"What happened in there?" Aaron demanded as he, Emily, JJ, Derek and David walked into the curtained off room that Spencer was being treated in.
"He's here. The unsub." Spencer explained, her face twisted with pain as the nurse stitched up his head. "He's here and he was watching us the whole time I was in her house."
"The picture." David said, looking up at the agents. "The one that was on the porch, it was blurry and smudged." David noted. "Like it just came from a printer…"
"You mean he printed it right after he took it?" Emily asked, astonished as she turned and looked to David, who nodded. "So not only is he stalking her but he carries around a portable picture printer with him?" She sighed heavily then, leaning on the wall of the small room. "That's a little hard to believe…"
"Is Alex okay?" Spencer asked suddenly, looking up at them all. Aaron nodded. "Her arm?"
"She needed twenty stitches. But other then that she's okay."
"I should go see her." He groaned, slowly rising up as the nurse pulled away from him, finished with her task. "I should make sure she's…"
"Not till you tell us exactly what happened." Aaron said softly, stepping forward. "Start from the beginning. When you got there did you notice anything odd?"
"No, nothing. She invited me in the house, I asked her for her client's names, she gave them to me and I called Garcia."
"Were Adam and Connor there?" Emily asked.
"No. She said that Connor had a client and that she didn't like being alone with Adam." Spencer looked up at them then, a blank look on his face. "I guess now we know why."
"Heh, yeah no kidding." Derek chuckled, thinking back to the phone call where Garcia explained the very twisted relation ship that Alexandra shared with her 'friends', Connor and Adam.
"What about after you called Garcia? Did you notice anything then?"
"No, nothing." Spencer looked up at Aaron, shaking his head. "I told her I had to go, said something about having someone stay over at her house with her, and then I went to leave."
"Did you see anyone when you opened the door?" JJ asked. "Even someone walking by?"
"No. I think he was in the back of the house by that time because as soon as I went and looked at the picture, Alex screamed."
All eyes lifted away from the young boy genius and fell on to Aaron Hotchner. "Alright, what do we know?"
"He's been sending her the gifts for three years, but has potentially known her longer due to the nature of the gifts." David explained.
"He may have lived here, but moved away and because of that the pictures stopped." Emily added. "Can't take a picture when you're not in town."
"But now he's back, and he's gotten aggressive." Derek noted. "But why?" They all looked up to Aaron for an answer.
"When Alex first told you about the pictures, you mentioned that there were some of her and other people right?" Aaron asked and Emily, Derek and Reid nodded. "And in this newest picture…it's her with Reid."
"What are you getting at Hotch?" Derek asked, placing his hand on his hips, watching the BAU unit chief.
"Did she say that there were picture of her with Adam and Connor?"
"Yeah."
"Any other men?"
"Not that she mentioned, no."
"He's jealous." Aaron said suddenly, looking up at everyone. "He tried to get her attention because he was jealous."
"How do you know that?" Emily asked, looking at Aaron, unsure of how it was possibly for him to know that.
"The reason he attack, it was because she was alone in her house with Reid. And he didn't like that."
"Why?" David's face scrunched up as he watched Aaron. "That makes no sense."
"Yes it does." Aaron called, half frantic as he spoke. "The picture he took, the one he left on the porch? It's of Alexandra looking at Reid."
"It is…?" Reid asked, having not noticed that fact when he originally looked at the picture.
"He's right. She's watching you while you talking on the phone." Emily agreed.
"And I'm betting you the pictures he sent to her when she was with Connor and Adam are almost the same."
"He's not just obsessed with her." Derek looked angry as he spoke, realization coming over him. "He's possessive of her as well."
"The profile has changed." Aaron said suddenly, looking up at them all. "And so has this case."
"If he's willing to hurt her just to get her attention then who knows what he'll do to get her all to himself?" Derek said softly, looking around at all the team members.
