Author's Notes: Here comes Chapter Four! Enjoy!

Chapter Four: Insomnia

Annette stared at the ceiling of the master bedroom absentmindedly, fidgeting with the hem of the sheet covering her. It was fairly late in the evening, and despite seeing the clear, midnight blue sky and stars, the sight did little to ease her troubled mind. Not even the lavender-scented bath she had just a few hours prior was helping to lull her to sleep.

Two weeks; that's how long it had been since she moved to DC, and yet, it felt as if she had just arrived and was settling in. She knew she was going through the shock and phases of moving, as well as the motions of adjusting to a new environment. Just like what Rossi told her after they closed the Megan Kane case back in Texas, it was going to take time. It was just a matter of how much time it was going to take for her to adjust and settle down in full.

She thought of Albuquerque: the desert grain shimmering beneath the rays of the sun, the dirt paths one could ride either their ATVs or horses through, and scaling the hilltops and mountains to watch the sunset as its orange and red hue colored the view below of the open, desert field and the city itself. If Albuquerque was the twilight with its desert terrain, DC might as well be the sunlight with its trees, shrubs, and greenery.

Her thoughts then turned to the people she left in Albuquerque. Her parents, who were always loving and supportive, especially following her abduction and desire to join the FBI. Anya, who was nearing completion of her degree and was well on her way to becoming a forensic examiner. Lindsey, Jenna, Tyler, and Kyle, her genuine friends and rocks to lean on for emotional support throughout the rest of her high school life, and enjoying their respective success and careers. The people that became her primary support since her rescue were all back in Albuquerque, and at the realization, she cried.

Despite the knowledge they were just a phone call, text message, or a Skype video chat away, Annette felt a sense of emptiness. Phone calls, text messages, and Skype chats paled compared to actually being there with them. Working independently and being so close to home and her support group for the past two years, she was content and happy, especially when she didn't have to adjust as much. While she was on a team she knew and worked with before, the change in both workplace and living quarters was going to be the biggest challenge for her to adjust to.

She turned her head to the right, smiling at the sight of Spencer as he slept soundly next to her. If there was one thing she adjusted to fairly quickly, it was the sleeping arrangements and being able to wake up to him every morning. The view of his messy hair and sleepy expression, combined with his scent flooding her nostrils, was something she would never grow tired of, even years down the line.

After gazing at Spencer for a little longer, Annette got out of bed slowly, taking care not to rouse him from his slumber. She breathed out a vast sigh of relief when he didn't stir, and with one last look at him, she grabbed her purse and left, heading for the living room.

She flipped on one of the side lamps as she laid down on the chaise sleeper, resting her arm on one armrest. She then opened her purse and pulled out both her New Mexico license and newly gained DC license. Looking at them, Annette realized she concluded her tale in New Mexico, and she was beginning a new tale in DC. She also had a new support group in her team that included a caring mentor and father figure (Rossi), and a loving boyfriend (Spencer). A small smile formed on the corner of her lips; she wasn't truly alone, and with what she had, she would never be alone again.

Needing to talk, Annette pulled out her phone and dialed Anya's number. Since it was one in the morning here in DC, it was eleven in Albuquerque. She pictured Anya either reading, studying, or doing homework, adding to her small smile.

She got an answer after the second ring.

"Annette?"

"Hi, baby. It's me," Annette replied.

"You would only call me this late when something is bothering you, Annette Renee Lennox," Anya said, referring to how late it was in DC. "If I had to guess, it's regarding the move to DC and transferring to the team full time."

Annette merely chuckled, and she imagined the smile on Anya's lips and the look in her eyes that said, "I told you so."

"A sister is like a mirror image of themselves, Annette. We would know that best of all," Anya said. "So, lay it on me. What's on your mind?"

"I'm missing home and the support group I formed," Annette replied. "You, Mom, Dad, Lindsey, Jenna, Tyler, and Kyle. Having been born and raised in Albuquerque for my whole life, I had everything figured out."

"I miss you too. You were always my rock to lean on whenever I needed emotional support, and throughout my high school and college life, I leaned on you a lot. If this transfer happened back then, I wouldn't have been so willing to let you go."

