Chapter Fourteen

"Can I see another's woe, and not be in sorrow too? Can I see another's grief, and not seek for kind relief?"-William Blake

"Lauren?" Hotch's panicked voice sounded. Spencer watched as Hotch fell beside Lauren's limp body. He slipped his arms under her, bringing her up to his chest gently. Although his entire body wanted to be the one holding Lauren, Spencer knew this was how it should be. He walked over to Hotch softly and stood over him. His gaze fell on Lauren. Her skin was paler than ever, her eyes closed and her hair blood stained.

Hotch ran his fingers over Lauren's hair. Spencer noticed how his hand shook. Lauren wasn't moving. Spencer's heart thudded loudly in his head. His breath had stopped and he didn't know if he would ever catch it. A shooting pain crossed his chest and he frowned.

"Lauren," Hotch said quietly, hugging her closer. "Come on, wake up." A sudden groan left Lauren. Hotch's shoulder un-tensed visibly and he let out the breath he had been holding.

"Ho…Hotch?" She spluttered. Her eyes were half shut but Spencer saw the relief in her expression. But he couldn't look away as her half conscious gaze suddenly met his. "You..." She said. Spencer's entire body felt light as she smiled weakly to him. But the feeling was sucked away from him as she once again shut her eyes and led limp over Hotch's lap.

"Lauren?" Hotch yelled, shaking her slightly. But the sound of sirens signalled hope.

The small apartment quickly became a hive of activity. Lauren had to be practically ripped from Hotch's protective grasp before she was whisked away in an ambulance. At the present moment Hotch was being told how Lauren had only suffered a minor blow and would be fine but they wanted to check for further trauma. But Spencer could see what little relief this gave to the head of the BAU. And Spencer had to admit that he would only be satisfied with her wellbeing when he saw it with his own eyes.

"You ok?" Morgan asked from behind Spencer.

"Yes, of course." Spencer lied looking back over the apartment. It felt like an intrusion to be in Lauren's home now she was safe. But he couldn't help but look over the small space with a profiling eye. It was tidy, incredibly so. All trinkets were seemingly displayed for decoration rather than sentimental value. It was decorated in a hue of neutral colours though the furniture was homely and cosy. A few photographs were dotted around the apartment. Spencer was drawn to the one closest.

The photo displayed, Spencer guessed, Lauren as a child. The scene was obviously somewhere rural and she was holding a lamb happily. Spencer had to squint to get a closer look at the adult standing with her. It was Hotch. He had his arm around Lauren's shoulders protectively and was smiling proudly at her. He looked quite young and Spencer realised he had never seen Hotch look so relaxed.

"Cute." Morgan commented as he also looked at the picture. "Is that…?" Morgan trailed also squinting to get a closer view.

"I think so." Spencer replied with a knowing smile.

"We should get to the hospital." JJ suggested as she walked up to them. "Hotch is already on his way and Rossi is going to stay with Rose Greenfields at the station." Spencer nodded and replaced the photo on the side. He looked down at JJ as her arm fell gently on his in a reassuring manner.

At the hospital Spencer paced restlessly down the hall. He was absently biting his finger nail as worry panicked his entire body. He couldn't recall a time when he had felt such worry for someone. Glancing up he looked over the team. Hotch rested against the off white wall whilst Morgan sat on one of the chairs staring at the ceiling. JJ and Emily sat next to him, concern showing on both of their expressions. It was amazing how this one woman had left such an impression on them all.

"Lauren Lewis?" An unfamiliar voice called. At the mention of Lauren's name Spencer stepped forward, craning over the small doctor as he glanced down at his chart.

"Is she alright?" Hotch asked, his voice was calm but it cracked slightly. It seemed like a lifetime before the doctor spoke.

"Oh, yes. She is fine. Though I must say she is being a little stubborn about resting." The doctor said disapprovingly, Hotch gave a relieved smile. "I would prefer she stayed overnight, but she is insisting that she has no need to stay. Legally I can't-"

"It's ok." Hotch said. "She'll be supervised tonight." The doctor smiled in relief and as he left Spencer's knees gave way and he collapsed onto the chair. Now he knew Lauren was fine the worry he had been holding left his system. Now he was exhausted. His limbs were weak from pacing and his mind was blurred and tired from replaying the scene over and over.

"You should get some rest." JJ chimed suddenly. Spencer looked to her with wide eyes as if the very thought of leaving was unthinkable.

"No." He replied sharply. He frowned in apology at his snap. "I… I should see her. She needs to be questioned about what happened." JJ said nothing and just smiled turning back to Emily.

Lauren sighed heavily as she sat impatiently. The hospital bed was cold and un-comfy but she had been warned about leaving by the nurse. She had been so strict in her words Lauren didn't dare leave the bed let alone the room. Her gaze surveyed the box sized room. It was quite bare of adornments, as most hospital rooms were. The walls were white with a tint of blue, giving the area a somewhat bleak feeling.

