Chapter 31: Benji

Lina's POV

"Oh my gosh, Yang!" Prentiss exclaims. She comes running towards me as I step through the door with Spencer.

"Hi, Prentiss!" I pull her in a tight hug. When we finally pull back, I take a look around Rossi's house. I see a huge chandelier hanging by the stairwell along with many beautiful lights and decorations that shine like diamonds. "Nice house, David."

"Thanks. Have a seat." He gestures to the sofa in his living room. "Dinner should be ready soon."

"Hey, Yang." Morgan walks up to me. "Good to see you."

"Thanks." I smile, taking a seat in the living room with Prentiss. It's been a long time since I've felt this happy.

Just then the doorbell rings and Rossi opens the door. Standing there is JJ, Hotch, and Garcia. "Hey, guys!" A smile spreads across Rossi's face.

"Hello!" JJ smooths out her dress. "Thank you for having us over."

Rossi waves them over to where I'm sitting. "Have a seat there." I watch as JJ and Garcia walk over to Prentiss and I.

"Oh, hey, Lina!" Garcia smiles brightly at me. "I must say we all look pretty hot tonight."

I laugh and look at the four of us. Garcia is wearing a bright pink floral dress with a matching pink cardigan, JJ is wearing a beautiful off shoulder grey dress, and Prentiss is wearing a stunning emerald green slip dress.

"We should take a picture," suggests Prentiss.

"Good idea!" JJ pulls out her phone. "Spencer, can you take a picture for us?"

"Of course." Spencer takes her phone while the four of us stand together. "Say cheese!" He snaps the picture and shows it to us. And man, do we look good.

After that, I have some girl talk with JJ, Prentiss, and Garcia—it's been so long since we've had a conversation. But suddenly, Spencer and Morgan's conversation gets my attention. Spencer is blushing and whispering quietly while Morgan has a huge smile on his face. I try eavesdropping but all I can make out from their whispering is "propose" and "marry".

I gasp. Morgan isn't dating anyone, so could Spencer be thinking about proposing to me? But I shake my head and laugh at myself. There's no way.

"What's so funny?" Garcia asks, tilting her head curiously.

"It's nothing," I reply.

"Come on, tell us," Prentiss whines.

I sigh. "Guys, it's nothing. Okay?" JJ opens her mouth to protest but I'm saved by the bell when Rossi calls us to eat.

Hotch takes a whiff. "Smells good, David."

"I used my mother's ricetta segreta." Rossi does a chef's kiss.

Spencer raises his eyebrows and nods. "Secret recipe."

"Well I don't know about you guys, but I'm starving." Morgan looks eagerly at the plates of pasta.

"Let's dig in!" Rossi announces.

Everyone clinks their glasses of wine and takes a sip. But right when we're about to take our first bites of pasta, Hotch's cell phone rings.

"Hello?" Hotch answers. "We'll be right there." Everyone sighs and puts down their forks.

"Another case?" Prentiss asks, frowning.

"Yes, and it's urgent." Hotch stands up from the table. "There have been several bombing attacks in Denver, Colorado. Yang, you don't have to come if you don't want to."

"No, I want to," I say firmly with a nod. With that, we all leave and head to BAU. When we arrive, we grab our go-bags and board the jet. The temperature tonight is cold, making me shiver.

Garcia's face pops up on the video chat from the laptop. "I'm here, sir," she announces brightly.

"Garcia, tell us everything about the attacks," Hotch orders.

"In Denver, three bombing attacks happened in a restaurant, mall, and amusement park. The restaurant one happened 3 months ago, the mall 2 months ago, and the amusement park just 1 hour ago." Garcia sighs and shakes her head. "Almost all the people that were in each location were killed."

"This could be the act of domestic terrorism." Morgan crosses his arms over his chest. "They're all places for social gatherings."

I cross my legs and furrow my brows. "And the fact that the bomber is slowly escalating his attacks from a restaurant to a large scale amusement park indicates his next attack will have an even bigger impact."

"That's why we have to move quickly before anyone else is hurt," Hotch says with authority. After that, everyone sits back to get some shut eye before we land. Since I still can't sleep, I decide to get a cup of coffee.

"Can't sleep?" Spencer walks up behind me and wraps his arms around my waist.

"Mm..." I tilt my head back as he kisses my neck. "Careful, I don't want to have to wear scarves again." I smile and think back to the time when Spencer and I had to wear scarves for a whole week to hide our hickeys.

"I love you," he whispers.

"Ahem." A deep voice startles us. We jump apart and see Morgan standing there with a smirk on his face. "Sorry, did I interrupt something?" He raises an eyebrow suggestively. I quickly pour my coffee and leave, with Spencer following me closely.

