Chapter Eight-
Thank God for Crazy Dreams
Thank God for Crazy Dreams
"Hey, Henry, a blluuuuuuuuuuuuuuuulllllewww!!" Melanie bellowed at the little boy, who laughed. She tousled his blonde hair, and unhooked him from his high chair, at which he ran to his Godfather, who excepted him with open arms. Melanie smiled at the pair. She walked forward and kissed Henry's forehead. "That's my boy..." she whispered. Reid blushed at her face being so close to his, and her hand on the crook of his arm while they held JJ's son.
"Okay, you two," JJ said, in a short purple dress, standing in the door frame,"No teaching him to read, no weird music, and no pretending Henry is yours because he looks close enough to be your child."
"Did you just insinuate I had a child with Reid and what is your definition of weird?" Melanie said, cocking an eyebrow.
JJ sighed sarcastically. "Just no heavy metal."
"I know the limits, JJ. Wave bye-bye to Mommy, Henry! Bye-bye. That's it. Bye-bye." Reid laughed as the little boy shook his arms.
"Bye-bye, Momma!!" he wailed as she left with Will.
Melanie sighed as she flopped down on the couch. "They're so cute together. And they made the cuttest baby!!" she screamed, and lifted Henry's shirt so she could blow on his stomach. He giggled, and all Reid could think about was how close her lips were to his arms. To him. Melanie laughed.
"You want me to take him?"
"Sure," he supplied.
She sat down on the couch and held little Henry in her arms.
"He's getting tired," Reid said as he rubbed his eyes.
"Isn't he too old for naps?" she asked.
"Most kids take naps in Kindergarden."
"Well, I never took naps," she mumbled, as she tucked the 3 year old in his bed.
"You gonna go to sleep for Uncle Spencer and Auntie Mel?" she asked. Henry shook his head.
"Sing!" he cried. Melanie sighed.
She began to sing, and little Henry closed his eyes as Reid watched from the doorway, turning off the lights and turning on the nightlight.
"Hello you long shots, you dark horse runners. Hairbrush singers, dashboard drummers. Hello you wild magnolias just waiting to bloom. There's a little bit of all that inside me and you. Thank God, even crazy dreams come true. I stood at the bottom of some walls I thought I couldn't climb. I felt like Cinderella at the Ball just running out of time. So I know how it feels to be afraid. Think that it's all gonna slip away. Hold on. Hold on. Here's to you free souls, you firefly chasers. Tree climbers, porch swingers, air guitar players. Here's to you fearless dancers, shaking walls in your bedrooms. There's a lot of wonder I left inside of me and you. Thank God, even crazy dreams come true. Never let a bad day be enough, to go and talk you into giving up. Cause sometimes everyone feels like you. Oh, feels like you, just like you. Thank God, even Crazy Dreams come true. Thank God even craaaaaazzy dreams come...true," she whispered. And soon little Henry was breathing hard, asleep. She smiled and kissed his bright blonde hair. Rising, she tipped-toed out, grabbing Spencer's hand, and he stared down at her.
"How do you do that?" he asked her when they were in the living room. She sat down on the love seat, and he next to her.
"Do what?" she asked, sincerely confused.
"That. Just...put him to sleep. With that voice of yours. It's crazy."
She laughed, humbled. "It's just...I just like to sing. I like that it calms him. He's so sweet. I love kids."
"...Are you and Phillip going to have kids?"
"...I hope so. I'll be all alone otherwise. He'll be working. All the time. I always wanted a lot of kids. A big house. All I really had growing up was Charlie, and Victoria-my sister-came along later...when I was...er. I just, I want a big family because I have a lot of love to give. And...and this is truthfully pathetic, I think that if I give them all my love, I finally have some one to love me back. You know? I'm terrible. Say it. Say it or I'll feel bad."
"Melanie Wilkes you are not a terrible person. You are one of the best people I have ever met, do you know that? Hey, look at me." He took her face in his hands, and she stared at him, her blue eyes deep and full. "You are perfect because of you're imperfections. You got it?"
Melanie sighed. "That probably should've made me mad, I feel so much better," she wrapped her arms around his waist, and pressed her head to his chest,"I guess it's just you."
