A/N
Before I get to my story (Shudder and Burn) that I have been polishing for over a year, I have to say there are things in the story that I wrote after Season 14 ended, well before Season 15. Things that showed up in Season 15. I have left them in my story (or change slightly) since I wrote them first. I've written out the list with the Season 15 episode it appeared in. Call it what you will, premonition, clairvoyance, or since this story came from my dreams, call it wishful thinking.
Family member abducted (Date Night)
Kiss in the elevator with Spencer (Date Night) I wrote it originally in the elevator, but recently changed it to 'while waiting for the elevator'.
Spencer, wanting to 'jump in the deep end' (Saturday)
Spencer's love interest being a teacher (Saturday)
The Park (Saturday)
Diana responding to medication (Awakenings)
Talk of Quantum Mechanics and Superposition (Rusty)
OC - Susan, owning a Glock-19 (Date Night) I took that bit out.
Spencer, dreaming of conversation with a dead person (And in the End)
Matt & Kristy's baby (Saturday) I wrote her name was May, after Matt's mother Mai. In S15, she's named Rose Mary.
Susan (Date Night) the name of my OC and Cat's mother
So, if you read my story and you happen upon one of the above bits, I wrote it in my story first. Thanks. I hope you like the polished-up version of Shudder and Burn. If you could be so kind to leave feedback (reviews) for the chapters, I'd be most appreciative. Constructive critiques are welcome. THANK YOU, for taking the time to read my story.
Please enjoy.
The author.
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Dr. Spencer Reid woke up earlier than usual; he wanted to look his best today. After getting dressed, he checked his mirror for the second time, straightening his tie, tucking it into his sweater. He hoped to make a good first impression on the Psychology professor.
He drove to GW in silence, save for the squeaks, rattles and pinging sounds his old Volvo made. The radio in his car hadn't worked in years, not that it mattered; there were too many talk shows on the air and not enough music. Driving gave him time to think, uninterrupted by cases or files. Or people.
He thought about the meeting, to set up guest lectures he planned to do during his month-long required sabbatical. It took some doing, but he learned to enjoy speaking on the subjects he knew best from his fifteen years with the FBI. As a Supervisory Special Agent in the Behavioral Analysis Unit, he also used these lectures as a recruitment tool to bring in new agent trainees into the Bureau.
After his latest near-death experience, he made the decision to return to lecturing at the local colleges, in addition to seminars at the FBI Academy and his work with the BAU. He had to re-establish connections with the colleges. First on the list was the Psychology Department at George Washington University. Next, the Forensic Science Research department at George Mason U, in nearby Fairfax, Virginia, and the Linguistics department at Georgetown.
Originally, he had called Dr. Harkanian, the head of the Psychology Department, at GW about returning as a guest lecturer. But Dr. H. told him he was retiring at the end of the semester and offered to send an email to one of the other professors. The next day, he received an email from drsuspense to set up a meeting. It was the drsuspence that intrigued him. The message ended enigmatically with 'Dr. S.'
For two months he and Dr. S. had corresponded, but nearly every time they set a date to meet, he'd get called away on a case and had to postpone. And on one occasion, Dr. S. rescheduled, citing a family emergency. The email he had received yesterday, to confirm today's meeting—with an invitation to sit in on the Psychology of Human Sexuality class—ended with 'Hopeful to meet today, Dr. S'.
And he thought about Jennifer. Since she and he had, for the most part, worked through the issue between them, he had time to think about their situation objectively. He cared about her, loved her as his friend, but as she made quite clear, it could never be more than that. Actually, he was fine with that. He wanted to meet a woman he could talk to, about anything and everything, and not have her roll her eyes, make comments that wounded him or treat him like he was odd.
At the office, Emily seemed unusually preoccupied lately. After a long weekend two months before, she went straight to her office, not wanting to talk about what was bothering her. Garcia—who had returned to the BAU—told the team Emily had broken up with her boyfriend, Andrew Mendoza, but shared no other details.
Perhaps the reason Garcia came back had something to do with whatever was going on between her and Luke. Maybe she was helping him through his breakup with Lisa. There was something going on with them, he just couldn't figure it out.
Then there was Max. The day after the team rescued her sister Eloise and their father, Don from Juliette Weaver and Cat Adams, he and Max shared a kiss in the elevator and afterward, they made tentative plans for a third date. And that was the last time he heard from her. That was months ago. There was no explanation, no goodbye. She simply stopped answering his calls. Garcia gently explained to him that Max had ghosted him.
He hoped this upcoming month off would help get his mind off his love life. Or more accurately, the lack of love in his life. But then again, being on the campuses of GW and Georgetown would make him think about her again. The young woman in the pink outfit, from his very first lecture.
And now, with his time off only days away, he needed to set up the lectures or figure out something else to do for the entire month. He had already planned to visit his mother. Perhaps he could go visit his father. He could always read… learn another language… or rearrange the furniture in his apartment… again.
All the recent internal and external strife reminded Spencer of a quote by Joseph Campbell, We must be willing to get rid of the life we planned so as to have the life that is waiting for us.
Spencer needed a fresh start. And today, he was ready for it.
A/N
Please let me know if you like it, or if you find mistakes I need to fix & if you want to read more.