Normal People - Strange Encounters Book Two

Chapter 10

As Spencer, Emily, and Derek drove down the bumpy lane Spencer braced himself for what they'd find. He hoped Eliza Turner would be able to fill in the blanks that were throughout this case.

"What're you thinking, Reid?" Emily asked over her shoulder, turning to peer at him sitting in the backseat.

"When you guys will stop asking me that" he said, trying to deliver it lightheartedly but not being able to stop the slight sharpness of his words. He saw Emily raise an eyebrow and open her mouth to respond. "I'm sorry, I know. I know you guys just care. But, I'm thinking about this witness. I can't stop thinking that I know her name somehow."

"From where?"

"I have no clue."

They descended down the lane, a small cabin coming into view. It was nestled between the coast and the forest behind it, smoke wafting out of the chimney. If Spencer hadn't have been so anxious, he would've thought it was quite picturesque.

Derek put the SUV in park and they all hopped out and glanced around the property. Spencer watched as Derek drew his gun and gave him shrug.

"Can't be too careful. Plus, if Penelope is right, this is the person who hacked her. Don't know if we can trust them yet, no matter their connection to Lia." Spencer knew he was right and he and Emily followed suit, drawing their weapons. "I'll go check out the shed and woods, Emily you check the perimeter and out back. Spencer, you can see if anyone's home."

They all nodded in agreement and head in their respective directions. Spencer glanced in the window's of the cabin and thought he saw movement. He approached the front door and cleared his throat before knocking. Knowing he'd seen motion, he tested the doorknob after a few minutes of no answer. It turned easily in his hand and he swung it back, holding his gun at eye level as he scanned the first room. A small kitchen and sitting area was situated centered around a large fireplace. He cleared the room before moving over to the door on his right. Taking a deep breath, he turned the knob and swung it open.

Spencer could feel the color drain from his face as his mouth fell open. The first thing he saw was the barrel of the gun pointed in his face. The second thing he saw was the slack jaw of his girlfriend, who was holding the gun.

"Spencer?"

His breath caught in his throat, his arms going weak as he heard her say his name for the first time in nearly three months. Forgoing all training, he dropped his weapon at his side even though there was still one leveled at him.

"Amelia?" He watched as she dropped her arms at her sides as well, her whole body started to go slack. He studied her appearance, pajamas and all.

Suddenly, his mind put the pieces together. "Eliza Turner.. Eliza Sproat Turner was a women's suffragist in Philadelphia in he 1880's."

"I knew you'd get it, Doc" she said quietly. He'd barely registered what she had said, but watched as her face lost color and she fainted on the floor.

♡

"Lee?" Amelia struggled to open her eyes, her body feeling as if she'd just ran a marathon even though she knew she'd taken it easy most of the day.. until..

As her eyes opened and focused, her eyes settled on the tall, lanky man hovering over her. She tried sitting up, but simultaneously scooted backwards into the corner. She'd dreamt of this moment every day for nearly three months but now that it was here, she was frozen on the spot. She reached a hand up to her head, gently rubbing the spot she'd hit when she fainted.

"What-"

All of a sudden the door burst open, startling both Amelia and Spencer which caused them to jump.

"Kid, the Sheriff called. She recognized the picture. Eliza is.. oh shit. Amelia."

Amelia was still sitting on the wooden floor, and now Spencer, Derek, and Emily all stood around and looking down at her, shock written on their features. Spencer knelt next to her, moving slowly when Amelia flinched when he moved closer to her.

"Lee, how.." His eyes searched hers, wishing he could gather all of the information he needed and had been hunting for for the past several weeks just from one look.

Amelia lept to her feet as the door burst open for a third time.

"For fucks sake!"

"That is no way to speak, young lady." Gladys walked into the room, a bright green parka billowing behind her with Simon following close by, an axe in hand. "And who the hell are these feds?"

Amelia pressed her hands against her eyes and groaned. She had been thinking about this moment for so long, but hadn't planned on the anxiety it would cause her being back around Spencer and the team after leaving as she did, not to mention the explanation she owed Gladys. And on top of all of that, she'd pretty much been in solitude for the past three months with minimal human interaction and didn't realize the mental toll that would take on her. She so desperately yearned for Spencer, why did she flinch when he reached out for her?

"Miss G.. these, uh, these are members of the Behavioral Analysis Unit of the FBI."

"Eliza.."

Amelia blushed when she saw Spencer raise an eyebrow at the use of her fake name.

She cleared her throat. "Actually, G.. it's Amelia."

The old lady's face changed then, almost looking.. proud, but of what Amelia wasn't sure. The woman walked across the room, everyone else making way for her, and she put her arm protectively around Amelia's shoulders.

"I think we'd better head up to the main house. Anyone else fancy a hot cup of joe?"

Derek cleared his throat, still in shock from the situation. "Uh, I'd love one. Lead the way, ma'am."

Amelia resisted the urge to laugh at Gladys as she watched her eye Derek up and down. "You, sir, can call me Gladys."

Everyone in the room let out a small laugh, breaking the tension slightly. Amelia, for what felt like the millionth time in the past ten minutes, cleared her throat again. "Uhm, we'll meet you guys up there, Miss G" she said, her eyes finding Spencer's as she fidgeted with the ring on her thumb. He kept his face expressionless, but gave a slight nod. Everyone else picked up on Amelia's cue and filed into their vehicles and started up the lane toward the house.

Amelia turned to look at Spencer, who stepped a few paces closer. Not used to the awkwardness between them, she felt paralyzed for a moment. She looked at this man in front of her, trying to read him. His body language gave away his nerves and she saw his Adam's apple bob as he swallowed repeatedly, nervously. Then she remembered that this was her Spencer, the man she loved, regardless of the time that had passed.

"Are, uhm, you okay? You hit your head pretty h- oof." Amelia didn't care how anxious she felt about the human contact, she threw herself against Spencer and wrapped her arms around his chest, barely believing he was real. He clenched his jaw, trying to not get emotional, but as he felt her body slowly start to shake with sobs, he too slowly started crying.

Somehow, without exchanging a word, they both ended up collapsed on the floor, limbs tangled together, crying about the time they lost and the pain caused. Amelia felt Spencer's tears land on her forehead which was nestled under his chin. She breathed in his smell, coffee and peppermint and cologne, making her cry even harder. She hadn't realize just how much she missed him, how her heart had ached knowing she was causing him the same kind of pain she was feeling. She felt his fingers grip the skin of her sides where her shirt had ridden up, as if, should he let go, she'd disappear again. She wrapped her arms around him tighter in an attempt to show she wasn't going anywhere without him, ever again.

a/n

idk how I feel about this and i'm not sure if it's just the pressure of their reunion or what but I hope you guys like it and I promise the next few chapters build upon this!! they have a lot of unresolved ✨feelings✨