Title: Family Matters 1?

Summary: Sequel to Familiar Strangers

Rating: PG

Notes: Yes I know that there wasn't going to be one. But well the bunny bit. This is the sequel to a crossover but there is barely any CSI mention. Much thanks to silentflux who edits my grammar and gracefully allows me to distract her from finals and bother her on vacation.

Reid had been free of that blasted sling for over two months now. Everyone once and awhile his shoulder would twinge, but over all, life was going at the same speed that it always had. The team had just gotten back from a serial bombing in New York. It would be at least two days before a new case was sent their way, but there was always so much paperwork. He had once calculated that their team alone generated enough paper to cover the entire world. He was feeling good -- the air was pleasantly cool and the smog index was down. He was carefully turning his car when he saw a blur out of the corner of his eye. Then his world was filled with violence–glass crunching and metal squealing all around him. His world spun as if he was on a tilt-a-whirl.

He didn't black out–his brain just paused, froze for a moment, and later he would akin it to what other people had always called 'brain farts' which he had never had the capacity to understand before. When everything started to work in real time, he sees a kindly woman hovering over him and the first thing he can think is, "I had a green light." A man that had come up behind her looked puzzled, but Reid wasn't paying attention to him. He was instead unsteadily cataloging his injuries when the ambulance and police cruisers pulled up. The frame of his car was so bent and broken that they had to get the jaws of life to pry him out. The dashboard was pinning his legs but not painfully so. He managed to get his phone free and while he was waiting for machinery and in between paramedics questions, he called Gideon and told him had he had been in an accident and that he would be late to work. Gideon was going to question him further but the jaws of life had arrived and the noise was too overwhelming for him to try and hear over. His head hadn't hurt previously but all that pounding was making it throb.

Four hours wasted away in a blur of long periods of boredom followed by ten minutes of rushed activity. He was just thankful that they didn't make him lie down during the ambulance ride. He'd only had to once and had despised it. The sensation of traveling while flat was terrifying for him, and not being able to see where they were going was even worse.

Despite the fact that he arrived in ambulance, his injuries weren't life threatening and he had to take a back seat to others that came in. Eventually, they insisted on getting a head CT which required more waiting. As they were wheeling him back from radiology, he managed a glance at the ER's treatment board. Reviewing the information in his head, he came to the conclusion that he had a mild concussion (damn) and that they planned to keep him over night. He was mentally preparing himself for the disappointed looks that the nurses would give him when he checked himself out Against Medical Advice when Hotch showed up.

"Aaron?" Reid questioned.

"Hey Spencer.. How ya feeling?"

Spencer winced-- from that tone, Hotch had already guessed his plan to check himself out. Sometimes they really did know him too well. "I'm doing okay."

Hotch smirked a bit -- yep he had guessed. Damn, he'd have to stay in the hospital after all. "So ready to get out of here?"

"What!" Spencer snapped his head up and regretted it immediately when the room spun a bit.

"Whoa there!" Aaron rushed to his side and looked him over worriedly. "Do I need to get a nurse?"

"No!" Reid hurriedly pulled himself together. If they were really going to release him, he didn't plan on giving them any reason to change their minds.

Hotch looked worried but seemed to accept his answer. Reid didn't question his good fortune and quickly worked his way through the paperwork Hotch hadn't done himself. Reid noticed that they weren't headed to the office but to his place. Glancing at himself, he realized that there was dots of blood from tiny cuts on his shirt. When they arrived at his place, he directed Aaron to make himself at home as he changed.

It was the first time that Aaron had ever seen Reid's apartment, but it was basically what he expected it to be. Bookcases full of books framed all the walls, there was a sofa and not much else in the way of seating. Hotch noted the lack of a TV. Wandering he found himself in the kitchen which was small and serviceable with a tiny round table and only one chair. This apartment was meant for storing one's things, storing one's body, but it was not meant for social engagements. It was merely a stopping place before leaving to live. Everything was extremely straight and orderly with, Hotch noted in amusement, Reid's books sorted by genre and author. Just the kind of place he expected a person like Reid to own.

Reid exited from the back room changed and cleaned up. Hotch watched him and noted the lack of bag. "Where's your overnight bag?"

"Overnight bag?"

"Yeah, that was the deal with the hospital. They'd release you if some one supervised you for 24 hours."

"Oh." Some kind of emotion flashed across Reid's face and Hotch couldn't tell what it was exactly. He had to wonder if Reid even knew himself. Rather than argue, Reid turned and went to presumedly pack a bag.

It didn't take long and soon they were in the car headed toward Aaron's place. Reid was not looking forward to the next 24 to 48 hours.