Hey everyone! Sorry I haven't updated in a few days. I've had a nasty case of writer's block and couldn't be inspired to write more than a paragraph. It took me DAYS to dredge out this chapter. And it's also not my best work. I'm not happy with it, even though I've revised it almost a billion times. I need to get inspired and write better chapters. However, on a side note I saw Frozen tonight! Did anybody else see it? It was sooooooo wonderful. Go see it if you haven't. Anyway, I digress. I'm amazed at the number of followers and reviews that I've gotten in the past few days even without updating. You guys are wonderful. Seriously. The reviews fuel me on. :) Read and review, please! XOXO-FirefliesFlash
An hour later, the rest of the BAU team was inside Spencer's apartment. Spencer was in the kitchen with Hotch and Morgan, pacing back and forth. The pot of coffee that had been brewing was long forgotten. Teagan sat on the couch between Garcia and J.J., her head resting on Garcia's shoulder.
"Kid, look. You both need to leave here," Morgan said, placing both hands on Spencer's shoulders. "We'll put you both in protective custody."
"I've already tried to convince her to do that!" Spencer exclaimed, running his hands anxiously through his hair. "She won't listen to me!"
"Reid," Hotch said. "You said so yourself. She's blaming herself for her family and best friend having to go in protective custody. She blames herself for the murders of those prostitutes. She knows that protective custody is her only option now, but she doesn't want to do that. This UnSub is about control. He wants to control her, possess her. She has little control over her freedom right now. By going into hiding, she will be giving up all control of her freedom."
"You're right," Spencer replied, still pacing.
"Kid, this creep's after both of you now. Hotch has to call the Marshal Service."
"But I need to help all of you. Put Teagan in protective custody. You still need me on this case."
"No, we can't do that and you know it," Hotch replied. "After all, you're too closely involved with this case as it is. You need to remove yourself from the case."
"That didn't stop you when Foyet was after Haley and Jack. You still hunted him. You didn't go into protective custody."
"That was different, but look what happened," Hotch said, his mouth forming a hard line.
"I didn't mean it like that, I um…"
"I know you didn't Reid," Hotch replied. "But it's possible that the UnSub knows you personally too, especially since he's targeting both of you now."
"I'm convinced it's Gene," Spencer said. "He has to be the UnSub."
"Kid, I've already told you. He doesn't fit the profile," Morgan said.
"But look closer. I've worked with him personally."
"That's why you didn't interview him. You know him personally," Hotch said. "Why do you think he's the UnSub?"
"I just have a bad feeling about him. I can't explain it."
"That's not a valid reason," Morgan said. "Why do you think he fits the profile?"
"I've told you I can't explain it," he stated.
"Try."
"He comes across as "fake". He doesn't seem to genuinely care about his clients. He asks me extremely personal questions during our sessions."
"Reid, he's a therapist. They're supposed to."
"I know that, but he's so blunt about it. I know it's strange, but there's something off about him," Spencer stated.
"That still isn't enough to prove that he is the UnSub," Morgan said. "What do you want me to do Reid?"
"I just want her safe. I don't want her to end up like…" He trailed off, licking his lips and swallowing. "Like Maeve."
"I know, Kid. But you're both going to be fine. We'll catch this creep," Morgan said, patting him on the back reassuringly before leaving the kitchen. Spencer followed him into the living room. Teagan was still on the couch, squished between Garcia and J.J. Teagan laughed at something J.J. had told her and he smiled. He was glad J.J. and Garcia were here to cheer her up. He walked over to the couch.
"Hey Spence!" J.J. said. "We were just talking about you."
"Oh really?" He asked, frowning slightly.
"Don't worry! They were all nice things!" Teagan said.
"Well that's good to know, I guess," he replied, still frowning. "Teagan, can I talk to you for a second?" He gestured towards the kitchen.
"Of course," she replied, as he took her hand and led her into the kitchen. "What's the matter?"
"Hotch and Morgan have decided that it would be best if we both went into protective custody," he stated, watching as she bit her lip.
"No," she said defiantly.
"Teagan!" He exclaimed.
"No."
