Maeve sobbed as Elle brushed the girl's hair.

Morgan hears the crying coming from the next room, worried about what is happening, he enters without warning.

— What happened pretty girl?

Maeve stared at her reflection in the mirror as her lower lip trembled.

— My hair. 

Morgan chuckles a little as he finds out that this is what was troubling her.

Maeve's injuries from the night before weren't something to worry about, but the girl's hair couldn't get away with it unscathed. Maeve had relatively long hair, reaching to her waist where small natural curls always adorned the ends, the fire burned a not so significant part of the hair but the rest was affected, it was dry and brittle, Elle said it was best to cut it .

Her hair was now past her shoulders, shorter than Elle's even.

— You look good, Maeve. — Morgan was trying to comfort her.— Your hair does not define your beauty.

— I look like  Spencer! — She yells, still looking at her reflection.

Spencer magically appears with a coffee in hand, looking at the scene confused to see Maeve's cheeks and nose red, a sign that she has been crying.

— What happens here?

— We had to cut Hunter's hair. — Elle responds. — And we already see that she doesn't like it.

For a genius Spencer hadn't even seen her new cut.

— And she says she has the same haircut as you now.— Morgan jumps at the chance to poke fun.

— That's not true. —Spencer furrows his eyebrows a little offended.— You look pretty, Maeve. Really, Really Pretty.

Maeve sighs, running her hands through her new hair.

Hoth knocks on the door before entering and leaving the incomplete report on the table.

An hour earlier Maeve had stated the events of the night before to Hotch. This was one of those rare cases where they were no longer useful and should they decline, it would be left as an unfinished, unfinished story, being abandoned for any lack of evidence and the killings being stopped since they arrived in the city.

The man was arriving to report that they would be returning to Quantico in an hour after they boarded the jet.

To Maeve this felt like defeat. She could feel the guilt of not being useful. But no one else thought that, not even Hotch, Maeve shouldn't assume that responsibility. Hotch couldn't stop thinking about the girl from the information he received, he expected her to be the one to mention the subject but she never did.

The trip was not unlike any other. Elle was next to Morgan and Hotch playing cards, Gideon and Spencer chatting placidly while Maeve was in the opposite corner of the plane. Both men stop talking about her, the older of the two nods at the girl, and both head towards her.The trip was not unlike any other. Elle was next to Morgan and Hotch playing cards, Gideon and Spencer chatting placidly while Maeve was in the opposite corner of the plane. Both men stop talking about her, the older of the two nods at the girl, and both head towards her.

— Maeve. —Gideon sits next to her and she flashes a slight smile.— What are you doing?

Going his question to something deeper, knowing that her repressed personality was not due to an involuntary haircut.

Maeve picks up the rubik's cube that belonged to Spencer. She definitely did not have the same ability as the boy for this. Spencer smiles.

Gideon was the oldest of the group of agents present, experienced enough, the oldest profiler of all. He could sense what was happening in the midst of those young people, what he did not know is how long they would keep quiet to themselves.

Spencer, on the other hand, knows that Maeve is not usually so quiet. Rarely does that girl keep her mouth shut, even in awkward moments she speaks without thinking because her nerves give her away and she breaks tension with a joke or sarcastic comment.

— You did a good job there. — Maeve looks up at the older man's words..

— Is an unfinished case a good job?

— Do you think I don't have cases like that in my record?

— Do you? — The man nods at her question.

Maeve lets out a sigh, and though this lightens her load, it doesn't make her feel any better.

The man stands up to leave the girl  with Spencer, knowing that they both want to be alone, he doesn't leave without first ruffling the girl's hair and giving her a compliment on how she looks.

Spencer now takes Gideon's seat to stand next to her, nudges the girl's leg with his knee for fun and they both let out small giggles.

— Spit it out.

— What?

— I know what you want to ask, I see it in your eyes from day one.

Spencer gets it and feels trapped, He must confess.

— Was he really your boyfriend? — Maeve laughs as she hears his question and realizes that she was right.

— The best I've had.

— the best?!  He jus-

— Be careful what you're going to say.

— I wasn't going to say anything bad. — The boy raises his hands in peace, and begins to move his hands in the characteristic gesture, interlacing them that he does when explaining something.— I was just going to say you can find someone better.   —Maeve glances at him out of the corner of her eye, and he corrects his words.— You deserve better.

The girl lets out a snort when she hears him talk like that. Deserve someone better is not an expression that she likes.

— What about you? I've never heard you mention a girlfriend.

