Chapter 10

The next few days passed slowly for Melissa and Spencer. He texted her everyday and called when he could, but the case was pretty demanding. On Sunday afternoon Spencer apologized, saying that he wouldn't be able to make their study session. Amelia brushed off his apology, "Just get the bad guy and come home please." They had grown a lot closer despite their brief phone conversations; it was amazing how much feeling you could pack into a 10 minute call.

After hanging up the phone with Spencer Amelia wandered over to Melissa's room and dropped lethargically onto her bed. Melissa gave her friend a cheerful grin.

"Come on; let's bake a cake to distract you. I bet if we happened to have some extra we could bring it over to Penelope tomorrow and maybe get an update."

"I don't think we would be allowed to do that," Amelia replied dully, "I'm pretty sure the FBI doesn't just let random people with cake into their headquarters."

Melissa could barely contain her mirth, "They do if you are put on the accepted visitors list! Isn't Penelope the best? It was her suggestion. We were on our way back from having coffee last night when she offered."

Grateful to her friend and cheered by her antics, Amelia decided that Penelope deserved a double fudge chocolate cake. The two girls busied themselves in the kitchen, baking and then decorating the cake with pink and yellow flowers until they were both too tired to eat it. They agreed to meet up after their classes the next day and then head over to the BAU.

Amelia fidgeted nervously with the visitors ID badge she clipped to her purple sweater as she stepped out of the elevator and into a large open room filled with desks.

"Careful or you are going to drop the cake," Melissa whispered to Amelia. Both felt intimidated by their surroundings and were unsure of what to do next. Before they could say anything else Penelope hustled into their view.

"Welcome to the bullpen ladies. Follow me to my all-knowing and all-seeing lair."

"We brought you some cake to help cheer you up. We remembered you saying that sometimes the cases really get to you, and we thought the chocolate and sugar could help create some temporary amnesia or at least numbness to what's going on." Amelia held out the cake to Penelope.

"You guys are really the best! Let me get some plates and forks and then we can dig in." Penelope headed off to the kitchen and reappeared a minute later. She gestured for the girls to follow her. When they were seated inside, Amelia and Melissa gazed up at the numerous screens. All the screens had different information on them."

"So how is the case going so far?" Amelia ventured, "Spencer messaged me earlier, but all he said was that they were following a lead."

"Don't you worry Amy," Penelope reassured the nervous brunette, "the team is just fine. This looks like it will be a wrapped up soon. They are already on their way to pick up the UnSub. We should hear something within the next half hour."

"What's an UnSub?" Melissa shot a questioning look at the back of Penelope's head.

"Unknown subject aka the scumbag my sweetness is going to take down."Penelope tossed back over her shoulder as she furiously worked her keyboard. There was so much information popping up on the screens the girls didn't even bother trying to follow it. The three sat in tense silence until Penelope's phone buzzed.

"You've reached the office of unmitigated superiority," Penelope answered.

"Hey mama, we got him. Everything is all good. We should be home tomorrow early afternoon."

Amelia let out a huge breath that she hadn't even realized she had been holding. "How do you do this every day Penelope? I feel sick from just sitting here waiting for the last 30 minutes."

Penelope shot Amelia a sympathetic look, "We love them, but we have to let them do what they are meant to do. It really sucks for those of us who stay behind; it's the price we pay for having the most awesome people in the world on this team."

Melissa gave Amelia's hand a squeeze. Amelia came to the jolting reality that Spencer wasn't just her slightly awkward, genius boyfriend; he was also someone that had to go into potentially dangerous situations to help back up his family. She sat quietly for a couple minutes debating if she could handle the demands of Spencer's job, she'd already lost her parents. She didn't want to face the possibility of losing Spencer too. There really wasn't much to consider though, she wanted to be with Spencer no matter what, even if she had only known him a week or so.

Amelia's mouth dropped open as she exclaimed, "Holy crap!"

Penelope swiveled around in her seat at the sudden burst of sound as Melissa asked what was wrong.

"I just thought of Spencer as my boyfriend!"

The other two girls broke down into gales of laughter. "I'm glad you finally figured that out sweetie," Penelope managed to choke out in between giggles, "I'll be sure to pass that along when he gets back."

Amelia blushed, but didn't bother to argue. Melissa stood up, "We won't keep you any longer Penelope. We really appreciate you letting us stop by. I'll talk to you later okay?"

"No problem! Anytime. Thanks again for the cake."

The two girls gathered their things and headed back out to the elevator. Amelia had a big smile on her face and a distinct bounce to her step. "I really appreciate you setting this up for me Mel."

"No problem sweetie."