"Anya…"

"Hey, I'm being honest as your sister here. With your abduction and the fear I would never see you again, I didn't want to let you out of my sight for a while."

Annette chuckled.

"I didn't want to be away from you, either. At least, not for a while."

"Listen, Annette. Just because you're on the other side of the country doesn't mean we're far apart from each other," Anya said. "I know you're a phone call, text, or Skype video away, and when I hear from you, I always feel better."

Those words helped Annette to feel a sense of relief.

"Good to know I can still provide you some of that emotional support, even though I'm not close by anymore."

"Your transfer and move to DC doesn't mean goodbye. It just means you're starting the next chapter in your story," Anya said. "The support group you formed in Albuquerque will always be here for you whenever you need us, no matter what's going on or where we're at. If we have to fly there to be there for you, we will in a heartbeat. Never forget that, okay?"

"I won't," Annette said.

"How long has it been since the move?"

"Two weeks," Annette replied.

"Give it time. Adapting to change in both a job and a new living environment won't take effect overnight or in a brief span of time," Anya said. "Take it one day at a time, and you'll find the closure you're looking for."

"That's exactly what the old man said to me after we closed a case in Texas," Annette said. "Guess he's rubbing off on us."

"After almost a decade of knowing him, it'd surprise me if he wasn't," Anya said. "You know, I'm very proud of you, Annette. You jumped the hurdles that were thrown at you, and even during the moments you were at your lowest, you pulled through and stayed strong. I'm honored to call you my older sister and my idol."

Annette covered her mouth to stifle the hiccup that escaped her throat as tears formed in her eyes.

"Thanks, Anya. I really needed that."

"Of course. Try to get some sleep. You're no good when you're sleep deprived. I hope our conversation helped to ease you of whatever anxiety is plaguing you.

"I love you very much, Annette Renee."

"I love you too, Anya Marie."

She breathed out a sigh as she ended the call, setting her phone and licenses down on the nearby side table. The tension coursing through her body loosened its hold, and she slowly felt herself go lax.

"Annette?"

She looked to see a half-awake Spencer, his hair disheveled and his pajamas crinkled. She didn't have time to wipe her tears away, and there was a concerned look in his eyes when he went to lie down next to her. He reached up to wipe her tears away, stroking her cheek with his thumb.

"What's wrong?"

"I couldn't sleep, and I was missing home," Annette replied. "I just talked with Anya and confided in her, and it helped ease my troubles a little. This is all still new to me, and I'm still going through the phases of adjusting to everything.

"However, I have found a little comfort in the knowledge I'm not truly alone in all of this. Just as I have my support group in Albuquerque, I also have a support group with you and the team."

Her breath hitched when Spencer leaned forward and kissed her forehead.

"You're not alone in this, and you'll never be alone again, nor have to go through the feeling of being alone."

Annette gave a small smile and nodded as he wiped more of her tears away.

"Sorry for worrying you when you woke up and saw my side of the bed empty."

Spencer shook his head.

"Don't worry about it. When I saw you on the phone, I figured you were talking to either Anya or your mom. You needed to talk to someone besides me or the team, and that's okay. That's totally normal.

"Like what you just said, you're going through the phases, and it's going to take time. Let yourself go through them, and once they pass, you'll feel better. Trust me."

Annette nodded again, and Spencer gave her another kiss on the forehead. She then let out an enormous yawn, showing how exhausted she was.

"We better get some sleep," Spencer announced. "The pile of paperwork waiting for us won't sort itself out."

"Ugh. Don't remind me of the damn paperwork," Annette said with a groan.

"The sooner we get to work on it, the sooner we get it done," Spencer said.

With yet another nod, Annette got up from the chaise sleeper, grabbing her purse before heading back to the master bedroom. Spencer followed behind her, watching as she tossed her purse aside and got herself comfortable in the king-sized bed. Once Spencer laid down next to her, she snuggled up next to him, and as she allowed herself to drift off to sleep, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders. He watched her for a moment, running his fingers through her hair before falling asleep himself, inhaling a deep whiff of the lilac and vanilla that was her scent.

End Notes: Next chapter will be out this weekend!