"Rossi, Morgan," Aaron called, looking to the two men. "You and I will go over to the house and see if we can find anything. Emily and JJ," He then turned his attention to the two women. "I want you to head back to the station and contact Garcia. See if she has anything on those names yet." Aaron then looked at Spencer, who was still sitting in the bed.
"You stay here; you're in no condition to be working this case."
"Hotch I'm fine." Spencer protested, trying to get up out of the bed. But when he did, his head started spinning and he sat back down.
"Reid, stay here. Get some sleep and keep an eye on Alexandra. She's just down the hall." Aaron said sternly, before walking out of the room.
"But…" Spencer protested, to no avail as Aaron continued walking.
"We'll call you if we find anything out." Derek promised, walking up to him and giving him a sympathetic smile.
"Get some rest." JJ smiled, as she and Emily slowly walked out of the room. "We'll see you later."
"Yeah…." Spencer sighed, leaning back into the bed to try and sleep as they all filed out of the room.
But within five minutes, he was up and walking out of the room, down the hall to check on Alex.
&&&&&&
"Can I get some pain killers in here?!" He heard her cry out as he marched his was towards her room, his head spinning as he did.
"I'm sorry Mrs. Vega but because of the blood loss, we can't be certain of how much to give you."
"Come on! You gotta give me something!" She pleaded as he turned the corner to her room, nodding at the officer at the door. "Advil, Tylenol…MIDOL!" She screamed.
"Midol?" Spencer chuckled stepping into the room and looking at her as sly in the bed, her hair a mess around her face.
"Spencer!" She said happily, looking up at him.
"Do you know this man?" The burse asked, looking over at Spencer with a snotty look on her face.
"Yeah." Alex fired back, looking at her angrily. "And you can leave now, thanks." She added, and the nurse marched away angrily.
"That was…rude." Spencer noted, stepping further into the room, hands in his pocket.
"She wouldn't give me pain killers; I'm aloud to be grumpy." Alex smirked at him. "How's your head?"
"Spinning." Spencer said truthfully, walking towards the chair to the left of her bed, seeing the worried expression on her face. "And uh…how's your arm?"
"Killing me." She answered, and he looked up at her to see her grinning. "No worries, I'll live."
"Good." He smiled, taking a seat.
"So where are you buddies at?"
"They went back to work."
"And how come you're not with them?"
Spencer half smiled. "Hotch told me to stay here and get some rest, while also keeping an eye on you." He turned and looked at her. "So this is my new bed for the night." He smiled, patting the arm of the chair he was seated in.
A frown appeared over her soft features. "Spencer….you can't be serious. I can't let you sleep there."
"Well I honestly probably won't sleep. Statistically when people who have suffered a head injury sleep for long periods of time, it worsens their condition."
Suddenly, Alex's frown turned into a bright smile. "I must say," She whispered. "You can be pretty cute when you're being smart."
Shock rushed through Spencer along with flattery as his cheeks went hot, looking up at her smiling face. "Ah...thanks." He smiled.
"Look, I don't know about statistics but, I do know that a guys gotta sleep some time. Especially after the day we had. So instead of sleeping in the chair," Pulling her covers off of her suddenly, Alex moved over to the left hand side of her hospital bed. "I offer you the unused space of my hospital bed." She grinned at him then. "Free of charge."
"Ah…Alex I can't…" He said softly, not looking at her.
"Oh right….can't mix business with pleasure." She whispered, and he looked up to see her expression showing she was slightly disappointed.
"Yeah, something like that." Spencer whispered, once again looking away.
"Okay…I didn't mean to put you in an awkward position…I shouldn't have even asked." She half smiled at him, before moving back into the center of the bed, looking down, her hair falling in her face.
"Don't be." Spencer said fast, looking up at her. She looked up at him then, her face still slightly blank. "I mean…thanks. I appreciate the offer."
A sideways grin appeared on her lips. "No problem doc."
&&&&&&&
"I think we might be dealing with someone who has severe anger issues…" David whispered as they all looked up at the house, slowly walking towards the door.
