Author's Notes: Here's the third chapter of Change for the Better. Enjoy!
Chapter Three: 52 Pickup Remastered
Spencer woke when his cell phone began to ring on the side table, causing him to stir slightly in bed. Annette was sleeping soundly on top of him, nuzzling his chest with her cheek. Taking caution to not wake her and spoil such a serene sight, he reached for his phone and answered the call.
"This is Doctor Reid," he answered in a groggy tone.
"It's Hotch. We got a case in Atlanta, Georgia. As soon as you and Annette are up and ready, come to headquarters."
"Okay," he replied before ending the call.
He heard Annette let out a small moan as he put his phone back down and looked at her. As much as he wanted to stare at her for a moment longer, he needed to wake her up.
He placed a hand on her arm and shook her gently.
"Hey, Annette."
She stirred slightly, and with another gentle shake, Annette lifted her head up. She squinted her eyes for a brief moment before slowly opening them, reaching up to her face to rub the drowsiness out.
"Why are you so beautiful in the morning?" he asked, running his fingers through her ruffled, dark brown hair.
"Bullshit. I am not beautiful."
"Yes, you are. In fact, you're beautiful every second of every day, but you look your absolute best in the mornings."
She chuckled when she placed her arms flat on his chest, resting her chin on top of her wrist and looking into his eyes.
"Was that Hotch on the phone just now?"
"Yeah. We got a case in Atlanta, Georgia," he replied.
She didn't miss the tension in his tone and in his body language, feeling his heart stop for a brief moment.
"What's wrong?"
"Do you remember the story I told you about my addiction to Dilaudid?" he asked.
"I remember," Annette replied with a nod. "It happened in Atlanta, correct?"
Spencer nodded.
She remembered the story in detail back when their relationship was still fresh and new. Tobias Hankel, a man who was raised on a twisted form of religion and suffered from Dissociative Identity Disorder, abducted, tortured and drugged him for two days. Spencer, scared for his own life after suffering a near-death experience and having to dig his own grave, ended up shooting him.
"Are you going to be okay?"
"Yeah. It's because of you that I can go back there, and it's also because of you that I reached a year of staying clean."
Annette smiled, tears forming behind her eyes at how touched she was at his words.
"Well, I'm happy I helped you get there."
He wiped a tear that escaped her eye with his thumb.
"You are my angel, Annette. You've helped me a lot more than you realize."
"Well, let's see what more I can do for you. Let's get ready and head to Atlanta."
Annette was standing behind the seats Spencer and Prentiss were sitting in, looking at the opened files over their shoulders. The UnSub started with prostitutes, disemboweling them and forcing them to clean up the mess before slitting their throats. While his M.O. and signature didn't change, he did move up to killing Vanessa Holden, a socialite. The others were leaning towards him being a sexual sadist with Jordan adding her theory the possibility of Vanessa knowing the UnSub and Rossi chiming in a missing piece for the switch in victimology. As she was attempting to piece together the complex puzzle, Annette tilted her head to the side.
"Okay. You're doing your tilt of the head there, kiddo. What are you thinking about?" Rossi asked.
Spencer looked up at her, finding her to be exceptionally cute up close as she was lost in her thoughts. If she wasn't working her magic right now, he would have kissed her cheek.
"As torturous as disemboweling is, there's no other signs pointing towards the profile of a sexual sadist," she explained. "There's more to it than meets the eye, and I agree with the old man that we are missing a crucial piece to the puzzle that is the reason why he chose to kill.
"I'm willing to bet that said piece lies in his past."
"We're going to have to build two profiles," Prentiss announced.
"That's a first," Rossi said.
"Prentiss does have a point. Prostitutes and socialites are different victimology wise," Annette pointed out.
"Okay. Reid, work a geographical profile. Prentiss and Rossi, focus on the prostitutes. Jordan, Morgan, Annette and I will deal with Vanessa Holden," Hotch announced.
Tensions were somewhat high at the Holden household, primarily when Annette had to talk about her abduction case and about Anya. She even showed Vanessa's mother a picture of the two of them, and due to her resembling Vanessa in both age and also being an older sister, Ashley Holden was more than willing to speak with her. When she left the house and made her way towards the SUV, she had to let out the breath she was sure she held for an eternity.
