A/N: Okay, I don't even know what to say to you people, except that you're all just amazing *hugs you all like crazy* I mean, I never thought I'd get so much positive feedback on this story… it's just… awesome *hugs you again*

I love you for all the nice and encouraging words and so I tried to hurry with a new chapter and I hope you will like it as much as you liked the first one *hopeful puppydog-eyes* And comments are most appreciated, especially since I'm even more insecure with this story than I am with all my other stories because of the MPreg angle *smiles*

Thank you to krynny, Moonlitorion, Random168, CMAli, brighteyes343, Bittersweet Dream, Celia Bracali, Cowboy'sMontana, Ryu88, Nienna-lo, PinkHimeLacus, njferrell, nicolethecrazyone, Demongrrl223, ATwistedSista, DarkLavi, LadyAthelia, keikochan100, 68luvcarter, MistressNerd, seditionary, Beary-Chan, angel, Blue-Eyed Chica, Stompy Bigfoot, xXFreedom-ReaderXx, Voodoo's13thHeart, DanniHavok, zindiq, HeIsDeadAndGoneLady, yay, bluelimbo, lilfiftyfour, Plutobaby494, I do have a name, Raivenne and Sakya for taking the time to review my little story *hugs you all*

And now have fun reading *hugs again*

.

Disclaimer: None of the CM characters belong to me… I just borrowed them for this little story… my OC'S do belong to me though… this story doesn't mean to offend anybody… this is just for fun… and not for money either...

.

Chapter 2

.

"Come in."

Hotch didn't even raise his head when there was a knock on the door to his office just an hour before he usually left the BAU and went home.

He knew that it would probably be JJ with a new case or Rossi wanting to discuss an old case with Hotch that he was going to use in his next book.

"Um, Hotch, can I talk to you for a second?"

When he heard the voice, Hotch did look up in surprise,

The last person he had expected to come knocking on his door this evening was Dr. Spencer Reid.

In fact Hotch hadn't even known that Reid was still in the building.

Morgan had told him, that, after the little incident in the bullpen earlier, that Spencer didn't feel too good and had gone home.

And even though Aaron had suspected that Spencer did feel too embarrassed with what had happened to come back and face his colleagues today, he had said nothing and had vowed to himself that he would talk to Reid the following day.

He could request an explanation of the young genius's irrational behavior.

But it looked like Reid was once again quicker than Aaron and had realized that he had acted out without a justified reason.

And the Unit Chief also suspected that he had deliberately chosen this late hour, where everybody, except Hotch, Rossi and JJ, had already gone home.

.

Hotch only nodded at Reid's question if he had a minute for him and the young profiler shuffled into the room, not really looking at Hotch until he had taken a seat in the soft leather chair, which Aaron had recently installed in his room so that he would be at least a little comfortable if he had to work long hours.

Only when Reid seemed to be as comfortable as he could possibly be in this situation, one hand resting on his stomach, almost protectively, as Hotch noticed, did Spencer look at him.

/Maybe he really felt sick…/ Hotch mused when he noticed the hand still resting on Spencer's stomach, because he had realized that it was a subconscious gesture.

And even though Hotch didn't want to, he started to scan the young genius for any visible signs of drug use.

He needed to make sure that Prentiss's, even though reluctant, suspicions didn't prove to be true. And even if they did, then Hotch wanted to know so that he could help Reid before Strauss got wind of all of this.

"Hotch, I'm really sorry about what has happened earlier. And I'll pull some overtime so that I can catch up on the reports I wasn't able to do today."

Reid finally broke the tense silence in the room and he ran the hand over his stomach up and down once again.

Hotch couldn't help but smile lightly, because of all the things Reid should be uncomfortable about, he had to feel most uncomfortable about some case reports that he hadn't finished.

"Don't worry about those reports, Reid. I'm pretty sure that you've done more than your fair share of reports today, probably much more than the rest of this team has managed to finish during a full day of work," Hotch assured and then paused for a moment to close the file he had been working on.

Then he studied Reid for another moment, before he questioned: "I'd, however, really like to know what that little scene you caused earlier was all about."

Hotch tried to sound only curious and not accusing.

.

And he sure as hell wouldn't confront Reid with Emily's suspicions yet, until he had sure proof that the young man was doing drugs again.

Reid actually blushed a little and he was obviously embarrassed by his earlier actions.

Hotch noticed that with satisfaction, because that would makes things a lot easier for him and the team, because Reid would probably apologize to all of them tomorrow and since nobody could stay mad at Spencer for long, the little outburst would be forgotten soon.

He patiently waited for the young man to say something, because Hotch knew if he wanted to get the younger man to talk he needed to give him all the time he needed.

Reid swallowed thickly, probably trying to find the right words or at least a reasonable explanation.

"I assume you don't buy the explanation that I just didn't want to spend a day shopping with Garcia, JJ and Emily… it's a pretty frightening thought and I just went a little over the top when telling Garica no," Reid told Aaron.

The stern look on Hotch's face told Reid everything he needed to know, even though he admitted that Spencer was right and it was a frightening thought to be dragged shopping by the girls.

"Thought so," Reid only mumbled, his hand still resting on his stomach, rubbing it absentmindedly now and then.

He lowered his eyes for a moment, studying the carpet, probably thinking about the best way to continue this conversation.

Hotch once again just waited patiently, the worry for his youngest increasing with every passing second.

And even though Aaron still didn't believe that Emily was right and Reid was once again using drugs, he got the feeling that something was wrong with him, something more than not wanting to throw a baby shower for Morgan.

That alone was a confusing thought. Hotch had always assumed that Reid and Morgan were best friends and Reid should have been happy for the father-to-be, but instead he hadn't even raised an eyebrow at the announcement, let alone showed any enthusiasm.