Police were standing about, mumbling to one another over what they suspected had happened, while watching the agents walk up to the police tape covered door. Almost al the windows that could possibly be broken had been, multiple times. There were rocks scattered all over the front of the porch, and on the inside of the house.
"He sure did make sure to get her full attention…" Derek noted, as they walked into the house, trying not to step on any of the many chards of class that were littered everywhere.
"Can I help you?" A police officer asked, stepping up to them as they made their way under the tape and into the house.
"Yes, I'm Aaron Hotchner of the FBI. This David Rossi and Derek Morgan."
"Daniel Costanza. I'm in charge of…dealing with what ever this is." He noted, looking around the house. "They said you might stop by, to ask questions."
"Yes, did you happen to find anything when you did you search?" Aaron asked, not meeting the officers eyes, instead looking around the house.
"Nope, nothing. Almost like a ghost did this mess. The CSI team went over the outside of the house and didn't even find a foot print. They collected all the rocks that were in the house and were planning on looking for prints but…I gotta be honest I don't think they'll find any."
"Has there been any strange activity since you arrived?" David asked, and Daniel turned his attention to him. "Anyone coming up and asking questions? Someone hanging around more then the others?"
"We were looking for stuff like that, this being a stalking case and all. But nothing. No one stuck out that seemed more interested then other. Mainly just neighbors asking if Mrs. Vega was okay or not."
"Okay thank you." Aaron nodded.
"But…there was one thing." Daniel said suddenly.
"What's that?" Derek demanded.
"Two men, they've been in trouble with the law before. Brothers, named…."
"Adam and Connor." Aaron finished the sentence for him.
"Yeah them." The office snapped his finger. "They both showed up here about twenty minutes ago. They demanded to be let into the house to see Mrs. Vega. But when I told them she wasn't here, they sped off like the devil was after them, both fighting with one another as they did."
"Morgan call Reid and let him know." Aaron ordered as Derek pulled his cell phone out of his pocket.
"On it." He nodded, dialing out. "Hey Reid? Yeah we're at her house. Listen, Adam and Conner were here and I think they're heading your way. Apparently they aren't in the best of moods…."
&&&&&&&
"Okay, thanks."
"Everything okay?" Alex asked through a yawn, as she stretched out in the bed, her eyes fluttering open.
"Sorry…I didn't mean to wake you." Reid smiled, shifting in his chair as he snapped his phone shut.
"That's okay." She smiled, reaching her hands up over her head and stretching once again. "What's up?"
"Oh…that was Derek. Apparently Adam and Connor were at your house and he just wanted to warn me that they might be on their way here."
"Why would he warn you?" She asked, straightening up and looking at him oddly.
"Apparently they were fighting when they got to your house."
A look of horror crossed Alexandra's face and she slowly sank back onto the bed, her eyes wide. "Oh…" She whispered.
"You okay?" Reid asked, leaning forward. "Does your arm hurt? Do you want me to get a nurse or something?"
She giggled at him. "No I'm fine Spencer just…" Alex sighed then, pulling her arm up and rubbing her forehead. It was only then that Spencer notice the large bandage wrapped around her forearm. "I don't think I can deal with those two right now…I don't think I can deal with them ever honestly…"
Spencer leaned back in his seat, watching her worried expression. "I'm sure their just worried about you." He explained. "They care about you and…"
"I wish they didn't." She snapped suddenly, as her hand slid down from her forehead to her eyes, covering them. "I wish they would stop caring about me all together and just…move on with their lives." Alex's hand fell away from her face then, tears glistening in her eyes. "I have…why can't they?"
"They love you don't they?" It flew out of Spencer mouth before he even had time to register what he was saying. He looked up at her, expecting her to be angry that he sad said it, watching him angrily. But she wasn't, she was simply sitting there, looking ahead of her.
"Yeah…" She whispered softly, as a tear rolled down her cheek. "They are…" Alex turned then and looked at Spencer, her eyes a blaze with anger. "Do you know what its like to have two men…two brothers in love with you?"
