The train shushed rhythmically as it barreled down the tracks, swaying gently to and fro. Up till now, it had always been a comforting experience to Avery Mitchell, though now the combination of noise and motion played on her already fraying nerves. She battled the dull nausea, resting her head against the cool window pane while trying to fight back the headache creeping up the back of her neck. The events of the past few weeks played through her head and she attempted to unravel and sort them into a logical sequence of events; something she could wrap her mind around.
"Penelope called. She's going away?" Avery looked curiously at Spencer Reid through the open doorway to the small bedroom they shared, where the young agent stood as he untied his tie and hung it back in the wardrobe. The doctor said nothing.
"She didn't sound right, Spencer – what's going on?" She continued, tapping the corners of her mobile against her fingertips and watching his reaction intently.
Spencer measured the small action against what he knew of her habits and side-glanced his fiancee silently.
"Don't worry." He assured her gently.
Avery cocked her head, then glanced down at her hands, gripping the phone quickly and abruptly setting it on the narrow kitchen counter.
"She said she was traveling, but I don't believe that for a minute. She was scared." Avery continued, crossing the small kitchenette and standing in the bedroom doorway. "What's wrong?"
"You know, you should apply to the Academy." Spencer evaded, unbuttoning his vest. "You're a better profiler than you think."
"Spencer," She said quietly, moving toward him and standing at the wardrobe door as Spencer hung up his vest and reached for a sweater "What's going on?"
Spencer looked down at her upturned face, meeting her gaze. He could read her concern as plainly in her forest eyes as he could hear it in her voice. He sighed.
"I can't really talk about it." He said honestly, his brow furrowed with guilt. "But she's safe, and she's going to say that way."
Avery studied his expression as she soaked in his response. She nodded silently, her worry unrelieved. He reached for her, wrapping his long arms around her and drawing her to him in a hug. She rested her head against his chest, closing her eyes.
"I talked to my mom." Spencer said at length. "How would you like to go out and meet her in person?"
A sudden jolt shook Avery from her thoughts. She glanced around the train car in surprise to see everyone else apparently unaffected. She looked down at her hands to find herself nervously tapping the edges of her mobile against her fingertips. Though completely disinterested in the time, she checked the clock, then returned to gazing out the window, as if hoping for a sign hidden somewhere on the horizon.
The waiting was the worst part.
