Dearest, Darling (S.R)

Chapter Twenty One

~ Maddie ~

"What are we thinking tonight, pizza or Indian?" Emily asked to the room. It was almost 7pm on the last Friday of the month, I don't know how or when this had become the team's tradition to unwind at the end of the month but it had. No work talk, just good food and good company. Normally, I loved these days but it had only been 2 days since we landed from our last case and I was too drained to get excited about it.

"Not me, I have date," Morgan replied, packing the last of things into his bag.

I tried to look interested but all I wanted to do was crawl into bed and sleep through the weekend. Spencer's eyes were burning into the side of my head, i ignored him, looking far too interested in my paperwork for it not to be suspicious.

"I know a great Indian place that's open all night, we could go there," Spencer offered up.

Garcia bounced into the bullpen, her bright smile lighting up her face. "Mmm yes please, sounds good to me."

"Sorry guys, I just got a call, it's bad. There's a good chance we'll be leaving first thing in the morning," JJ explained, rushing past my desk.

"How bad?" Morgan groaned, sliding his bag back onto the back of his chair.

"Florida bad."

Now it was my turn to groan. I hated Florida, they were always the worst. I pushed myself up from my desk with what strength I had left and followed JJ up to the briefing room, the rest of the team following behind, grumbling to themselves.

~

3 murders. The most gruesome by far. Undergoing hours of torture before being shot in the head execution style. It wasn't even 5am and we were already on the jet, Spencer was rereading everything in the case files, I could see his eyes racing between the photos from all the crime scenes, only pulling away to write something down or mark a point on his map. It was the first night we had spent apart since England that I could remember, I knew it was bothering him but in typical Spencer fashion he hadn't even questioned me when I'd asked to be dropped off at my own apartment.

"Parker, Morgan, I want you two to head to the latest crime scene when we land. Get a fresh perspective and speak to any possible witnesses and the family." Hotch announced, "JJ, you start dealing with the press and set up a meeting with their police force, I know you have a good rapport with them. Prentiss, Reid and Rossi, you're with me as we start putting together what we know so far for a profile. Rest up before we get there, I know it's been a long week."

"God I hate Florida," I mumbled. I shut the case file in front of me and tucked my knees up to my chest. All the victims bodies had been mutilated in one of the most horrific ways I had ever seen, I couldn't move past the intricate pattern that had been carved into them.

Spencer looked up at me for the first time since we sat down. "Something's bothering me about these patterns, I just can't figure out what it is."

"I don't know Spence, get some rest and look at it with fresh eyes. No point getting yourself frustrated over it while we're 40,000 feet in the air and can do nothing about it." I rubbed my temples at the headache that was now forming there.

"You okay?"

"I'm tired. I have a headache and did I mention I hate Florida?" He smiled at that, some worry leaving eyes. "I mean it, get some rest. Mostly so you stop bothering me and I can get some sleep myself." He grinned this time, getting up and heading to the back of the jet. I closed my eyes, the white noise from the jet helping me drift off. I woke enough to swallow the two tablets and a bottle of water Spencer put in front of me before placing a blanket over me.