Doesn't it Help?
Summary: All it took was one final straw that triggered Reid's downfall. Because of an accident, he falls back into his old drug habit and old nightmares plague the youngest agent. Can he recover with the help of the people he cares about most? (Rated T for drug abuse.)
Disclaimer: Sadly, I don't own Criminal Minds. (I wish I owned Reid.)
"You're late," Morgan announced as Spencer hurried in just in time for the briefing, looking tired and frazzled. JJ handed him a cup of coffee with a smile, giving Morgan a "back off" look.
"I'm sorry. I slept through my alarm," Reid offered as way of explanation.
"You didn't miss anything too important," JJ whispered so only Spencer could hear her.
"Don't let it happen again," Hotch said in an authoritative voice.
"Yessir," Reid replied respectively, providing his attention back to Garcia as she filled them in in the details of the latest string of crimes.
"Doesn't it help?" The voice in his head taunted.
You have no idea.
Reid knew then that he was going crazy. It wasn't normal to hear voices. The thought of his mother's illness sent a tightness in his chest so tight he could barely breath and sent his hands shaking. He yearned for another dose to block the pain that consumed him.
"Wheels up in thirty," Hotch announced. Reid used the diversion to sneak off to the bathroom, needing something to be able to function. It took him three minutes to grab what he needed, four to get on the jet, he was always seven minutes early, and a minute had already passed, which mean he had exactly fourteen minutes and thirty-three seconds to collect himself before getting into the jet.
He sat down in the privacy of the bathroom stall on the toilet (lid down) and tried to steady his breathing. Reid worried he might have been experiencing a panic attack, and he knew he couldn't calm himself down in time to face the team. Most panic attacks lasted between twenty to thirty minutes.
He splashed his face with cold water, warding off the oncoming panic, but when he looked in the mirror he noticed how pale he was. But he had been in there a while and so to insure no one worried he exited with a fake smile pasted to his face. But with every lie he told, every ounce of happiness he faked he felt like a piece of him died, it hurt so bad to keep continuing when he just wanted to curl up and let the world just pass him by while he faded away to nothing.
—
The jet touched down late at night (or early in the morning, depending on how you look at it) and the team immediately drove to the local police station. Reid appeared to be deep in thought during the ride, but then again, so was everyone else. Every statistic and number Reid had ever heard about the case.
It was an abduction of blonde females, kept for three days and then killed. Five women had been taken it three weeks. Within the last week, three of those women had been taken.
He was picking up steam; fast.
"Was their sexual assault?" Morgan piped up.
"Repeated rape," Hotch replied.
"It seems to be a fantasy for this Perv. Do we have a DNA match in the database?" JJ questioned.
"No hits yet, Garcia's working on fingerprints."
"Reid, any statistics?" Morgan asked.
"No, I'm trying something new."
"Like what?"
"Being quiet."
Morgan laughed, but Reid didn't even smile. He just stared out the window and let the team do the talking. His mind was too fuzzy to concentrate on what they were saying.
A/n: Should there be JJ/Spencer in this story? (In this though, Henry won't have been born and JJ sneer married Will. (But there may be kids still, way later on possibly. ;D))
ThatBigBlueBox: I am so sorry for the confusion. Yes, the hospital scene was a flashback (we are now at present time.) Thanks so much.
Kateryne1: Yes, poor Reid! (You shall be prepared.) I sent you the PM explaining what I meant, hopefully it helped. xD If you have any more questions, don't hesitate to ask.
Aufenthalt Gold lovelies,
- Alee XxX
