25. train wreck

𝑊𝐴𝑅𝑁𝐼𝑁𝐺.• blood/gore

A Year Earlier.

The sweet aroma of coffee wafted around the room as Spencer leaned back against the counter, sighing contently to himself as he sipped his coffee from the foam cup in his hands, immediately scrunching his nose in disgust. He spun around, grabbing the sugar from behind him before pulling the lid off the foam cup, dumping the crystallized xylose into the already sweetened drink as he reached for a plastic stick, stirring the mound of sugar in.

"Need some more coffee with your sugar?"

Spencer jumped at the sudden voice, whirling around to see a younger woman standing behind him, beaming at him with her big, bright eyes. She was shorter than him— much shorter. And she was pretty. Spencer blushed at her words, pulling his cup off the counter and swirling it around in his hand, sipping it as he said, "I have a sweet tooth."

"I'll say," the girl laughed, crossing her arms as she grinned up at Spencer.

"Uh... Are you, uh... Are you new?" Spencer asked, sipping his coffee.

"I am, actually. Sorry. That was rude of me. I'm (Y/N)— or Agent (Y/L/N). It doesn't matter to me what you call me."

Spencer watched her as she extended her hand out to him, feeling his heart lurch inside his chest. "Oh, you're the, um... you're the new media liaison! Yes, I remember. Hotch mentioned you were starting today. Sorry, I don't... I don't really do handshakes. The amount of germs exchanged during a handshake is actually pretty staggering. It's much safer to kiss."

Color rushed to Spencer's cheeks as (Y/N) looked at him, wide-eyed. "Shit— I mean— not shit, I... Wow. This is not going well, is it?"

"Mm, I'll give you bonus points for being charming at least," she giggled.

"Sorry," Spencer sighed. He plastered a goofy smile to his face, setting his coffee down as he asked, "Can we start over? Hi. I'm Spencer."

"(Y/N)," the girl replied as Spencer took her hand in his, his fingertips igniting at her touch, feeling his cheeks burn from embarrassment. "So, wait, are you... Are you Spencer Reid, then? Dr. Spencer Reid. The genius on the team?"

"That would be me," Spencer replied, smiling at her as he pulled his hand away.

"Hotch mentioned you during my interview. That's so fucking cool... shoot. Yeah, uh... shoot. I- I have a bit of a mouth on me, too," (Y/N) replied, wrapping her arms around herself as she shyly smiled.

"That's okay. I won't tell a soul," Spencer chuckled.

"Maybe you should warn the team, actually. It can get pretty out of hand sometimes," (Y/N) said, laughing.

"Oh. Never mind, maybe I will tell the team, then."

She giggled at Spencer's words, flashing him a smile as she motioned to the coffee counter behind him, asking, "May I?"

"Oh, of course. Sorry about that." Spencer stepped to the side, watching (Y/N) as she poured herself a cup of coffee, admiring the way that she looked just pouring coffee into a shitty cup made of foam. She glanced over at him and Spencer quickly turned away, busying himself with his drink as his cheeks darkened from embarrassment, hearing (Y/N) giggle beside him.

"Reid! (Y/L/N)!"

Spencer noticed Hotch standing by the conference room, peeking his head around the corner as he called to them, "We have a case!"

Spencer looked over at (Y/N) as she sighed, placing her hands on the counter as she nervously bit her lip. "Don't be nervous," Spencer replied, placing his hand over her shoulder. She looked up at him, her eyes studying his as he said, "You're gonna do great. I know you will."

She smiled at Spencer, grabbing her coffee and taking a sip before whispering a soft, "Thank you," to him. They walked to the conference room together, Spencer following closely behind (Y/N) as Hotch handed her the remote, opting to sit between Morgan and JJ. (Y/N) stood at the front, taking a deep breath. After a brief introduction, (Y/N) clicked the remote, brining crime scene images from inside an art museum up on the screen, the bodies having been posed to look like paintings. "Four bodies have been discovered in Cleveland, Ohio in place of stolen paintings, posed to look like the exact painting that was stolen in the last week. They've all been males in their late thirties to early forties, no particular race or appearance, all stabbed five to seven times."

After presenting the case, Hotch dismissed the team with a brief, "Wheels up in thirty." Spencer walked over to (Y/N) as the team dispersed from around the room, smiling at her as he said, "You did really well."

"Really? I felt like my heart was going to burst the entire time," (Y/N) replied, sucking in a deep breath.

"No, that was good! I promise."

(Y/N)'s eyes flicked to Spencer, smirking at him as she tapped the remote in her hand against her chin, asking him, "Are you lying to me, genius?"

Spencer blushed at her words, shaking his head. "I would never lie to you."

