"I got him! I got him!" Garcia screamed through their earpieces.
In less than five minutes they were loaded in SUV's and racing towards the address.
A snap shocked through the silence. He stood in the middle of a dilapidated room, images of the Mother Mary were plastered over the walls. Crosses hung over every door. His mind clicked and he understood. Joseph Darley was taking unwed, pregnant women, forcing their confessionals, and removing all evidence of the fetuses. Reid shivered, Joseph thought he was saving them from hell.
"I got her!" He bolted in the direction of Rossi's voice, a crack filling the silent air. Bile rose in the back of his throat, he slowed his pace and carefully tread to the sound of the gunshot.
Hotch stood, his gun out, pointed towards a crumpled figure on the ground. "Hey, Princess." A tiny hole took place in the center of the room, here, Morgan was laying on his stomach, flashlight peering down. "I'm going to get you out, okay? Okay." He rushed to the hole, gazing down into six feet of pitch black. The hole was only just big enough for Morgan to fit in, and just a little too deep for an average sized woman to get herself out of.
Hugging her knees, Juliette stared up at him, silent tears washing down her face. "Hotch," Morgan called. "I'm going to lift you up, okay?" Juliette nodded and stood, unable to put any weight on her left leg.
"Here you go," Morgan lifted her. Gently, Hotch pulled her up as if she weighed nothing ( In fact, Reid figured her weight to be somewhere around one hundred and four pounds.) Hotch carried her bridal style as Rossi helped Morgan out of the hole.
Blood was the first thing he saw. It was dried on her arms, wet through her torn shirt, and sticking to her hair and face. Hotch held her still as he unbuttoned her shirt to press his own into a large, open wound on her stomach. His hands were shaking worse than before, thoughts of the fetus' health running through his head.
"Spencer," she was still crying, her eyes focusing and unfocusing, tears mingling with the blood before forming a point on her chin. A cross was blistered, bloodied and cracking on the side of her neck.
He wanted to take her from Hotch's arms, he wanted to hold her, kiss her, let her know she was safe, he wanted to calm the storm in his heart. But his hands shook uncontrollably at the amount of blood on her shirt and his head pounded with every jerk her body gave.
The medics were ready for her. Her vitals were taken before she was strapped in. Something cold wrapped around his wrist. Green eyes flashed to him, panic danced in her irises. "I'm not leaving you alone." He whispered to her, stepping up into the ambulance.
"She's in shock, definite concussion judging by the contraction of her pupils, I believe her navicular bone and talus are broken, and she is dehydrated and hypoglycemic. And she's pregnant." He spoke, sweat rolling down his back as the paramedics were running their tests.
He jogged besides the stretcher as they rushed her into the Emergency Room.
Hours passed, he paced the waiting room, chugging down as much free coffee as he could. "Any word yet?" Morgan asked, frowning slightly.
"None."
"Rossi and Hotch are on their way over. Rossi's having a fit."
His stomach sickened with the hours, Morgan sat besides the coffee machine. "Dr. Reid?" He rushed to the man in scrubs.
"How's Juliette?"
"She's stable and resting. There are a couple broken bones, but we've stopped her bleeding and we've got her an IV. She's going to be okay, but I suggest she stays away from work for a couple of months."
"And the baby?" His breath was caught in his chest, he swallowed hard.
"The baby," the doctor began, Spencer closed his eyes, "is fine."
"Oh my god," his breath returned, he turned and wrapped his arms around Morgan, feeling his body shake as heavy tears fell, Derek supported his weight, sobbing with relief.
"It'll be about an hour before you can see her." The doctor smiled.
"What's wrong? What's wrong?" Garcia ran at them, Hotch, Rossi, and JJ in toll.
"They're okay." Morgan spoke for him. Tears still slipped down his face as he looked at his team, all smiling sadly.
"I'm going to be a dad." He smiled, still shaking with sobs as Rossi laughed, embracing him and vigorously kissing each cheek. "I'm going to be a dad!" He cheered. Hotch had a wide smile, and JJ was sharing a look with Garcia.
"Juliette," he whispered as he entered her room.
"Spencer," she breathed out as he kissed her forehead. "I love you."
"I love you too. Were you…" he trailed off, running his hand to her stomach, carefully checking her face.
"Y-yeah, I-I, I'm pregnant."
"I'm going to be a dad." He whispered as she nodded, "We need to move our wedding date closer."
"I want you to move in with me." Green eyes fixated on him, as he nodded furiously, bending to place a tender kiss on her tummy.
"Hey," he smiled, "I'm happy you're okay." He kissed her stomach again, talking lightly to their child before kissing Juliette. "You should get some sleep."
•••
He stood looking into the audience. His mother was smiling, tears ran down her face. He was shivering. Hair stood on the back of his neck, the music filled the room as everyone rose to their feet. His mother gave him an encouraging nod.
