Disclaimer: as always, I own nothing, no copyright infringement is intended.
A/N:I really appreciate the people who have reviewed as well as those who are subscribing to the story and have made it a favorite. This chapter takes place during the episode "With Friends Like These"
"I'm worried about you, Spence," Archer said. "You forgot to set the coffee maker timer again. That's not a good sign. Don't worry though, I brewed some." Archer was sitting in a chair in Reid's living room. Reid was doing his best to ignore Archer. "You can't ignore me forever."
"You aren't real."
"Are you sure?"
Reid didn't say anything.
"The silent treat me really hurts Spence," Archer said. "I really wish I could convince you that I'm real. Because there's some things I could tell you. Things you would find useful."
"You aren't real though."
"How about Emily? Was she real?"
"She's dead."
"Are you sure?"
"She's dead."
"Did you see her body?"
"JJ told me."
"So, you refuse to believe that I'm real, when you can see me, but you'll take it on faith that Emily's dead."
"You're a delusion."
"And what about that booty call Emily paid you a few nights ago?"
Reid stiffened up. "I was dreaming."
"And now you're debating with a hallucination. Maybe you need a little therapy. You should definitely mention your trust issues."
Reid turned around and walked out of the room.
"I really resent being lumped in with your headaches and light sensitivity induced hallucinations. I'm not a Spencer Reid creation. I am a 100% original being. You hear me. I'm my own archetype."
Spencer Reid sat on his bed and held his head in his hands. He felt like he was losing his grip on sanity. If he didn't find a way to make these hallucinations stop, he was certain he would be institutionalized soon.
A little while later on the other side of the world, a woman entered her apartment. Spencer Reid knew her as Emily Prentiss. Her landlord knew her as Gretchen Haupt, a citizen of Germany spending time in Milan. As she locked the door behind her, she heard a familiar voice.
"I like this place Emily. I like Italy much better." It was Archer, sitting in a chair and his legs propped up on the coffee table. "Don't get me wrong, France is okay. But, I think too many people run away to Paris. Trust me, this is better."
"What are you doing here?"
"It's nice to see you too. I thought I would spend time with my new friend. I was hoping to get a better reception than Spencer's been giving me. Would you believe he still thinks I'm a hallucination? You have no idea how much that hurts."
"If you just appear out of nowhere on him too, I don't blame him. What do you want?"
"You know, some people actually like me. Some people greet me with open arms."
"Then go bother them."
"Fine, if you don't want to help Spencer no problem. I'll just leave you alone to figure out how the hell you'll track down Doyle." He stood up and walked towards the door.
Emily blocked his path. "Who said I was going after Doyle?"
"What else would you be doing here? Now, if I was you I wouldn't want to waste much time with Doyle. But that's me. So, if you want to abandon Spence, go ahead."
"I'm not abandoning Reid!"
"Well, he's there and you're here. He's trying to hold onto his sanity and you faked your death. Sound to me like someone abandoned someone else. And he needs some help right now."
"If I could help him right now, I would."
"Really?"
"Of course I would. In a heartbeat."
"That's better." Before she could say anything, Archer snapped his fingers. Suddenly he and Emily were in a police station bullpen surrounded by officers while the BAU were giving a briefing.
"What the hell?" The words were out of Emily's mouth before she could stop them.
"It's a police station. I believe we're in Oregon."
"And you don't think people will notice that we just appeared."
"Oh relax. They can't see us."
Emily looked at Reid, and saw the recognition in his eyes, accompanied by a look of panic. "But he can."
"Well of course he can. What would be the point if he couldn't? Hi Spence!" Archer waved.
Fortunately, the briefing ended soon after that. As soon as it was over, Reid left the bullpen.
"Oh, that is so rude," Archer said. He went after Reid. He was barely out of the bullpen when Emily slammed him against the wall.
"Leave him alone!" she growled.
"Emily!" Archer was clearly taken aback by Emily's actions.
"You say you're his friend..."
"I am his friend."
"Don't you know what he fears more than anything?"
"What does his fear of the dark have to do with anything?"
