Hello everyone!

Like always, thank you for all your great reviews! I can't believe it's over 200 already! Keep them coming, they inspire me to write!

Also, how awesome was the season premier? I am soooo looking forward to next week! :D

So here's another chapter for you! Enjoy!

xoxo

ReidsGirl

As always, I don't own Criminal Minds or any of the characters except for my OC's!

Chapter 21

Annie felt her heart beat in her chest as she walked down the corridor of D.C.'s MedStar Rehabilitation Center. The nurse at admission had told her Spencer had arrived an hour earlier. Like every day she hoped that today would be different, that he would give her at least a small sign that some of the old Spencer was still in there. That he would give her even the tiniest smile and let her hold his hand. Maybe even let her kiss him.

She had told no one about it but she had talked to the resident psychologist in Baltimore and the young female doctor had assured her it was perfectly normal for Spencer to shy away from physical contact. But even more than she longed for his touch, she wanted to not only tell him, but show him that she still loved him, that nothing had changed. That even though so much else was different now, that was the one thing that was still the same. That they were still Annie and Spencer and that they belonged together.

She gave a deep sigh as she reached his room and tentatively knocked on the door before stepping in. Her gaze swept across the room and she caught sight of Spencer, lying in the bed of the single room with Derek next to him in a chair.

"Hey there!" Derek greeted her with a smile and stood up to give her a hug.

Annie smiled back before she turned to Spencer and placed a gentle kiss on his forehead, trying to ignore his flinching. "Hi honey."

Morgan shot an angry look at Reid when he saw him recoil from Annie's touch. Apparently he still hadn't gotten the message across to him that if he kept behaving like that he might very well loose the best thing that ever happened to him. And he knew Reid would only regret it when it was too late. He gave his friend another stern look as Annie took of her light spring coat.

"Have you settled in all right?" Annie asked in a soft voice as she sat down on the edge of the bed.

Spencer nodded his head as he looked at her. And what he saw almost broke his heart. Of course he had noticed before how worn out she looked, but he had never taken the time to really look at her. A weak smile was plastered on her face but it didn't reach her eyes. Her dress hung loosely around her body and only now did he realize how much weight she must have lost. Every fibre of his being was urging him to pull her into his arms but he still held back, still couldn't bring himself to let down his guard.

His thoughts were interrupted when the door opened and a young man in scrubs stepped in.

"Hello Dr. Reid? I'm Michael Turner and I'll be your physical and occupational therapist from now on." he introduced himself as he shook Spencer's hand.

"Please, call me Spencer." he replied with a forced smile before introducing Annie and Morgan to the young man.

"I have your schedule for this week as well as for your ambulatory treatment here." Michael continued as he opened a file of papers. "So we'll be starting with your first session right now, your doctor has informed me that you have shown signs of your reflexes returning so it's vital for your recovery that we start immediately."

Annie looked at Spencer who just nodded his head in silence. He didn't seem particularly motivated but she knew there was no way around it. She would not just let him give up.

"There are also some basic everyday exercises you can do once you're home, either alone or with assistance. I take it you two live together?" Michael asked with a look at Annie.

"Yes, we do." she replied.

"So over the course of the next week I'll show you how to help Spencer with everyday tasks such as getting in and out of the wheelchair or taking showers." Michael said. "I can see that you have already regained bladder and bowel movement and have already been instructed how to use the restroom. Is your bathroom at home wheelchair accessible?"

Annie's heart gave a small tug when she saw the Spencer flinch again at the therapist's words. He almost looked like a boy, his short hair ruffled with strands of it falling in his face. She knew this was hard for him and she wanted to tell him there was no need to be ashamed. But she was afraid he would take it the wrong way so she decided not to say anything but instead turned to Morgan.

"I.. I don't know. Is it Derek?" she asked in reference to Michael's question.

Morgan gave a small nod. "It basically is and I'll instally whatever is necessary to make things easier."

Michael smiled. "Good. So Spencer, we'll start with getting you into a wheelchair. I want you to sit up and then help you move your legs to the edge of the bed. If you experience pain at any point please tell me immediately, ok?"

Spencer grimaced and nodded as he propped himself into a sitting position.

Annie bit her lip, trying hard to control her emotions as she watched Michael pick up Spencer's legs and shift them so they were hanging over the edge of the bed. The last thing he needed was to see pity in her face and she held her breath as Michael picked Spencer up and heaved him into the wheelchair Morgan had pulled up to the bed.

"See, that wasn't so bad, was it? Over time you'll learn how to use your arms to do this yourself and with our therapy you might soon be able to use your legs more if you regain mobility." Michael announced with a smile.

Annie gave Spencer and encouraging smile as she placed her hand on his, her heart skipping a happy beat when he didn't pull back but returned her smile, even if it was just a small one. Maybe things would get better, maybe this was the first step towards recovery...

Morgan took a sip of his coffee before placing it back on the table as he looked at Annie who sat across from him in the hospital cafeteria. She had joined Spencer and Michael in the physical therapy room while he had waited here. They had decided to give Reid some rest and he had suggested to get some coffee.

