Next Door Neighbor

CHAPTER 12: NIGHTMARE

STEPHANIE'S POV:

I wake up to the sound of muffled screams. I sit straight up, throwing my covers off me. I run out into the living room and see Spencer thrashing on the couch, mumbling something I can't quite hear. I run over to him and kneel down, resting my arms on the side of the couch. "Spencer. Wake up, honey." I gently shake him, making sure to ease him out of the dream as gently as possible.

Spencer's eyes shoot open and he sits up, breathing hard. He looks around, his hair flying all over the place. "Hey. It was just a dream. You're safe, you're okay." I whisper. His breathing starts to slow down a bit. He runs a hand through his hair, combing it back. He moves so he's sitting on the couch and I sit next to him. I start to stroke his back, trying to calm him.

"I'm sorry, Steph. I didn't mean to wake you." He mumbles. "Don't apologize. Nightmares happen to the best of us. Do you want to talk about it?" I ask. He hesitates. "It was about the Erin Grater case. I watched her die, again. Just like the first time, I couldn't stop him." He explains. "Spencer, Erin's death was not your fault. I know it feels like it is, but you weren't the one who killed her. You saved other innocent women. I promise you, it was not your fault." I tell him. He grabs my hand, holding it tight.

I look at the clock on the wall, and it's only two in the morning. "Do you think you can go back to sleep?" I question. "I don't know if I can," he replies. "C'mon. You'll sleep with me tonight. I'll read to you to help you get to sleep." I tell him. I help him up and lead him to my room. He follows without complaint, too tired to argue. He climbs into the bed and I sit down next to him. I scramble under the covers and grab my book. I click on my reading light and begin to read.

Slowly, Spencer starts to drift back to sleep. His breathing evens out and his face relaxes. I turn off my light, close my book and put it back on the nightstand. I lay down and pull the covers over me. I close my eyes, sleep overtaking me.

*****

When I wake up, Spencer is curled around me, holding me against his chest. He's still fast asleep. I look over at my alarm clock and see that it's only seven. I slowly untangle myself from Spencer and climb out of bed. I run to the restroom and brush my teeth and hair, putting my hair into the normal braid.

I walk into the kitchen and begin to bake. I find that baking relaxes me and relaxes others. Fresh baked goods bring a sense of calm to any situation. When I'm baking, my mind is under control, focused on the task at hand. My thoughts are at bay, I'm given temporary peace. But even as I'm baking the muffins, the same ones I made him when we met almost four months ago, I can't stop my brain from worrying about Spencer. Last night, the fear was overtaking him, the nightmare so vivid, so real, so painful. I wish I could protect him from his dreams.

The muffins are just coming out of the oven when Spencer walks into the kitchen, already dressed. I give him a quick smile and he helps me set the table. We sit down and begin to eat. "Thank you. For helping me last night." Spencer says. "Of course." I pause. "How long have you been having these nightmares for?" I ask. "A couple weeks." My eyebrows raise in surprise. "Why didn't you tell me?" I question. "I didn't want to burden you. It's my own problem, I need to deal with it." He explains.

"Spencer, nothing you can do will ever burden me. You don't need to deal with your problems alone. I'm with you through thick and thin, Spencer Reid." I tell him. He smiles at me. "I love you, Stephanie. So much." He says quietly. "I love you too." I reply. I hope he never forgets that.