Sabrina Woods

My nails dug across my skin as I tried to itch away the burn that caressed my flesh.

It didn't help, and my nerves pushed the fire red complexion up my arms, making me stare at it in my reflection. The small bumps above my elbow were even more prominent as they gleamed red in irritation, the hives racing up my forearms and my chest.

I'd already used my inhaler three times that morning, trying to piece together the amount of shit that hit the fan within the last seventy-two hours.

Three days had passed since Phoenix had kissed me like he'd never kissed me before.

Three days had passed since I last saw Spencer.

Two days had passed since Spencer left for Mexico.

Two days had passed since Spencer last called me, asking to look in on Diana.

Twelve hours had passed since Penelope called, sobbing.

Ten hours had passed since Emily arrived at my door, explaining Spencer had been arrested.

Nine hours and fifty minutes had passed since I packed a bag, expecting to follow the team to Mexico.

Eight hours had passed since Emily convinced me I couldn't and shouldn't go.

Six hours had passed since I started to itch my arms as I broke out in hives.

Four hours had passed since I'd gotten out of bed, unable to sleep.

I looked over at the clock in the bathroom where I currently stood staring at myself in the mirror, and saw the time nearing 6 AM.

I turned my face away from the mirror and made my way back down the hallway to Hallie's room for the umpteenth time that morning, watching her sleep peacefully.

I paced in front of my bedroom in the hallway, biting down on my nails. My thoughts were jumbled, incoherent, and most of all, loud. It felt like the ringing in my ears from everything I was thinking about was so loud I could barely hear anything else.

My phone brought me out of my blanketed mind, chiming once, twice, then three times with new messages. I immediately stopped pacing and walked back into my room, sitting on my bed to grab the phone plugged in.

unknown number: hey, is it cool if I come see you and Hallie today?

unknown number: I mean, with you of course. Just want to spend as much time with her as I can.

unknown number: it's Nix.

I rolled my eyes as I quickly replied.

me: not sure that's a great idea right now.

I reached to place my phone back on the nightstand to resume my impending thoughts but was met with a quick response.

Nix: why not?

me: it just isn't.

Nix: is Hallie okay?

me: Hallie is fine, Nix.

Nix: what's going on?

me: don't worry about it. I'll talk to you later.

Nix: yeah ok. I'll be there in thirty.

My face contorted into an irritated scowl as I read his last message.

me: do NOT come here. I really don't feel like dealing with your bullshit today. I am already stressed enough.

After five minutes and he still didn't reply, I sent another message.

me: Nix. Do not come over here, for the love of God. You can see Hallie sometime next week.

Another ten minutes went by, and felt my chest starting to constrict with nerves. This was sincerely the last thing I wanted to deal with today. My nerves were so high that my body was breaking out into hives, my entire frame was shaking like a leaf, and it felt like I could barf any second.

After sitting on my bed staring at my phone, waiting for the reply that never came, I quickly typed another message to Nix as thirty minutes were approaching.

me: remember those boundaries we talked about? this is crossing one of them. maybe more than one. I said you couldn't come over to see her, so you can't.

Nix: I remember.

My eyebrows pulled together in confusion, then quickly turned into anger as I stared at the message he immediately sent me. The loud knock on the front door was what made me launch off of the bed, fumes practically billowing out of my ears.

I swung the door open, my eyes landing on a smug looking Nix. He was leaning against the doorframe with an arrogant smirk. He was wearing a deep blue tee-shirt, black jeans and a baseball cap placed backwards on his head, covering his disheveled hair.

"If you remember, then what the hell are you doing here?" I asked, irritation practically taking solid form in my mouth.

"You said boundaries about Hallie," he said, giving me a pointed look. I nodded, eyebrows still raised as I waited for him to continue. "And she's still asleep. So, I'm here to see you. What's going on?"

My fingers curled around the door frame in anger as I stared at him, my left eye begging to start twitching, but I closed them momentarily to gain control of the next words that were bound to fly out of my mouth.

"What part of, do not come over here did you not understand?" I asked through gritted teeth.

The stupid smirk never left his face as he gently pushed past me and made his way into the house.

"I didn't get that text." he said, plopping down onto the couch. My head was pounding as I closed the door in defeat, making my way to the couch.

I sat down on the small recliner that was adjacent to the couch Nix made himself comfortable on, and watched him watch me curiously.

"You've broken out into hives." he said, eyebrows furrowing as his eyes roamed over my body in curiosity.

"Yeah." I replied.

The silence was deafening between us, his eyes still scanning over me, making me shift uncomfortably under his gaze.

"Why?" he asked.

"A lot of shit is going on, that's why." I huffed, wrapping my arms around myself in an attempt to shield his nosey eyeballs from my irritated skin.

"Shit like what?" he pushed, sitting up in his position on the couch. "You only ever broke out like that when you were..."

"Stressed out? Afraid? Too much going on?" I answered, a pointed look on my face.

"...Trying not to do a line of blow." he finished, his eyes barely focused as he trailed off in thought.