Reid blushed hard, and let her hug him. "Hey, Melly? Up north there's this convention and I was wondering if-"
Melanie's phone erupted with a piano piece and she sighed. After giving Reid a squeeze around the waist, she leaned back and answered her phone.
"Hey. Yeah, actually. Babysitting. A friend's son. Yeah. A guy from work. Yeah, a guy. Phil, Reid's only-. I don't care. I'm fine. Has anyone besides you tried that? I didn't-Phillip! I don't...why would you?...why would say that? You know what, it doesn't matter. I can't-Fine. I'll see tonight. Okay? Fine. Goodbye....I love you, too. Goodbye." she flipped the phone shut and threw her head into her hands.
"Everything okay?" Reid asked.
She turned to him, and her blue eyes were red around the edges. She pushed herself onto him, and screamed into his chest.
"Oh," he whispered, stroking her blonde
"He called me a whore." Reid couldn't speak. "After I said I was with you, he said I was always with you and that something was up and that I must be 'whoring around'. He sounded dead drunk anyway. Gosh, Spencer...I can't take it. It's only gonna get worse, isn't it? It just will. I can't believe this. I trust him, because I have to...but it's just gonna get worse..."
"You really can't get out of the marriage, can you?" he whispered.
"You know I would if I had a choice. Where else would I go? I was born to live this life of politics and government and guard. It only makes sense. I didn't behave the way I was supposed to and they got angry at me for it. They need me out of the family because I was a disgrace. They really hate me, Spencer. They hate me. I've never been loved, but this was just hate. And Phillip...he thinks he loves me...he always has...he doesn't understand. He's just a child, really. Spencer...I don't know what to do...say something..." she whispered, her warm breath on his neck.
"Er, like what?" he whispered.
"Anything. I'm just sick of thinking," she whispered, and Spencer felt her tears on his neck, felt it rolling down his shirt onto his chest.
"A poem?" he whispered.
"...Anything..." she breathed.
He sighed, and began:
"Love is like the wild rose-briar;
Friendship like the holly-tree.
The holly is dark when the rose-briar blooms,
But which will bloom most constantly?
The wild rose-briar is sweet in spring,
Its summer blossoms scent the air;
Yet wait till winter comes again,
And who will call the wild-briar fair?
Then, scorn the silly rose-wreath now,
And deck thee with the holly's sheen,
That, when December blights thy brow,
He still may leave thy garland green."
After that, Melly sighed into the silence. "I love that poem. I always loved Emily Bronte. She was never one for happy endings."
"You don't like happy endings?" he asked.
"They're not real," she replied.
"Nature's first green is gold
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay."
"Robert Frost was always one to not be content with his lot, then right about the misery of those whom were selfish, who their lot unfortunate."
"I love Robert Frost," Melly sniffed at Reid.
He laughed at her for a moment, and felt another tear roll down from her to him.
"You're my best friend, Spencer."
"You're my best friend, Melly," he whispered. They always said that to one another when the silence began to drag, and he saw how it lifted Melly's spirits.
"Sometimes...please don't think me naive, though that is what I am...sometimes, it think that your the only person in the world that would care if I died. Maybe you wouldn't even care...but I would miss you. I'd cry...ever day...Spencer, before, I had to wake up in the mornings. I never had a reason besides there was nothing else to do. After a while...I realized I wasn't living for anything. Life was just...pointless. Regardless, I woke up, faced the cruelties of the world, and lived. I think you're my only reason to wake up, Spencer. Yours is the only face that makes me smile."
After the speech, he felt her face get hot, a sign of her blushing. Spencer too blushed at the thought he had for a moment, then collected himself.
"Now you think me a stupid school girl," she muttered.
"No," he whispered. "I used to live like that, but I really do have friends, at the BAU. Though, I don't think anyone has understood me the way you do. Ever. I really mean that, Melly."
"...Even-"
"Even him," Reid whispered. They both knew who they were talking about.