One and a half hours later, we land and everyone gets up with a groan. I look down and see Spencer asleep on my lap. "Spence." I shake his shoulders.

"Hm?" he mumbles, putting a hand on my thigh.

"Get up, we're here."

Slowly opening his eyes, he says, "Where are we?"

When the team starts staring at us, he quickly sits up straight and clears his throat. Everyone chuckles, making Spencer and I turn red in embarrassment.

Soon, we are driving to the Denver Police Department. When we arrive, we are greeted by the chief of police. He has short, brown hair and piercing, blue eyes that I feel like I've seen before.

"Hi, I'm Benjamin Nelson. Thank you for coming on such short notice," says the man.

I can't help but think about how familiar he looks. Like someone I knew before....

Then it hit me.

"Benji?" My face lights up in surprise.

"Angie?"

"Oh, my God!" I run up to him and give him a hug. "I haven't seen you since high school!"

He hugs me back tightly. "I've missed you so much!" He moves his hands down to my lower back.

Spencer clears his throat behind me. "You two know each other?"

"Yeah, he was my Grade 12 lab partner," I say. "We both wanted to become surgeons."

"But it looks like we both ended up in law enforcement." Benjamin chuckles. "Also, you look amazing, Angelina." He looks me up and down in my black dress, which I haven't gotten a chance to change out of.

I giggle and blush. "Thanks. And also, I changed my name to Lina."

"Lina.... I like that." He puts a hand on my waist.

"Pervert," Spencer mumbles under his breath.

I shoot him a dirty look. "This is my boyfriend, Spencer."

Benjamin scoffs. "That skinny pipe cleaner with eyes is your boyfrie—"

Hotch clears his throat. "If you don't mind, we would like to get started on the case."

"Right, follow me." Benjamin waves his arm for us to follow him. We enter a room where an empty evidence board hangs.

"Where's the information?" Hotch asks, confused.

"Oh, I haven't had time to set it up yet." Benjamin yawns.

Hotch stares at him in disbelief. "You're telling me that after three bomb attacks you didn't have time to set it up?"

"We're busy here, y'know." Benjamin rolls his eyes. "Can I get you guys anything? Water, coffee?"

JJ raises her hand. "Coffee, please."

"I'll have water," I say. Everyone else shakes their heads.

"Alright, I'll be right back." Benjamin leaves the room.

Spencer leans close to my ear and whispers, "Did you not realize how he was touching and looking at you?"

"What do you mean?" I cock my head in confusion.

"He was literally..." he trails off and sighs.

"What, Spencer?"

"I just have a bad feeling about that guy. I think you should stay away from him."

Anger flashes through me. "You don't get to tell me who I should hang out with." With that, I storm away to talk to Prentiss.

"I'm back!" Benjamin announces, holding two drinks. "Here you go." He hands the coffee to JJ. As he's about to give me my water he trips and spills it all over my dress.

"Oh!" I gasp.

"My God, I'm so sorry." Benjamin pulls a napkin out of his pocket and starts rubbing it on my chest to soak up the water.

"It's o-okay." I laugh. "I can do it myself."

"No, no. Let me help you." He flashes me a grin and continues wiping my chest.

"Stop touching her!" Spencer growls. He comes up and pushes Benjamin, sending him flying into the wall. He's about to lunge after him when I grab his arm.

"What the hell are you doing, Spencer?" I slap him across the face.

"Wha—" Spencer's eyes widen at me, looking hurt.

I ignore him and rush to Benjamin's side. "Are you okay, Benji?"

"You're seriously asking that son of a bitch if he's okay?!?" Spencer throws his hands up in disbelief.

"Reid! Outside, now!" Hotch orders. Spencer opens his mouth to protest but Hotch glares at him. With a grunt, he turns and leaves the room, slamming the door behind him. I've never seen him so mad before.

Helping Benjamin stand up, I apologize, "I'm so sorry about that, Benji. I have no idea what's gotten into him."

"It's no biggie," he replies, dusting himself off.

"Okay. I-I'm gonna get changed." I grab my go-bag and head into the washroom where I change into my usual blouse and dress pants. When I step outside, I see Spencer pacing around, rubbing his cheek.

He sees me and walks over. "Darling, I'm sorry—"

"Don't." I brush past him, too angry to talk to him now.

Who does he think he is? Going around, pushing my friends and telling me who I shouldn't be around with. I sigh and enter the washroom, pushing Spencer away from my thoughts. We have a serious case to solve right now and there isn't time to deal with him.