The word girlfriend leads Maeve to think about the times they have kissed, and she has understood that they are kisses that occurred due to the tension of the moment, she chooses to think that she is the opposite of any girl Spencer has been attracted to. She hasn't seen him flirt with someone either, but Maeve understands that his job doesn't give him the opportunity even if he wanted to, she doesn't even understand how Morgan always has time, energy and a good mood for everything.

The young doctor shifts uncomfortably in his seat at the question.

—Diverting the topic of conversation to the other person is a very low and cheap trick, considering that it is only done when the questioner is hiding something. — It's all he answers.

Maeve decided to put a horror movie on her laptop, which they would both watch for only a few minutes, falling asleep on each other's shoulders.

Gideon agrees with Hotch to advance the vacations, they were necessary after the incident in New York. Hotch would spend more time with his family, Gideon begged so they wouldn't interrupt his vacation. Each one had a separate path to take, Maeve had no plans to make, her last months have been based on devoting her time to a job that did not allow her to fully think about an external life. Perhaps the rest of the team needed it, they had spent years in a routine that for Maeve was something very new.

Maeve had more time for herself, she was forced to tidy up the mess in her house, too many clothes thrown everywhere and books that she hasn't had the time to start. When she took the task for granted, she thought it appropriate to get to know the city she now inhabited better.

Elle and Morgan were vacationing together, but she remembered someone who, despite being far from Virginia, was the closest.

The girl chewed her lower lip trying to dial the number on her screen.

— Spencie?

Maeve has only called him that twice, this time and when she was at his house begging for his forgiveness when he got tired of wearing the Star Wars sweaters and started wearing his new shirts. Spencer wasn't even upset this time but she thought so.

— Mavie? — He responds humorously when hearing his name.

Maeve smiled through the phone.

— How's my Vegas boy ? Will you be there for a long time?

— Just two more days. You okay?

— Noup. —Maeve purses her lips and begins to walk into her apartment.— I wanted to talk to someone. I'm getting bored.

Spencer, who had returned to Las Vegas to see his mother, was waiting patiently for an answer, he was in no hurry.

— Do you have time?

The boy sits on the edge of the bed.

—Of course. Report of the day?

Report of the day is what Maeve asked for every afternoon that Spencer arrived from the BAU and vice versa to find out what the girl had done.

— I did clean up. — Spencer lets out a hoarse but low laugh.—And I wanted someone to walk around town with. —He was listening attentively.— Elle and Morgan are far away, and I think I'm bored when i'm alone. Any ideas?

The doctor looks at the time on his wrist, it wasn't even noon and he had already gone to visit his mother that day, so they were both trapped in uncertain boredom in foreign cities.

Spencer quickly has an idea for her.

— There's a museum on 5th avenue. — He says.— Divided into two sections, room A4 is about natural history, and room B4, I think you'll like that one better.

— What's the second one about?

— It would ruin the illusion if I told you. —He laughs.

— I guess I'll have to go, won't I? Thanks for the idea, Genius.

— It's okay, write as soon as you get home.

— Do you have any plans for today?

— Uhm. — Spencer takes a look at the book that he had left on the bed.— Maybe.

— Join me at the museum.

Maeve puts on speakerphone as she walks away so she can change her clothes.

— Maeve would love to, but I can't leave for a few days-

— Who said you'd come?—Maeve was raising her voice to be heard as she put on her flat boots this time, Spencer furrows his brows and she keeps talking.— Could you please not end the call?— She whispers almost not wanting to ask him.

Spencer keeps the call with her the entire trip on the subway until she reaches the aforementioned museum. It used to be popular with children's excursions, so it wasn't difficult for her to access.

— On my left? — Maeve asks over the line.

A guide offered to help but she said that she was fine on her own.

— Spencer, this is very dark. You're not confused?

— I'm never wrong.

The girl turns to her left, entering the narrow dark corridor, as she advanced she noticed that the air became colder and the darkness began to transform into small flashes of yellow lights, Maeve had a hard time focusing her vision, but the first thing her eyes They spied was the most beautiful light swallower the girl had ever seen, infusing its camouflaged appearance with the dark sky of the Milky Way.

— Maeve?

Her gaze travels to every little corner of the place, every scale model, adorned with a section of books to one side. Paintings, sculptures, photographs, holograms, it was the best mix of science and art ever portrayed in America. All kinds of art were allowed there, there is no mold to fit into, from the cinematic to the urban.

— Why didn't you ever tell me about this place before?

— I wanted to take you. — He said.— But never had the time.

Maeve hops a little in place, trying to contain her excitement, and begins to wander from exhibit to exhibit. Spencer manages to hear her scream as she sees everything and this causes her emotions to be transmitted to him..

— Tell me which one you're in.

Maeve explains that there is a telescope to her left, directly in front of it is a purple and blue relief painting, depicting what she assumes is a black hole.