Reid found himself automatically aware at how close Melanie's body was to his own, pressed up against him, and the heat of her body made him blush. He automatically stiffened when he noticed his hands had been slipped onto her waist, and she was practically sitting on his lap. He also noticed Melanie's breathing was getting harder, and soon she began to sob. She moved her legs in a more comfortable position for her-around his waist. Reid held her gingerly for a moment then rougher, pressing her to him. The sobs were quieter that way, whether they were muffled, or he was just more comforting was beyond him.
"S-S-SPENCER!" she sputtered into his jacket, still sobbing. "I'M S-S-S-SORRY!" she tried to stop, but it came out harder. He told her to cry for as long as she needed to. When she was finally calm, she layed for a moment on Reid's shoulder.
She sniffled, then pulled back slowly, to see her companions face. "Thank you," she whispered too him.
She leaned down to kiss his cheek, her warm lips lingering just a moment to long. She pulled back, and Reid found he couldn't look away from her eyes. His hands were still on his waist, and before he could think, he tried to pull her closer. She didn't need to be told twice and she slowly leaned in. She closed her eyes first, and Spencer took note that Melanie really wore a lot of eye make-up. Not more than the average woman-maybe less-but she honestly didn't need to wear any. Reid sighed when their lips were just inches when they were interrupted by an
"Are you two gonna kiss? Ew!" Melanie snapped back, and fell on the floor, her skirt twisted in a most unlady-like way.
"Henry! What-why are you out of bed?!" Melanie whispered, crawling over to him.
"I heard you laughing."
"I wasn't-oh." Henry had mistaken the sobs for laughter.
"Were you two gonna kiss?" he asked again.
"No." Melanie told him.
"Are you waiting till your married?"
"No, Henry, I-"
"Are you getting married?"
Melly sighed. "No, Henry, your Uncle Spencer and I are not going to get married."
"So you won't have kids and I won't have a baby cousin?"
"...No, Henry. I'm sorry. But one day, Uncle Spencer will find a real nice girl, and get settled down, and have lots of kids that you can play with, right Spence?"
Reid looked at his feet. "Maybe," he whispered in an unlikely tone.
"See?" Melly smiled weakly at him, and Reid felt a little odd.
"We're home!" JJ yelled from the kitchen, her heels clicking till she reached the living room.
"What's going on here?" she said, picking up her son, gesturing to his pj's.
"I was napping, but I heard laughing and I came in and Uncle Spencer and Aunt Melly were kissing on the couch!"
"Don't tell stories," JJ said to him, looking at the two babysitters.
"Okay, they didn't kiss. Yet!" he said, laughing all the way to his room as Will chased him.
Melanie looked at her feet, and Spencer did likewise.
"I don't know what happened, okay? And won't ask. But if something did happen, I can't control what comes out of my child's mouth. You need to be careful...Go home to your fiance, Melanie."
"Yeah...thank you, JJ," Melanie whispered, hugging her friend. JJ smiled weakly at her. The two sitters left together, in Reid's old blue car.
They got to the BAU, where Melanie had left her car parked after work.
"MELANIE!" Melanie's head darted to her fiance, who stumbled across the lot.
"You're drunk," she whispered. Emily Prentiss, Garcia, Morgan, Rossi, and Hotchner all came out of the BAU at this time. Her face reddened.
"You listen to me and you listen to me good. You're not to hang around with this...this...nerd! Ever! Okay? I am your husband and you will listen to me!" Melly and Phillip weren't married yet, but when he got dead drunk he tended to forget that.
"Let me take you home," she whispered,"you'll feel better in the morning."
"Those are your friends, right?" he asked.
"...Yes..."
Phillip whispered in Melanie's ear.
"No," she whispered, shocked.
"Do it, or the weddings off, and you'll be stuck alone. Then who will love you?" he cocked an eyebrow.
"...You don't mean that," she cried softly.
"What is it you always say? A drunk man's words are a sober man's thoughts? Do it, Melanie."
Melanie slowly turned to face Spencer. Her tears were streaming down her cheeks. "I'm so sorry," she mouthed. Prentiss and Hotchner both saw that, but the rest of the team neglected to.
