silence (spencer reid) book one

prologue

"it doesn't matter how hard you try, how many procedures you follow or how many orders you give, you cannot save everyone."

.

"Do you hate me?" She choked out.

"W-what? Why-how, why would I hate you?" Spencer stuttered.

"Because of what I did. In Iraq." Tears traveled slowly down her cheeks.

"No, Abby. No. Never." A couple of tears came out of the young man's eyes. He'd just lost Prentiss - for a second time - he wasn't going to lose Abby too.

"I suppose this is justice. An eye for an eye." She laughed dryly.

"You're not going to die. Nobody dies today." Spencer reassured her. "Hotch, where's the medic!" Hotch ran to the door to find the missing medic.

Abby squeezed his hand, tightly and looked him directly in the eyes. She smiled, that beautiful, bright smile. Not just with her mouth but with her eyes.

Hotch followed the medic as he entered the diner and headed straight for Abby.

"It's okay." She whispered.

Her grip on Spencer's hand loosened and her eyes closed, extinguishing her bright smile. The medic moved Spencer out of the way before he had the chance to acknowledge the lack of contact in his hand.

He turned to Hotch, tears flowing down his cheeks. Unexpectedly, his usually emotionally stoic boss pulled him into him as the doctor continued to sob.

He worried that he would never get his goodbye.

.