Next Door Neighbor

CHAPTER 24: END

The gunshot echoes in the small cement room. Blood on the walls.

Lance falls to the ground, a hole in his head, eyes wide open.

The team runs into the room, guns drawn.

JJ comes over and breaks me out of the chains.

Hotch unchains Spencer.

I run over to him.

He pulls me into a hug.

"Are you two okay?" Emily asks, checking us over for any serious injuries. "We're fine. You came just in time." Spencer says. I'm sobbing into Spencer's chest. He holds me close, arms keeping me safe. "We're safe. I have you." he murmurs. "I was so scared. I thought he was going to kill you. I can't lose you. I can't." I cry. "I'm alive. I'm not going to leave you." Spencer reminds me. He gives me a soft kiss. He wipes the tears from my eyes.

We walk out the door, out of the house. We stand outside, then sunlight on our faces, for the first time in almost thirty six hours. Penelope comes rushing over. She pulls us both into a hug. "I'm so glad you two are alright. I was worried sick." she says. When she pulls away, Spencer asks "How did you find us?" Penelope smiles. "I'm the best of the best. I analyzed the writing and matched it to other notes we have in the database. I compared the notes and the victims, and we pinned him. We traced him all the way here." Penelope explains.

The rest of the team starts to come over, checking in on us. I stand there with Spencer, hand in hand. We're alive. We're okay. We're free. I turn to Spencer. "Let's not ever do that again." I joke. Spencer chuckles. "I'm never letting you out of my sight again." Spencer adds.

****

The next month is tedious. Hotch orders Spencer to take a week or two off to heal, so we spend the weeks watching Dr. Who and trying to get life back to normal. It's not easy. But together, we'll survive. I'm currently sitting with Spencer on the couch, watching another episode of Dr. Who. We've already seen it, but it doesn't matter.

"Y'know, if I hadn't had trouble with those boxes that night, we might have never met." I muse. "I think we still would have met. Soulmates can't avoid each other forever." Spencer jokes. "I have the best next door neighbor." I chuckle. I give him a soft kiss, and for a moment, everything in the world seems right again.