"HOW DARE YOU SAY THAT!" Melanie bellowed through the tears at Reid. "I HATE YOU! JUST-JUST LEAVE ME ALONE YOU...YOU..." Phillip hit her. "You loser! Your condescending and egotistic and masochistic and all you ever think about is yourself. Last night was horrible!" she sobbed. "And I hate you! I never liked you! Even as frieennddd..." she moaned softly as the tears flowed. "I hope I never have to see you again because you are the worst thing I've ever met. You're the worst thing that's ever happened to me. I could never love a man like you....ever..." she whispered the words. Spencer knew she didn't mean them, but for some reason, they hurt. These were his fears, that these words would be spoken from her lips. The horrible is that she created them, Phillip had given her no script. "I hate you...I hate you..." she whispered. Phillip put her behind the drivers wheel of his truck, and when he closed the door, she stared at her hands, as if they had blood on them.
"I've hope you've learned to leave her alone, by now, idiot,"Phillip spat. He came to the car, sitting in the seat next to Melly. He said something to her, unintelligible through the glass. She just stared at her hands. He repeated it. Again, she gave no reply. Melanie looked from her hands to Spencer, her eyes wild and scared. She fought for the window crank and screamed out before Phillip could grab her,"I DIDN'T MEAN IT! I'M SORRY-"
"SHUT UP!" Phillip smacked her and cranked the window up. He pressed the gas and Melanie was forced to drive off. She was sobbing uncontrollably and it was a wonder she could see.
"Why...? Reid?" Prentiss asked,as a few tears slide down his cheeks.
"We were together again today. He thinks we're together."
"...Are you?"
Reid gave Prentiss a plaintive look, and got back into his car and drove off without a word.
********************************************
The next morning at the BAU, Melanie stalked in. Her feet dragged, and her eyes were red and puffy, something her make-up couldn't hide. Straightening her purple cardigan, she sighed.
"Emily!" she wailed, leaping toward her friend. "Where's Reid? Please tell me! I have to find him!"
"...In your office. With your fiance."
"Oh, God..."
"He's sober now, and apologizing repeatedly. He's the most convincing gentleman sober, and I think he's sincere. But drunk..."
"Please don't remind me...he was just jealous."
"Reid told me he thought you two were together."
"Yeah."
"Does he have any reason to think that?"
"I am loyal to my fiance as you saw by yesterday's act. I will be his wife in due time and if I don't trust and obey what he says, what kind of relationship will ours be?"
"...An unhappy one, if you obey."
"Emily...that's not something I'd appreciate you saying," and Melanie left to her office. She entered without knocking, as it was her office, and both boys were waiting for her.
"I hope you apologized," she whispered in Phillip's direction.
"Yes," replied he.
"I too owe you an apology, Spencer. My fiance-who is my only master-asked something of me. I have to obey everything he says. I knew you knew I didn't mean it, but it hurt oh so much to say it!" she lost all her business like attitude. "I was so worried I was hurting you! That's the last thing I want, Spencer! Ever! To hurt you...it kills me..."
"I have to get to work. I have a meeting with father today," said Phillip Dufour.
"Alright," said Melanie, embracing half-hearted, as he kissed her cheek.
"Have a good...time until I see you again."
"You too," she whispered.
The door closed and she waited until Phillip had gotten a good distance away,and she closed the blinds and locked the door.
"Spencer!" she cried. She held him-or rather he, her-and she sobbed into his chest."Say you know I didn't mean it! It killed me! Please, please, forgive me, Spence. I can't look up again until you do! Please..." she whispered. She was on her knees now, bending over, her hands prayer hands. "Please..."
Spencer too got on his knees, and he cried with her. "My heart broke..."
"I never meant to break it...I'm so sorry..." she whispered.
"I forgive you. I never blamed you...ever...I just wished I could protect you..."
The held each other on the floor, and Emily called Melanie to alert them to come to the conference room. They came in side by side, got briefed, then sat by each other on the plane, Melanie staring out the window, looking at the clouds while others slept, and Reid read philosophy aloud to her. She smiled and frowned and let every emotion show on her face.
Spencer Reid finally found a true friend. Melanie Wilkes finally found someone she could trust. They are both vulnerable. Who is safe?
