Two weeks had passed and even though Spencer's memories were still buried he was being released to go home. He would return to work after another three weeks of recuperation at home. It was hoped he would remember something by then. Dr Simms had mentioned the possibility of hypnosis to him, but only after they exhausted every other avenue.
Agent Wilson had been into see him, but only when she knew Gideon would be there. She was afraid to be alone with him and risk her feelings coming to the surface. For Spencer's part he didn't let on to anyone that he had heard her tell him she loved him. He didn't know what to do with that knowledge, he was confused. Did he know her from somewhere before the attack. If so why didn't he remember her, he remembered everything else about his life. Was she a stalker too? She didn't seem like she was stalker. Had they met on a case? No that couldn't be right she was so beautiful and kind, he would've remembered.
His thoughts were interrupted by Garcia entering the room and filling it with her usual enthusiasm.
"Hey sugar, are you ready to get out of this dump?"
He smiled, she could always make him smile, or frown in confusion, what ever the case may be.
"Yeah, can I go now, I really hate it here." He was sitting on the edge of the bed tying his shoes.
"Yeah, well you have to wait for the obligatory wheelchair. By the way, you're looking handsome today sweet thing. The docs must know their stuff."
His bruises were gone as were the black eyes, his nose was still a little swollen but the doc assured him that would pass in a couple more days. He was going to walk with a limp for awhile and had physical therapy for the knee and wrist scheduled to begin the next day. His wrist had been taken out of the cast only yesterday and it still ached.
"Why do they make you leave in a wheelchair, when you are perfectly capable of walking out on your own?" He groused
"I don't know honey, it's one of the great mysteries of the universe, like why don't men ever stop to ask for directions, or how do they build a ship inside a bottle?"
Spencer started to open his mouth to answer, when a nurse came in with a wheelchair.
"Here's your ride, Dr Reid, you're getting sprung." she said smiling
"Thank God," he said sitting down.
The release paperwork to a lot longer than he thought was necessary. Morgan took him home and was a little put out when Reid asked him to leave him alone. He had wanted for days to concentrate on his memory loss and hadn't been left alone long enough to do so.
He was unlocking the door to his apartment when his next door neighbor came out of her door.
"Dr Reid, oh I am so glad to see you, young man. She said smiling, she patted his hand.
"Hello Mrs. Cassidy" He sighed inwardly, now he would never get into his place and some serious thinking.
"Hello Spencer." A voice said from behind him. He turned around and there she was, he blushed and looked at the spot on the wall over her shoulder.
"Ah, hi Samantha, h-how are you." Oh, this was just great. Now what was he going to do.
"I was just going to ask you the same thing." she said
"I ah I'm f-fine. He stammered. He turned desperately to Mrs. Cassidy.
"Ah, this is Mrs. Cassidy. Mrs. Cassidy this is m-my friend Agent Samantha W-Wilson."
"Oh, a friend she said winking at Samantha and patting her arm, It's nice to meet you my dear" The girl was very pretty and she was glad that Spencer finally had a lady friend.
To Spencer's amazement Samantha flushed as red as he did at what the wink implied. For a moment the combined wattage of their blushes rectified the lighting problem in the hallway.
Mrs. Cassidy said "you just wait her while I get something for Dr Reid to eat, he needs fattening up more than before."
Spencer said 'Mrs. Cassidy please don't-" but she had disappeared into her apartment. He stood in silence not looking at Samantha and she wouldn't look at him either.
"Look Spencer this was a bad idea I should just go."
"No, I'm sorry Mrs. Cassidy d-doesn't have an off b-button." he said looking at her feet.
"Here you are dear boy." Mrs. Cassidy returned to the hallway and gave him a large plastic container, and he flushed red again, a bottle of wine.
"Mrs. Cassidy, you don't have to-"
"You just enjoy the food; share it with your friend here. I'll see you later." She patted his hand again and shut the door to her apartment.
"I am so s-sorry Samantha, I-"
"Don't worry about it she reminds me of my grandmother." Samantha smiled.
"You might as w-well come in and h-help me eat this stuff. He realized how that sounded and said I m-mean would you like to eat with me?"
"I don't think so, you obviously want to be alone, and so I'll go."
He put a hand on her arm. "Please don't go, I'm sorry if I was rude and really Mrs. Cassidy is a great cook."
"If that's what you want I'll stay." She said and entered the apartment as he held open the door.
They ate the food and drank the wine because it was there. They didn't talk and the awkwardness was starting to get to Samantha.
She didn't know why he wouldn't make eye contact with her. He had been treating her different ever since the last night she visited him alone in the hospital. She wracked her brain for what she had said that could've upset him and she couldn't figure out what it was. She looked up to see him staring at her with a look she didn't understand.
