.

He tensed, his hands fidgeting as his gaze dropped to the floor. Veronica smirked at his discomfort.

"So, why'd you come here – wanted to yell, spit, and cuss at me? You're luckier than the others," He sneered.

"You're right, I am" She calmly spoke, stepping closer to the table until her legs hit against it, the now quivering man on the other side of it. 

"But I didn't come here to seek any kind of repentance or a new-found pity in you – I know what kind of demon you are; I'm here to let you know that I stopped you from ever preying on another innocent girl, that I stopped you from carving more infinity symbols into a woman's back, and that I stopped you from haunting me. You used to be my biggest nightmare, but now I know that I'm yours - because I'm the living mistake that's the reason you're behind bars, and this mistake isn't afraid of you," She threateningly spoke, leaning closer to him as he practically melted into the chair. She straightened up and headed for the door as the years of pain seeped off her body.

"Is it still there?" He piped up in a mouse-like manner.

Veronica glanced back in his direction. "Yes – but it's not your infinity symbol anymore - it's mine," She triumphantly spat. With a turn on her heel, she was out the door and never once did she look back.

As she entered the hall, she was bombarded by the faces of the team.

"Veronica, are you alright?" JJ comfortingly asked, shortly embracing her friend.

Veronica stared down at her shoes before looking into JJ's eyes, "I'll be okay," she murmured. 

Rossi stepped forward, placing a hand on Veronica's shoulder, "That took a lot of guts going in there, kid," he commended.

She placed her hand upon him for a second, reassuring him.

Morgan stood in front of her with his hands rested upon his hips, "He'll be behind bars for the rest of his life because of your help, Veronica."

She steadily nodded her head before dropping her gaze once more.

"We all have monsters," Hotch began, "Not all of us get to confront them and win," he pointedly spoke before walking off. The rest of the team slowly followed suit.

As everyone dissipated, Reid and Veronica remained the only two in the hallway.

Veronica immediately made eye contact with him, watching as he strode towards her - his hands comfortably placed in his pant pockets. 

"I'm stubborn - I know," She scoffed, wrapping her arms around herself.

Spencer smirked, "What's new?" he gently jabbed.

A smile grew upon her lips as she took one of Spencer's hands in her own, "So what do we do now?" she guilelessly asked.

Spencer grasped her other hand, staring into her eyes, "We go home."