Melanie sighed. "That probably should've made me mad, I feel so much better," she wrapped her arms around his waist, and pressed her head to his chest,"I guess it's just you."
Reid blushed hard, and let her hug him. "Hey, Melly? Up north there's this convention and I was wondering if-"
Melanie's phone erupted with a piano piece and she sighed. After giving Reid a squeeze around the waist, she leaned back and answered her phone.
"Hey. Yeah, actually. Babysitting. A friend's son. Yeah. A guy from work. Yeah, a guy. Phil, Reid's only-. I don't care. I'm fine. Has anyone besides you tried that? I didn't-Phillip! I don't...why would you?...why would say that? You know what, it doesn't matter. I can't-Fine. I'll see tonight. Okay? Fine. Goodbye....I love you, too. Goodbye." she flipped the phone shut and threw her head into her hands.
"Everything okay?" Reid asked.
She turned to him, and her blue eyes were red around the edges. She pushed herself onto him, and screamed into his chest.
"Oh," he whispered, stroking her blonde
"He called me a whore." Reid couldn't speak. "After I said I was with you, he said I was always with you and that something was up and that I must be 'whoring around'. He sounded dead drunk anyway. Gosh, Spencer...I can't take it. It's only gonna get worse, isn't it? It just will. I can't believe this. I trust him, because I have to...but it's just gonna get worse..."
"You really can't get out of the marriage, can you?" he whispered.
"You know I would if I had a choice. Where else would I go? I was born to live this life of politics and government and guard. It only makes sense. I didn't behave the way I was supposed to and they got angry at me for it. They need me out of the family because I was a disgrace. They really hate me, Spencer. They hate me. I've never been loved, but this was just hate. And Phillip...he thinks he loves me...he always has...he doesn't understand. He's just a child, really. Spencer...I don't know what to do...say something..." she whispered, her warm breath on his neck.
"Er, like what?" he whispered.
"Anything. I'm just sick of thinking," she whispered, and Spencer felt her tears on his neck, felt it rolling down his shirt onto his chest.
"A poem?" he whispered.
"...Anything..." she breathed.
He sighed, and began:
"Love is like the wild rose-briar;
Friendship like the holly-tree.
The holly is dark when the rose-briar blooms,
But which will bloom most constantly?
The wild rose-briar is sweet in spring,
Its summer blossoms scent the air;
Yet wait till winter comes again,
And who will call the wild-briar fair?
Then, scorn the silly rose-wreath now,
And deck thee with the holly's sheen,
That, when December blights thy brow,
He still may leave thy garland green."
After that, Melly sighed into the silence. "I love that poem. I always loved Emily Bronte. She was never one for happy endings."
"You don't like happy endings?" he asked.
"They're not real," she replied.
"Nature's first green is gold
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay."
"Robert Frost was always one to not be content with his lot, then right about the misery of those whom were selfish, who their lot unfortunate."
"I love Robert Frost," Melly sniffed at Reid.
He laughed at her for a moment, and felt another tear roll down from her to him.
"You're my best friend, Spencer."
"You're my best friend, Melly," he whispered. They always said that to one another when the silence began to drag, and he saw how it lifted Melly's spirits.
"Sometimes...please don't think me naive, though that is what I am...sometimes, it think that your the only person in the world that would care if I died. Maybe you wouldn't even care...but I would miss you. I'd cry...ever day...Spencer, before, I had to wake up in the mornings. I never had a reason besides there was nothing else to do. After a while...I realized I wasn't living for anything. Life was just...pointless. Regardless, I woke up, faced the cruelties of the world, and lived. I think you're my only reason to wake up, Spencer. Yours is the only face that makes me smile."
After the speech, he felt her face get hot, a sign of her blushing. Spencer too blushed at the thought he had for a moment, then collected himself.
"Now you think me a stupid school girl," she muttered.
"No," he whispered. "I used to live like that, but I really do have friends, at the BAU. Though, I don't think anyone has understood me the way you do. Ever. I really mean that, Melly."
"...Even-"
"Even him," Reid whispered. They both knew who they were talking about.
