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CHAPTER FOURTEEN:
Too strong, too soon.
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Hotch arrived on scene with the rest of the HAZMAT team, paramedics and the military. Lizzie didn't leave the glass door once, staying as close to Spencer as she could. He talked her through everything he could see which she rallied back to Morgan who then informed Hotch upon his arrival. Dr. Nichols was dead with blunt-force trauma to the head and Spencer had estimated the death had happened two or three days before—which meant he wasn't their UnSub.

Everyone wanted Spencer out of the built-in-lab but he had refused, stating that he was already infected and that he was more useful inside where he could attempt to find a cure. If Dr. Nichols had created the strain, there was the hope he had made a cure too. Lizzie had yelled at Spencer at first, insisting that he had to leave and go to the hospital—but he was stubborn and there was nothing she could do to make him from the other side of the door. And so, she had stuck to her word and stayed on the other side of the glass as Spencer searched for a cure—or something that could lead to one.

Eventually, Spencer stumbled upon instructions on how to boil lab-grade broth, sterilise lab equipment and transfer spores—all things Dr. Nichols would have known. Which meant if he wasn't their UnSub, whoever was had worked closely with him and had most likely killed him too. Hotch returned back to the BAU to try and dig up some more information whilst Lizzie and Morgan stayed behind with Spencer.

Lizzie was sitting with her back to the glass and her elbows resting against her knees with her head in her hands. She could hear Spencer pacing back and forth, moving things around and talking with others on his phones. He had been far away, but Lizzie could hear him as he recorded a message for his mom with Penelope's help.

"Hi, mom, this is Spencer," He was saying as he momentarily stopped his pacing to speak, "I just, um, I just really want you to know that I love you. And I," Spencer cleared his throat, getting choked up on his own words and Lizzie closed her eyes, exhaling shakily, "I need you to know that I spend every day of my life proud to be your son..." Lizzie looked up, wiping tears from her eyes as Spencer ended the call with Penelope. It felt like he was saying goodbye.

She heard him walk over to her and could feel his presence as he sat down on the other side of his glass, his back to hers, "Hey, Spence..." Lizzie greeted, attempting to give a playful tone to her voice but it was half-hearted as she tried to smile through her tears, trying to stay strong for his sake.

"Hey, Lizzie." He said back, his voice sounding strained and tired.

"You know nothings gonna happen to you, right?" Lizzie said, staring ahead at the rose bushes in front of her, "We're gonna get you out of here and we're gonna get you all cleaned up and you're gonna be fine." She assured him, fiddling with her hands nervously as she spoke.

"Yeah, I know..." Spencer agreed but he didn't sound so sure. And how could he be? It was unrealistic to think everything was going to be okay when there was already a high death toll of those that had been exposed to the Anthrax. In truth, they didn't know if Spencer was going to be okay.

Lizzie turned around, staring at the long curls framing the back of his neck, "Spence, look at me for a second." She urged him softly and after a moment, he shifted his body around to look at her, chocolate-coloured eyes landing on hers and Lizzie noticed that his skin had gone pale and he had began to break a sweat, making the ends of his hair wet.

"You're not allowed to give up in there, okay?" She began saying and Spencer's lips parted, "I'm gonna need you to keep fighting. Just please, keep fighting." She begged him, her eyes pooling with tears as she spoke.

Spencer watched a tear slip from her lashes and trickle down her cheek and he felt the urge to reach out and wipe it away—but he couldn't. After a moment, he reached up and put his palm flat on the glass separating him. Lizzie stared at him, trying to hold back tears as she brought her own hand up and placed it with his. Lizzie wished the glass wasn't separating them, she wished she could feel him.

Just then, Dr. Kimura entered from the entrance joined to the home, coming through the lab dressed in her HAZMAT suit, "Dr. Reid." She greeted as Spencer got to his feet, giving the hand he had on the glass a clench. Spencer wasn't fond of human contact—but he wanted nothing more than to have been able to feel Lizzie right then, just in case there was the chance he'd feel her touch again; and for some reason, he wanted to be able to have the chance to feel her again.

