The team knew they weren't sleeping tonight, or for at least a couple days. Bombers like this don't like to wait long to hit another site. It was all the same question, why. Why this diner, why at midnight, why today?

Spencer threw himself into the case, trying hard to forget about the significance this diner held to him. He knew it had nothing to do with him and Lexie, but something in the back of his mind told him it did.

"This unsub must have known this diner is always crowed at midnight on Fridays," Emily said looking closely at crime scene photos.
"Yeah, but anyone could have known that it's a popular diner with a pie deal on Fridays," Rossi added.

"Maybe this diner means something to the unsub, its right next to the biggest hospital in Virginia, maybe something happened to him there," said Emily.

Spencer cringed at the thought, he couldn't help but think maybe one of Lexie's patients went crazy and is now blowing up places that mean something to her. He thinks about telling his team his theory, but he decides against it. He doesn't have enough evidence to support his theory at all.

He knew all about the shooting at her hospital in Seattle. He read countless articles about it. The FBI wasn't called in since the unsub only ever hit the hospital then died. When Lexie told him her perspective it made the whole situation even crazier. Reading a news article is a lot different than hearing a personal experience story. He hoped this wouldn't become one of those stories.

"Turn on the TV," Hotch said, walking very swiftly into the bullpen where everyone was gathered.

JJ fumbled with the remote turning the small TV on.

"Another bombing has been reported, the 'Book and Joe' book store has exploded early this morning." The reporter said.

Spencer felt his stomach drop. His theory really could be right. He had to tell his team, Lexie was in danger. He wasn't going to lose her.

..........

Lexie woke suddenly to her pager going off. 'Big traumas coming in, all hands on deck.'
She groaned and dragged herself out of bed. She didn't have time to shower, so she just brushed her teeth and hair. Pulled on her navy blue scrubs and went to make coffee.

She almost jumped out of her skin when she saw Caroline half-asleep at the coffe machine. She laughed at the sight.

"You get called in too?"

"Yep," Caroline responded, not opening her eyes.

Lexie laughed making herself her coffee. Her first big trama as an attending, she was a little nervous. Lots of traumas involved a head injury, what if she rushed too much and made a mistake? Shes only lost one patient in her time as an attending, a woman who was in a terrible car crash. She had multiply brain bleeds and was pronounced brain dead after surgery didn't help. Lexie was really torn up about it when it happened, the woman's husband even threatened to sue the hospital, but the court ruled that it wasn't Lexie's or any other staff's fault.

"Well we better get going, two explosions in busy places, we are going to be swamped." Caroline groaned. 

The two headed out of the apartment into their cars, they always drive separately just in case one has to leave earlier than the other. The drive is short, Lexie could make the drive with her eyes closed shes done it so many times. However, when she takes the last turn onto the hospital's street, shes met with loads of police cars and ambulances.

She slowly maneuvers her car though the mess, catching a glimpse at the diner that was blown up. Feeling uneasy when she thinks of all the times she and Spencer ate there. She parks in her normal spot in the parking garage and makes the walk to the hospital with Caroline.

"Lex, its that diner the one you and Spencer go to a lot?" Caroline asks

"Yeah, we eat there at least once a week, scary to think about." Lexie shrugged.

When the two entered the hospital they were thrown into cases. The ER was over max capacity, but UVA was the closest hospital to the scene, and they had the most ORs. Not even 20 minutes after Lexie arrives, she's running to the OR floor to try and save a man with a bad brain bleed. This was going to be a long day, but Lexie didn't mind, big traumas were good challenges for her. She learned to stay alert and wake on 2 hours of sleep. 

.........

"You think this bomber is out to get her? Why would someone be after her?"

Spencer shared his theory with his team, meaning he had to tell them about Lexie. At first, they were mad that he hid her for all these months, but when he finished the theory, they quickly forgot about their anger.

"Who would want to hurt Lexie or you like this?" JJ asked.

Spencer thought about this question. He couldn't think of anyone that would come after him, but someone who would come after Lexie? Then it hit him.

"She lost a patient, 2 weeks ago - The woman was in a car crash, she was brain dead. After she died her husband tried to sue the hospital and Lexie." Spencer said jotting notes down on the board. "The court didn't pick up the case because her death wasn't  Lexie or the hospital's fault, the woman was pretty much dead when she arrived at the hospital."

"Do you have a name?" Emily asked.

Spencer shook his head. He remembers the night it happened. Lexie came home sobbing because of her death. Apparently the woman was an amazing person, helped homeless people, and animals. Lexie felt it was her fault, she hated pulling the plug on patients.

"Gracia, look to see women who have recently been declared brain dead. Also, look for the lawsuit case against the hospital." Hotch boomed.

"Yes sir," Penelope answered typing furiously on her keyboard.

Spencer ran his fingers through his hair. His leg bouncing as he sat in his chair. This all hit to close to home. Telling his team about his girlfriend, but only when she's in trouble. Sure this definitely isn't as bad as it was with Maeve, but Lexie could really be in trouble.

This man was so mad when his wife was unplugged, Lexie said he showed up at the hospital every day, just to yell and scream at Lexie and her surgical team. Telling them how bad of doctors they are and how they'll pay one day. Lexie came to Spencer's apartment crying every night.

He dialed her number again, no answer. He assumed she was already a work, which scared him even more.

"Hey," JJ spoke softly, leaning on Spencer's desk.

"Hey."

"She isn't Maeve, Spence."

"Someone is out to get her, just like Diana Turner was out to get Maeve - I can't lose her, Jennifer," he said softly, pressing his knuckles into his eyes.

"You won't Spence, we are putting the hospital in lockdown now, we are heading out there too."  She put her hand on his shoulder, giving him some form of comfort. "We won't let anything happen to her."

He gave her a small smile. He wanted to believe the words JJ said, but those words didn't hold true with Maeve, why should they hold true now? He couldn't lose Lexie, he only found her 3 months ago. He couldn't lose her.

Spencer gathered up his things, threw an FBI vest on, and the team headed to the hospital, hoping the lockdown would work. Or that Gracia could find the man behind it all.

Lexie jogged back down to the ER, her patient was in post-op, so she had to go help all the others in the ER. The ER was a mess. Beds being rolled every which way, patients screaming, doctors barking out orders. This was the biggest trama she'd seen in Virginia.

She picked up the chart of her new patient. After quickly reading and memorizing her chart, she sent the woman up for a head CT. she turned away to walk to the elevators, and she saw him.

Then it all went black.

a/n: hey guys, thanks for reading! hope everyone is healthy and happy. love y'all🤍

quick little note, please be sure to wear masks in public and stay educated on what's going on in the world right now.