Little note: I know I said the saga begun with "Never My Love" was finished with "X" but I lied. I still felt there was healing to be done for our dear Dr. Reid. Hope you like.

Inside of a hospital emergency room, things are relatively calm. It looks to be a slow night and much of the staff is sitting and enjoying some coffee. The admitting clerk is chatting with one of the nurses.

Admitting clerk: So he's finally getting closer to setting a date. At least I have him narrowed down to this calendar year.

The nurse laughs and they both take a dull notice of the sound of the automatic doors opening and closing. There is the shuffling of feet nearing the desk and the admitting clerk begins to look away from the nurse. Before she can look toward the new arrival, she hears a barely audible "help me" and then a thud as the patient hits the floor. There is suddenly a flurry of activity in the ER.

Morgan is sitting in his office going over the paperwork he now regularly takes from Hotch to allow the older agent additional time with his young son. He hears a soft knock on the frame of his doorway and looking up, he sees Reid looking like someone just summoned to the principal's office. Morgan internalizes a smile as he tries to imagine Reid ever being sent to the office at school.

Reid: You wanted to talk to me, Morgan?

Reid looked like he thought he was in trouble but also bewildered as to what he might have done to cause such a thing.

Morgan: Yeah, c'mon in. Close the door.

Reid did as instructed and slunk over to one of the chairs opposite Morgan's desk. Morgan's smile faded a bit. He hadn't wanted to frighten Reid; he merely wanted to be able to speak freely with his friend and colleague without the prying ears of the rest of the office.

Morgan: Kid, you okay with the door closed?

Morgan knew what Reid's psychological evaluation said but he also knew that any of the agents could pass those any day of the week barring anything short of a complete psychotic break. He had observed Reid in the office and in the field. There was no doubt Reid was still dealing with some level of PTSD.

Reid: Yeah.

Morgan took notice of the younger agent's furtive glance at the door as if reassuring himself the escape route was still there.

Morgan: I thought you'd like to know that the full investigation into the Thomas Hastings shooting has concluded. It's as we all knew it would be; a clean shoot.

Reid nodded.

Morgan couldn't stand this anymore.

Morgan: You'd tell me if there was something bugging you, right?

Reid simply nodded and stole another quick look at the door obviously wishing himself on the other side of it.

Morgan: Why are you lying to me, man? You really think we weren't going to notice something was off with you? We're profilers! Not like we'd need to be to see through that flimsy façade.

Reid: You want in the loop, Morgan? Fine. I hate the door being closed. I hate how irrational that is. I hate that every place I am I have to know where all the doors are and what I could conceivably use as a weapon. I hate how out of control I am. Do you know that I have blackened my girlfriend's eyes more than once because she was trying to comfort me through a nightmare? And I really hate talking to any of you about it because you found me there in that state.

Reid's voice had become shrill through his tirade and now he fought to regain his composure through ragged breath.

Reid: Is that what you wanted to know?

The last was said so softly that Morgan had to lean forward to hear.

Morgan: It is actually. You know you can still talk to me. You've got no shame here, man. You need to know that. No one outside the team knows the details and with Karsten's guilty plea to the other murder and kidnap charges, those bits of info will never see the light of day without you saying it. As for the team, we are your family. You can still look us in the eyes and you'll only ever see support for you. And whatever you tell me, I'm not going to take the job from you. I know it's helping you get some sense of normalcy back. You're doing good work and there is no reason at all to take you off the job or out of the field.

Reid looked at the floor. Morgan spoke again, his voice much softer.

Morgan: How's Maggie?

Reid: She's amazing. What she can do with make up is mind blowing. I don't think anyone at the college has noticed the bruises. She's far better than I deserve.

Morgan: Nah. She just loves you. That's pretty hard to find in this world but you deserve it.

The door opens and Hotch leans in.

Hotch: Grab your bags. We have a case. J.J. will brief us on the jet.

The door closes.

Morgan: Well, so much for my plans of male bonding over lunch.

The two head for the door and as Reid reaches for the knob, Morgan puts a hand on his thin shoulder. This causes Reid's head to jerk around, his eyes momentarily terror stricken; Morgan looks apologetically at his friend.

Morgan: Sorry. I just wanted to make sure you remember what I said. I'm still here for you, man.

Reid: I've got it. Eidetic memory, remember?

Morgan: Okay, so I know you won't forget…just don't disregard it either.