Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds, or any of the characters.

Summary: An alternate ending to L.D.S.K.

"What's the third?" Reid asked, meeting his mentor's eyes.

"I'm proud of you," Gideon replied.

--

The plane landed. Everyone disembarked eager to get home, except one Dr Spencer Reid. He remained seated in the far corner of the plane.

Agent Morgan's head appeared in the doorway, "Hey, Reid, you coming?" He called. A soft moan sounded from the younger man. Morgan was at Reid's side in an instant. "Reid? You okay?" He asked, worry creasing his brow.

"Morgan?" Reid whispered, voice sounding weak, and child-like.

"I'm right here, man. What's wrong?" Morgan asked, his worry turning quickly into concern, bordering on panic.

"Hurts," Reid answered, not trying to hide it any longer.

Morgan's eyes found their way to Reid's stomach, where slender arms were clenched tightly. "Reid, how bad?" Morgan asked softly. Reid's eyes had begun to close. Morgan grasped the younger man's upper arms firmly, "Reid! How bad is the pain?"

"Bad," Reid muttered, clenching his arms closer to his stomach.

"Why didn't you say something before?" Morgan asked, while gently trying to pull Reid to his feet. Reid complied, only to double over in pain. "Can you walk out of here?" Morgan asked, his voice gentle and soothing.

"I think so," Spencer answered softly. He straightened a bit, and, leaning heavily on Morgan, took a few steps.

"That's it kid, you can do it," Morgan encouraged. He was taking most of Spencer's weight, but he didn't care. His priority was getting Reid to a hospital. Why hadn't the kid mentioned this before now?

Reid stopped. He doubled over once more, coughing harshly. Morgan supported his shoulders, and rubbed the younger man's back soothingly. As the coughing subsided, Reid pulled his hand away from his mouth. Bright red blood covered bits of his palm. "Morgan," Reid whispered, before his eyes rolled back into his head, and he lost consciousness.

"Reid!" Morgan called. Reid would have collapsed, if Morgan wasn't holding him up. Morgan considered his options. He scooped his young friend into his strong arms, and carried him out of the plane.

Morgan got Reid into the backseat of a standard issue SUV, and quickly dove for the driver's seat.

--

Morgan made the drive in half the time it would normally have taken. He pulled right up to the Emergency entrance. A nurse came out, "Sir, you can't park there."

Morgan opened the back door. "I promise I'll move as soon as I get him some help," He said, indicating Reid.

The nurse nodded quickly, "I'll get a doctor and a gurney," She said, before disappearing into the building. She emerged a moment later followed by a doctor, another nurse, and a gurney.

The trio quickly transferred Reid onto the gurney, and the doctor turned to look at Morgan, "What happened, and who is he?"

"His name and title is Supervisory Special Agent Dr Spencer Reid. He was beaten, then the paramedics on the scene examined him, and they said he was okay, a few bumps and bruises. He assured all of us he was fine, but then, when the plane landed, he could barely stand, then he coughed up blood, and passed out," Morgan relayed very quickly.

The doctor nodded. Reid was whisked away to behind closed doors. Morgan moved his SUV, and then entered the waiting room.

Morgan then realized the others had no idea. He pulled out his cell phone, and dialled Garcia.

"Quantico's Oracle of All-Knowing, Speak and ye shall learn," Garcia answered.

"Hey, Garcia," Morgan said.

She frowned, "Morgan, what's wrong?"

Morgan shook his head, "How do you know there's something wrong?"

"Your tone. What happened?" She asked.

"Reid's in the hospital," Morgan said quietly.

"WHAT? What happened!?"

"Well…" Morgan wondered how to say this, "Hotch beat him, to get his gun to Reid. Reid took the shot; hit the guy right between the eyes. Then Reid insisted he was fine. When the plane landed, Reid didn't leave with the rest of us, so I went back to check on him. He could barely stand. He got a few feet with help, before coughing up blood and passing out."

"Have you told Hotch or the others?" Garcia asked softly.

"No, could you call the others? Tell them what happened? I'll call Hotch…"

"Sure. We'll all be there soon," Garcia said, hanging up.

Morgan sighed. He dialled Hotch's number.

Ring…ring…ring. "Hotchner," Hotch said forcefully, like he didn't want to talk to anyone.

"Hotch, it's Morgan."

"Morgan? What do you need?" Hotch asked, not missing Morgan's tone.

"Reid's in the hospital," Morgan said quietly.

"What?! What happened?" Hotch asked, concerned. What had he done?

"After the plane landed, I noticed Reid didn't get off with the rest of us. I went back on to check on him, and noticed he was hunched over, clutching his stomach. I tried to help him off the plane, but he could barely stand. He only made it a few feet, with me supporting most of his weight, before doubling over. He started coughing…he coughed up blood. Then he passed out. I came straight here," Morgan explained.

Hotch paled. He'd put his own agent in the hospital, the youngest member of his team, who had looked up to him. "I'm on my way."

"Yeah," Morgan hung up. He sighed, and slouched down in his chair.

Garcia, Elle, JJ, and Gideon all ran in together. Morgan shook his head, "Nothing yet." They took up the chairs beside him.

Hotch entered. On his usually impassive face, there was guilt, and worry. A moment later, a doctor walked in. "Agents Gideon, Hotchner, Morgan, Greenaway, Jareau, and Penelope Garcia?"

"Us," they said in unison.

The doctor looked at them. "I'm sorry. We did all we could."

A/N: That was a one-shot that popped into my head after finally watching L.D.S.K. Let me know what you thought.