Reid found himself automatically aware at how close Melanie's body was to his own, pressed up against him, and the heat of her body made him blush. He automatically stiffened when he noticed his hands had been slipped onto her waist, and she was practically sitting on his lap. He also noticed Melanie's breathing was getting harder, and soon she began to sob. She moved her legs in a more comfortable position for her-around his waist. Reid held her gingerly for a moment then rougher, pressing her to him. The sobs were quieter that way, whether they were muffled, or he was just more comforting was beyond him.
"S-S-SPENCER!" she sputtered into his jacket, still sobbing. "I'M S-S-S-SORRY!" she tried to stop, but it came out harder. He told her to cry for as long as she needed to. When she was finally calm, she layed for a moment on Reid's shoulder.
She sniffled, then pulled back slowly, to see her companions face. "Thank you," she whispered too him.
She leaned down to kiss his cheek, her warm lips lingering just a moment to long. She pulled back, and Reid found he couldn't look away from her eyes. His hands were still on his waist, and before he could think, he tried to pull her closer. She didn't need to be told twice and she slowly leaned in. She closed her eyes first, and Spencer took note that Melanie really wore a lot of eye make-up. Not more than the average woman-maybe less-but she honestly didn't need to wear any. Reid sighed when their lips were just inches when they were interrupted by an
"Are you two gonna kiss? Ew!" Melanie snapped back, and fell on the floor, her skirt twisted in a most unlady-like way.
"Henry! What-why are you out of bed?!" Melanie whispered, crawling over to him.
"I heard you laughing."
"I wasn't-oh." Henry had mistaken the sobs for laughter.
"Were you two gonna kiss?" he asked again.
"No." Melanie told him.
"Are you waiting till your married?"
"No, Henry, I-"
"Are you getting married?"
Melly sighed. "No, Henry, your Uncle Spencer and I are not going to get married."
"So you won't have kids and I won't have a baby cousin?"
"...No, Henry. I'm sorry. But one day, Uncle Spencer will find a real nice girl, and get settled down, and have lots of kids that you can play with, right Spence?"
Reid looked at his feet. "Maybe," he whispered in an unlikely tone.
"See?" Melly smiled weakly at him, and Reid felt a little odd.
"We're home!" JJ yelled from the kitchen, her heels clicking till she reached the living room.
"What's going on here?" she said, picking up her son, gesturing to his pj's.
"I was napping, but I heard laughing and I came in and Uncle Spencer and Aunt Melly were kissing on the couch!"
"Don't tell stories," JJ said to him, looking at the two babysitters.
"Okay, they didn't kiss. Yet!" he said, laughing all the way to his room as Will chased him.
Melanie looked at her feet, and Spencer did likewise.
"I don't know what happened, okay? And won't ask. But if something did happen, I can't control what comes out of my child's mouth. You need to be careful...Go home to your fiance, Melanie."
"Yeah...thank you, JJ," Melanie whispered, hugging her friend. JJ smiled weakly at her. The two sitters left together, in Reid's old blue car.
They got to the BAU, where Melanie had left her car parked after work.
"MELANIE!" Melanie's head darted to her fiance, who stumbled across the lot.
"You're drunk," she whispered. Emily Prentiss, Garcia, Morgan, Rossi, and Hotchner all came out of the BAU at this time. Her face reddened.
"You listen to me and you listen to me good. You're not to hang around with this...this...nerd! Ever! Okay? I am your husband and you will listen to me!" Melly and Phillip weren't married yet, but when he got dead drunk he tended to forget that.
"Let me take you home," she whispered,"you'll feel better in the morning."
"Those are your friends, right?" he asked.
"...Yes..."
Phillip whispered in Melanie's ear.
"No," she whispered, shocked.
"Do it, or the weddings off, and you'll be stuck alone. Then who will love you?" he cocked an eyebrow.
"...You don't mean that," she cried softly.
"What is it you always say? A drunk man's words are a sober man's thoughts? Do it, Melanie."
Melanie slowly turned to face Spencer. Her tears were streaming down her cheeks. "I'm so sorry," she mouthed. Prentiss and Hotchner both saw that, but the rest of the team neglected to.