"No." Spencer shook his head. "I don't."
"Well let me tell you, it is not easy. Especially when those brothers are you best friends and you never want to hurt them." She paused then, and the anger in her face turned to rage. "But you do it every day you, no matter how much you try not to."
"You can't blame yourself for them both loving you. Technically, almost everyone one friend you have is in love with another one of their friends. It's just the way that people react. You become close to someone and you end up falling in love. There's nothing that can be done."
"There was something that could have been done in this case Spencer, trust me." She exasperated, her eyes blurry with tears. "I could have stopped this years ago when he first told me…I could have stopped it…" She repeated, before bowing her head as she cried.
It took only a moment of seeing her in such pain, of seeing her in such turmoil for him to react. To see her crying, blaming herself for something that, in Spencer's mind was probably inevitable. He had only known her for a day, and already he could tell that falling in love with someone like Alexandra Vega was probably easy to do.
"Alex…" Spencer whispered, rising up fast and walking over to where she sat on the bed, crying with her hair falling in her face. "Don't…don't cry." He whispered as he slowly sat down onto the bed beside her, reaching forward and wrapping his arms around her, pulling her close, hugging her again him.
They sat there for a few moments before slowly her crying stopped and she was simply sitting there, pressed against him.
"Spencer?" Alex called, her cheek resting on his shoulder.
"Yes?" He answered, suddenly nervous.
He felt her arm rise up then, arm wrap around his, pulling them closer together, while her other hand pressed softly onto his back.
"Thank you." She whispered, nuzzling into his neck.
Spencer suddenly found himself smiling, and tightening his hold on her. "No problem." He breathed.
"What's…going on in here?"
Alex gasped in shock as she and Spencer broke apart, Spencer jumping off the bed while Alex pulled to the other side.
"Adam!" She called out, looking up at him as he stood in the door way, his eyes watching her angrily.
"Connor!" He cried out suddenly, leaning out into the hallway with his eyes still watching Alex angrily. "I found her."
"Thank god!" Connor cried out and suddenly he was rushing into the room. "Are you okay?" HE asked, coming to the side of the bed.
"Yeah…yeah I'm fine." She smiled at him, pulling her hand up to wipe the tears away from her cheeks.
"I wouldn't call crying fine…" Connor whispered, reaching up and touching her cheek. But as he did, she flinched away.
"Heh…sorry." She half smiled up at him. "Been a hard day."
"No kidding." Adam snapped, now looking at Spencer. "What exactly did happen at your house?"
"Uh…well Spencer and I were in the kitchen…."
"Oh Spencer was there?!" Adam cried out, very sarcastically. "Well then, Spencer, why don't you tell us how the hell you, the FBI agent, managed to let Alex get all ripped up!" He screamed.
"Adam!" Alex fried back.
"I…I think I'll go wait outside." Spencer whispered, looking at Adam as he glared at him. Turning away from the clearly enraged man, he looked to Alex. "Just…call if you need me."
She smiled at him softly. "Okay. Thanks."
Spencer returned the smile, before walking out of the room, squeezing past Adam who didn't seem to mind not moving out of the way for him to get past.
A small conversation started to break out between the two men and Alex as Spencer walked down the hall, pulling his cell phone out of his pocket as he did, dialing out.
"Hey, Prentiss? Did Garcia get back to you about Alex's clients yet?"
"Yes why?"
"I don't think we need to be looking at them."
"We didn't think so either but…why do you say that?"
Spencer turned slightly and peered back into Alex's room. Both Adam and Connor were standing on either side of the bed, talking over one another to Alex, reaching out and touching her, smiling at her. And all the while she was sitting there looking uncomfortable, and giving small fake smiles.
"I think we need to start looking at Connor and Adam more." He whispered, still watching her.
It was clear to Spencer that both of these men were still in love with her. But the problem was, Alex had been right. She had moved on with her life.
But they hadn't.