Note: So, what was going to be an epilogue isn't...I'm extending the story just a bit...Enjoy!
I found that the say 'Time flies by when you're having fun' to be so true. Over the last few years, I kept busy doing things that I loved: taking care of Jack and Aaron, being with Grant, and school. Jack was growing up to be a bright boy. He always came home with a smile and great stories of what happened at school. When Aaron was away, we'd sit down and write him an email filling him in on the happenings or even text him a picture of Jack. If Aaron was home, we would have family dinners or I would bring over frozen pre-cooked meals to stock their freezer with. And then Aaron decided to compete in a triathlon and met a wonderful woman.
I could tell there was something more than just training happening and after a word with David, I finally knew about her. I had given my brother until after the triathlon to introduce us before I would hound him. Luckily he invited Beth to meet him at the finish line and she was introduced to the team, Jack, Grant, and I. The more I got to know the woman, I could tell she was good for Aaron. She would never replace Haley as Jack's mother but she was really good with him.
Life with Grant had its ups and downs. Between school, Jack, and his job, we could go more than a week without really seeing or talking to each other. We would send off a quick text when we had a moment but it was getting frustrating. We finally sat down and arranged one night a week that we would drop everything to spend it together. Jessica would take Jack if Aaron was out of town and the two of us would order in food and forget about the outside world. And if there was another evening then that was a bonus for us.
When David threw an impromptu wedding for J.J. and Will, Grant and I went together and faced the question of when we were going to get married. My response had been 'Who says we haven't already?' until it got back to Aaron and he gave me the patent Hotchner glare until I relented. Truth was, Grant and I knew we were committed to each other but didn't need the ceremony to show it. Rather, we moved Grant in and it became the Hotchner-Anderson household.
I was finally working on the degree that I wanted. Mom had balked at me being a scientist and would only finance me for a nursing degree so that's what I did right out of high school. She passed away a few months after I graduated so while I worked full time, I took classes towards my BSc in Molecular Biology. And rather than going on to do my Masters, I took a break from school and did my year long vacation.
Getting back into the routine of school wasn't that difficult and I made a few friends within my program and a few in the Genetics department. There were times during the first 2years that I could have cried from being overwhelmed but after a discussion with my family, I stopped cooking dinners for the entire team each week (with leftovers for them to take home) and allowed Jessica to take Jack more often. I hated giving up that time with my nephew but she was also his aunt and she had more free time.
While I had sat in on one of her Genetics lectures during my Masters, I hadn't formally met Dr. Maeve Donovan until the first year of my PhD program. I literally ran into her and scattered everything we had been carrying all over the hallway.
"I am so sorry, Dr. Donovan. I'm late for a family get together and wasn't looking where I was running."
"It's not a problem."
I helped her gather her things and then worried about my own papers. I apologized again before hurrying off to David's mansion for the get together. They had just finished a tough case involving children and everyone wanted to see Henry and Jack be happy and carefree. It was weird not having Emily there but the new agent, Alex Blake, was decent. I tried speaking to Spencer about his article on behavioural psychology but I realized I didn't have it.
Dr. Donovan was kind enough to return it to me and we discussed it over lunch before I passed on Spencer's email so she could tell him personally what she thought about it. She was in a different department than I so I didn't see her often but I would catch sight of her occasionally. When I had a question about genetics, Dr. Donovan was quick in returning my emails or arranging a lunch to talk about it but then it all stopped. I didn't see her around campus and her emails went unanswered. I tried not to dwell on it since she was busy supervising several PhD students but then I heard she had left Mendel University altogether.
I stopped in at the B.A.U with a goodie basket for the team and remembered that I had given Spencer's email to Dr. Donovan and wondered if they kept in contact. While the team was busy picking through the muffins and cookies, I pulled the genius aside and asked him.
"Who?"
"Maeve Donovan, a geneticist at Mendel. She read your article a few months ago and seemed interested in it. I'm just wondering if you've talked to her recently."
Dr. Spencer Reid may be a genius and studies behaviour for a living but he can't lie worth shit to friends. The tells weren't really noticeable but after knowing him for 3years, I could pick up on them. I played along and nodded to his response.
"Well, if you do, tell her I miss our lunches and talks. We still haven't determined how the cafeteria food was altering our DNA."
"Why would you be theorizing about that?" Spencer asked.
"It's cafeteria food. Oh…never mind."
That Sunday night I received an email from a blocked sender with a detailed breakdown of what foods would cause certain mutations. The entire conversation had started as a joke but she really put some thought into her response. Dr. Donovan signed off the email with a line of only 1 reply before the account would be closed. There was too much to say but to sum it up, I replied with one line.
