Healing

Chapter 10

Audrey was sleeping peacefully in the hospital bed while Spencer was next to her. He was deeply worried about his sister. He focused on all the wounds on her. The barbwire marks, the rope mark on her neck, the cuts on her body, and the giant bruise on her head.

He heard the door open and he looked up to see Hotch. Spencer stood up.

"How is she?" He asked.

"Sleeping peacefully now that she knows that's she's safe." Spencer answered softly.

"Look. . .the doctors ran some tests and. . .Audrey has PTSD." He told her.

Spencer's jaw dropped, "For how long?"

"They don't know." Hotch answered, "but what Austin did to her has damaged her."

Spencer looked at his sister and back at Hotch, "what now?"

"They recommend her not going back to school for the rest of the year or at least until she's not highly reactive to certain sounds or actions. I'm giving you time off to take care of her." He explained.

"Thank you, Hotch." Spencer said, "Audrey means so much to me and she needs me the most right now."

"If you need anything or need one of us to help, just call us." He told him.

Spencer walked to Audrey and held her hand, "Audrey. . .I'm so sorry."

Within a couple days, Audrey and Spencer were back home. Audrey was in her room sitting on her bed rubbing her legs. Spencer unexpectedly walked in.

"Au-"

"Don't hurt me please!" She jumped up and hugged herself.

"Audrey it's only me." Spencer told her, "I was coming in to check on you."

She rubbed her wrists, "I-I-I'm fine."

Spencer walked to her and wrapped his arms around her, "Audrey. . . .I know you're not fine. You're suffering from a terrifying event."

She hid her face in his chest and quietly cried. He picked her up and sat on her bed. He rocked her back and forth in his arms. He started to hum "you are my sunshine". He softly rubbed her head as she continued crying.

"Audrey I love you." He told her, "I'm not leaving you, ever."

"He told me you weren't looking for me." She sniffled.

Spencer lifted up her chin, "Audrey, he lied to you. That's what unsubs do, they lie to you. I wasn't doing anything other than trying to find you. I only wish I had gotten to you sooner."

Audrey cried more as she snuggled up to Spencer in his arms. She slowly drifted to sleep as Spencer continued to rock her back and forth. He kissed her forehead and laid her down. He placed the covers over her body and gently rubbed her head. He sighed as he felt guilt rush over him like a river.

Suddenly, his phone began to ring. Spencer quickly left her room and looked at his phone, seeing that Garcia was calling.

He answered the call, "hey Penelope."

His voice sounded weary.

"Hey Spence." Garcia spoke softly, "how's Audrey?"

Spencer sighed, "she's terrified, anxious, and unstable. She doesn't believe that she's safe anywhere. I know that what Austin did to her is replaying in her mind. Her wounds are taking an extremely long time to heal."

"Oh that poor girl." She replied, "how are you holding up?"

"It hurts to see her like this." His voice cracked, "Before this happened, she was outgoing and. . .happy. I don't have my same little sister anymore. She's reliving the moments and I feel helpless against it."

Garcia's heart broke at the sound of his voice; to hear that he was falling apart from the sight of his sister.

"I'm scared that she'll end up doing something." Spencer spoke.

"Do you want one of us to come to the house to help?" She asked.

"I don't know." His voice cracked, "right now she's sleeping."

"I'll send JJ over." Garcia said and hung up the phone.

Spencer walked back in Audrey's room and she was still sleeping. She started to whimper with tears falling from her eyes. Spencer immediately held her hand and rubbed her head.

"Audrey I'm right here." He told her, "I'm right here. . ."

Audrey calmed down to the soothing voice of her brother.