Lizzie stood up, wiping her tears away as Spencer got back to work with the help of Dr. Kimura. Morgan called Spencer, adding Penelope to the line as they informed him that Dr. Nichols hadn't been working with any other scientist. And by going through paperwork, they discovered that the partner was actually a student of Dr. Nichols—and that meant the UnSub was a student who was using Dr. Nichols as a way to further their knowledge in Anthrax. That led them to their suspect, a Chad Brown who was a student with a sketchy background. And a connection to Dr. Nichols.

The next break in the case was Dr. Kimura stumbling across Dr. Nichols inhaler. When they opened it up, they found what seemed to be the cure to the deadly Anthrax strain. And that meant Spencer could leave—they could get him to the hospital where he could receive treatment before it was too late.

The HAZMAT team had set up a tent outside of the residence where they led Spencer into, separating him with a glass wall. Lizzie had followed Morgan inside, seeing that Spencer was being hosed down by Dr. Kimura, "They're checking out Browns house." Morgan informed Spencer who stood in his clothes, drenched to the bone and shaking either from the cold or the Anthrax in his system.

"Go help Hotch." Spencer said in a demanding tone.

"Hotch has plenty people helping him—we're staying with you." Lizzie told him, folding her arms at her chest.

"He needs you both more than I do—"

"Reid," Morgan cut him off, "I'm gonna see you off to the hospital." He insisted, giving the younger man a defiant stare.

Spencer looked up, water dripping from the ends of his curls that framed his face, "I'm about to get naked so they can scrub me down," He informed them, pulling a frown-y face, "Is that something you really wanna see?" He rhetorically asked, locking eyes with Morgan who exchanged a glance with Lizzie that shrugged.

Lizzie gave Morgan a nudge, "Go. I'll stay with him." She said as Spencer let out a heavy sigh. He really didn't want anyone around for the next part—especially Lizzie.

After a moment, Morgan nodded, "Keep me updated." He told Lizzie before leaving the room, leaving Lizzie and Spencer staring at one another.

"Do you really have to stay?" Spencer asked in a small voice, looking uncomfortable. The idea of Lizzie being in the same room with him whilst he was naked—despite the circumstances, was enough to make his heart race.

Lizzie threw her hands up, "I'll turn around." She compromised as she did as she said, turning her body away and diverting her gaze to look at her nails as she picked at them.

"Dr. Reid, did you cut yourself?" Dr. Kimura was suddenly asking, making Lizzie immediately spin around, forgetting that Spencer was about to get naked—but he wasn't yet, so far, all he had done was loosen his tie.

Lizzie noticed the cut on the back of Spencer's hand, her eyes widening. It looked exactly like the marks on the other victims, "Dr. Kimura, you have to hurry." Lizzie said with urgency, knowing that once the marks began to show, the victims didn't have long before their condition worsened.

Soon, Spencer was being wheeled into an ambulance with Lizzie by his side. She clambered in, immediately taking his hand as he lay on his back now that she could touch him. Within ten minutes, his condition had worsened and he was coughing up a lung, "Hey, you're okay. We're gonna get to the hospital soon," She assured him, wiping his hair from his face before glancing up, "You need to move faster!" She yelled at the paramedic driving, her voice breaking as she panicked at Spencer's state.

"Liz—Lizzie," Spencer croaked, reaching his other hand with tubes attached up to touch her face. Lizzie blinked back, surprised at the gesture, "Don't leave." He begged her, his eyes watery and skin clammy.

Lizzie put her hand over his, "I won't. I promise," She assured him, using her other hand to brush through his wet hair, "Just keep talking to me, okay?" Spencer nodded slightly.