"So, how are you holding up girl?" he asked, causing her to snap up her head.

She had spent the past hour watching closely how Michael had massaged and moved Spencer's legs to keep the muscles from shrinking. It had been painful to watch Spencer grit his teeth during the whole ordeal. He had assured them that wasn't in pain but she could see how hard this was for him.

"Good." she said with a forced smile. "I'm good."

"No you're not." Derek replied and placed his large hand on her small one. "Don't even try to tell me you are, I'm a profiler, remember?" he chuckled.

Despite herself Annie had to smile. "Ok, I'm not good. I'm exhausted Morgan. And not from all this." she threw her hands up.

"I know... It's Reid, isn't it? The way he's acting towards you?" Morgan asked, his face softening.

Annie nodded her head. "I just wish I could get through to him. Sometimes I feel like yelling at him, just to get any reaction... But that's not gonna help anyone."

"Maybe you should. Maybe that's just what he needs to get his head straight again." Derek replied.

"Derek... I can't..." Annie whispered. "He's hurting enough already."

"And what about you? He's the one that's injured but not the only one hurting. I can see how much you are suffering." Morgan replied softly. "You've lost weight."

"I know." she murmured. "But I can afford it." she attempted a chuckle.

"No you can't." Derek insisted. "And that's why I'm buying you a brownie right now. And you'll eat it. All of it. And then you will get in there and talk to him. And if he doesn't want to, you have to make him talk! I will not stand by and see you two break apart over this."

"Derek... I don't think that's..." she started but was interrupted.

"God girl, you're almost as stubborn as him..." he sighed. "I won't take no for an answer, and if I have to block the door myself until you figure this out. I know you're a fighter, so get in there and fight for your man!" he said seriously.

Annie looked up at Morgan again who gave her an encouraging nod before she carefully opened the door to Spencer's room. She licked her lips nervously, still tasting the chocolate of the brownie Derek had practically forced her to eat. Spencer was lying in his bed again, a book in his hands but he wasn't really reading. She could tell because he wasn't flipping the pages at almost warp speed like he usually did.

"Spence?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Spencer's head snapped up in surprise and when he looked up he saw Annie slowly walk towards him, the look in her eyes once again almost breaking his heart. Oh how he wished this all never happened and everything was still the same. And not as... messed up as it was right now.

"Hm?" he asked when she reached him.

"Spence we... I think we need to talk. I... I can't do this anymore..." she said, her voice only slightly louder this time.

His heart stopped for a minute. This was it. She was going to tell him she had had enough of it, enough of dealing with a broken man. But it was all for the best, eventually she would be better off without him. And at least he had been lucky enough to have her in his life for almost a year. It would have been their anniversary next week and he had planned something big for it...

"I know." he replied, feeling tears sting in his eyes.

"Spence... You don't talk to me. You don't let me touch you..." she replied, her voice cracking.

"I can't Annie, I just can't..." he whispered. "It's not fair on you."

"Fair on me? What the hell are you talking about?" she asked, the confusion in her voice evident.

"You don't deserve this! Look at me!" Spencer cried out. "I'm completely broken, I can't walk, I can't do anything on my own. I'm not the man you deserve!"

"Is that really what you think?" Annie gasped.

"Yes! I promised you I would always protect you. How can I do that now, ha? Tell me? How am I supposed to give you what you need when I can't even get out of bed alone?" he was now actually yelling.

"You really think I care about that? You really think that's how I see you?" now it was her turn to yell.

"How could you not? And I don't blame you..." Spencer murmured, the tears streaming down her face breaking his heart.

"Are you really that stupid Spence? Do you really think I'm the kind of woman who would just walk away? I really thought you knew me better than that!"

"I... I don't know Annie. I don't want to be a burden on you. Hell, I don't even know if I can ever make love to you again! You deserve a different life." he yelled back.

"Do you really think that's all I care about? Making love? Yes, it's killing me to think you might never feel my touch again... but it's better than losing you! And don't you think it's for me to decide what I deserve? I love you Spencer! God, the only thing I could think about when you were in surgery was "Please, please let him be alive"!" her voice had risen even further, all the built-up emotion finally set free. "All I want is to be with you, whether you can walk or not!"

Spencer swallowed hard, shocked by her anger. They had had the odd fight in the past year, but he had never seen her so worked up. "But I can't ruin your life like that!"

Annie bit her lip as more tears streamed down her cheeks.

"You're not ruining my life! The only thing that could ruin my life would be for you not to be in it! And I thought you felt the same way. I thought we belong together, no matter what. I never thought you would be able to just throw all this away! I thought you knew how much I love you..."

Spencer looked at her as her chest rose and fell from her breathing as she took a pause. Her lips were trembling as she pulled out the pi pendant from under her dress. And what she said next was like a bolt shooting right to his heart.

"Remember this Spence? Remember when you gave it to me in New York with that poem? You wrote "our love has no end". I still feel that way Spence, there's nothing that could ever stop me from loving you... And I thought you felt the same..."

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