"Samantha, I want to ask you something and I want you to be honest with me." He looked upset and afraid.
"I'll try Spencer, tell me what is bothering you, you haven't been the same for weeks."
"I'm trying to decide if I should trust you. I can't remember what happened to me in that room, but I remember everything else about my life, except for you. Do we know each other from somewhere or are you another stalker?" He decided to be direct and see her reaction.
She chocked on her wine and turned white. "Spencer, I don't know why you are asking me this, we met the night you were found and that is the truth. Why would I be stalking you?" He thought there was truth in her eyes and he became more confused he decided to push her more.
"If that's true and we have never met in a personal or professional manner then one thing confuses me."
"What are you saying Spencer?" She got up and began to pace not looking at him.
"I heard what you said to me that night in the hospital, and I thought I was dreaming, or crazy, but I wasn't and I'm not. Tell me if you meant it."
"Meant what Spencer I don't know what you are talking about?" She knew she was busted and she turned her back on him so he wouldn't see her face.
He got up and walked around to face her, "look at me" he said.
She backed away from him, this was wrong she should go, she'd made things worse. She should've listened to Gideon and left well enough alone.
He didn't close the distance between them he only looked at her with a sadness she hadn't seen for weeks in his eyes. Her heart broke and she reached out a hand to him "Spencer I-" and she flinched at the look on his face. He went white and his eyes rolled up in his head, he fainted his head narrowly missing the table on the way down to the floor.
"Spencer, oh God!"
She ran into the kitchen and searched frantically for a towel, she finally found one and soaked it in cold water. She ran back to Spencer, and knelt beside him. She put his head in her lap and and held the cloth to his forehead.
"Please, wake up baby, please. She repeated this several times wiping his face with the wet cloth, and finally just as she was going to call 911 he exploded from unconsciousness. His eyes looked like the night he had been found.
"Oh, God he cried, I remember, I remember everything." He began to sob like a small child and she held him and rocked gently trying to soothe him.
After a very long time he stopped crying and looked up at her. He flushed again and said.
"I'm sorry for freaking out, it's just that the memories were so vivid, like the nightmares I used to have only this was real wasn't it, this really happened, he really tried to-" he broke off and pulled away from her standing up and going over to his easy chair. He pulled his legs up to his chest and wrapped his arms around his legs. She thought he might retreat from her and she would have to call Gideon or something.
"Spencer, you don't have to apologize, my God, none of this is your fault, and I have only made things worse and I am sorry, I'll go now."
No, please don't go he said, I don't want to be alone."
"I don't think it's a good idea for me to be here Spencer."
"Please tell me, is it true what you said, do you love me." The uncertainty in his voice brought tears to her eyes that she dashed away.
"Yes, it's true, I don't know how it happened and I am sorry if you feel pressured by me. She blushed again.
'I don't understand and I want to talk to you about it, but I am so tired." He got up and she took this as her cue to leave.
No, please don't go, I'll take the couch, you can have my bed." He said flushing red again.
No way Spencer Reid, had you just got out of the hospital, you will sleep in your own bed. I'll just go, we'll talk another time. She said turning to the door. His hand on her arm stopped her.
"Please I don't want to be alone." His eyes pleaded with her and she knew she couldn't say no.
Al right, I'll stay but I'm sleeping on the couch. Her voice held no room for argument so he didn't try.
"Okay, I'll get you a blanket."
"No you won't, you'll tell me where it is and I'll make up the couch, you'll take your meds and go to bed." She ordered.
"Yes, mum" he said and sketched off a salute.
For along time after she had removed her shoes and socks and lay down she stared into the darkness, trying to decide what to do. How could she explain herself to him when she didn't understand it herself? She wanted a chance with him, to get to know him and see where it took them, but she didn't know if he wanted that. She sat up and quietly put her sock and shoes back on. She switched on the lamp and moved through the apartment to his room. She could see through the half light that he was sleeping.
"Good bye, Spencer"
The next morning when Reid woke up he went into the living room, and Samantha was gone. He stood staring at the couch for a moment and then he noticed the folded piece of paper on his easy chair. He picked it up and sat down to read it dreading the contents. Something was terribly wrong or she wouldn't have left without a goodbye.
Dear Spencer,
I'm sorry to sneak out on you but its better this way. I'm pressuring you and you need to find your own way. I care too much for you to mess it up and now that you have a few weeks to your self I hope you will use them to heal and to think about what you want. I won't call or see you during this time. But I will see you after you go back to work if you want.
Remember that I love you and don't over analyze why, just believe it.
Samantha
He read and re-read it even though he already had it memorized. He was angry and he ripped it up into small bits. Throwing them aside he put his head in his hands. How would he feel safe without her?
TBC