Hotch, Morgan, JJ and Garcia stood behind him in an arch. Down the aisle in a black suit, came Jack. He walked slowly, seriously, with his little eyebrows furrowed, Reid glanced back at a beaming Hotch.
In a princess gown, a flower wreath on her head, Annie came down the aisle, tossing a mixture of flower petals along the way. Annie was a girl from the children's reading group that Juliette often babysat. He smiled at Annie, who rushed to him, hugging him tightly. The audience chuckled.
Then his pulse froze. A jolt ran down his back as Juliette came into the picture. He breathed in sharply as his heart slammed into his sternum. White teeth flashed at him, bottle green eyes fixated on his.
Her dress was tight on top, but flowed in layers upon layers of lace and silk, trailing behind her as she walked. Bright light reflected off her dress, creating a kind of halo around her. She held a bouquet of daisies and lavender, the same flowers that were braided into her hair.
Rossi, dabbing at his eyes, walked Juliette down the aisle.
Something warm dripped down his cheek, Juliette stood in front of him, his hands were shaking and his face hurt from the unyielding smile. He barely heard the vows, his heart was beating over the pasture's voice. "I do."
"I do." Juliette spoke, bringing his head out of the buzz.
"You may kiss the bride." So he did. He held her close, dipping her back as cheering and clapping echoed around the chapel. Juliette pressed her face against his, laughing as tears streamed down their faces.
•••
He hugged his mother, wishing she didn't have to go back to the hospital after the reception. "Treat her well, Spencer."
"You know I will, Mom."
"I know."
"Where are honeymooning?" Garcia asked as he took a bite of cake.
"Rome." He whispered as Juliette turned to speak with Hotch.
"She is so beautiful." Garcia sat next to him, unable to stop smiling. "Your baby is going to be a heartthrob. Are you hoping for a boy or a girl?"
"I just hope for a healthy baby."
A clinking alerted Reid, he looked to see Morgan standing. "I think I speak for everyone when I say I thought Reid would never find a lady. Let alone speak to one. But, here we are and I cannot be more proud or excited for the two doctors. Here's to a happy life, Mr. and Mrs. Reid."
•••
"Juliette's in labor!" Garcia screamed, running into the bullpen, alerting everyone. He looked to Hotch, who was pulling his keys from his pocket.
"What do i do?" He asked, panic settling in.
"Stay calm and do not faint." Hotch's voice was serious, but he had a light smile on his face.
"Go on, we'll be in here." Hotch stood by Rossi in the waiting room.
And then there he was, standing as Juliette screamed, veins pulsing in her neck. "You're almost there. Squeeze my hand as hard as you can." Finding his calm, he spoke softly to her as his knuckles ground together and lost feeling.
"I can see the head!" Tears fell from her eyes as she pushed.
"I'm so tired," sweat dripped down her forehead, "I'm so tired, Spence."
"I know, you're almost there, come on. Give me a big one." She shook her head, tears falling.
"Mrs. Reid, one last push." The nurse spoke.
A wail broke the air. He looked to see the doctor holding a small, little, squirming baby. His small, little, squirming baby. Hands covered his mouth, there she was. Juliette reached for their child, sniffling slightly as the baby came to rest in her arms.
Heart racing, he wanted to scream. His hands shook as he cut the umbilical cord. "We're going to get her cleaned up and weighed, and we'll bring her right back." The nurse spoke as Juliette nodded.
"I don't want her to go." He whispered, smiling.
He kissed Juliette's forehead as the nurses took care of her.
"Hey, Pops." Morgan patted him on the back as Spencer pulled his friend in for a hug.
"She's beautiful." He whispered, trying not to cry as Morgan passed him to an equally teary-eyes Garcia. "She's perfect."
"Have you two decided on a name?"
"I think so." He nodded as Garcia held his weight up.
•••
Juliette sat up in her bed, brown hair curling down as she cradled their little girl. "She has your hair, Spencer." The whisper was sweet. JJ sat next to Juliette in the chair, cooing at the child.
"Can I hold her?" Juliette nodded, slowly passing the calm baby to him.
"Hey," he whispered, looking down into huge, blue eyes that promised to turn green. "Look at you." He smiled at his child, feeling his heart swell as she grabbed the collar of his shirt.
"So, what's her name?"
"Athena Marie." A tear slid down his cheek as he sat on the edge of the bed, rocking Athena gently as Juliette began to fall asleep.
"Athena Marie Reid." Hotch spoke, "That's beautiful." Reid passed him his child as Hotch reached for her, gently cradling the small bundle. "You, are going to be scary smart." He whispered, a genuine smile on his face.
Rossi held Athena next, cradling her, smiling, humming an old Italian song.
"Let me kiss her." Juliette spoke as her eyes drifted open again, Rossi lowered the baby, Juliette kissed her daughter's forehead.
"Morgan," he whispered, accepting Athena back into his arms, holding her close to his heart, "Juliette and I were thinking. Would you be her godfather?"
"I-I," he stuttered slightly, before gently kissing her forehead. "I would be honored, Kid."