"That's not his greatest fear. He's terrified that he'll go crazy. That great mind all of us are in awe of...he's afraid one day it will turn on him. So, here you come appearing out of nowhere. No one can see you but him. You have me appear to him, and he thinks he's going crazy. You may think you're his friend, but right know you're acting like an enemy."
"I'm not Emily. I swear to you, I'm not."
"Prove it."
"How?"
Emily let go of Archer. "I'm going to calm him down. Then you and I are going to leave, and you are not going to do this anymore."
"But I need him to know some things. Important things."
"You're going to have to find a different way to tell him."
Emily walked away and found Reid in the bathroom. He was staring in the mirror, trying to decide how far gone he was . Seeing Emily in the mirror didn't make him feel better.
"Reid, don't panic."
"You're not real. You can't be real."
"Then I'm not. But you aren't going to crazy."
He squinted his eyes closed. He was trying to will himself better. That's how Morgan found him in the bathroom.
"What's going on kid?"
"It's nothing."
"Tell him, Reid," Emily said. "If you think you're losing it, then tell him."
"Emily," Reid said," not now."
"Emily? What does Emily have to do with this?" Morgan asked.
"I keep seeing her. I ...I'm losing it Morgan. I'm losing it."
"Reid, turn around and look at me."
Reid turned around and opened his eyes. He could still see Emily, but clearly Morgan didn't.
"Reid," Morgan said,"did you see her in the bullpen just now?"
"Yes." Reid said it in a whisper.
"That makes sense."
"What are you talking about?"
"Kid, we all miss her. And you're used to seeing her in bullpens. We're all going through it."
"Morgan you don't understand."
"Why, because you think you're going to end up like your mother? You think I don't know that? We all know that. And I promise you, I will keep my eye on you. If I think you're losing it, I promise I'll pull you out of the field at once. I've got your back. "
While Reid and Morgan were talking, Emily sneaked out of the bathroom. It was easy because Reid was focused on Morgan and Morgan couldn't see Emily. No one could, except for Archer. It didn't take log for Emily to find him.
"Okay, let's go." She said.
"That's it? You let Morgan do all the heavy lifting?"
"How the hell do you know what happened?"
"I know things. I mean, not like I know and see all, but close enough."
"It doesn't matter. I did what needed to happen. I got Reid to tell Morgan. Morgan will take care of him. He's a busy-body, but he means well."
"Not exactly what I was hoping was going to happen. I was hoping the two of you might resolve some issues."
"Like what?"
"Like that kiss from the other night. And what else you wanted to do with him."
"Well that can't be resolved right now."
"Why not?"
"Because he thinks I'm dead and that I'm just a grief induced hallucination. Now take me back, and leave him alone."
Archer snapped his fingers and they were back at her place.
"Well," Archer said, "we're back, but I'm not done with him."
"What do you want from him?"
"The only thing I've ever wanted, for him to be happy. I saw that kiss, you two are right for each other. Come on, are you telling me you don't want it?"
"It doesn't matter what I want. He thinks I'm dead, and it has to stay like that until Doyle's dealt with. So, if you want things to progress between me and Reid, why don't you help me with Doyle?"
"Sorry Emily, I can't."
"What's the matter? Are not all knowing and seeing enough to know where he is?"
Archer smiled. "It's not that. Like you Emily, I have rules I have to follow. I can only interfere to a point. Believe me, if it were up to me things wouldn't have gone this far. If I could do whatever I want, that tactical team would have found Doyle hogtied in the warehouse. But, I can't."
"Of course not. That would be useful. So what, it's okay for you to make people question their sanity but not to actually help."
"You know, there was a time when people just listened to me. People used to think themselves blessed when I showed up."
"Well, not anymore. Just leave, okay. And stop making Reid think he's nuts. He deserves better."
"I'll leave, but I don't promise I won't be back."
"Just leave him alone."
"Emily, no bullshit, do you love him?"
"I don't know. Maybe."
Archer smiled. "That's progress."
"What?"
"You never would have even partially admitted your feeling before. This is good. I promise, from here on out Spencer Reid will have no reason to question his sanity. And I am going to rack my brain for a way to help you with Doyle."
And with that, he was gone.