— It is an exhibition based on the book cosmos. — Spencer explains.— From Carl Sagan. Although it is about science, its main objective is not directed to that public. It is a section made by students of the state university that has not been on display for more than a year. Made by seniors, mostly based on other artists.

Maeve uses the boy's voice as a guide and walks until she stops at a flat screen which shows small articles that hypothesize the book cosmos.

— The Cosmos is all that is, was, or ever will be. — Now Maeve understood, it was not only a visual delight but also an information one.— Behind you you will see wormholes and time paradoxes. Not just about time travel but about alternate realities.

— I read the flash comics, I can bet I know everything about it. — The girl preferred to observe the articles and names of the artists to whom these works belonged.

— I can bet that yes. — Spencer laughs at her words.— You would have loved the opening. — To Maeve's luck they hadn't met then.

Suddenly the images on the screen change, showing the photographs of that first night. A tall young man with glasses and long hair was the first thing Maeve saw. Spencer was among those guests, just as he had said, The girl smiles and she can feel that he was with her today too.

Maeve, with Spencer speaking in her ear, continued to explore the room, discovering a common interest for both of them: astrophysics. She knew that Spencer was a man of science but she thought that this was limited in psychological terms, obviously she was wrong. Spencer doesn't want to pigeonhole Maeve into a list of things she knows or doesn't know. The girl is like a jack-in-the-box, she had skills and knowledge that didn't always come to light.

Both were walking through the streets even though they were not in the same place. Maeve was eating a churro that she had bought and Spencer was just having a coffee.

— It was the best day of my life. — Maeve comments as she laughs and takes a bite of the churro.— And that's counting that on my first day of pay Morgan took me to a strip bar.

—Morgan did what?

— I've never had so much money. and I did not know what to spend it on.

— You get paid the bare minimum, Maeve...

— That is a lot of money for me! —They both laugh until Maeve speaks again.—What I'm trying to say is thank you, Reid.

— We can go together next time.

—It's a date, Doctor, Reid. — She jokes. — I'm running out of battery, shall I call you before bed?

— Sure, Doctor, Hunter.

— Agent, Hunter. —She corrects.

— There's a university degree that says you're a doctor and I like the idea of a colleague.

Maeve says goodbye one more time before closing, preparing to walk home this time. When she was about to sleep she wanted to call Spencer but he didn't answer her calls, which was weird, but she assumed he had a good excuse. The next morning the result was the same, she seemed to be worried about the situation but she didn't want to break into anyone's vacation for a moment of paranoia.

A third day and that is when she manages to contact the team, only because she has seen JJ on the news talking about an unknown person. This seemed to attack the members of the BAU, more specifically her friends. Maeve calls Garcia to get in touch and you know what was going on, she was worried.

Turns out the vacation was canceled as quickly as they tried to frame Elle for a murder, her safety was in jeopardy. Maeve insists that she can be useful and help, they should have contacted her just like the others, but Hotch gave the order not to involve her, since this case endangered all kinds of private information, the fewer agents there were linked to the event, the better. .

For her safety, they asked her not to leave the house unless it was necessary, Maeve had no choice but to limit orders. She was impressive how they worked without her presence, the unknown was captured, unlike the last time, this put a lot of doubt if Maeve really contributed something to the team.

However, what made her really feel bad was learning about the departure of her partner Elle. She was heartbreaking. Maeve had never been as close to another woman as she was to Elle, so she played the team falling apart and just like that, without saying goodbye, Elle Greenaway leaves the BAU.

Maeve rejoins the team the morning after that. Paperwork day. Everyone sitting in their respective places, The chestnut looks at the position in front where her friend should be, but she shakes her head, getting rid of the idea.

Morgan and Reid notice the lack of noise from the girl, she has been with a straight face all morning, at some point in the day her friend comes up to her with a sandwich since she hasn't eaten anything.

— Thanks, Morgan. 

There was no point in taking it out on the only two friends she had left. She just needed to process the information.

Garcia walks up to the girl and compliments her hair when he gets the chance. This somewhat comforts her to bring up the memory of Elle cutting her hair at the hotel.

— I see you sad. — Says the blonde.

— Allergies.

But García was not someone she could easily evade.

— Allergies? —The girl just nods. —It's a shame, I was thinking of having a game night, but if you're that bad-

— Game night? —She looks up from her paperwork and it's Garcia's turn to nod. The girl was considering it as an option.

— Maeve can't go. — Interrupts Spencer who has been listening to the conversation.

— Why not?

—No, tonight she's mine.

Morgan behind the boy can't help but take the words out of context for which he was laughing, Spencer took a while to understand why he was laughing about.