"Teagan, listen to me! We have to be placed in protective custody. I don't want to any more than you do, but the UnSub is targeting both of us. It's for our own safety."
"No," she said again, placing her hands on her hips. He smirked slightly to himself, despite the seriousness of the situation. He knew she was trying to appear formidable, but it wasn't working. With her small frame and delicate features, her stance was far from intimidating. "I'll tell Aaron myself."
"Teagan, please," he begged. "If we make you unavailable to him, maybe he'll reveal himself to us."
"But by going into protective custody, we're already doing what he wants, right?"
"No, not exactly. See, the UnSub suffers under the delusion you're in love with him. He said in his note to me that 'She's mine.' He obviously thinks you're in love with him and that he's in love with you. He's obsessed with you."
"So it's like Erotomania?"
"It's basically a form of obsessive love. The UnSub feels an overwhelming sense of desire to possess you and is unable to deal with rejection. We know the UnSub has probably been rejected throughout his entire life. For some reason, he feels like you accept him." Teagan bit her lip again, thinking.
"But why?"
"It could be anything. You could have smiled at him on the street, waved at him, who knows?"
"So the UnSub could be anybody?"
"No. You know him. You've seen him before. He'll want to be close to you. The flowers suggested that he is definitely demonstrating his affection for you. However, I think that he may have been stalking you for a while. He knows your favorite flowers. I didn't even know that orchids were your favorite flower, even though I knew purple was your favorite color. That's not hard to deduce."
"Lily's the only one who knows what my favorite flower is. But I know she's not the UnSub."
"Definitely not."
"Wait," she said. "My ex-boyfriend knew what my favorite flowers are. But he's back home in Georgia."
"The UnSub lives nearby. We don't think he has much confidence, but he's gaining it."
"Well, who do you think the UnSub could be?"
"We think it could also be one of your clients," Hotch stated, interrupting their conversation. "Garcia's been checking the records that you keep of each one of your clients and we're comprising a list of suspects that fit the profile. Do you think once we're finished you'd be willing to look over the list?"
"Sure," she replied. "Spence, do you think it could be a client? That's absolutely terrifying to think about."
"It could be. I'm still convinced it's Gene."
"It's not Gene either," she said quickly. "I've known Gene for a long time. We went to school together."
"That's exactly why I think he's the UnSub. He's known you for a while."
"He's not obsessed with me. He's a friend." Spencer groaned. Nobody was listening to him.
"Teagan, usually a stalker is someone you know. Someone you've known for a long time."
"That's not always the case," she argued. He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose, exasperated. This was getting nowhere. Morgan stepped into the kitchen.
"Reid. Hotch wants to see you for a minute."
"Okay." He left the kitchen and stepped into his living room. Hotch was near his desk, studying the letters the stalker had left for them.
"Morgan said you wanted to see me?"
"Yeah. Look how these bodies are positioned."
"I already have. They are in similar positions, all naked from the waist down. We know the UnSub likes to be in control. He placed them all in demeaning positions, which represents his position of power. The women were found in warehouses all close to the downtown area. Has Morgan gone to the crime scene yet?"
"No," Hotch replied. "He and Rossi are going to go to the crime scenes. Blake and J.J. are going to the morgue to examine the bodies. You are going to stay here with Teagan until a safer place is found for both of you."
"Thanks, Hotch," Spencer said, a note of gratitude in his voice. Teagan came out of the kitchen with two steaming mugs of coffee in her hand.
"Here," she said, handing him a cup.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome. Morgan showed me where you keep all your coffee stuff." Spencer smiled in response and took a sip. Perfect. "Is it okay? Did I put enough sugar in it?"
"Yeah," he nodded.
"Good," she answered, grinning.