"That's good, then," (Y/N) replied, punching his shoulder lightly, and he gasped, shooting her a look as he rubbed his arm. "Otherwise I would've had to show you what happens when you lie to me."

Spencer's heart lurched inside his chest at her words, grinning at her as he asked, "And how would you go about doing that?"

(Y/N) smiled up at him, pushing past Spencer as she swung her head over her shoulder, smirking back at him as she replied, "Wouldn't you like to know?"

~~~

"So, my dad, he..." Norah's voice trailed off as she looked up at Spencer, tears streaming down her cheeks as she asked, "He- He killed all those people?"

"I'm so sorry, Norah," Spencer replied. She flung her arms around him, sobbing in his chest as (Y/N) watched from afar, a look of sympathy on her face. Spencer looked back at her, smiling sadly at her as she returned the small smile, wrapping her arms around herself guiltily.

"Wh- Why did he... Why?" Norah asked, looking up at Spencer as she pulled herself away from him.

"Because he was obsessed with art. He wanted to replace those paintings with his own artwork because he felt like he never got anything that he wanted in life," Spencer replied, his eyes flicking to (Y/N) as she walked away, twisting her hands behind her back as she walked over to Morgan and JJ.

Norah looked up at Spencer, noticing him watching (Y/N) before she snapped her fingers in his face, and he looked down at her. "I'm so sorry for everything, Norah," he said quickly, squeezing her shoulder as he smiled sadly at her, his eyes widening as she leaned her head against his hand, looking up at him with tear-filled eyes. "It's gonna be okay," he told her, nodding his head.

"Will you stay with me, Spencer?" Norah asked, squeezing his wrist.

"Sure, I can... I can stay with you," he replied. He led her over to the bench, sitting down beside her as she curled up in his arms, crying softly in his chest. He wrapped an arm around her, feeling his heart break for her as he rubbed her arm soothingly, whispering small encouragements in her ear. (Y/N) walked over to them, Spencer's heart racing as he watched her kneel down in front of Norah, placing a hand on her knee.

"You're gonna get through this," she said, smiling up at her as Norah looked back at her, an inquisitive fire raging in her eyes.

Because, little did they know, they were sitting in the presence of someone who was just as twisted and obsessive as Xander Fleming.

~~~

Present Day.

"Spencer!"

You ran over to him, sliding your gun into its holster before you dropped to your knees beside his body curled up on the floor, feeling tears prick your eyes. "No, no, no!" You cried, gasping at the multiple stab wounds that lined his abdomen, placing your hand over his stomach as you looked at Spencer, cupping his cheek. "No, baby, come on. Open your eyes. Open your eyes for me, please, I... I need you to open your eyes for me."

Spencer's eyes barely opened as you let out a small, breathy laugh, tears streaming down your cheeks as you nodded your head at him, saying, "Yeah, that's it. Keep your eyes on me. I'm right here, Spencer."

"(Y/N)?"

You nodded your head. "Yeah, it's me. I'm right here, baby," you grinned at him, your eyes flicking to your hand on his stomach already coated in his blood, your heart sinking inside your chest. You looked over at Spencer as he groaned, shifting slightly in your arms. "Talk to me. Tell me you can hear me," you begged him, brushing your thumb lightly against his cheek.

He nodded his head, closing his eyes as you shook your head. "No. No, Spencer. I need you to keep your eyes open for me. Open your eyes, Spence. Spencer, you can't... you can't close your eyes!"

You leaned over his body, cupping Spencer's cheeks as you rested your forehead over his, tears slipping down your cheeks as you sobbed, "I- I can't lose you."

You pulled away from him, reaching down and ripping his shirt open, gasping as you counted five stab wounds covering his body, choking on a sob. "Oh, Spence, I'm so sorry," you sobbed, looking at him as tears blurred your vision, placing your hand over his chest. "This is all my fault. It's all my fault. I'm so sorry. I'm sorry."

Spencer shook his head weakly, peering at you through half-shut eyes as a small smile formed on his lips, reaching out to touch your hand, his arm immediately falling limp. "Don't. It's not... It's not your fault," he whispered, squeezing his eyes shut as he groaned softly before coughing, blood spilling out of his mouth. "Oh, I can't... I can't feel anything."

"(Y/L/N)!"

You gasped as you turned around, noticing the team walking into the storage locker, their guns drawn. "He's been stabbed. He's been stabbed. Spencer's been stabbed," you quickly gasped, clinging to Spencer as the team filed into the room, holstering their weapons.

"He's in here!" Morgan called to the paramedics at the end of the hall. They ran in with a stretcher and JJ grabbed your hand, pulling you away from Spencer as you watched them lift him up onto the gurney, carrying him out of the room. You followed after them, swiping at your tears as you watched them lift his body into the ambulance, your heart thundering loudly inside your ears.

