Disclaimer: I don't own Criminal Minds.
Thanks so much for all the reviews, you guys! I can't believe how many there are! Anyways, here another chapter. I hope you enjoy! I can so see how this would happen in the work area of their team…news just going around, person by person. I don't know when the next one will be coming though because tomorrow is Monday and Monday means another school week.
Derek walked back to the door to the break room five minutes later, satisfied to see that Reid was sound asleep on the couch again. He turned and walked back towards the general meeting area, only to run into JJ.
"Is Reid in there?" JJ asked, nodding her head towards the lounge. Derek nodded.
"Yeah. He's sleeping."
"Still?" JJ asked. It was rare for Reid to sleep at all, much less this long. Derek nodded again.
"I don't think he feels well."
JJ turned and she and Derek began walking in the original direction that Derek had been.
"What makes you say that?" she asked, a hint of concern in her voice.
"I was in there a few minutes ago and he was waking up. He was all set to get back to work but he almost fell down as soon as he stood up."
By this time, JJ and Derek had reached the gathering area. Emily came in, catching the end of their conversation.
"Who almost fell over as soon as he stood up?" she inquired, sitting at the table.
"Reid. He's not feeling great." JJ told her. Emily's eyebrows went up.
"Reid?" she asked, a hint of doubt in her voice. She had never seen Reid have a physical fault aside from the interaction with the anthrax and it didn't seem possible. JJ nodded again, confirming Emily's question.
"Where is he now?" Emily asked, still skeptical.
"Where is who now?" Hotch asked, coming in with a cup of coffee from a café.
"Reid." Derek answered. "He's in the staff lounge, passed out on a couch."
Hotch looked up at him.
"What on earth is he doing asleep? Why didn't someone wake him?" Hotch looked a bit miffed at the occurrence, to say the least. He started to walk towards the lounge but Derek put out his hand and stopped him.
"Leave him. He's sick."
Hotch stopped in his tracks.
"Reid. Sick?" he, like Emily, had his doubts about the accuracy of the situation.
Emily nodded.
"Yeah, I didn't believe it either. But apparently," Emily put emphasis on the word. "he almost fell over when he tried to stand up."
"Who?" Gideon entered the room, carrying a cup similar to Hotch's.
JJ sighed in frustration. She turned to Derek.
"We should just make a sign and post it on the board."
Derek smiled in agreement.
"A sign about what? Would somebody please tell me what's going on?" Gideon asked, sounding exasperated. Hotch turned to Gideon.
"Reid is sick and is asleep in the staff lounge. Apparently he almost fell over when he stood up."
Gideon said nothing about Hotch's announcement but turned to JJ and Derek.
"Putting up a sign wouldn't do any good now; the only one who doesn't know is Garcia and she's not going to be here for another-"
"Garcia's right here." A voice from the door spoke up. Everyone turned to see Garcia, loaded down with computer bags.
"Oh, hey, baby girl. Let me help you with those." Derek reached out to take the bags from Garcia.
"Thanks." She said as Derek placed them on the table.
"What don't I know?" Garcia questioned.
She watched as JJ looked at Derek, Derek looked at Emily, Emily looked at Hotch, and Hotch looked at Gideon, who turned towards Garcia.
"Reid's sick. He's in the staff lounge."
"But Reid's never sick." Garcia said.
"We know." Emily put in.
"But apparently he is now." Hotch said.
"Aww. Poor Reid." Garcia said, her voice full of sympathy. No one said anything but Gideon cleared his throat.
"Okay, enough about Reid. Just keep an eye on him, somebody. Now, Garcia, here are the computers we confiscated. We need to do a full check on them."
Garcia began sorting through the computer bags on the table, pulling out cables and other gadgets.
"The rest of you, we need to go check out a housing complex about thirty minutes from here. We leave in five." Gideon's voice was firm and he walked out the door before anyone could say anything. Everyone swung into motion, grabbing coats and hats and gloves. Before they left, Derek walked over to where Garcia was sitting.
"Keep an eye on him, angel." Derek said. Garcia nodded, secretly glad she was the only one left to 'keep an eye' on Reid. She watched as everyone left and then sat back in her chair and sighed.
Garcia had always had a soft spot for Reid in her heart and now she was left with the task of looking after him. It was a role she felt honored to fill, even though it was one she didn't want to have to fill. She sighed again, knowing she wouldn't be able to accomplish anything until she went and saw Reid herself. So Garcia got up and walked towards the staff lounge.
So many of you pushed that magic button last time. Do it again, please!