Chapter 11

Spencer told his mother what was said about his father. As anyone could have predicted she wept bitterly at the news. But grief wasn't insanity, the staff at her facility knew how to help her. He would be there for her to lean on. She would get through this.

That night he went up to the roof and looked at what he could see of the stars. He thought through what he knew about mass graves and how people ended up in them. He rather thought that at the last his father might have taken comfort in knowing that his wife and child were at least safely away.

His Mom was safe. He would make sure she was safe and comfortable for the rest of his life. And he thought he was doing all right for himself. William had never been proud. Maybe Aldrick would have been. He'd like to think that anyway.

He decided not to think about it anymore.

Spencer sent off an e-mail to Governors Island explaining the situation and requesting a medical check on his mother. They said that someone appropriate would be available in-system in five weeks, estimated and made a tentative appointment to come to her.

Beautiful. Duty done, Spencer put it all behind him.

BAU Headquarters
Quantico, VA

"So have you watched your videos yet?" Penelope asked.

It was a lazy, catch up the paperwork Friday, which meant that Spencer was done by noon. Now he was reading the current scientific journals, just to keep up with academia. "Which videos?" He asked.

"The ones the aliens sent you."

"No."

"Want to go watch them then?"

"Not really."

"Why not?"

"Because I'm not moving to Mars. I have no plans to associate with any of them save Mom's doctor. I'm not even going to vote in their elections. So why waste my time?"

"Spencer…"

"Look, it doesn't matter! I'm not…". Spencer stopped himself and lowered his voice. Penelope was not his target. "I may be an alien by birth but I'm not…Quadranian. I'm American. I'm as American as Dave or Matt or Luke or Morgan. That's the only thing that matters."

"And you're not even curious?"

"No."

Penelope was quiet for a long moment. "This hasn't been easy, has it?"

"No, I guess. It's just…it's a lot. To take in. I guess."

"Yeah. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to push."

"It's okay."

"When you're ready we'll watch that video."

"All right."

Sunrise House
Silver Spring MD

Spencer was quite content to take as much time as he could in processing this. Over the next five weeks he comfortably watched his life be exactly what it had always been. He went to work, he spent time with his god children, he and Penelope took turns babysitting. He went to movies and museum openings and played chess in the park. He tried another round of sorting his diet and decided it wasn't nightshade vegetables either. Other than a few odd looks in the elevator nothing changed.

Five weeks later he was at his mother's hospital, waiting for this alien doctor to arrive.

The alien doctor had been communicating with the medical staff there via e-mail. He asked that she withdraw from her medication for two days before his visit, so he could get a clear picture of her symptoms. He asked that they be available to pull a blood test. And he asked that they have a common sedative on hand to help her rest after.

Now it was just a matter of getting through it. Diana was curled up on the sofa in the exam room, her arms wrapped around her head, babbling as she rocked. She was as bad as Spencer had ever seen her. He could only hope this was over quickly.

As Spencer watched out the window a car pulled up and stopped in the loading zone. Three men got out. Already Spencer knew he was going to have to step out and have a fit at two of them for wearing military uniforms around people already paranoid. What the hell were they thinking? Surely they would be authorized to wear civilian clothing to….

Wait…

Those weren't US military uniforms.

He left his mother in the care of the nurse and went down to meet the car. "Doctor Linalter?" He asked.

One of the two men in uniform turned. He looked to be in his early 30's. was tall like Spencer was, slender like Spencer was, his arms and legs a little too long like Spencer's were. He wore glasses over bright blue eyes and had an easy smile that made him attractive enough to take notice. "Doctor Reid?" Spencer was about to offer his hand when Dr. Linalter clasped his hands in front of him and offered a small bow instead. "Or do you prefer Lord Garon?" He spoke with a sibilant, musical accent.

"Doctor Reid is fine. Thank you for coming."

"I prefer Doctor as well. Of course, anything we can do to help." The other person in uniform was unpacking some bags from the back of the car. "This is my Companion, Lt. Narat Galon." That person in uniform offered the same small bow. It was impossible to tell if this person was male or female, they incorporated aspects of both. Crap, could you politely ask an alien which pronouns they preferred? "They are also my…assistant…nurse…yes?" He laughed a little. "Apologies, I am still learning English."

"You're doing remarkably well." Spencer said. They/they/theirs, got it. "This way," Once they had their gear together he led them in to the building. "I would ask if you had to come a long way, but I believe the answer will be yes."

"Yes and no. We come from Aldera, it is six of your weeks, I think, at FTL. Many parsecs. But I am no navigator. But we are assigned here, in New York. The trip was not made special."

"Oh, right." That made sense. They sent the closest specialist, relatively speaking. "So you've worked with schizophrenics before?"

"No."

Huh. "I thought they said they were sending a specialist?" No, they said someone appropriate.

Dr. Linalter smiled. "I came with three others, the first Q doctors in system. Before we arrived they have relied on Celestina and Mrr'tani medical staff. They would not be able to help in this case. From my research the current theory is that schizophrenia in Terrans is caused by an imbalance in brain chemistry. This is not something that affects the Q."

Spencer found himself shocked once again. "So you're saying my mother is fine? Trust me, she is not fine."

"No, I am saying she cannot have schizophrenia. I believe she is quite ill, and I have thoughts as to the cause, but I should examine first, yes?"

"Of course." That would explain why nothing ever worked quite right. Spencer shook off his shock, he was determined to keep an open mind here. "This way."