Breaking the Habit
A/N: Sequel to Completely Gone. I kind of left off my other story in a bit of a cliffhanger and now I'm thinking of how to make it up to those who "enjoyed" the last story.
Warning(s): Angst, Self-harm (suicidal maybe?), mentions of torture, drugs and strong Morgan/Reid friendship
Disclaimer: I don't own Criminal Minds.
Chapter one: Waking Up
"My heart burnt within me with indignation and grief; we could think of nothing else. All night long we had only snatches of sleep, waking up perpetually to the sense of a great shock and grief. Every one is feeling the same. I never knew so universal a feeling."-Elizabeth Gaskell
Derek Morgan slowly closed the door behind him. He went to grab a much needed hot coffee. Usually he would pack the coffee for his best friend, Dr. Spencer Reid but given the situation it was for him. He would give anything to take back everything done to the younger agent.
"Hi Derek," A young nurse waved.
"Hey Lillian," he smiled sadly.
For a month he had spent his time in a hospital. For the first week he, himself, was a patient only to be released with a few cuts, scars, bruises, and a sling. The rest he came as a visitor. Though he was roughed up Reid was no better. He was probably worse since he hasn't woken up. On the border to death and saved only to be kept alive with a hope to wake up.
Morgan made his way out the elevator as the door opened. The cafeteria was empty at this time. He took a deep breath and the sweet smell of coffee filled his nose. This shouldn't have happened…he shouldn't be here. Not in a hospital. Not to visit a best friend who was practically family. He sighed. Most of all he shouldn't feel this guilty. It wasn't his fault…everyone said so. Yet he couldn't help the pain etched in his chest when he saw the lifeless body of his coworker in the hospital bed.
'He's going to wake up…just have faith,' he repeats in his mind.
He pours the black coffee in a Styrofoam cup. He doesn't even bother with sugar and milk. He drinks it straight up feeling the caffeine enter his system. He slumps in a plastic chair and closes his eyes. His mind backtracks to a month from today when he awoke to the blinding lights. The news he received and the pang of guilt back then that leads to now.
"When Dr. Reid was first kidnapped he was poisoned by the liquid in the syringe. Directly going into his already weak immune system due to the Anthrax attack a while ago. Though you would think that would've made him stronger it was reversed since his system was still healing from the damage done before. Later he inhaled quite a bit and drank it numerous times without noticing that only made matters worse. You, Mr. Morgan, were poisoned through drinking it and inhaling it," she explained.
The doctor had explained thoroughly the process in which they were poisoned. Three bloody ways they were nearly killed if they had the right dosage. And then there was the reason he was still here waiting for Reid to wake up.
"Dr. Spencer Reid is in an induced coma," she continued.
Those horrifying words haunt him in his sleep. Those words he detests wake him up at night. Nightmares that his buddy, his friend, and his brother would never wake up.
Morgan opens his eyes and quickly downs the rest of the black bitter coffee. He slowly treks to the elevator that leads to that lifeless white room.
As he enters the cold room he sees a curled up figure in a corner. He turns to the bed where a lying pale man should be only to be welcomed by blood. Lots of blood that eventually leads to the whimpering person.
"R-Reid?" Derek calls out softly as to not startle the young man.
Those big hazel eyes turn to him. They look frighten like a doe caught in headlights. Immediately recognize the intruder in the room he gets up on wobbly feet and runs towards him. He slings his arms around the older agent's neck and holds on tight.
"Pretty boy it's okay," he soothes.
"I'm sorry…I'm so sorry," Reid chokes.
His voice is raspy and hoarse from lack of use.
"Shh don't apologize," Morgan whispers.
Reid whimpers and when he doesn't Morgan remembers all the blood on the bed and floor.
"What happened?" he asks calmly pushing Reid arm's length away.
Reid casts his eyes down on the polished floor and wraps his arms around himself tighter. Suddenly feeling exposed he shivers. Morgan notices the gash on his arm. He knew why he did it. If he was in Reid's shoes he would have done the same.
"Reid," he begins.
"I'm sorry," he replies shakily.
Morgan sighs and walks over to the bed. He presses the nurse's call button and walks back to stand in the middle of the private room.
"Come," he gently nudges.
Reid complies and walks into Morgan's embrace.
"He's gone," Morgan says after a minute.
"I didn't want to," Reid sniffles.
Morgan smiles sadly.
"I know…" is all he manages.
Lillian, who happens to be Reid's main nurse walks in and rushes over to the two men.
"What happened?" She asks panicked.
"I went to the cafeteria and when I came back I was greeted by my Pretty boy awake and alive," Morgan replies.
"And bleeding," she notes.
"I didn't mean to…" he says in a small voice.
Lillian sighs. She turns her gaze onto Morgan questioningly.
"He…has a problem with narcotics and thus thinking he was on them he ripped the IV out of his arm," Morgan explained.
"I'm sorry," he repeats.
"Don't worry sweetie," she smiles sadly.
She grabs some gauze and bids Reid to sit. He looks at Morgan almost pleadingly.
"He doesn't like to be touched…even before the.. um accident," Morgan says.
"Oh…but we have to treat it," she replies.
"I…I can do it," Reid gulps.
She looks a bit skeptical but Morgan tells her it's alright.
"I'll go inform the Doctor," she nods and walks out the room.
Morgan kneels in front of Reid and starts to clean the bleeding gash on his inner arm.
"Thank you," Reid whispers.
"No problem…how do you feel?" Morgan asks.
"Tired," Reid mumbles.
"After all those weeks of sleeping?" Morgan joked.
"If a person is on a ventilator they are put into a medically induced coma. Drugs are given so the patient is relaxed and asleep. This helps with healing and comfort. Sleep is more when the patient is able to arouse with stimuli in this case it was medically induced…I hope and thus it's not really considered sleep…sorry," Reid mutters realizing he was rambling.
"It sure seems like you're back," Morgan smiles.
"….I suppose," he nods.