It was winter, and the mountains were heavy were snow. The location was very remote and the road was a seldom used service road. By the time team got there their tempers were frayed and they wondered if someone was pranking them. They got to their destination and found a rundown cabin. The cabin was surrounded by trees, only a few feet around the outside of the cabin was clear. There was smoke coming from the chimney, and firewood stacked against the right side. Outside of the smoke there were no other signs of life. The team got out and looked around in puzzlement
"Are we sure this is the place, I haven't seen a car or a vehicle for miles?" Morgan asked
"This is where the coordinates directed us. The piles of firewood and well worn path indicate that a person has been staying here for a while." Rossi said
"Let's go see who's here." Hotch said walking to the door
Morgan knocked and the door opened to reveal Spencer Reid: he had a beard, mustache and wild unkempt hair. He was wearing a brown jacket, jeans, and well worn tennis shoes, a blanket was around his shoulders and he was leaning on a stick. He didn't seem surprised to see them, he simply gestured for the agents to come inside.
"Come in, come in quickly you're letting out the warmth."
The team entered the cabin which was not much warmer than outside. After they were all in Reid hurriedly shut the door. The team looked around the cabin in puzzled dismay. It was a one room cabin, there were patched up holes in the sides and roof, the floor was wood and looked like it was rotting in some places. In one side of the cabin was a log with an old plank on top holding some rough bowls, another log was beside it. In the corner opposite the door was a blanket, in the center of the cabin directly opposite from the door was an old hearth fireplace with a low fire, fire wood was stacked next to it. Reid walked over to the fire and stirred an old pot, hung over the flames with a makeshift tripod. In front of the hearth and to the side was a wooden bowl filled with water.
"I do hope you don't mind if I sit, it's easier." Reid said sitting on an upturned log placed in front of the fireplace
Hotch shook his head along with Rossi. The team spread themselves out but no one else sat. Morgan went to talk to Reid but Reid started rambling before he could open his mouth
"Oh this is will be so nice; I haven't had company in ages. Not since I woke up here, alone friendless without means of escape. Constantly struggling to survive, freezing my tail off, barely able to find food" Reid suddenly laughed suddenly sounding slightly unhinged "Forgive me I tend to ramble on sometimes.
The team started, but decided to wait and not risk setting Reid off. Reid stirred the pot, than tasted it. He chuckled slightly in pleasure at the taste. After five minutes Reid stood up and took the pot out of the fireplace by looping a piece of wood through the handle. He carried the pot over to the table
"Everyone come, gather round. I know it's not much but it's hot." Reid said taking all four of the wooden bowls and filling them with soup
He passed out three of them one to Hotch, one to Morgan and one to JJ, the fourth he kept. He eagerly drank his soup as the others examined theirs: it was mostly water with some strange white and brown things floating around.
"Reid what's in the soup?" Hotch asked
"Oh it's a good one today: It's got tree bark of course, but also roots and animal bones. I'm pretty sure the roots aren't poisonous, so dig in."
Hotch gamely sampled it, almost spitting it out as soon as he tasted it. JJ passed hers to Emily who managed a swallow, before handing it over to Reid who took with a shrug and finished it. Morgan passed him his as well which he also finished. Hotch discreetly dumped his soup back into the pot. Reid gathered the bowls together and then sat on the log and waited then suddenly jumped up
"Oh I'm sorry I forgot to ask if anyone was thirsty." He said gesturing to the bowl of water "I just gathered and melted the snow thirty minutes before you got here."
Everyone shook their heads, and Hotch took the lead
"Spencer, we came here because I got a radio message from Jason Gideon. He said there was a case here. Do you know where he is, or what the case is?"
Reid looked ashamed "Gideon isn't here, I sent the message. I'm sorry I lied. I do hope no one's angry. I'd understand if you were. It's just well you know, but you're here."
"Why would you do that?" Rossi asked
Reid looked dumbfounded he glanced around the rundown shack, the watery soup, the bowl of water on the hearth, and the low fire, and lastly at himself emaciated, and dressed in rags. He looked back at Rossi and raised an eyebrow clearly asking if he had gone senile. Hotch quickly stepped in, not wanting to set Reid off.
"Spencer how did you send the message? There isn't a radio here and we didn't see another structure or vehicle as we drove here."
Reid standing up said "Oh the radio, I can show it to you. It's an hour's walk, or at least it used to be." He ruefully grimaced down at his right foot.
A/N As usual an idea that came to me. Please let me know what you think, any speculations on whets happening. I treasure reviews and the more I get the more I write.