Chapter 28: Alone

Spencer's POV

Hotch walks up to me. "How is she?"

"She's sleeping," I respond, looking into the window of her room. "The doctor said that she probably just passed out from the stress."

"Okay, keep us updated."

A few hours later, Lina wakes up and I rush to her side.

"Good, you're awake." I smile at her and she rubs her eyes.

Looking around at her surroundings, she groans, "Why do I keep waking up in hospitals?"

I chuckle. "You're cleared to go home after you wake up," I say while stroking her hair.

"Great, I can't wait to go home."

Soon, the team and I are on the jet, flying back home. When we land, Morgan comes up to me.

"Hey, kid." He puts a hand on my shoulder. His cheek is still slightly bruised from when I punched him earlier, trying to get into the mall to help Lina.

"Hi, Derek.... Sorry about your face," I apologize, feeling guilty.

"Don't sweat it." He gives me a hug and walks away to talk to Prentiss. Just then, Hotch comes up behind me.

"Reid, may I speak with you in my office?" he asks and I nod, looking back at Lina who's talking with JJ, before following him.

Once inside the BAU and in his office, he gestures to the chair in front of his huge desk."Have a seat."

"What do you want to talk to me about?"

"What happened today out on the field is unacceptable behaviour." Hotch shoots me a stern look and I instantly know what he is talking about. "I understand that Agent Yang was in danger, but you disobeyed my orders, punched Morgan in the face, and knocked out four officers."

My face grows hot in embarrassment. "I'm sorry, sir. I wasn't thinking straight."

"No, you weren't." He furrows his brows. "I warned you about letting your personal relationships get in the way of your work." I stare down at my feet, not knowing what else to say. Then he sighs. "But because no one was hurt, and you two were successful in saving many people's lives... I'm letting you off the hook this time."

Relief washes over me. "T-t-thank you, sir."

"Now go home and take care of Lina." Hotch gives me a small smile.

I nod courteously and leave his office. Once I say my goodbyes to the rest of the team, I walk over to Lina.

"You ready to go home?" I ask cheerfully.

"Yes," Lina answers lifelessly.

Hotch walks up beside her. "Yang, take some time off. What you did wasn't easy. I know you were close with your foster family."

"Yes, sir. Thank you." She walks off and I quickly catch up to her.

I cock my head. "Is something wrong?

"Nothing." She takes a deep breath and sighs.

I furrow my eyebrows in confusion. Did I say or do something wrong?

On the drive home, we're both quiet until the silence becomes unbearable.

"Lina did I say or do something to upset you?" I ask.

She looks at me curiously. "No, why?"

"I don't know, you just seem... distant."

"I'm just tired, that's all."

I frown, knowing that there's a deeper reason why she's acting like this. But I decided to not push her. "Okay then, your place or mine?"

"Actually, can you just drop me off at my place?" she asks, "I kinda want to be alone tonight."

"Y-yeah, of course." I give her a surprised look. "Um, you want me to bring you anything to eat?"

She shakes her head. "No, thank you."

When we reach her apartment, I turn off the engine to walk her in but she stops me.

"I can walk in by myself."

"Are you sure?" I study her facial expression.

"Mhm. Goodnight, Spence."

"Okay then, goodnight." I lean in for a kiss but she flinches a bit so I pull back. "Lina?"

"Sorry, I don't know why I did that." She laughs it off. She reaches her hand around my neck and pulls me in for a kiss, but it doesn't feel right. "Drive safe." With that, she leaves my car and walks away into her apartment.

What's going on...? I wonder to myself.

The next day, I wake up earlier to get some coffee for Lina, hoping that she's feeling better today.

When I arrive at her place, I knock on the door and wait for a few minutes. But she doesn't answer, so I'm about to use the key that she gave me when the door suddenly opens.

"Spencer?" she whispers softly.

I take in her red puffy-eyed and disheveled hair appearance—it looks like she cried all night. "Darling, are you okay?" I immediately put the coffees down on the floor and pull her in a tight hug.

"Yeah... just had a rough night."

"I'm going to call Hotch and tell him I can't come in today." I pull out my phone.

"No, Spence. You have to go in, there are people out there who need you, okay? I promise I'm fine."

"You've been crying all night. You're obviously not fine."

"Look. I'm fine if I say I'm fine," she snaps and I back away. Lina has never been angry with me before.