I immediately stiffened and my eyebrows pulled back together in frustration.

"It is not that." I said through gritted teeth, my eyes narrowing.

He raised a skeptical eyebrow at me, slowly leaning back into the couch.

"Hm. I don't think you really know yourself as well as I do, Breen." he said. As I watched him, his face didn't show that smugness or arrogance he seemed to carry around with him everywhere, instead it was showing something else: concern?

"What, just because I used to break out into hives before I'd take a hit, that automatically means you've cracked the code to my existence?" I asked sarcastically. "Give me a break, Nix."

He held up his hands defensively, a small smile playing on his lips. "Whatever you say, Breen."

My mind wandered for a moment as I thought about his words. Just because I used to break out before wanting to take a hit of my previous drug of choice, did not mean I was this time.

"When was the last time?" he asked quietly, eyes fixed somewhere behind me as he thought for himself.

I rolled my eyes. "A very, very long time ago."

He didn't reply, which made me nervous. Nix may have known me back then, but he doesn't know me now. He doesn't know how I lie, he doesn't know what kind of tells I have after all these years. I'm different now.

Right?

"What are you supposed to be doing today?" I asked, meaning to change the subject. Nix noticed this as well, his eyes finally meeting mine again while he tilted his head in amusement.

"Whatever I want."

I scoffed. "That must be nice."

"It is."

"Are you working? What are you doing with your life these days?" I asked, pushing in to see any kind of information into his new life he's been leading.

"Y'know. Here and there."

I stared at him for a moment. "What does that even mean? Are you stripping? The fuck kind of response is here and there to are you working?"

He laughed. His head fell back and he clutched his stomach as he laughed so hard, his face started to turn red. I couldn't help but laugh a little with him, the sight of him in utter amusement making a small smile linger on my lips.

He pointed at me. "There's that smile." he said, a smile of his own still evident.

I rolled my eyes and sunk further back into the recliner. The smile on my face didn't last very long as my thoughts drifted back to Spencer, making my heart plummet into my stomach.

"What's going on with you and Dr. FBI?" he asked after a minute.

I sighed heavily, closing my eyes and rubbing the heels of my palms into my sockets.

"I do not have the physical nor emotional strength to discuss this with you." I replied, grabbing my phone to see if there was any update about Spencer. There wasn't. "Besides, there's really nothing to discuss."

Nix only hummed in response.

"Hi Daddy." Hallie's groggy voice came from behind us and I turned to look at my daughter.

"Hi princess," Nix sat up again, his face now clear of anything other than a genuine smile as he looked at the tiny girl standing between us. "Did mommy and I wake you up?"

She shook her head and slowly walked over to him, but not before glancing at me, mentally asking me if it was okay. I gave her a reassuring nod, watching her make her way to Nix, climbing into his lap to give him a hug. She then slid right back down from him and made her way over to me, plopping herself into my lap and leaning against me. I placed a small kiss to the top of her head, running my fingers soothingly through her curls.

"Mommy, you're all red." she whispered in my ear, her tiny fingers gently caressing my irritated arm. She looked up at me, her eyes filled with concern as she waited for an explanation. Her hand then went to the tips of my hair, wrapping her finger around it, twisting and turning her finger in loops.

"Mommy's okay, Hals." I replied. "Just a little.... sick, is all."

Nix exhaled loudly in protest, but I ignored him while I watched my daughter nod at me.

"Should we call Spenter or Pelelopee?" she asked me quietly. My heart ached at the mention of Spencer. I gently brushed a fallen eyelash off of her check, my thumb caressing her rosy skin.

"No, baby. It's okay." I said gently. "Do you want to go with me to see Diana?"

She nodded enthusiastically, a smile dancing on her face.

I nodded too, giving Nix a pointed look as I stood up with Hallie in my arms.

"You should probably get going. We've got a long day." I said to him.

"Yeah. Okay." he said, standing up from the couch. He waved goodbye to Hallie, and stepped through the front door. Hallie waved back at him as I took her into her room, beginning to get her dressed.

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AUTHORS NOTE.

OMG WE HIT 10K THANK YOU SO MUCH!!

This is a very short update but I'll be updating again very soon, there will be a bit of a time jump.

I'm very curious to hear your thoughts on Nix and Mags- what do you think about them? Do you guys have ANY ongoing theories about the story so far...? I love all of your feedback, the chaotic comments are my favorite. Every single comment makes me smile. It really means a lot when you guys take time out of your day to comment and vote, it encourages me to keep going!!

I hope you enjoyed this tiny snippet of Sabrina and Nix's banter... the mention of her previous drug use is a bit of a rollercoaster for her, and that will be important later..... ;)

ALSO OMG. Did you guys hear about the Criminal Minds REBOOT????!!! AHHHH !!! So exciting!! I downloaded Paramount+ just to watch it when it finally comes out, lol.

Love you guys, see you in the next chapter!!

-Ry <3

PS- here is what Nix looked like showing up at Sabrina's

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