Disclaimer: I don't own Criminal Minds. If I did, something like this would've happened already.
Thanks so much to all those who read and reviewed! I love reading your reviews. I've had countless people tell me they would volunteer to help Garcia take care of Reid and like I told one person in response, Garcia could have a whole hospital staffed with volunteers for the position (: Anyways, here the next chapter! Enjoy and review!
Garcia didn't know where she was going but trailed around hallways until she found herself in the doorway of the staff lounge. She stopped in the doorway, looking at the sleeping Reid.
"Ah Reid." She said quietly, almost as a sigh. After standing in the doorway for a moment, she decided that Reid was okay for now and that she would check on him later. What was there that she could do for him now anyways? He was sound asleep, as he should be. She turned on her heel and began to walk away but was stopped when she heard her name. She quickly turned around and walked back to the door.
Reid's eyes were squinted as he tried to block out the bright light.
"Garcia? Is that you?" he asked, his voice husky. Garcia stayed in the doorway.
"Yeah, Reid, it's me." She said gently. "How're you feeling?"
In response, Reid groaned. Garcia smiled sympathetically.
"That good, huh?"
Reid's face showed a hint of a smile.
"Can I get you anything?" Garcia asked.
"A blanket would be great. It's freezing in here." Reid asked, shivering.
"Sure." Garcia searched the room and eventually found a blanket in one of the cupboards. While searching, she pondered Reid's request. It didn't show promise; the room was easily degrees warmer than it already should've been and it was warm outside. Keeping her thoughts to herself, she walked over to the couch and draped the blanked over Reid.
"Thanks." Reid said through chattering teeth.
"No problem." Garcia watched as Reid's body relaxed as the blanket began to hold in his body head. "I'm just outside if you need anything else."
"Okay." Reid mumbled, already half asleep again.
Garcia left the room, glancing over her shoulder once more before turning the corner. After finding her way back to the main room, she began sorting through her bags and cords and began connecting this and that.
Lost in her work, Garcia lost track of time. Not used to the unfamiliar setting, she jumped when her cell phone rang. She picked it up and looked at the ID. It was Derek.
"Garcia. Talk to me."
"Hey baby doll. How are things with the computers going?"
"Not bad. Still working at them, but I should be into the internal memory within the hour."
"Great." Derek paused. "How's Reid doing?"
"Last I checked, he was sleeping. He asked for a blanket, claiming it was freezing, but fell asleep again."
"He was freezing? In that staff room? It must've been over eighty degrees in there." Derek stated the fact that Garcia had noted earlier.
"I know. But I wasn't going to let him freeze."
"No, of course not. Listen baby girl, I have to go. Talk to you later."
With that, Derek hung up and Garcia snapped her phone closed. She put it back on the table and sat back in her chair. It was obvious that Derek had called to ask about Reid and not about her progress. She smiled at the thought of how much everyone was concerned for Reid. At the age of 24, Reid was the youngest member on the team, and though the smartest, he still held the spot of the kid figure. Having been through a lot, everyone had a special place for Reid and it was obvious that held a unique but strong relationship with everyone. Lost in her thoughts, Garcia had forgotten about the task in front of her until a computer beeped. She left her thoughts behind and began working on the computers once more.
Hours later, the rest of the team came into the room.
"Oh, hey." Garcia greeted them. "How'd it go?"
"Fine. How's Reid?" JJ asked.
"I don't know. It's been a few hours since I checked on him."
JJ hurried off to the lounge, followed by Derek and Garcia. JJ walked quietly into the room and pulled a chair up beside the couch. Derek and Garcia stood behind her, watching. JJ reached out and touched one of Ried's shoulders.
"Reid?" she asked quietly. She gently shook his shoulder. "Reid…time to wake up."
They watched as Reid's body flinched at the shake and slowly his eyes began to open.
"JJ…" his voice trailed off.
"Hey Reid."
Reid's eyes drifted up to see Garcia and Derek standing behind JJ.
"What time is it?" he asked, stretching his arms.
"It's about three-thirty." Garcia answered him.
"In the morning?"
"Afternoon." JJ said. "How are you feeling?"
"Uncomfortably hot." Reid was looking more awake with every second and his face was beginning to flush.
At that moment, Emily came into the room. Everyone turned to look at her.
"What? I wanted a cup of coffee." She said. She helped herself from the pot and then joined the posse behind JJ.
"Reid," Derek spoke up. "Do you remember this morning?"
Reid's eyes shifted to meet Derek's.
"This morning? What happened this morning?" Reid's voice held questions.
JJ sighed in disappointment. Reid not remembering was not a good sign.
"Nothing. I just told you to go back to sleep." Derek answered Reid.
Just then, Hotch entered, using the same excuse Emily had. He too joined the posse after getting a cup of coffee.
"Do you remember me coming in, Reid?" Garcia asked. Reid's eyes had been darting from face to face and soon they met Garcia's.
"I think so. I asked for a blanket, didn't I?"
Garcia nodded. Just as Emily opened her mouth to say something, Gideon strode into the room with his hands in his pockets.
"I'm not here for a cup of coffee. I just wanted to see how Reid's doing."
"Reid is just fine. A little warm, but this room is naturally warm because of all the windows." Reid spoke up from the couch.
"No, Reid. You're not fine. You're sick; you almost fainted earlier and when Garcia checked on you a few hours ago, you were freezing. You're not fine." Gideon argued.
"But…that's impossible. I don't get sick." Reid protested.
"Reid…" a bunch of voices overlapped as if they were all about to scold the young man.
"Reid." Gideon began again. "You're not fine. You are going to stay here on the couch, sleep a little, whatever. You're not getting up. And the rest of you-" Gideon said, eyes raised at the rest of the team. "—are going to get back to work. I'll have the nurse come in and look at Reid."
"Gideon-" Reid protested but was silenced with one look from Gideon. Reid sighed and then shifted on the couch as the rest of the team filled out of the room. Just before leaving, Gideon turned to face Reid.
"Just relax, okay? You don't have to be a genius today."
With that, Gideon left Reid.
Do I need to tell you what to do with that button right there? Just to be safe, press it!
