This is a sequel from A Reaper's Revenge. I do suggest reading that first in order for this story to make sense :)

Foyet loomed over Reid as he stabbed Reid. He then stuck a needle in Reid's arm. Reid felt the drugs flow through his body.

Reid woke, gasping for breath. JJ was there.

"It's okay, Spence," she said quietly. "It was just a dream."

Reid nodded, sweat trickling down his face.

"Foyet's dead," she added.

He sighed as he sank into his pillows.

"Foyet's dead..." he mumbled, trying to reassure himself.

She nodded and he closed his eyes. She sighed and wondered if things would ever return to normal.

"Hotch you have to lay in bed, " Morgan told his boss who was trying to leave.

"I feel fine!" Hotch snapped.

"You've been recently shot," Rossi said calmly. "Not to mention stabbed a month ago and all the emotional turmoil you've been going through maybe time off isn't a bad idea."

"I want to go back to work," Hotch protested.

"Foyet is dead, what's the rush?" Morgan asked.

Hotch sighed.

"There's always going to be a Foyet out there," he told them. "And it's my job to catch as many as possible...I don't want someone else going through what I went through, or what Reid went through."

Rossi sighed.

"I understand that, but you still have a team that can do your work..while you rest."

"There's...something else," Morgan said suddenly, and rather stiffly.

"What?"

Morgan paused, uncertain of how to handle the news.

"Strauss wants me to be temporarily in charge, while you heal," Morgan said suddenly. Hotch stared at him.

"You spoke to Strauss?"

Morgan nodded.

"She at first wanted to divide the team but I talked her out of it. She said the only way she'd keep the team together is if somebody from the team was in charge."

Hotch slowly nodded.

"I see."

"When you go back to work she'll want to talk to you," Morgan added. "See how fit you are to lead."

Hotch understood now. Morgan wanted to make sure he was in top notch condition before going back to work.

"Thank you for the warning," he said quietly. "I'm sure you'll make a great leader," he added with a smile.

"It's only temporary, until you're back on your feet," Morgan assured him.

"There's something else too," Rossi added. "Involving Strauss."

"She spoke to you?" Morgan looked surprised and he nodded.

"She thought you were too personal with this particular issue."

"With what issue?"

"She's wondering how competent Dr. Reid is going to be after this incident."

"What?" Morgan shouted, anger in his eyes. Hotch stiffened, his own body quietly seething in anger.

Rossi sighed.

"She wants to consider a replacement for Dr. Reid...for the time being at least."

"Out of the question," Hotch snapped.

"That's what I said...but she's not taking no for an answer..."Rossi glanced at the two. "She's going to fight us on this."

"Then we'll fight back," Morgan snarled. "She's not getting rid of Reid."

"Why is she questioning his skills as a profiler?" Hotch asked.

"She just wonders if this has been too much of an ordeal for Dr. Reid. Not to mention his previous kidnapping a few years ago and how the drugs reentered his body again...she just thinks Dr. Reid won't be able to function like he used to. At least not for a long while."

Hotch rubbed his forehead.

"has she made up her mind yet?"

"Not yet," Rossi assured him. "I managed to convince her to hold off of it for a while, for us to convince her otherwise. But she's going to put up one hell of a fight. It's going to take a LOT to get her to change her mind."

Hotch nodded and rubbed his forehead.

The battle was over, it seemed, but it now looked like the war had just begun.

It's short chapter, but I hope you guys liked the start of this sequel!