"Are you okay?"
Jordan's voice snapped her out of her trance, and she turned to look at her.
"Yeah. I'm fine."
"It probably isn't easy, talking about your abduction and the fear your sister must have been feeling at the time."
"It's been nine years, and even after all this time, the frightened look Anya probably had on her face still haunts me whenever I talk or even think about it."
"But it is thanks to your story that we managed to get in with the Holdens. I'm sure Ashley and her mother weren't expecting to meet the surviving victim face-to-face.
"Your story has touched people all over the country, Annette. After seeing what you just did back there, I see why Hotch and Rossi vouched for you to be on this team."
"I've worked independently since I started this job, and it's an adjustment for me to be open about my theories and insights. Even though I've worked with this team twice before, a part of me is still hesitant because I've been in that hermit phase for God knows how long."
"Adjustments to change don't happen overnight," Jordan reassured. "It will take time, and even though I'm only here until JJ returns, a part of me does hope you say yes to being with this team full-time."
Annette was surprised as Jordan patted her on the shoulder. It was still too soon for her to arrive at a final decision, but maybe she would see once enough time passed.
With a deep breath, Annette walked alongside Prentiss, trying not to step on the broken glass as they went out to the balcony. She covered her mouth in shock at the pool of blood on the ground; this wasn't the way to start the morning. She turned away and went back inside, taking note of the chaos with the bottles of bleach and ammonia. The victim in question was Becky Williams, another young socialite like Vanessa Holden.
"The cleaning supplies are part of the chaos rather than the usual setup. This isn't normal for the UnSub," she announced to Hotch.
"She could have fought back," Hotch said.
"Or maybe she jumped due to the adrenaline rush," Prentiss chimed in.
"If he didn't get his release last night, he's not going to wait another week. He's going to strike again," Annette pointed out.
"Annette's right, and today's Saturday, meaning the clubs are going to be packed," Prentiss said.
"We better move quickly," Hotch announced.
This day wasn't going too well; following the crime scene, Annette accompanied Hotch, Prentiss and Morgan to chat with pickup artist, Viper. His cocky attitude in combination with flirting with her and Prentiss head on made her want to slap him hard. For the cherry on top, he talked down about Spencer to her, and had she not been on the clock, he would have taken a solid kick below the belt.
Following the delivering of the profile and the announcement of having to profile Viper himself (which Prentiss volunteered for), Annette excused herself and retreated to an empty room. She leaned back against the desk, clutching the edge to keep herself in check.
A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts.
"Annette?"
She perked up at the sound of Spencer's voice.
"Come on in," she called.
The door opened, and he walked in.
"What's wrong? Are you okay?"
"Just a little pissed off that Viper flirted with me and talked down about you to my face," she replied. "It took everything I had not to blow a gasket."
A shiver tore through her spine at the thought, and she couldn't look him in the eye. Unable to see her face, Spencer reached for her, turning her face so that he could see her eyes.
"I can only imagine what you would have done if you weren't on duty, love."
"I don't like the so-called saying that women dig jackasses. What I wouldn't give just to shut his class down for good."
"How about you show that you can shut him down? Tag along with Prentiss tonight."
Annette was surprised.
"Really?"
"Really. I was going to man the tip line, but Morgan insists I tag along with him in the club."
"I trust you to be honest about the fact that you have a girlfriend."
"And even if you have to flirt, I trust you to be honest about the fact that you have a boyfriend."
"Of course. Let Morgan know if he tries to set you up, I'll kick his ass."
He gave her a quick peck on the lips.
"You got this."
She nodded before leaving, and he watched as she caught up to Hotch before he left the room.
Spencer was in awe when Annette emerged from the locker area in a little black, camisole dress in which the hem stopped above her knees. Accompanied by a simple pair of black, open-toe heels, curls adorned in her hair and a little makeup, she was ready to charm the club.
She looked down at herself and twisted her body to look at all possible angles as Spencer approached her, causing her to look up at him.
"Is this dress too short on me?"
"No," Spencer replied with a shake of his head. "I think it's perfect. You look ready to blow the clubs away."
