They meet up in the corner of the library where they always do. It was almost 5 when Elizabeth got there, she was finishing up a commission for an art piece when he called at 3. Dr. Reid was already there, sitting in the big comfy chairs, tapping his foot nervously, looking side to side.

"Hey, I came as soon as possible, what's up?" His body went still, and his face turned to look at her's, he seemed relieved for a second, then the tapping started up again along with a crazed happy looking smile formed on his face. Elizabeth smiled gently in return, but worry and concern was bubbling up inside her. He seemed a little worse for wear, sweat stains and dirt on his typically pristine clothes.

"Hey! I'm glad you came, I wasn't sure you be able to, we just got back from Texas, it was so hot, I hope I don't smell too bad, anyway I wanted to just see you and say hi, well that and tell you want happen, opps! Sorry I'm rambling, it doesn't help that I'm still high on dopamine and other fight or fight chemicals pumping in my brain right now, it didn't hit me at first that I saved lives while risking my own but then I just kept thinkin- "

"STOP!" She yelled. Then she remembered she was in a library

"Shhhh!" The old librarian held a finger to her lips, glaring with an intensity that if she wasn't so worried about her friend, she might have been worried for her own life.

"Now, we are going to take some deep breaths, follow me, in" She took a deep breath. "Out." Doing that for a couple times she saw his eyes and body relax as he calmed down.

"Now, tell me what happen." She said as she took her seat across from him.

"Do you know about John Nash?"

"No, should I?" She tried to go through all the serial killers she knew, but unlike Dr. Reid, this wasn't her area of expertise.

"John Nash was a mental patient who believed was being recruited by aliens to save the world."

"Okay, I think I remember one of my brother's talking about a movie about him."

"The movie was rather inaccurate, anyway we had a similar situation here, one of my coworkers, Elle, was taken hostage with others on a train and we had to convince this man to let them go. He was under the delusion that the government was all around him and he had a chip in his arm."

Elizabeth loved it when he told stories about work and his adventures. She worried about him, but she knew he wouldn't stop risking his life, in the months that she knew him, he loved his job more than anything. So, when he started to tell her about his day, she embraced it. He didn't do it often, and she felt it was special when he did. Plus, when the scent of sandalwood, old books, graphite and the one thing she couldn't place washed over her, comforting her. It was so easy to just listen to him.

"Then, I told him 'I can't turn it on, the chip derives its power from tiny electrical impulses fired between neurons, it has to be in your skin to work.' I thought of that on the spot! It just came to me." Spencer pause, admiring his own brilliance, then turned back to her.

"Anyway, he shot his doctor soon after, but she made it to the ambulance." He turned solemn at the mention of the violence he observed. "I talked him down, played into his fantasy and got him to let his guard down. Elle and I attacked him, and it turned out one of the passengers had a gun, so he shot him. The hostages and I made it out safe, the doctor and he made it to the hospital."

"So why did you seem so sad on the phone?" She asked.

"I wasn't sad per say but, have you ever had experience with people with mental conditions?"

"Why?" She asked. curious at the sudden change in tone and topic.

"Never mind, I was just wondering." Dr. Reid seemed to shut down suddenly. He turned his head away. She had to say something. sighing, repositioning herself to sit properly, facing him directly.

"My father was a marine." She stated. "He loved it and his comrades, says those were the days, where he was taking names and fighting commies in Vietnam." She started playing with her hands. She was never typically this awkward telling people this, but this was her friend, she didn't want him to have a bad impression of her father.

"He joined when he was 21, says it was the best and worst decision he ever made, because five years later, he was on a plane coming back, except he was coming back with a little more baggage and one less limb." Looking up, she saw Dr. Reid staring at her. She searched his eyes, all she saw was shock.

"My father suffered depression, PTSD and alcoholism. He always needed coffee in the morning, and when my mom wasn't looking he would slip vodka in it. He never tried to kill himself, but he would have days where he would just sit and stare out the window. He had episodes, when I was little, if it rained to loudly or was too foggy he would get jittery and couldn't stand anywhere where he couldn't see all the doors and windows."

"Hypervigilance."

She nodded. "When leg prosthetics started to have leaps in technology, he started to make a recovery, he could walk better, do things, help pay more bills." Looking her friend in the eye, she searched for any hint of judgement, she found none, only…hesitation? Then he dropped a bombshell.

"My mom has schizophrenia." Spencer said solemnly, turning to stare at the ground. Elizabeth eyes widened. "She was an amazing mom, but I guess all parents have their issues." Looking sideways at her he added, "And it can be passed on genetically, as I am sure you know, so I understand if you would like to see me less, I might not be all here in 6 years." Dr. Reid didn't look at her.

"Spencer…" His head shot up. They hadn't called each other by their first names before. This was a big deal to Spencer, he really thought she would stop being his friend just because of the unknown future? Well, can't have that. Thought Elizabeth. "I am your friend, and that means I'm here for you, until the bitter end, and maybe when I need help, you'll be there for me." Spencer seemed lost for words, not knowing what to say, he just nodded. Elizabeth got up, he needed to stop thinking about the terrible stuff for a while. "Now come on, let's do another reading contest, how about..." strolling through the bookshelves she stopped at one. "How about Le morte d'Arthur? Here, I'll make it fair by reading mine in French, how about that?" Spencer finally smiled.

"Pfft, the only reason you won last time was because you cheated!"

"You still on about that?"

"Shh!"

One week later

"Hey, it's Spencer, I wanted to call and ask if it was okay if I came over? I'm just having some… trouble and was wondering if it would be so much to ask if, well if you wanted to just hang out? Is that the right term? Anyway, call me when you can."

Hello! Sorry about the short chapter, but I should be posting two or three more today or tomorrow, depending on how fast i edit. I intend to focus chapter after that with more characterization of Elizabeth as I know these first couple have been more focused on Spencer. Who knows? You may have a Spencer pov chapter in the future ) Feedback is always welcome, any reviews, this chapter probably wouldn't have happen if a reviewer didn't mention it! Thank you for reading!