"I hear you're not listening to doctor's orders." Hotch's voice sounded from the doorway. Lauren's face lit up into a smile as he walked over to her. With little care to the pain coursing through her body she leaned towards him and wrapped her arms around his neck. He gently returned the hug and she could tell he was smiling.

"I am bored here." Lauren whined as she released him from her embrace.

"You've been here half an hour." Hotch laughed gently.

"And you'll be here a lot longer if you don't listen to the professionals." Morgan said as he entered the room. Lauren laughed at him as he also wrapped his arms around her. "You had us worried." He whispered into her ear as he let her go.

"Is Spe—Are all the team here?" She asked cutting herself off as she realised the one member of the team she wanted to see most was the one person she didn't really want to see her in this state.

"Yes." Hotch replied. As if to reinforce his answer JJ and Emily walked into the room and straight to Lauren's bedside.

"I'm so glad to hear you're ok." JJ said, placing a hand on Lauren's. She smiled to the blonde agent.

"It's just a bump on the head." Though Lauren knew that wasn't true. Her body ached like she had run a five day marathon and every word echoed in her head before understanding what was said. But she wouldn't admit this.

Spencer hesitated before entering Lauren's room. He could hear the chattering and laughing from inside and didn't know what was stopping him from going in. A flash back of Lauren lying with her head bleeding and unconscious made his head spin. Just the image made his stomach knot in worry. The amount of concern he felt for the young Detective was what made him reluctant to enter. He had been denying the fact that every time she was near him every emotion and feeling was multiplied. And he liked it. But almost losing her had caused more heart ache than even when someone on the team had been injured. And he felt guilty for this. He felt bad that a woman he had met only dayss ago caused more happiness in him than the family he had with the team.

Doing his best to flush the thoughts from his mind, Spencer took a deep breath and entered the room. He stood lingering in the doorway. Lauren led in the hospital bed surrounded by the team. She was smiling broadly and laughing. The gash in her head had been stitched and covered and her eyes were shadowed with dark circles but she looked stunning. Her smile lit up her features and her eyes sparkled as she talked to the team.

"Finally, Reid." Morgan commented. At his words Spencer saw Lauren's gaze flick to his. For a moment they looked at each other. He didn't have the strength to look away as her brown eyes seemed to be focusing on nothing but him. But it ended too soon as her gaze snapped away back to Hotch.

"We should get back to the station." Hotch commanded. "Rose Greenfields still needs to be interviewed." There was a collective groan about leaving. "There is a patrol car outside waiting to take you home." Lauren flinched at the thought of going back to her apartment. Hotch's hand rested on her arm at her visible worry. "JJ has agreed to stay over with you tonight seeing as you refuse to stay under medical supervision." He furrowed his brow at her but sighed. "We will be leaving tomorrow." Lauren's small smile faded.

"Thanks JJ." Lauren said gratefully. JJ smiled widely.

"A bit of a girl's night." Hotch shot a glare at the blonde agent as she said so. "But a gentle one of course." JJ winked at Lauren who smiled. "I will see you later." Everyone was hesitant but finally each took their turn to say their goodbyes. "Come on." Hotch said as he moved past Spencer.

"Wait…" Lauren's voice trailed. Spencer and Hotch both turned to her. "I, uh, just want to have a word with Dr Reid." She gave a half smiled and Hotch glanced to Spencer suspiciously.

"Fine." He agreed and left the room leaving the pair alone.

Silence seeped in through every corner of the room. Spencer flicked his gaze from Lauren to the floor.

"I'm glad it was nothing serious." Spencer said finally, gesturing to the cut on Lauren's head. She raised a hand to the stitched wound and smiled meekly.

"Yes." She replied. Another silence. But this time it was interrupted by Lauren. "Thank you, for helping with the case."

"It's my—" Spencer cut himself off from saying, 'It's my job.' It was true, of course. But it had been more than that to him this time. "You're welcome." He said quietly.

"About this morning…" Lauren said suddenly, keeping her gaze fixed on her nervously twisting hands. "Outside the Police Department." At the mere mention of the moment Spencer felt the emotions overwhelm as they had earlier. It was like de ja vu: his throat dry, his heart quickening and limbs weak. She gazed to him. "I…I was going to say—"

"Visiting is over now; you need to fill out these papers, Ms Lewis." A nurse chimed as she walked in. Spencer's jaw slacked slightly at the interruption. He wanted to push the nurse back out of the room and lock the door.

"Oh." Lauren said quietly, focusing her gaze back to her clasped hands. Spencer stood motionless. "Another time then, Dr Reid." She gave a forced smile.