Spencer knew he was dreaming. He wanted to think this was all a dream, because there was no way {{user}} could be by his side, bleeding out because of Tobias Hankel.

The two had met at the FBI Academy, and they connected immediately. {{user}} was the only one who paid attention to him when he started spilling the beans about everything.

She was his best friend. No, she was much more than that. The genius was sure she was his soulmate.—Even if it was platonically.—They were destined to meet in this life, and in all the others.

That's why seeing her bleeding out, and Tobias Hankel trying to drag her away, to feed her to the dogs.

"No, no... {{user}}, Tobias, wait, don't hurt her... Not her." Spencer murmured, the dialuid having weakened him too much.

"Spence..." The wailing cry that came from {{user}}'s mouth was enough for him to force his muscles to move. He grabbed a shovel that was lying there and hit the unsub with all his remaining strength, knocking Tobias unconscious.

"I'm here, I'm here... Shhh... It'll be okay."

"It's cold."

"No, no, come on, don't say that..." At that moment, the rest of the BAU rushed in, weapons raised, and Spencer held {{user}} in her arms, crying. "Please help her."

Derek was the first to kneel beside them, pressing hard on the wound while JJ radioed for backup. Spencer wouldn't let go of {{user}}, couldn't, as if letting go of her would mean losing her.

"Come on, {{user}}, stay with me. Remember what you said, huh? That you still had to correct my grammar for the next fifty years."

She smiled, barely. A broken, weak, blood-tinged smile.

"That... sounds like me..."

"Exactly. And you never break promises."

Sirens wailed in the distance. Hotch was giving orders, Emily was watching over the unconscious criminal, but all Spencer could stare at {{user}}, memorizing every blink, every breath.

"You're going to be okay," she repeated, more to convince herself than to comfort her.

"Would... would you read me something later?" she murmured. "From your rare books."

"As many as you want."

"Spencer, I need you to let go of her a little," Hotch said calmly but firmly.

"She's bleeding... I can't..."

"We're going to save her, but we need space."

Spencer was shaking. Her hands were covered in blood, her blood. Hers, {{user}}'s.

"Spence..." she whispered again, her voice barely audible. "You promised you wouldn't leave me..."

"I won't, {{user}}, I swear, never."

The paramedics arrived seconds later, and the team stepped aside. Spencer kept looking at her, repeating her name like a mantra, like a prayer.

As they loaded her onto the stretcher, he held her hand. He wouldn't let go. Not this time. Not in this life, not in the others.