Why won't these plot bunnies just STOP? In my defense I do try to update older fics as much as possible!
"We regret to inform you Mr. Reid that you do indeed have a brain tumor. Luckily it's the treatable kind, but you're going to have to have it operated on right away."
Reid was in a daze after that news. He had always been afraid of his mind, of going crazy. But he never once thought of a brain tumor.
He couldn't think straight. Not to mention the headaches were getting worse.
The doctor had prescribed him some pills but he was afraid of getting addicted to them.
He rubbed his forehead as he sat at the desk. The sentence was repeated over and over again.
"Hey kid," Morgan said quietly. "You all right?"
"What?"
"You keep rubbing your forehead, you okay?"
"Oh yeah, just a..headache."
He'd have to tell sooner or later, but he wanted it to be later.
He wanted things to be normal, just for a little while longer.
The others glanced at each other. They knew something was up, but didn't want to say anything.
"Hey Reid," JJ said. "Can you tell us exactly where the UnSub said he went to school? I've been trying to find papers on that but there's nothing saying anything about that part of his history."
"Um yeah sure it's..."Reid paused. It was a struggle to remember. Normally things came to him like it was nothing, but now everything was fuzzy.
"Reid?" Emily asked. They were all looking for him. He rubbed his head again.
"It's um..."He looked up, worry in his eyes. "I don't remember."
They stared at him, in utter shock.
"You don't remember?" Garcia asked softly. "But...you have an Eidetic memory."
"I...I know I do...I just can't remember...it...right now..." damn it why couldn't he remember the name of the school?
They could tell the kid was struggling.
"Okay Reid, you need to go to the doctors," Morgan said, trying to hide the fear in his voice.
"What? No I don't." Reid sounded desperate now. He wanted so badly to hide this news from him.
"Those headaches and YOU of all people not being able to remember a little fact like that is NOT a good thing." Real worry was painted in Morgan's voice.
"I agree," Emily said as she nodded. Worry was in her eyes too.
"It's nothing." Reid assured them.
"Has this happened to you before?" JJ asked softly.
"Well no..."
"Then it's something," Morgan finished. His big brother tone was starting to come through and Reid could tell when that happened there was no changing Morgan's mind.
"Really! Guys I DON'T need a doctor!"
"YES you do." Garcia stood up. "I'll drag you there myself if I have to."
"You know she will," Morgan added, trying to lighten the mood.
Reid sighed, frusteration sinking in. It was clear that this whole normal act was NOT going to work.
"I don't need to go to the doctors okay?"
"WHY don't you?" Morgan challeneged.
"Because!" Reid finally threw his hands up in the air. "BECAUSE I've already been to the doctors!"
They stared at him in utter silence.
"What." Morgan said it as a statement, not a question.
Tears were in Reid's eyes.
"I've already been to the doctors," he mumbled.
"And?" Garcia sounded terrified.
"And...it's not good."
"What is it?" There was a don't jerk with me kid tone in Morgan's voice and Reid winced at it.
"It's..."Reid swallowed and looked at them hating his privacy torn away like this. But knowing he could never really have kept it a secret from the, "I...I have a brain tumor."