And that really was unusual, because he had been ecstatic when Henry had been born and JJ had named Reid Henry's godfather.

And Hotch strongly believed that, if Gloria's and Morgan's baby was going to be a boy, Reid would find himself named a godfather once more.

So there had to be a different reason for Reid's outburst and Hotch wanted to know what that was.

Spencer finally did look up and swallowed thickly again.

"Well, I didn't lie so much… I mean, not wanting to go on a shopping tour with Garcia when she's throwing a baby shower for her beloved Chocolate Muffin," Reid finally admitted and this time Hotch believed him, but he also noticed the cynical undertone when he talked about the baby shower for Morgan.

"And what's the other part of the truth?" He wanted to know, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms in front of his chest, so that he looked relaxed and like the boss he was to Spencer at the same time.

Reid swallowed again and he rocked back and forth in the leather chair a few times, before he looked at Hotch again.

"Actually this other part is the reason why I wanted to talk to you. I need a few days – a week would be even better- off due to personal reasons."

Now Hotch couldn't conceal his surprise, because that were words he had least expected and his worry for his youngest teammate grew.

.

He leaned forward, put his elbow on his desk and rested his head in his upturned hand.

"Time off for personal reasons? And effective from when on?" He questioned cautiously, not ready to give Reid time off with a reasonable and believable explanation.

Spencer looked even more nervous than before and the hand on his stomach clenched into a fist for a second.

"It's… umm… it's kind of complicated, Hotch… and that's exactly why I need some time off to figure some things out, before I can tell you all about it. And effective from when on? It would be best if I could get time off the day after tomorrow."

Reid looked hopeful and Hotch guessed that he didn't ask for the leave to be effective immediately so that he could apologize to Garcia and the rest of the team tomorrow, before he left.

But Hotch had the nagging feeling that there was something important that Reid wasn't telling him.

And Hotch also knew that he should probably get Reid to talk about it before he left and before he could rebuild the defenses he had developed when he was still a small child to cope with all the things that went wrong in young Spencer Reid's life.

They had cracked a little today for whatever reasons and Hotch knew he needed to take advantage of that if he wanted to know what was wrong with Reid so that he could help him.

He took a deep breath and thought about how to best go about this whole situation, while he studied Reid closely, trying to read his body language, which could only be described as defensive.

And even though Aaron didn't really want to, he knew there was no better way to get Reid to talk about his problems was the direct approach and to confront him with Emily's suspicion, even though he knew Reid would not really be happy with him if he did.

But what had to be done, had to be done… so Hotch took another deep breath and straightened in his chair, trying to appear the boss he was to the younger man.

"Reid, I know you might not like my next question, but I want an honest answer to it and if I'm satisfied with what you have to say then I'll grant you the one week leave," he stated.

Spencer eyed his boss warily and Hotch could almost see that Reid tried his best not to hug his knees to his chest to appear even smaller and after a moment of thought, he slowly nodded, awaiting the next question.

"Reid, are you using drugs again?"

The question hung in the air and Spencer gaped at Hotch in shock and his hands ran over his stomach once again, a habit he must've discovered lately and which seemed to soothe him somehow, like Aaron noticed.

But there was no way he could conceal the hurt and betrayal in his expressive eyes.

The silence came almost oppressive and Hotch regretted asking Reid that and was more than prepared the young man if he wanted to bolt.

But Hotch had to give him credit for not freaking out and instead letting Hotch know with his eyes what he thought about the accusation and he voiced it too, his voice harsh and disappointed.

"What? You are seriously asking me if I'm using again? You seriously think that I'd ruin my career after how hard it has been that last time?"

Hotch had to flinch himself now and he resisted the urge to walk over to Reid and hug him close and tell him that he was sorry for even suggesting it, but his position as the leader of this team didn't allow him to.

"I'm sorry Reid, but I just had to ask. I mean, the last time you acted like that, has been after the ordeal with Hankel and when you were hooked on Dilaudid," Aaron said, almost defending himself.

This time Reid sprung up from his chair.

"So, the only time I have the right to be stressed and act unnatural is when I'm doing drugs?" he asked, shaking his head in sort of a denial and Hotch knew that he had somehow overstepped a boundary.

And he stood too, walking towards the young man, who stared at him in defiance.

"Reid, that's not how I meant it. Don't you get that we're just worried about you?"

.

Spencer's expression softened a little and before Hotch really knew what was happening, the young man threw himself in his arms and started crying almost hysterically.

"Oh Hotch… I just… I just don't know what to do… I don't know how to do this… I mean… I… I never had a father… how am I supposed to know how to be one?" He sobbed against Hotch's chest.

Aaron awkwardly put his arms around the younger man in an attempt to soothe him somehow, rubbing gentle circles on Reid's back with his hands because that had always had calmed Jack down when he had had a particularly bad nightmare and had crawled into Hotch's and Hailey's bed.

But then the young man's words suddenly registered in Hotch's brain and he tensed.

"Reid? What do you mean you don't know how to be a father?" He questioned, because he had no idea what else to do or say.

Reid separated a little from Hotch and looked at his boss and friend with wide, brown and frightened eyes.

"God Hotch, I'm pregnant… and the other father doesn't even want to have to do anything with the baby…"

Spencer's outburst mixed with someone asking from the doorway: "Hotch, do you have the file on…"

The voice trailed off and Reid's head snapped towards the doorway, staring at the person standing there in shock and before Hotch or the newcomer could react, the young man fled from the room, ignoring the pleading: "Please, Spencer, stop… let's talk about this…"

.

to be continued if you're still interested…