Chapter 17

Zoey's pov

"Do you think you'll be okay here alone," Spencer says frantically putting on his shoes at 5:00 am.

"Spencer, calm down, I'm fine. Go, the team needs you," 

Hotch called him not that long ago saying that there is a case and a bad one, I'm guessing it has to do with kids, they needed him there right away. He apologized because Spence was supposed to have 2 weeks off and has only had 1 and a half, but I understand they need him. Plus I'm fine, I could go back to work, but I'm not cleared yet. Spencer is actually freaking out, running around my apartment trying to find his go bag and trying to tie his tie at the same time.

"Spence," I say getting up but he didn't hear me, "Spencer!"  I yelled.

"What!" He yelled back.

"Babe, calm down," I grabbed his hands but he snapped them away and I frown.

"Oh Zoey, I'm sorry. I'm just stressed right now, I was supposed to be with you and now I can't and you're probably mad and..." he starts rambling but I cut him off.

"Babe, I'm not mad, they need you and I'm fine with that, I understand. I'll be fine here alone and if I like start dying I'll call Garcia," I say tying his tie for him.

"I promise to call you as often as I can and I'll text you when I can too. If you need anything just call me okay?" He said grabbing my hands.

"Don't worry about me." I said kissing his cheek, "Now finish getting ready, I'll get your go bag together," 

As I stuff most of his clothes, except his red sweatshirt, in his go bag he is brushing his teeth.

"Okay I gotta go," he said grabbing my waist.

"I love you," I say pressing my lips on his.

"I love you too Zo. I promise I will call you as much as I can,"

"I know I know, now go, they need you," I walk him to the door, give him one more kiss and wave goodbye.

I slowly walk over to the dresser, I grab his red sweatshirt I left out and put it on. It's my favorite of his, I like to burry my face in it and smell it. It smells exactly like him and that's why I love it so much. I look around my room and spot the big teddy bear Spencer got me when I was in the hospital, I go to the corner it was laying in.

Picking it up I stare into its button eyes and say it to," you're going to be my cuddle buddy for a while,"

Crawling back into my bed I hold the stuffed bear in my arms drifting to sleep, the bear also had a slight smell of Spencer.

When I woke up I felt the empty cold bed and I expected to smell pancakes, or bacon, but then I remembered that he wasn't here. I roll over to the night stand sliding my hand around to find my phone, I hear it hit the carpet.

"shit," I mumble getting out of bed to find it.

Once I get my phone I open it up I see I have a text from Spencer, "Good morning sunshine, we landed in Wyoming not that long ago. I thought I would text you and tell you that we landed. Text me when you wake up, I love you baby," I smile at his text, he's so sweet. I text back, "good morning, thank you for texting me and telling me where you were. I love you too,"

I look over to the clock and it reads 8:00am. I put on flip flops, tied my hair up so I didn't look totally homeless, grabbed my keys and wristlet and walked out of my apartment to get Starbucks. As I turned on the car the radio automatically started playing a beautiful song, it was soothing but not to boring that it would put me asleep. Halfway there I heard my phone ring, it was Spencer's ringtone I set special for him. I quickly turn off the music and and answered the phone.

"Hi," I said cheerfully.

"Hi baby, how are you?" He spoke softly.

"I'm good, how about you?" I answer.

"Good, I'm a bit stressed, the case is a hard one. I uh, expect to be here longer that usual," he said with sadness in his voice.

"Oh," I responded quickly.

"I'm sorry sweetie, I'll try to be home as quick as I can,"

"No it's fine, don't be sorry. Tell everyone I said hi for me please,"

"Of course, I gotta go now, I love you Zoey,"

"I love you too Spence," I hang up the phone and put it back on my lap.

For the rest of the ride to Starbucks I sit in silence because I didn't want to turn the radio back on. I knew that specific song wouldn't be on anymore, I didn't want to risk tarnishing the rhythm in my head with another song.

I didn't feel like going in, so I went through the drive-through. I ordered my usual, a Carmel frap, it's not anything interesting, buts it's me. When I got home I threw my keys in the bowl sitting on a table near my door and kicked my shoes off. I turn on the TV flipping through channels trying to find a show that would satisfy my boredom, I never did find one, I just kept going through station through station. I memorized what shows were on what channel so I quizzed myself. Who knew life was so boring, I kinda wish I had a color book right now. I bet it would be more fun than quizzing myself on television stations. I sat there for a hour and then all the stations got new shows so I couldn't do my little game anymore. I turn off the tv and walk over to my bookshelf and pick up a random one not even caring what I'm about to read, all I care is that it's interesting, I need something interesting in my life at the moment.

I started to read the first sentence when my phone rang, but it wasn't Spencer's ring tone. I look at the contact that was lit up on my screen, it was my mom. I jinx myself, this isn't what I meant by interesting.

Hesitant I answered the phone, "hello,"

"Oh hi Zoey," she says faking a cheery voice.

"Hi mom,"

"How are you sweetie, we haven't talked forever!" She said exaggerated.

"A month and three weeks," I corrected her.

"How the new job?"

"Peachy,"  I know what you're thinking 'why is she being such a bitch to her mom, her mom sounds like a wonderful women.'  Well you're thinking wrong. After my brother and sister left it was just me and her, my dad lived somewhere I didn't know with his new wife. She was terrible to me, she made me do all the work around the house while she sat on her fat ass and watch soap operas. She was rude to me, told me I would never succeed in life. She abused me when I didn't do her chore the way she wanted me to. She's gotten better at the mom think, but I'll still never forget her.

"Have you met anyone,"

"Actually mom, I have. I met a wonderful man, Spencer Reid, I work with him and I've never been happier,"

"Don't turn into your sister," she groans.

"What is that supposed to mean. Are you calling both of us sluts," I shout.

"No honey, I just don't want you to fall in love to fast,"

"You know what mom I am in love with him,"

"Well can I at least talk to this guy," she sounded discussed.

"He's not here right now,"

"Fine, I knew it was a mistake calling you!" She screamed hanging up.

Midnight

I never made the bed today so I just crawled but in with the teddy bear and Spencer's sweatshirt trying to fall asleep. It took me a while, but I finally fell asleep around 1 am. That didn't last long.

I wake up breathing heavy and all sweaty, another nightmare. I grab the bear beside me trying to confront myself, I doesn't work, I need to hear his voice. I roll over the the night stand and unplug my phone, turning it on it almost blinds me. I pull up my contacts and hit Spencer's name.

"Please answer," I whisper crying a bit.

"Zoey? What are you doing up? Is everything okay?" He said quickly answering the phone.

"Hi Spence," I whimper.

"Why are you calling me, it's like three in the morning there. What's wrong?"

"I know, I'm sorry am I bothering you at work," I apologize.

"No, no it's fine. We just got to the hotel to get some rest and for a fresh start in the morning. I can tell something wrong, are you okay?"

"I uh had a nightmare," I stutter.

"Oh, I'm sorry Zo. Do you want me to talk to you until you fall asleep?" His voice was soft and caring.

"Yeah that would be nice. Can you please tell me a story?"

"Yes of course," I hear a door shut from his side of the call. It made me jump a little.

He starts reading me one of my favorite poems, Annabelle Lee. His voice was soft and soothing as he starts to recite the poem, "It was many and many a year ago in a kingdom by the sea that a maiden there lived whom you may know by the name of Annabelle Lee,"

It didn't take me long to start to drift off to the sound of his calming voice. Even after I fell asleep he kept reading to make sure I stayed asleep. Once he finished the beautiful poem he kissed the phone and told me he loved me. I love him so much.