Hello, everybody; ModernDayBard here with the conclusion of the new case on the block (or, the case that originally wasn't wasn't). Hopefully, you enjoy!
Because I am required to say it: I do not own Criminal Minds or any cannon characters/events; just those of my own creation.

When the other members of the BAU returned to the police station, they were caught a little off-guard by the conclusion that Amanda and Spencer had reached.

"He chooses books that they lived like?" Prentiss asked.

Amanda shook her head. "More like ones they shared a significant trait with the main character of. Jennifer's father disappeared unexpectedly when she was young, leaving her and her mom to take care of her three younger siblings. Candace was sick a lot growing up, so she spent a lot of time at home with her older sister. Felicia's family lived with both sets of grandparents with the father as the only working financial supporter, and Gwendolyn was a child during the London Blitz."

The others had to search their memories a little to catch the connections, but they accepted that if Spence said the main characters went through something similar, then they did.

"It may go deeper than that," Spence said, picking up where Amanda had left off. "In each book, the main character escapes or overcomes their starting situation by some kind of fantastical journey. The unsub may think he's helping his victims escape into the books, or into a journey like the books."

Rossi frowned. "Escapism taken to a dangerous extreme?" He didn't seem convinced, but Prentiss seemed more accepting of the idea.

"Isn't that why fantasy stories appeal: we like to imagine for a moment that we can go on the hero's journey with them? Forget our problems for a bit? He could think he's doing them a favor."

Hotch nodded slowly. "Which means that he had to know that these women matched these characters specifically. He either got them to open up about their lives, or had privileged access."

In the following silence, Morgan pulled out his phone, hitting a number on speed dial. "Hey, Baby Girl, we need your special brand of genius here..."

Garcia did not disappoint, her search aided by the discovery that all four women were regulars at the local library—as in multiple visits a week, checking out four or five books at a time. After that, it was a simple matter to go through the employee list and find the one that raised the right red flags—Ryan Feller, the one who usually closed up.

"He could learn a lot about them by striking up a conversation at the end of the day, when there wouldn't be any people there," Prentiss pointed out. She looked over at Spencer, who was frowning at the list of library patrons. "Something wrong, Reid?"

"Five books—four victims. The only one who goes nearly as often as the others is Meliah Forde—she comes from a wealthy background, but keeps hopping between jobs. That could be a parallel to Milo." He paused before clarifying unnecessarily: "Main character in Tollbooth. She normally goes on Mondays, and Ryan's scheduled to be the one closing tonight."

As one, they all looked at the clock. If they left that very moment, they just might make it there in time to save Meliah. Without another word, they all bolted for the SUV's.

Rossi, Spence, and Amanda were the first ones on the scene, piling out just in item to see Meliah walking out of the library, Ryan just behind her with something small in one hand and a bulging backpack over the other shoulder. Rossi came around the driver's side, side arm drawn. "Ryan Feller, FBI!"

The man stiffened, then bolted the other direction, right for Spencer and Amanda. He'd dropped the syringe, but was desperate enough to still be dangerous. Rossi couldn't fire for fear of hitting the other two agents, and Ryan could've been trying to run away, not attack. Spence had been up front, so was ahead of Amanda slightly—right in Ryan's path.

Spencer drew his gun, aiming low—for a foot or knee, but before he could fire, Ryan had knocked the gun from his grasp, reaching back and pulling out a knife they hadn't noticed before—apparently he had a back-up plan if the toxin hadn't worked.

Reid was trying to turn so the knife-strike wouldn't hit anything vital, but Amanda had already leapt into action, grabbing the arm with the knife and wrestling for control of the weapon. She hissed in pain as Ryan managed a cut across her left bicep, but in a few seconds more she'd caused the knife to drop. Spence had already grabbed the other arm, and between the two of them, they got Ryan cuffed.

Morgan, who'd arrived with the others at this point, took Ryan, dragging him back to the police cruiser. Spencer looked over at Amanda, expression darkening as he took in the blood on her arm—blood that wasn't Ryan's. She followed his gaze, gently probing the wound. "It's not deep," she offered by way of consolation. "Might not even need stitches. Are you okay?"

"Yeah, fine. Thanks."

Stiffly, Reid walked away. Amanda frowned—it was like every word in that last sentence had pained him to say. This couldn't go unaddressed any longer.

What was going on with Dr. Spencer Reid?

The mood on the plane was an odd one, to say the least. On the one hand, they'd saved a life and finished a case in less than twenty-four hours. Yes, Amanda had been hurt, but the cut wasn't that bad—though it did need two stitches, contrary to her initial assessment. In that, there was an air of weary triumph.

But on the other hand, Spence had barely spoken to anyone since the confrontation in the parking lot, heading straight to one of the couches as soon as they boarded, where he lay down with his back to the rest of them. Now everyone else could tell something was wrong, but he wasn't willing to talk about it. In that, there was a heaviness in the air.

Amanda clenched her jaw, determined. She was certain that something she'd done since coming to the unit had upset the young man, so she felt it was her duty to make it as right as she could.

No more delays—tomorrow morning, we talk.

So, yeah. The case is over, but mysteries still abound. Anyone pick up on what might be bothering Spencer about Amanda? (And yes, it does have to do with her.) All I will say is the answer to that will be uncovered next time, along with another part of Amanda's past. There actually was a subtle, well, not clue exactly, but an odd observation that makes more sense when you know her story in the previous chapter. Anybody catch it?
As always, if you saw something you liked, or something you think I can fix/improve on for next time, don't hesitate to leave a review and let me know!