Sorry for the delay – I hit a writer's block. I don't want the story to progress too quickly, so I'm sort of stuck making the small moments.
(xxxxx)
Spencer and Emily sat in the car staring at the house they were watching. They had been sitting there for a little under 2 hours with no sign of the person of interest.
"I hate stakeouts. They are so boring," Emily said sighing.
"Yea, they can get a little dull," Spencer replied as he lifted himself off his propped up hand. "I could really use coffee."
"Me too," she said stifling a yawn. She reached out and put the radio on.
They sat quietly again listening to the music. As the song changed, Emily grinned.
"Maroon 5, there you go Reid," she said as he looked at her and laughed.
"This is a good one," he said as she turned it up another notch.
"Yea, I love this one," she agreed as they both lightly bobbed their head to the music. "This song actually reminds me a bit of us." Spencer shot her a confused look. "I mean, all of us, the team. I don't know it's stupid, but it does."
"I can see the relation," Spencer said.
"My backs against the wall tonight. So, go ahead pull the trigger shoot the lights out. Go ahead pull the trigger shoot. I see the fear that's in your eyes. So, go ahead pull the trigger shoot the lights out. Go ahead pull the trigger shoot," Emily sang at him, goofily.
He couldn't hold back the smile at her playfulness. Emily didn't act silly often, but he loved when she did. He decided to surprise her and join in on her silliness.
"I got my hands up screaming, I got my hands up screeeeaming," Spencer jumped in, with a high-pitched girl voice.
Emily and he started laughing hysterically at their singing. They couldn't even hear the song anymore as they cracked up. When they finally stopped laughing, Emily turned the radio back down slightly and wiped a tear from her eye.
"Well, it's safe to say that we aren't the next Sonny and Cher," she giggled.
"I'm certainly not, but you said you sing well," he said as he focused on the house again.
"I can," she replied.
"Why do you hide it then?" he asked curiously.
"It's a long story," she said frowning.
"We've been sitting her for 1 hour and 56 minutes, Emily. I think I have time to spare," he said with a sense of humor in his tone.
He glanced her way and did a double take. He saw the frown on her face and the distant look in her eyes.
"I'm sorry. You don't have to tell me," he said as he looked away.
"It's ok, I just don't really talk about it much. It's not really a big thing," Emily said shrugging.
"Obviously it is to you. Don't belittle your feelings," Spencer said.
"No, I just mean, the story isn't really that dramatic. When I was 9 or 10, I had a group of girls in choir tell me that my voice made them sick and asked if I would keep it down. My friends said those girls were full of shit, but from that day forward I never sang for real. I always sound like crap on purpose. Can't make fun of me, if I start the joke," she said.
"I'm sorry. Kids can be really cruel. Believe me, I know more than anyone," he said.
They once again sat in silence, until Spencer broke the air.
"I hope someday maybe you'll feel safe enough to sing in front of me," he said softly.
"I trust you with my life Reid, but I don't think I'll ever be able to do that," she said smiling half-heartedly at him.
Spencer nodded as he looked back at the house. Suddenly, he saw their suspect walking out the front door.
"Em, look," he said.
Emily put her wrist to her mouth.
"He's exiting the building, let's go," she said into the com-link.
(xxxxx)
It turned out the man was their unsub and he immediately ran. Emily and Spencer were in the lead chasing the unsub through a preserve, as Derek and J.J. trailed behind. Emily felt the branches slapping her in the face as she ran through the row of trees, bushes, and other earthly items.
She could hear Spencer closely behind her as they neared the end of the preserve. They skidded to a stop in front of a small drop off that went into a rapidly moving river. They looked around the area with their guns held out in front of them. Emily stepped closer to the edge and peered around below.
"Where'd he go?" she asked as she tried to catch her breath.
"I dunno," Spencer said breathing heavily.
Suddenly, the sound of running feet filled the air. Emily and Spencer turned a second too late as the unsub slammed into Emily. They flew off the edge of the drop off, hitting the rushing waters hard.
"Emily!" Spencer shouted as he started running along the edge in the direction she was being pulled.
By this time, Derek and J.J. had arrived and saw the chaos. They both started following Spencer, while Derek handed J.J. his gun, ready to jump in after her. Before he had a chance to do so, Spencer suddenly leaped off the side into the river.
"Did he just …" J.J. trailed off in shock.
Spencer's head emerged from the cold water and he began swimming toward Emily and the unsub. The man kept grabbing her and pushing her under the water, but somehow, she always managed to free herself. He pushed himself until his muscles ached, but it was working as he closed the gap between them.
When Emily was shoved back under the water, Spencer threw his arm around the unsubs neck and began strangling him.
"Let her go," he said trying to cut off the man's oxygen.
The unsub let go of her and began flailing his arms to get Spencer to let him go. Emily popped up above the surface, coughing and gasping for air.
"Reid, help Prentiss. I got him," Derek said appearing next to him.
At some point, Spencer was unaware of, Derek had jumped into the water and caught up with them. Spencer let go of the unsub, while Derek quickly scooped up the practically unconscious man. Spencer reached out for Emily, who allowed him to put his hands around her waist and help her toward the river bank.
When they reached the bank, Spencer still helped Emily out of the water. She was a little wobbly on her feet, but seemed fine otherwise.
"Are you alright?" Spencer asked as he helped her sit down on a patch of grass.
"Yea, I'm good. Just need to catch my breath," she said panting.
"Put your hands on your head," Spencer said. "Putting them on your head increases the use of the diaphragm which allows more oxygen to enter."
Derek had dragged the unsub out of the water and slammed him down into the dirt. He quickly cuffed the man. By this time, the rest of the team, an ambulance, and the local PD arrived. They ran down the hill to help.
"You guys alright?" Hotch asked as the unsub walked past him.
"Yea, fine," Derek said.
"Prentiss, Reid?" Hotch said looking at the two, Emily still sitting in the grass.
They both nodded, before Hotch walked back up the hill.
"I'm going to need to change, my ass is beginning to chafe," Derek said as he wiggled in his jeans.
Spencer and Emily laughed, as Spencer held his hand out to help her up. She took it and stood. She gave him her thanks and they all walked off together.