Call if you need anything, anytime. (202) 555-8029
School picked up but I always wondered what happened to Dr. Donovan. I would send the occasional questioning glance to Spencer and he would reply with a smile. It wasn't until 2months later that I found out what was happening. Spencer called me out of the blue and asked if he could come over. Grant was working a longer shift and Jack was with Jessica so I invited him over and ordered Indian. Spencer still had his go bag with him when he stepped out of the taxi. The man seemed to be in a daze so I grabbed his bag and led him into the living room.
"Spencer, what happened? You look like you're in shock."
"She said I love you," he whispered.
I smiled and hugged him.
"That's great. I knew you were in contact with Dr. Donovan but hadn't realized you two had gotten close. So what happened? She said it and you left her hanging? Did you say it back? Was it at a romantic restaurant?"
"On the phone. It was the last thing she said to me. We haven't met."
"Oh. Did you want to tell me about it? I think you came over because you need to get someone's perspective on it and since I know Dr. Donovan a bit, I am a better choice than Derek or J.J."
Spencer launched into the complete tale, explaining their correspondence and Dr. Donovan's stalker. She turned down his help whenever he offered it because she was worried for him. The threats were brutal and I could understand her hesitation. He gave me the profile of who he believed was stalking her and the fact she's moved twice but he still finds her.
"Whoever the bastard is probably has some computer skills. Everyone leaves an electronic paper trail nowadays and if you can access that information, you can find out whatever information you need. Dr. Donovan…"
"Maeve. Call her Maeve, please."
"OK. Maeve's probably signed the leases with her own name and a credit check is typically done. He can find her new address that way or through the utilities. She needs to use a different name. You say you call a pager and leave the phone number? Disposable cells can't be traced but she probably won't leave to get one."
"She goes out in disguises now and then."
"If he knows where she's living, he could place cameras to watch her come and go. That way he knows what her disguises look like. There must be a way to get the phone to her. What about family? Does she have any?"
"Her parents but she never speaks about them."
"I could find out about them and send it to them to give to her but then..."
"I shouldn't have told you anything about it. Mae, she doesn't want me involved so I know she wouldn't want you involved. What if you do what you plan on doing and the stalker finds out you're helping her? He'll come after you."
"Spencer, she shouldn't have to lock herself away. Maybe if I stalk her, I'll be stalking the bastard and we can figure out who it is. Besides, I faced the so-called Reaper and lived."
"Barely. Hotch would kill me if he finds out you were injured because of my girlfriend," he said, gasping at the end. "I just called her my girlfriend."
"Yes, you did. Now you just need to tell Maeve. If you're not up to saying the exact words, I'm sure your ginormous brain can figure out another way. You can't really send her flowers or chocolate. Now, while I enjoy having you here and chatting over dinner, Grant should be home soon and you probably don't want anyone to know about Maeve. I'll drive you home."
"You're right. Thank you, Mae."
Spencer grabbed his go bag from near the door and I grabbed my bag while slipping on some shoes. The drive to Spencer's apartment wasn't long but he quietly stared out the window, his mind turning hundreds of thoughts over and over. I smiled at the cuteness of it all. I pulled my SUV to the curb near the front door and parked.
"Mention the disposable cell to Maeve when you talk to her next. Also, if she has been doing the leases under her own name, I'd recommend that she stops but not to use her parents. Since ID needs to be presented, she can't just fake a name. If Maeve needs or wants to move again, I'll sign the lease in my name. No real paper trail leading back to her. Hell, she could move in with Grant and I."
"I doubt she would take you up on your offer to move in but I will see what she wants to do. Thanks again."
Spencer got out of the vehicle and was walking towards the door. I glanced at two little kids across the street and the sight made my mind jump to a crazy idea. I watched one of little girls chase the other for another second before rolling down the window.
"Hey, Spencer. Are we sure that it's a guy stalking Maeve?" I called.
He stopped suddenly and turned to look at me. His head tilted in thought before he spoke.
"Ah, no? According to the National Center for Victims of Crime, less than 9% of women were stalked by another woman. I will have to talk to Maeve about that. Thank you. Goodnight."
"Night."
Grant wasn't home yet when I returned so I sat down and hacked Maeve Donovan's life. It wasn't hard to find the latest address or the fact that she had been engaged. Her fiancé, Bobby Putnam, had an active Facebook account which listed him as engaged 9 months ago but his status now read single. So something happened for it to end. But what?
"Hey. What are you doing still up? Don't you have an early lecture tomorrow?" Grant asked, walking over to me and kissing my cheek.
"Just some research," I replied, closing down the windows I had open on the browser. "Are you ready to head to bed or would you like to finish off the Indian food in the fridge?"
"Bed but not for sleep," he smirked.
"Perfect. I'm too wound up for sleep as well."
As we headed upstairs, one last thought lingered and that was to see if Bobby knew anything.