— Get it, Tiger. —He whispered in his ear.

Maeve, despite not knowing Spencer's plans, does not refuse to say that she will be busy or go to Penelope's house.

— In case you guys change your mind, we'll be here until midnight.— Reports Garcia.

At the end of the business day, Spencer and Maeve are the last to leave. They both see the elevator door close, and Maeve has no intention of speaking.

The boy stops the elevator which takes Maeve by surprise and makes her stagger, leaving her with no choice but to hold on to the railing.

— Did I do something wrong? — Asks the boy.

Maeve turns her head to the side, not understanding what he's talking about.

— My mind has been busy...I was thinking of Elle.

Spencer nods in agreement.

— Tell me, is it easy? — It's time for the boy to be confused. — Is it normal for everyone to leave one day?

Spencer ponders the answer, So far Elle is the only friend who has left the place, As much as Maeve is a loss for him.

— I guess we'll all go, Maeve. Some by the door others in the field. — It is not the answer that the girl expected, this makes her squeeze her lips to contain her anger.

—What's the point of all this, then? — Frustration sounded in her voice. — One day I'm feeling like I'm making a change in all this shit in life and the next... the next, I can't even have a friend.

Spencer understood the feeling but couldn't find words to comfort her. It's not the first time he's questioned that too. It's a constant struggle to know if you really statistically make that one percent difference.

She presses the button again and the elevator starts up to the ground floor.

They walk to Spencer's apartment, but not before picking up a three-meat pizza on the way. In this the boy fools around when opening the door, feeling clumsy with his hands, but he manages to open it.

Spencer puts his bag down on the couch, and she imitates the action.

— Sorry if I was rude with my words.— It's the first thing she says all night.

— I understand you. it doesn't really matter.

Maeve sighs, hoping to put the bad mood behind her.

—Why didn't we go to game night with García and the team? —Maeve asks as she sits on the floor opening the pizza box.

— I really don't have a good excuse. —Maeve analyzes his words as she removes her shoes.—  I wanted you here with me, that's all.— Spencer sits a few meters in front of her. —How was the museum by the way?

It's the first thing that gets a smile out of the girl all night. She crawls over to Spencer so she can be next to him, pulling out her phone and showing he the few pictures she got from that day. She scrolled through the images with a beaming smile as she explained to Spencer every detail that she could remember. On the other hand, his attention was on the present girl and not on the memories of her portrayed of her.

Maeve glances over at Spencer's bookshelf and Spencer looks at her with amusement as if he understands her thoughts.

— You want to see if I have the cosmos book, don't you?

She nods with an awkward smile, and Spencer waves a hand at the bookcase so she's free to explore. Knowing that Spencer did not always have a specific order to order his books, she went looking for that book without knowing where to find it.

After two minutes of an unsuccessful search, the boy stands up to help her, they both find the book at the same moment, to Maeve's disadvantage, Spencer was taller, it was easy for him to grab that book.

She holds out her hand for him to hand it over.

— No. — He answers.— First you eat and then you read. I don't want you to mark the books with grease.

— First you eat and then you read? Is that what your mom told you when you were a child?Give me the book, Spencer. — She tried to take it off but he already extended his arm into the air and knew that she wouldn't reach it.

As if she were obedient, Maeve returns to the floor to sit down, Spencer lowers his guard, thinking that they will have dinner and returns to his place, but she throws herself at the book as soon as she has the opportunity, he struggles with her, grabbing her by the waist, waiting for her to drop the book. book but this doesn't work. Spencer manages to snatch the book from her but she was sitting on his lap and wouldn't let her go until she accessed the book.

— This is absurd. — Spencer says. —I can pick you up if I want to.

Maeve raises an eyebrow, waiting for him to do it. He could push it but not lift it.

— Reid, give me the book. — She moves a little forward wanting to reach the object between her palms but he keeps it distant, making her return to her place.

— It is very selfish of you to introduce me to the book and then deprive me of it.

—I already told you that I'm going to lend it to you.

Spencer rubs his head, and sits up without removing Maeve from his body, moving from lying down and now sitting with her right on top of him, holding her hips.

Maeve moves once more, giving a little jump trying to grab the book in her hands.

— Okay. Truce, please — He pleads, tightening his lips in a weak smile. — I can read it to you if you want.

Maeve nods and fixes her eyes on where her friend's hands are. Remembering the previous dream of hers, Maeve is not stupid, she can feel the boner between Spencer's legs

— Maybe i should leave.

—Maybe you should stay... to sleep.

— Okay. — She pauses. —Can I stand up?

Spencer tries not to blush and just clears his throat.

— Do you think if... If I read you the book in this position for a while?

Maeve nods with a slight smile.