Scripted | S.R x Reader

16 | Exposition

Little drops of hot water splashed onto your hands as the cup you held shook in your clutch.

"It's gonna be okay," Penelope whispered, placing a hand on your shoulder. "He's gonna be okay."

"How do you know?" Your puffy, red eyes met hers.

Penelope's hand moved itself from your shoulder. "Experience."

"Garcia," Hotch said, approaching the woman. "Is she up for it?"

You looked between the two agents. "Up for what?"

"Just a questioning," Penelope stated. "It's an exercise that can bring you back to the moment, so we can try and spot anything out of the ordinary."

Your hands started to shake again.

"Miss L/N, if you don't think you can—"

"I can." You nodded. "I can, I promise."

Hotch looked over your shoulder, nodding to someone. "Why don't we head to Quantico, it'll be less...overwhelming there."

Your eyes scanned the apartment one more time, your chest tightening each time you laid your eyes on the mess of the place.

"Alright, all you need to do is just close your eyes and focus on the questions, okay?" JJ smiled at you. "Whenever you're ready."

You shut your eyes, giving her a nod.

"Okay. Go back to when you were going over to Spencer's."

The events only a few hours ago began to replay in your mind—your walk breaking to a run as you got closer to him, how the puddles on the pavement were splashing onto your socks, and the rush in your stomach as you approached his door.

"What's the first thing that was off?"

The silence. "He didn't answer the door when I knocked. It was late, so I thought he'd be home."

"So what did you do?"

Your cold phone pressed against your cheek. "I called him, maybe he was on a case or something."

"And then?"

"I heard ringing from another phone inside, so I knocked again but still nothing."

"Mhm," JJ said, the sound of her pen scribbling.

"He told me once where the spare key was, so I grabbed it and went to unlock the door, but it was already unlocked." You inhaled sharply. "Then I saw it."

"What did you see?"

A lump in your throat. "Glass. A lot. I—I think from his vase."

"Keep going, Y/N."

"Some books were on the floor—A Study In Scarlett. He loves that one; Spencer never would've left it on the floor like tha—" You choked on your words as tears began stinging at your eyes. "Like that."

"Do you need a break?" JJ questioned softly.

"I can do it." You took a deep breath. "A chair was knocked over, and then I saw the b—" You buried your face in your hands. "The blo—I'm sorry."

The agent slid over a box of tissues, her own eyes going glossy. "I know."

You sniffled, wiping your eyes. "Are you going to find him?"

The blonde placed a hand on yours—you weren't sure if it was to reassure you or herself. "We're gonna try, I'll tell you that."

The door the interrogation room opened, Hotch standing in the doorway. "JJ, meet Derek down at the front, you're heading to the store Reid was last seen at. I'll stay with Miss L/N."

JJ's hand squeezed yours as she left, her sleeve wiping her eyes.

"How are you doing?" Hotch asked, handing you a glass of water.

"I dunno," you murmured. "How should I be doing?"

"Even I don't know after all these years."

"How do you guys do it? It just seems...unimaginable."

Hotch shrugged. "It's the same way I feel about your life. It may seem absurd to others, but there's something in the faces of the families we reunite or the people we save that makes it all worthwhile." He paused. "When you find that one thing that just clicks, you can make anything worth it."

"Yeah..." You looked at your feet. "That one thing." What was yours?

"Miss L/N, I need to ask you some more questions."

"I told JJ everything about tonight—"

"It's about you and Dr. Reid."

You looked up at the man, his stern expression unrelenting. "About us?"

"I need you to be honest with me, okay?"

"Mhm."

Hotch exhaled. "What is your relationship with him?"

"He was helping me prepare for a role."

"A role that has been near completed by now, yes?"

"Mhm."

"So is he still needed?"

You hesitated. "Not particularly, but he was helping me get rid of some rumors too."

"I recall, however that seemed to have ended a month or two ago..."

"We uh we didn't talk for a while. Just schedules."

Hotch narrowed his eyes on you. "The truth, Miss L/N."

"We've kissed twice!" You blurted out, the man's eyebrows immediately raising. "W—Well before that we almost did, but I lied and said we'd never work then we didn't talk for a while then everything went to shit and it just kinda happened and—"

Hotch still looked completely stunned.

You gulped. "We kissed twice, and I was on my way over to tell him I wanted to be a real thing...like not just whatever we are. I don't know."

"I see," the man mumbled, a look of pure shock still painted on his face. "And was anyone aware of this..?"

"Well, our fake relationship with fake Spencer was public, but the only person who really knows about us being fake and me liking the real him is Anissa."

Hotch nodded. "We'll have to call her in."

"She'd never do that!"

"I'm not saying she'd hurt Spencer, but she might have some information that can help us find out who would." The man stood up, heading to the door. "Miss L/N?"

"Yes?"

"We'll find him."

Those three words were all it took for you to lose it, tears streaming down your cheeks. "Please."

The agent gave you a last nod, leaving you alone.