Spencer stuffed the drugs into his pocket hoping no one like Gideon had seen him. He knew he shouldn't, Dilaudid is a generic form of Hydromorphone and the abuse has been increasing year by year all over the US, but he felt like he couldn't help it. It helped him get away, forget. 'Only if I need it, just one more time' Spencer thought to himself. Although knowing the addiction rate if drugs like Dilaudid, he couldn't fool himself. He didn't want to go down this path, but...
"Spencer! Come on, baby boy. We aren't losing you again." Morgan's voice carried through the ominous scene of the graveyard, making Spencer jump. Reid shook his head as if to rid of the paranoia and took a step towards Morgan and felt a sharp pain shoot through his leg and travel all the way up his spine. Spencer collapsed, just barely able to catch himself on one knee before he completely fell.
"Spencer!" Morgan exclaimed as he ran to his side.
"I'm fine, I'm fine." Spencer assures him. Derek helped Spencer wrap his arm around his shoulders before helping him stand. The outline of his other team members stood with flashlights on the other side, waiting for them. Spencer let himself hang heavily on Morgan while feeling weaker than he's ever felt in his life. Reid limped along, feeling pain everywhere in his body. He knew he was shaking but he couldn't stop as much as he tried. He was literally digging his own grave a minute ago, he couldn't blame himself.
Hotch had already called for medics when they had reached the gates if the graveyard. Tons of people in white swarmed Spencer, probing him with medical instruments. The team didn't stray far as if they were afraid of losing him again. Reid just closed his eyes in relief And let the medics do their work. He was shaken up pretty badly, but he also felt unbelievably relieved. He honestly didn't know if he was going to get out of there alive.
"Don't do that, Reid!" Morgan's voice came from next to him.
"Do what?" Reid asked in a strained voice while glancing over at Derek who was eyeing him worriedly.
"Closing your eyes like that."
Spencer chuckled and looked at the ground and back up at Morgan again.
"I'll be fine." He said even though it came out sounding weak and shaky. Spencer gasped as a medic poked a spot on his back that he hit particularly hard when he fell backwards in the chair in the cabin. Morgan put a hand on his shoulder and JJ ran up to them.
"You ok, Spence?" JJ asked, her eyebrows drawn together. Sure all of the team had been worried about him, but Spencer could tell that it really tore JJ apart.
"Fine. Just a little sore." He said in a small voice. JJ bit her bottom lip and gently wrapped an arm around his back. Reid gave her a weak smile and rested his head on her shoulder. He didn't think he'd ever be able to hug his friends again. He believed what he kept telling everyone though: he would be fine. He was going to go home.
Spencer lied up against the Arm of the couch in the plane. His arms were crossed over the arm and his head laid on top of his arms peacefully with his hair spilling over half of his face. He looked noticeably weaker and even thinner if it was possible. Reid looked incredibly young as his back slowly rose and fell with his breathing.
"Look at how cute he is when he's sleeping." JJ whispered to her team sitting around the chairs on the plane.
"And not talking." Morgan added, looking over at Reid. JJ rolled her eyes at Derek.
"You know you missed him." JJ smirked. Derek shrugged with a hint of a grin as they watched their colleague and one of their best friends sleep.
"Yeah, I did miss the kid." Derek admitted.
"I still think he should've gone to the hospital."
"He said he was ok, JJ. Reid's stronger than he looks." Derek assured her even though she continued to look at Spencer with worry.
"He's going to need some time off, though." Hotch spoke up while looking over at the youngest member of their team.
"You know he won't like that Hotch."
Derek pointed out. Aaron Hotchner chuckled and shook his head.
"It's an order." He muttered, although not unkindly.
The team spent a moment in silence until Reid shifted in his sleep. He buried his face in his arms and moaned something incoherent. Everyone turned to check on him as he started to mumble things into his arms.
"Don't want it..." He muttered, his eyebrows drawn together. JJ got out of her seat to go sit next to Spencer who was curled up on one side of the couch.
"Please..." She heard him whimper, making her chest ache. She hated the fact that he had been hurting so long and they couldn't find him or save him. She hated that it had been him instead if her and that she didn't go run after him when she still could. Even now he hadn't fully escaped, the situation plaguing his nightmares.
"Spence..." She whispered, rubbing his back making him cringe away.
"No, kill me..." Spencer muttered as he curled up tighter. JJ tried not to sound too distressed as she shook Reid's shoulder.
"Spence, come on wake up." Jennifer tried again. With a sudden jerk, Spencer's eyes flew open and he pushed himself up. He groaned and rubbed his eyes as he sat up on the couch and rested his elbows on his knees. The plan was silent as Spencer ran his hands trough his hair. JJ kept a hand on his back as he calmed himself down.
After a while, Spencer seemed to have notice that everyone was watching him with a concerned stare. Red looked confused as he looked sound at everyone of his worried team members.
"Um... Sorry?" Spencer choked out. Morgan chuckled and got up to give Spencer's shoulder a squeeze before making his way to a chair in the back to find some sleep himself.
JJ wrapped her arms around Spencer's torso and lied her head on his shoulder. The rest of the team returned back to their work or went back to sleep.
"You should go back to sleep, you need it." JJ said, looking up at Reid. He looked down at her and gave her a weak smile.
"I'm afraid I'll- I'll wake up in the cabin again..." He said hurriedly. JJ felt him shaking ever so slightly in her arms so she held him tighter.
"I'll stay right her beside you, Spence." she told him. Spencer smiled and leaned his head into hers. They stayed like that for a while until JJ heard his weak voice.
"Okay..." was all he said. JJ released Reid so that he could lie back down on the arm if the couch and close his eyes. She felt the warmth if affection build up in her chest as she watched her best friend sleep safely besides her. she listened to his breathing slow until she was sure that he was asleep. Jennifer stood and crouched down next to Spencer to brush the hair from his forehead so that she could gently kiss it.
"We all love you, Spence." she whispered. "You'll always be our baby brother." JJ kissed his forehead one more time before going to sit back down next to Reid. As she sunk into the couch, she just barely heard him mumble one last thing.
"Love you too..."