Verecund (Criminal Minds)

Chapter 19

Ash returned to Penelope's office only minutes after the blonde woman had finished reading the college essay. She had half a plain bagel in one hand and a mug of coffee in the other as she sat  in the empty computer chair next to Penelope. The girl pointed to the closed laptop and then her temple as if to say What do you think?

"I think you have an absolutely perfect essay, Ash," Penelope cooed. "I'm so glad you asked me to read it and that you wanted to share what you had to say with me. I just... want you to know that I love you so much, and I'm so proud of how far you've come, and any college would be privileged to have you."

Ash brought her hand a few inches off her lap before putting it right back down. Her lips wavered before forming together. "Th-Thank you."

The girl's voice was soft and a little high-pitched. It was just barely above a whisper, and almost sounded cracked. But it was the first time she had verbalized anything to anyone in a very long time. Penelope's eyes were watering up again. Ash's almost did the same.

The IT expert didn't have an immediate response, she wasn't entirely sure what to say. There were seconds of silence of Penelope's lower lip just barely quivered before she asked, "Is it okay if I give you a hug?"

The brunette nodded silently, and Penelope leaned forward in her chair to wrap her arms around Ash's shoulders. Ash slowly and gently hugged back, breathing in the woman's fruity perfume.

"How about we submit this application?" Penelope nodded as the two pulled away.

Ash nodded back in response. She opened the grey laptop back up, typing in the four-number pin that Spencer had given her. The document and college website were still open.

The two spent the rest of their workday applying to University of Mary-Washington and searching for other local colleges to apply to. Ash wasn't too keen on travelling far for college, particularly because she had just found her family in Quantico.

"Ash," a soft voice called. The girl looked back to see Spencer peeking his head through the door. "Ready to go home?"

She nodded as she began standing. Spencer took a few steps towards the desk where the laptop was, hands in his pockets. "What're you working on? Old Dominion University? You know, I still have strings to pull at some of the Yale colleges, I bet we could get you accepted to one."

Don't really want to move far, Ash signed. Penelope stared with a blank expression, not knowing what was being said. Plus, I want to get in college on my own.

"Okay," Spencer wasn't going to argue. "Being accepted into college on your own accord can be a self-test of independence, but remember that people are always a resource."

Ash nodded again as she handed the laptop on the desk to Spencer. He waved his hand. "I don't have a use for it. Keep it so you have a consistent device to use for homework and applications."

Ash slid the computer into her messenger bag, then brought her fingertips to her chin and outward. Thank you.

"Let's go home," Spencer spun ever so slightly on his heels.

Ash turned to wave goodbye at Penelope, who enthusiastically waved back. The brunette followed her almost-comically lanky guardian out of the room and towards the building exit.

When Spencer and Ash climbed into his old Volkswagen, the profiler finally spoke again. "How did your Mary Washington essay go? You complete your application?"

Good. Yes. Ash stuck her hands out from her chest more so Spencer could see as he pulled out of the parking lot. Working on Old Dominion next still.