CMCMCMCMCMCM
Teagan was curled up on Spencer's couch reading a book. Rather, trying to read a book. She couldn't concentrate. She hadn't even finished the third paragraph. It was one of the many Sherlock Holmes novels he owned, The Hound of the Baskervilles. She had read the novel once before, but she wanted to read it again. However, once she started the novel, she couldn't concentrate. The team had dispersed to various locations searching for clues that would lead them to her stalker. She looked around. Spencer and Hotch were talking quietly, at his table. Penelope had gone back to Quantico to her BatCave. Spencer was such a technophobe; he didn't even have Wi-Fi at his apartment. Teagan's fingers itched for her piano. She always played when she was nervous or stressed. Spencer looked up from his conversation with Hotch, giving her a reassuring smile. He was just so nice. She instantly regretted their slight argument earlier. He was just trying to protect her. He didn't want what happened to his former girlfriend to happen to her. However, she felt completely stupid and useless, just sitting here trying to read a book. She didn't want to go into protective custody, although Hotch had made it clear that his decision was final. She wasn't scared for herself anymore but for Spencer. When she awoke to discover Spencer pacing in his kitchen, clutching a letter very similar to hers, she became upset. She was angry because the stalker had threatened someone close to her and scared because she didn't want anything to happen to Spencer.
Spencer was becoming an important fixture in her life. She really cared about him. It was definitely the most interesting relationship she had ever been in. Spencer was so much smarter than she was and she was honestly surprised he liked her in return. She stood up from the couch and stretched her cramped muscles. She was incredibly bored.
"Can I do something to help?" she asked.
"Yes, you can actually," Hotch replied. "Garcia wants to know if you have any files on clients that aren't in your computer?" Teagan bit her lip again, thinking.
"Yes, actually. Yes. I have three files that are currently being updated. They're in my desk. Do you need them?"
"Yes," Hotch said. "You said they're in your desk?"
"Yes. The bottom drawer on my desk. But oh! The key's back at my apartment!"
"Where in your apartment?" Hotch asked.
"I don't know," she replied honestly. "I don't remember where I had it last." She flushed in embarrassment. Great Teagan. Lose your damn key why don't you? "But I know it's in my apartment!"
"Okay," Hotch said, sighing and pinching the bridge of his nose. "Reid? Take Teagan back to her apartment. I would do it, but the Marshals are due here in an hour. Teagan? Go back to your apartment, find your key, and come straight back. After you are both back here and placed in protective custody, I'll go to your office and find the files."
"Okay," she replied. Spencer fished for his keys in his messenger bag.
"Take the SUV," Hotch stated, handing his keys to Spencer.
"Okay." Spencer said, grabbing Teagan's hand and heading out of his apartment.
"Why are we taking the SUV?"
"It's got tinted windows and it's not as conspicuous as my Volvo."
"Oh. It's really nice," she said, staring at the sleek black SUV. "And big."
"I haven't driven this as much. I have only driven this SUV twice."
"Is it safe to ride with you? Should I go back and stay with Hotch?" she teased.
"Um, I think it's safe. I've known how to drive since I was twelve. The government just wouldn't issue me a license because I wasn't sixteen."
"Uh-huh," she said with a teasing lilt to her tone as she slid into the leather passenger seat.
"It's the truth," he stated.
"Sure it is." She smirked. Suddenly, Spencer cupped her face with his hands and pulled her towards him, kissing her gently and softly, surprising her. He pulled back and put the SUV into drive and started towards her apartment.
"I hope I find my key. I think it's in my jewelry box on my dresser."
"Hopefully it will be," he replied.
"I'm so scatterbrained." He chuckled as he pulled into the apartment complex. "You know what? I'm just going to get my keys. There's no need to bring my purse or phone in. We'll be in and out."
"That's true. Bring your phone, though. My battery is low."
"Okay." She grabbed her keys from her purse and followed Spencer to her apartment. He took the keys from her and unlocked the door.
"I'm going to check to make sure it's clear and if it is, you can come in," he stated, pulling his gun from his belt.
"Okay." All these security measures felt a bit ridiculous, but she saw the necessity in them. She tapped her foot absentmindedly, waiting for Spencer to give her the "all clear".
"Teagan, RUN!" he yelled suddenly. "Go! Now!" She heard a thump followed by a yelp. She began to run, reaching into her pocket to pull out her phone. No signal. Shit! Where to go? She raced out of the parking lot towards the park, hyperaware of her surroundings. Someone was following her. She started to glance behind her and tripped over the uneven sidewalk, landing flat on her stomach, her head hitting the concrete. Her vision swam and the world went black.