"I feel—I feel," Spencer began choking on his own words, unable to get them out and Lizzie's eyes widened. He was beginning to slur his speech the same way the other victims had—mixing his words the wrong way, "I—" He then went into a coughing fit, blood spurting from his mouth and Lizzie jumped in fright with a gasp.

"We gotta move faster!" She yelled at Dr. Kimura who in return, told the driver to speed up. Lizzie shifted, leaning over Spencer as she clutched onto his hand for dear life, "Spence, stay with me. Stay with me, Spence." She pleaded him as he held her hand weakly. Lizzie's heart dropped when his eyes fluttered shut and his grip loosened, "Spence!"

               Lizzie paced back and forth in the emergency room, scratching nervously at the skin on her wrist from underneath her t-shirt—which had small specks of blood splatters from when Spencer had coughed up his own blood. Lizzie couldn't think straight not knowing how Spencer was doing—if he was okay. Lizzie had always struggled to get close to people, it had been an issue for her to let people in and she had allowed Spencer in; she had allowed herself to care for everyone on her team, especially him and now she was terrified.

                  The possibility of losing Spencer was overwhelming, even though she'd only known him two months. He was one of the most incredible people she had ever met with his smarts and caring personality. She dreaded the return of Dr. Kimura, in case she came with bad news. But she continued to tell herself they had found what they hoped to be the cure in Dr. Nichols' inhaler. He was going to be okay—he had to be.

Morgan and Penelope had arrived a short time after Lizzie and they had all sat with him, watching as he lay on the hospital bed, hooked up to machines helping him towards a speedy recovery after Dr. Kimura had assured them he would be fine, so long as he had plenty of rest and didn't strain himself too much.Lizzie was beyond overjoyed to hear that.

She had popped out to grab them some coffee to keep herself busy. Spencer was still out-cold, sleeping it off and she needed to do something other than sit in a chair where there was nothing she could do. She returned with the coffees, juggling the three between her hands when she entered the room.

Upon entering, she noticed that Spencer was sitting up a little—and he was awake. Lizzie readjusted her loosened grip on the coffee cups and hastily entered, "Spence, hey..." She breathed out, settling the cups onto the table before standing over him as he gave her a week smile. She put her hand on his shoulder, "How are you feeling?" She asked him, giving his shoulder a squeeze as she smiled at him, relieved to see he was awake.

"Like I could sleep for a week." Spencer said with a small chuckle.

Morgan patted his knee, "You'll be up and running soon—just a few more days rest and you'll be all good, pretty boy." He assured him as Lizzie continued to beam down at Spencer, overjoyed that he was awake and functioning.

Penelope glanced between them before raising her eyebrows and getting to her feet, "I think we should go get some coffee—"

"But Lizzie just—ow!" Morgan shot Penelope a look when she nudged him in the side, glaring up at him. Morgan stared at her for a moment and then looked back to Lizzie and Spencer who were smiling at one another. His lips parted into an 'o' shape, "Right—right, sure. We should get coffee, let's go, baby girl." Morgan quickly grabbed Penelope's shoulders and spun her around, pushing her towards the door and Penelope looked over her shoulder, giving Lizzie a thumbs up who gave her a 'please don't leave me' look in response.

Morgan and Penelope left, allowing Lizzie and Spencer to be alone in the hospital room. Lizzie let out a small scoff, glancing down at Spencer, "They think they're so slick." She mumbled to herself, sitting down on the edge of the bed, despite the open seat beside her. But it felt too far away from Spencer in that moment.

Spencer stared at her in confusion, "What do you mean?" He asked, his voice holding blissful ignorance and Lizzie looked at him with parted lips.

"Oh, I, uh—nothing, it's nothing. Garci's just trying to play matchmaker." She said, giving a small scoff as she looked down at her lap, fiddling with the rings on her fingers.

"Matchmaker?" Spencer repeated, furrowing his brows.

