Disclaimer at End
Why was it that the one who had found the cure wasn't being helped by it?
Morgan stared at the floor, his head in his hands. Why him? Why not me?
If Morgan had gone first, it would have been him in the room. He would have been exposed.
"Agent Morgan?" Dr. Kimora came out to the waiting room.
Morgan stood to meet her.
She hesitated. "I don't think he has much time. Have you called the team."
Morgan nodded, still in shock. "How-" His voice cracked. "How bad is he?"
"He can't speak, but he's conscious if you want to see him." She shook her head. "I-I don't know why it isn't helping. He had a cut, and he was in the room for so long… but I still don't understand…"
"It's okay." No it's not. "You've done everything you could." Morgan turned to go down the hall.
"Morgan, I haven't said anything to him. I'm sure he knows, but still…" She shook her head. "It's your decision."
Morgan nodded and walked down the hall to the room. He forced a smile before he walked in.
"Hey, kid."
Reid looked at him with pale, sickly eyes. He tried to smile, but he had to turn his head with a cough. The simple motion seemed to wear him out.
"You're lookin' pretty good." Morgan could feel his smile falter.
Reid gave him a knowing look and managed a small snort.
Morgan swallowed and took a seat in a nearby chair.
The silence stretched.
"So, uh," Morgan swallowed. "Everyone's on their way over to see you."
Reid managed one of his sad smiles.
He knows.
"Reid-" Morgan broke off. What could he say?
Reid patted the bed, getting Morgan's attention. He mimed writing on the bedspread.
Morgan scrambled around the room to find a pen and a pad of paper. He placed the pen in Reid's hand and the pad within easy reach.
Reid began writing. It seemed that every letter took everything he had, but he persisted.
He knew his time was limited.
Reid stopped to take a rest.
Morgan knew it was now or never.
"Re-… Spencer, I-… You've bee- You are the best friend I could ever hope for." Man, I suck at this.
Reid smiled sadly and continued to write.
Morgan opened his mouth to try again, but a phone call cut him off. "Morgan," he answered.
"How's he doing?" Hotch asked.
"Fine, fine…"
"We're on our way."
"We're waiting."
"Five minutes." Hotch hesitated. "We'll make it, right?"
Morgan didn't want to lie.
But he didn't want to tell the truth.
"Just hang on." Hotch wasn't talking to Morgan.
Morgan hung up the phone and turned back to Reid.
"They're on their way. Almost here."
Reid nodded, his eyes different.
Suddenly, Reid went into a violent coughing fit. Blood appeared on Reid's lips as his skinny form jerked.
Morgan moved to call a nurse, but Reid caught his hand in a surprisingly strong grip. Morgan stopped in mid-step.
Reid closed his eyes and his brow furrowed in concentration. He swallowed.
"Mo- Morgan." Reid somehow managed to speak. "Thigball-" Reid frowned in frustration and he took a few deep breathes. He tried again. "Th-Thank you."
Morgan felt the tears at his eyes. "No, thank you, kid."
Morgan wet a hand towel in the bathroom and brought it over to Reid. With a shaking hand, he wiped the sweat from Reid's forehead and the blood from around his mouth.
Reid didn't move. Writing and speaking a few words had sapped all of his strength. He couldn't even open his eyes. His breathing was ragged and his heart monitor was sporadic.
Morgan didn't call a nurse, he knew there was no point.
Hotch, Prentiss, JJ, and Rossi stood in the doorway.
Morgan sat in the chair besides Reid's bed, his head in his hands. He didn't move, even though he knew the team was there.
Reid lay like he was sleeping in the bed. The oxygen and IV tubes had been removed. The monitors had been shut off.
Morgan finally stood up. The team came in and stood around the bed.
No one made a sound. Tears shone on every face.
JJ moved her hand as if to touch Reid's hand, but stopped and withdrew it.
Morgan picked up a piece of paper that was lying on the bed next to a pen. He opened it and read silently to himself. He took a shuddering breath and laid it were everyone could see it.
Reid's simple handwriting was shaky. His awkwardness felt even through the writing. But the message was clear.
"You guys are the best thing that ever happened to me. I'm going to really miss you.
I want you to know that I would do it all again just to know you.
Thank you."
(Awkward Silence)
Me: So…
Morgan: Really?
Me: Well, you told me not to write the other sto-
Morgan: REALLY!
Reid: I thought you liked me!
Me: Well, you know, I do, but this is a "what if" story so it didn't really happen…
Morgan: Do me a favor and write the other story… and don't kill anyone off!
Me: Rrriigghhtt… Don't kill anyone off…
So, I started writing on my other story. Superheroes, but I watched "Amplification" yesterday and it was stuck in my head. This is what came of it. Not the happiest thing, but ya know.
Reid and Review!
~MyDarkAngel710