"HOW DARE YOU SAY THAT!" Melanie bellowed through the tears at Reid. "I HATE YOU! JUST-JUST LEAVE ME ALONE YOU...YOU..." Phillip hit her. "You loser! Your condescending and egotistic and masochistic and all you ever think about is yourself. Last night was horrible!" she sobbed. "And I hate you! I never liked you! Even as frieennddd..." she moaned softly as the tears flowed. "I hope I never have to see you again because you are the worst thing I've ever met. You're the worst thing that's ever happened to me. I could never love a man like you....ever..." she whispered the words. Spencer knew she didn't mean them, but for some reason, they hurt. These were his fears, that these words would be spoken from her lips. The horrible is that she created them, Phillip had given her no script. "I hate you...I hate you..." she whispered. Phillip put her behind the drivers wheel of his truck, and when he closed the door, she stared at her hands, as if they had blood on them.
"I've hope you've learned to leave her alone, by now, idiot,"Phillip spat. He came to the car, sitting in the seat next to Melly. He said something to her, unintelligible through the glass. She just stared at her hands. He repeated it. Again, she gave no reply. Melanie looked from her hands to Spencer, her eyes wild and scared. She fought for the window crank and screamed out before Phillip could grab her,"I DIDN'T MEAN IT! I'M SORRY-"
"SHUT UP!" Phillip smacked her and cranked the window up. He pressed the gas and Melanie was forced to drive off. She was sobbing uncontrollably and it was a wonder she could see.
"Why...? Reid?" Prentiss asked,as a few tears slide down his cheeks.
"We were together again today. He thinks we're together."
"...Are you?"
Reid gave Prentiss a plaintive look, and got back into his car and drove off without a word.
********************************************
The next morning at the BAU, Melanie stalked in. Her feet dragged, and her eyes were red and puffy, something her make-up couldn't hide. Straightening her purple cardigan, she sighed.
"Emily!" she wailed, leaping toward her friend. "Where's Reid? Please tell me! I have to find him!"
"...In your office. With your fiance."
"Oh, God..."
"He's sober now, and apologizing repeatedly. He's the most convincing gentleman sober, and I think he's sincere. But drunk..."
"Please don't remind me...he was just jealous."
"Reid told me he thought you two were together."
"Yeah."
"Does he have any reason to think that?"
"I am loyal to my fiance as you saw by yesterday's act. I will be his wife in due time and if I don't trust and obey what he says, what kind of relationship will ours be?"
"...An unhappy one, if you obey."
"Emily...that's not something I'd appreciate you saying," and Melanie left to her office. She entered without knocking, as it was her office, and both boys were waiting for her.
"I hope you apologized," she whispered in Phillip's direction.
"Yes," replied he.
"I too owe you an apology, Spencer. My fiance-who is my only master-asked something of me. I have to obey everything he says. I knew you knew I didn't mean it, but it hurt oh so much to say it!" she lost all her business like attitude. "I was so worried I was hurting you! That's the last thing I want, Spencer! Ever! To hurt you...it kills me..."
"I have to get to work. I have a meeting with father today," said Phillip Dufour.
"Alright," said Melanie, embracing half-hearted, as he kissed her cheek.
"Have a good...time until I see you again."
"You too," she whispered.
The door closed and she waited until Phillip had gotten a good distance away,and she closed the blinds and locked the door.
"Spencer!" she cried. She held him-or rather he, her-and she sobbed into his chest."Say you know I didn't mean it! It killed me! Please, please, forgive me, Spence. I can't look up again until you do! Please..." she whispered. She was on her knees now, bending over, her hands prayer hands. "Please..."
Spencer too got on his knees, and he cried with her. "My heart broke..."
"I never meant to break it...I'm so sorry..." she whispered.
"I forgive you. I never blamed you...ever...I just wished I could protect you..."
The held each other on the floor, and Emily called Melanie to alert them to come to the conference room. They came in side by side, got briefed, then sat by each other on the plane, Melanie staring out the window, looking at the clouds while others slept, and Reid read philosophy aloud to her. She smiled and frowned and let every emotion show on her face.
Spencer Reid finally found a true friend. Melanie Wilkes finally found someone she could trust. They are both vulnerable. Who is safe?