Lizzie continued to stare at him, wondering how he could be so oblivious to their friends scheming—because now, apparently Morgan was in on it too, "Nothing, don't worry about it—are you sure you're okay?" She swiftly changed the topic, not wanting to have to spell it out to Spencer—mostly because it made her feel a little embarrassed. Because what if he laughed in her face at the sheer ridiculousness of it? She hadn't thought Penelope was right at first, but she was now questioning her own feelings towards Spencer; especially after almost losing him.

Spencer adjusted himself, "Fine, really—just a little bit of a headache," He assured her before pausing and adding, "Thanks, by the way," Lizzie looked at him in confusion and he continued on, "For staying with me. I, uh, apologise if I gave you a scare." He said and Lizzie let out a small chuckle, dipping her head.

"You gave me a massive scare," She corrected him, making him laugh a little, "Honestly, when I thought I could lose you—that we could lose you, the team, I mean," Lizzie mentally scalded herself for how she was nervously stuttering over her words. It was something she wasn't used to. She was typically a smooth talker, but something about Spencer Reid had her tripping over her own words, "It was scary as shit. I'm gonna have to request that you don't ever do that to me again, Dr. Reid." She said, playfully saying his name with a soft smile.

Spencer smiled and shrugged his shoulders to his ears, "I'll try my best, Agent Hotchner," He said, returning the playful notion, making her smile deepen, "Really, though. I appreciate you staying with me all that time—you really didn't have to." He told her gratefully.

Lizzie tilted her head, "We're a team, Spence. We stick together, even during potentially being exposed to Anthrax," She told him, "I'm just really glad you're okay." She said before leaning down, pressing a soft kiss to his cheek and the man blinked back in surprise.

Lizzie paused slightly, as if realising what she had done absentmindedly. Her lips were still grazing his cheek and she slowly pulled herself back, suddenly aware of how close she had been to his lips. Her face was inches away from his as they stared at each other, both surprised by her gesture. Lizzie wasn't quite sure what she was feeling just then—only that it felt like she was being pulled in by a magnet, one that wasn't allowing her to pull away when she knew she should.

Spencer's lips were parted, his eyes flickering back and forth between hers. He was breathing a little heavier than before as he looked at her, his fingers tingling by his side, itching to reach out and touch her. As if being drawn together, their faces inched a little closer, lips almost touching, "Good news, Dr. Reid," The sudden voice of Dr. Kimura pulled them away from one another, as if they had been shocked by electricity. Lizzie tucked her hair behind her ear and diverted her gaze, scooting back from him a little, "You're free to go—but I do suggest a lot of bed rest. No working for at least three days, I'd say. And make sure these agents take good care of you." She said, clutching a clipboard to her chest.

Lizzie quickly got to her feet and turned to Dr. Kimura, "You're sure? It's not too soon?" She asked for assurance, wanting to know that Spencer was fit for being discharged from the hospital.

Dr. Kimura nodded her head, "Yeah. He got the all clear—he's gonna be just fine." She assured her, giving a smile before she dipped back out of the room.

Lizzie could feel Spencer's gaze on her and she slowly turned towards him, feeling nerves rattling inside of her. Before Dr. Kimura's entrance, they had been so close—a couple inches more and their lips would have touched. Were they really about to kiss? Lizzie couldn't wrap her head around it. She had been denying it point blank to Penelope and Emily, assuring them that there was nothing between her and Spencer. But it was like something had shifted. Lizzie had clutched his hand as he danced on the edges of death and now, she felt like she never wanted to let go. The feeling she felt was too strong, too soon.

Lizzie licked her lips, only drawing Spencer's attention to them but she didn't notice as she quickly grabbed one of the coffee's, "Okay, Spencer. Let's get you home."

( authors note )

              it's happening, folks! stay calm! this is honestly the beginning of my favourite chapters because we get so much lizzie & spencer content. also, how do we feel about sizzie as a ship name? or do y'all have a better one in mind?

                — taylor xx