"Well, fine. I'm sorry for caring," I snap back, immediately feeling terrible when I see Lina's hurt expression. She just went through something traumatic, having to shoot her foster family, of course she's going to be in a bad mood. "Lina, I'm so sorry."

"It's fine, Spence." She gives me a weak smile. "Thank you for coming over to check on me. I just need some alone time, that's all."

"Okay." I sigh, feeling better. "I'll see you tonight?" I bend down to pick up the coffees, handing one to Lina.

She looks down at her feet. "Um, actually I might be asleep by the time you get home."

"Oh, alright then." I feel a bit sad. "Bye, Lina." I turn to leave when she pulls on my shirt.

"Wait." She wraps her arms around my waist and gives me a quick kiss. "Now, you can go." She smiles and I grin back at her. Suddenly my phone rings and I see that it's Hotch.

Suddenly my phone rings and I see that it's Hotch. Clearing my throat, I answer, "Hello?"

"We got a case," he announces.

"Got it." I hang up.

"Bye, Spence. And thanks for the coffee," Lina says and I give her a quick smile before hurrying away.

When I arrive at work, I am immediately bombarded with questions by JJ, Prentiss, and Garcia.

"How is she?" JJ looks at me with concern. "I heard Hotch gave her some time off."

"Did you go visit her yet?" Prentiss asks.

"Does she need anything?" Garcia bounces up and down. "I can bring her food or anything she needs."

Before anyone else can ask another question, I quickly stop them. "Woah, slow down." I laugh. "Lina said she's fine. Yes, I did visit her this morning. And I'm sure if she needs anything, she'll let us know."

They all nod, seeming satisfied with my answer.

Morgan comes over and pats me on the shoulder. "Guys, conference room, now."

"Okay." I quickly put my things down at my desk and join the rest of my team to brief the case.

After everyone settles down, Hotch gives Garcia the signal to start.

"In Dallas, Texas, three people have been shot and killed in their own homes," announces Garcia. "All the victims were friends with each other and worked at the same restaurant." Just then, Garcia's phone rings and she picks up. After a few "mhms", she hangs up.

Rossi tilts his head. "What is it?"

"Make that four unfortunate murders." She frowns.

"Let me guess, they had relations with the other victims as well." Morgan scratches his chin.

"Right on, sugar."

"We have no time to waste, wheels up in 20," Hotch announces.

As everyone gets ready and grabs their go-bags, I make a quick phone call to Lina. It rings a few times before it goes to voicemail.

"Hi, my love," I greet. "Uh, the team and I are going to Dallas, Texas right now. But, umm... yeah. Just wanted to let you know." JJ starts staring at me curiously and I blush. "Love you, bye." I hang up and quickly walk out of the room.

After that, we board the jet and arrive in Dallas. But for the rest of the day, I can't seem to focus on the case. All I can think about is Lina, and why she's being distant.

"Reid, what about you?" Prentiss looks at me. "Why do you think the UnSub is killing these people?"

"Umm... jealousy?" I suggest and everyone looks at me surprised. "Maybe the UnSub feels left out of the group of friends."

Rossi nods in agreement. "That's a possibility."

Hotch stands up. "Alright, everyone take a 10-minute break. We'll work better once we have some rest."

I take this opportunity to call Lina again, but still no answer. I sigh and leave another voicemail, not knowing what else to do.

"Something bothering you, kid?" Morgan asks, opening a bottle of water.

"It's nothing," I lie.

"C'mon, you and I both know you're lying," Morgan teases, but then his face grows serious again. "I'm serious, Reid, your mind has been off somewhere else the whole day."

"It's just that... Lina's been ignoring my calls and isolating herself."

"Well, I mean, she did shoot the only family she had when she was a kid."

"I know." I sigh. "It's just that, I can tell that she's hurting but she won't let me help her." My voice cracks a bit.

"Hey." Morgan puts a hand on my shoulder. "Lina's a strong, independent woman. She's probably used to handling her problems alone for her whole life."

"Or maybe she still doesn't 100% trust me." I suggest, feeling uneasy.

"Nah, kid." He shakes his head. "If there's anyone in this world that woman trusts, it's you."

"I hope so." I take a deep breath and let it out.

After our break, we go back to working and pretty soon we catch the UnSub. He made the mistake of leaving a fingerprint at the newest crime scene and Garcia matched him in our system.

Pretty soon, we're on the jet flying back to Quantico. I fall asleep and dream about Lina, our first kiss, our first I love yous.... Then I see an image of her in a wedding dress.

Man, she's so beautiful.