Enjoying Your Company //

chapter six

Spencer's POV:

I come out of the stall, straight for the sink. Dousing my face with icy water. Derek was leaned up against the counter, waiting.

"Reid...Are you sure that's Vanessa? I mean. Do you even know Vanessa's last name?"

"Morgan, that's her." My voice was rash, aching. He sighed.

"You know you have to tell the team."

"I know." I exhale to the sink, trying to catch my breath. "I should have told her who I was, maybe I could have...done something."

"Reid, stop. You don't know what happened, you couldn't have possibly known she was gonna need your help when you met." Derek rationalized, putting a hand on my shoulder.  Rossi walked in.

"Everything alright in here?"

"Fine, Rossi, what's up?"

"Hotch wants us back in the briefing room before we take off. We just got some new evidence." Rossi looked from me to Morgan, stepping into the restroom, locking the door. "Does this, have to do with the girl you've been seeing?" Rossi fished patiently.

"Yes." I could barley speak.

"Anything you'd like to share?" I look up from the mirror, towards Dave. Seeing him give a gentle persuasive complexion.

"Yes, but we're gonna need the whole team." Rossi gave an understanding nod, and respectfully left the restroom.

"You okay, kid?" Derek asked, watching as I piece myself together.

"No. But neither is Vanessa, and she needs our help." Morgan and I left the restroom, the team waiting for us in the round table room. All eyes on me.

"Good, you're here-"

"There's something I have tell you all." He wore an apprehensive look, but silenced, giving me the floor. "I've been...I've been seeing Vanessa Quinn..." The exchange of looks passed around the room ignited embarrassment. "We've been." I stop, taking a breath. "We met at a bookstore. We were suppose to go for dinner a few days ago, when we got back from Dallas. But she never called me back. I thought, maybe, she just changed her mind...but her phone goes straight to voicemail, and today, she's on the screen..." I look at her photo, hovering on the tv behind my team, feeling the distance between us.

"Reid, why didn't you tell us?" Garcia's careful voice emerged.

"I didn't wanna make it real, every time I do, every time I get close, I lose them. Like I lost Maeve. I can't, lose anyone else. I didn't even consider the fact that, I could lose her." I fought back the lump forcing its way up my throat. Hotch's complexion was pensive, gearing my anticipation.

"You should leave the room." His cold tone struck us all.

"Aaron-" Rossi began, but Hotch's hand stopped him.

"A few minutes ago we got a phone call sent by the Washington police department from an unknown umber. It's Vanessa Quinn." I felt that sickly feeling rising up inside me again. "You may want to step out of the room."

"I wanna hear it." Everyone was silent. "Play the message."