"Thanks," she said, rubbing the back of her head sheepishly.
He twirled a curl around his finger.
"Well, look at you, Ms. Genius Girl," Morgan chimed in. "If you weren't a taken woman, I know I and many other men would have been hitting on you in a heartbeat."
Spencer gave him a look from over his shoulder before pulling Annette into his arms, causing Morgan to give him a smug smile.
"Are you jealous?" Annette whispered.
"A little," he replied.
She smiled before kissing his cheek.
"You have nothing to worry about. My eyes are for you only."
He smiled as he looked at her.
"Flaunt your charm, Annette. Just don't forget who has your heart."
She smiled and nodded.
Spencer was nervous as he performed an illusion trick to the pretty brunette bartender using the UnSub's sketch and a pen. She was impressed, and asked if she could call him if she didn't see the UnSub.
"Actually, I have a girlfriend," Spencer replied, to which she nodded.
"She's a lucky woman."
When he turned to go, she stopped him, saying she didn't have his number.
"Check behind your barrette."
When she pulled the card out from her hair, she was surprised, and wondered who the fortunate woman was as Spencer left with Morgan.
At Annette's suggestion to Hotch, Viper (real name Paul Thomas) ended up attempting to push and pull not just her and Prentiss, but Jordan as well. At a crucial point, Annette brought up to Viper how he was anything but attractive and probably could only practice his "moves" on his pillows back home, emitting some chuckles from Prentiss and Jordan. Viper confronted her, calling her a "Queen Bee", referring to the alpha females that stood him and his students up in the past. Annette gave him her sweetest smile and thanked him in the most smartass way she could think of, and as the three of them walked off, Annette paused at his group of students.
"If you want to charm a woman, don't follow Viper's lead. True women don't dig jackasses, and Viper is a jackass with a capital J."
As quick as Annette changed out of her dress, she had to slip on a bulletproof vest and tie her hair upon discovering the UnSub, Robert Parker kidnapped another woman. To add to it, the victim was Austin, the bartender Spencer had won over earlier in the evening. She and Morgan led the SWAT team towards Robert's front door, and she decided to be a little flashy in doing a spin as she and Morgan kicked the door open together. Even though Robert was about twice her size, Annette managed to tackle him down to the ground and was quick to subdue him as Morgan cuffed him.
When she glanced over her shoulder at Spencer, who was tending to Austin and escorting her out, Annette caught a glimpse of her face, and felt a slight, sharp pain in her chest. Austin was pretty, and a part of her felt inferior to her complexion. She was silent for the remainder of the moment as she watched Morgan escort a handcuffed Robert out with two SWAT team members following suit.
"Annette, what's wrong? You've been tense and silent since we apprehended the UnSub."
She breathed out a sigh as she pulled the duvet and blanket back before crawling into the king-sized bed in the room they shared. They were going to fly back to Quantico first thing in the morning, and they planned on turning in early.
She turned on her right side so that her back was to him, not wanting him to see her face.
"It's nothing, really."
She felt the bed shift underneath her as he laid down beside her, and she felt him wrap his arm around her waist and plant a kiss on her shoulder.
"Your body language and the tone in your voice tells a different story. Tell me, please?"
With a small sigh, she rolled over onto her left side so that she was facing him.
"That bartender was super pretty. She and Lila made me realize how plain and ordinary looking I really am."
Oh, how Spencer wanted to steal her breath for those negative thoughts as her gaze traveled downwards. How could she see herself that way when she's the most beautiful woman in the world to him?
"Hey. Look at me."
She was hesitant for a brief moment, but she eventually allowed herself to look up until she locked eyes with him.
"Annette, in my eyes, you are the most beautiful girl in the world, and all I see is you. You have no reason to compare yourself to other women.
"You looked beautiful in that dress you wore earlier, and you look beautiful as you're getting ready to go to sleep. You're beautiful just as you are, okay?"
"Okay."
He leaned forward and kissed her lips, followed by a kiss to her brow.
"How about we get some brunch when we get back home?"
"Sounds like a plan, Spencer. See you in the morning. I love you."
"I love you too."
End Notes: Next chapter will be out in a day or so! Check back!