"(Y/L/N)." You looked over at Hotch, swiping at your tears as he flashed you a sad look, cocking his head to the side. "You should ride with him. We are going to need to discuss your actions during this case later, but... go. Be with Reid."

You nodded your head at him before grabbing the handlebar, pulling yourself into the ambulance as you sat by Spencer's side, grasping his hand in yours. You watched the paramedics as they hooked him up to various machines, one of them pulling the doors shut before the engine started, pulling out of the parking lot.

"(Y/N)?"

You looked down at Spencer, swiping at your tears as you smiled at him, saying, "Hey! Hey, baby. I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere."

Spencer's eyes flicked to you, a single tear dripping down his cheek as he mumbled, "I'm sorry."

"If you apologize to me one more goddamn time, I swear to god, Spencer Reid, I'm gonna beat your ass," you sniffled, combing your fingers through his hair. "None of this is your fault. You have nothing to apologize for."

Spencer's eyes rolled into the back of his head as a loud beeping sound filled the ambulance, a loud cry leaving you as one of the paramedics cried, "He's coding! Get the paddles ready!"

"No. No, no, no. Spencer, open your eyes," you sobbed, the loud beeping from the machine ringing in your ears. You shook your head, your tears dripping onto Spencer's bare chest as you cried, "Spencer, damnit, open your eyes!"

"Charging to one hundred," one of the paramedics said, rubbing the paddles together before positioning them above Spencer's chest, saying, "Clear."

You pulled your hands away, clapping them over your mouth as you closed your eyes, shaking your head as you refused to watch the man you love jolt on the table, the paddles shocking his heart. "Nothing. Charge to two hundred," the paramedic said, you letting out another sob as you heard the machine fire up, opening your eyes as you lurched forward, squeezing Spencer's hands.

"You better wake the fuck up, little boy," you sobbed. "I- I want that future with you. The one where we get married and have two kids. The one that you talked about, the one where we get to spend the rest of our lives together. I... I want that with you so fucking bad. You have to wake up, though. You have to, you... you can't leave me!"

"Clear!"

You pulled away, the blaring sirens outside seeming like they were miles away as you covered your eyes, hearing the paddles shock Spencer's heart a second time. You heard the beeping sound return to normal, letting out a vociferous, grateful sob as you opened your eyes, squeezing his hands. "There we go. There you are. You're back. You're back," you sobbed, swiping at your tears.

Spencer's eyes shot wide open, gasping loudly as he looked over at you, coughing, blood sputtering out of his mouth. He reached out, grabbing the collar of your shirt before he yanked you towards him, gasping uncontrollably as he clung to you. "Hey, it's okay! I'm right here. I'm right here," you said, placing your hand on his chest.

"Don't leave me," he gasped.

"I'm not going anywhere, genius. Remember? You're stuck with me," you cried softly to him. Spencer looked around the ambulance, gasping desperately for air as the paramedics worked around you, and you cupped his cheeks, saying, "Hey. Hey. Look at me. Look at me, Spencer."

He looked over at you as your lower lip trembled, pressing a quick, sloppy kiss to his lips as you said, "I love you so much. Okay? I- I love you and I... You can't die. Y- You need to stay here. With me. Please."

"I'm not going anywhere, baby."

That was the last thing he said before his eyes fell shut and the ambulance came to a stop, a loud gasp leaving you as you pulled away from Spencer, shaking your head as you cried, "No. No, you can't die. Don't die, please!"

The doors swung open and the paramedics lifted Spencer out of the ambulance. One of them helped you out of the back before you ran after Spencer, swiping at your tears as you tried to push past the paramedics to get to him. They pushed him into the operating area and you grabbed the door, flying after him until nurse grabbed your wrist, dragging you away. "I'm sorry, ma'am, but you can't go back there," she said to you.

You shook your head at her, bringing your bloodied hands up to your chest as you said, "N- No, I have to. I have to. I have to make sure that he's okay. I-"

"-Ma'am, we'll take good care of him. I promise," the nurse said, squeezing your shoulder. "But I need you to go back to the waiting area. Someone will be by to update you on Dr. Reid's condition later."

That was the last thing she said before she disappeared into the operating room, leaving you there as you felt everything around you come crashing down, your ears ringing as everything started to move in slow motion, feeling completely numb to the rest of the world.

"Pretty girl."

Morgan was standing behind you, his eyes scanning your clothes stained red from Spencer's blood. He reached out, wrapping an arm around you as he pulled you away, saying, "Come on. Let's find you a change of clothes."

You only managed a few steps before you slipped to your knees, bringing Morgan down with you as you flung your arms around him, sobbing loudly into his chest.