Ok, I know I haven't been updating recently, I apologize extensively or that. But here is the third chapter. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did writing/ typing it. I love you all!

As Always, this is chapter 3 in Dead and Gone. You are now tuned into the Spencer Reid channel of Epic!

Morgan turned again in his bed. The feelings of impending doom leered over him, again. It had been four days. Four! Since he had lost track of Reid in persecution of the suspect. Now, as he lay on the bed, tossing and turning in the night; he couldn't help but feel guilty for Reid's disappearance. His hand tightened around the pillow case as he felt guilt wash over him in a fresh tidal wave. With a sigh, he got up; letting the nights light play over him, causing distorted shadows to jump around the hotel room. He sat on the bed, looking out the window, wishing to an unknown God that Reid was okay. But even with all his wishing and praying, the empty feeling inside him stuck, eating away at everything inside him. Like a parasite, it invaded his body, and controlled everything he did. Everything he felt, and everything he thought of.

The moons light reflected off the clear liquid that travelled down Morgan's cheeks. Silent sobs formed at his lips, and his body heaved up and down as he cried. No one was with him. The room was empty save for Reid's suitcase that had been left carelessly on the bed at their arrival. It lay there, lonely; never to feel its owners touch again. Morgan's discreet sobs continued to plague. Weariness spread through every bone of Morgan's being as the last four days finally took their hold. The night wore on, and Morgan's head soon found his pillow as he cried himself into an uneasy slumber.

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The morning rays of sunlight came in through the window, and slowly approached the sleeping Morgan. They began to travel up his body slowly before reaching his face, causing him to squint and attempt to hit something that was not there. He tried to expunge the rays by covering his head with the blanket, but did nothing to solve the issue. The sunlight penetrated the thin cloth, and continued to play with Morgan's features; willing him to get out of bed. He rolled over in bed, and found comfort within the shade, but just as he was about to drift off into blissful unconsciousness; a loud knocking came at his door. JJ's voice penetrated through the door.

"Good morning Morgan! We're heading out, get up!" Morgan groaned as he pushed the covers off of himself with his legs, leaving the sunlight to play with his bare chest.

"I'm up!" He called back as he pushed himself up and out of bed. The weariness associated with the case weighing him down substantially as he began to dress himself. He picked out a pair of black jeans, and a navy shirt. His black shoes slid onto his feet as he ran his hand over his bald head. IT was going to be a long day.

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When Morgan finally entered the room they had been assigned, he could feel the tension before he saw it on their faces. The air was heavy with a sort of melancholy atmosphere, and it weighed him down tremendously. He first saw JJ, and her red rimmed eyes. She held a tissue to her nose as she looked down at the file. Her arm crossed her stomach, and she turned away from Morgan as soon as she saw him looking at her puffy, wet orbs. Emily was next; she held a stern, cold expression that Morgan guessed was anger. Her jaw was clenched tensely and her arms crossed her body. Rossi sat next to her, his eyes transfixed on the brown table in front of him. Hotchner still displayed his ambiguous facial characteristics. Garcia was not in the room, but Morgan would have guessed that she would have displayed some sort of sadness. His eyebrow raised in question as he walked in the middle of the room. No one was speaking, all that was heard was the sniffling of JJ, and Emil's hitched breathing as she wiped her leaking nose. All was still, and Hotchner caught his gaze as he pulled put a chair.

"Morgan," He began, "I think it's best if you sit down." Morgan moved forward and sat in the seat opposite. Everyone seemed to quiet down even more, if it was possible. JJ's sniffling ceased, and Emily controlled her breathing. The silence was unbearable, and he sat down; feeling sick to his stomach.

"Morgan, there's been another body found… It's…." Hotchner's voice hitched, and he brought a hand up to his mouth. Morgan leaned forward.

"Hotch? Who was it? Who'd you find?" His voice was desperate, wanting, no, needing to know that his assumption was incorrect. He looked at Hotch, willing him to say the name, any name, besides Reids'. His gaze did not waiver as Rossi came up from behind Hotchner, and patted the man on the back. Hotch pinched the bridge of his nose, and took a deep, unsteady breath before looking Morgan straight in the eyes. Morgan felt the world crash around him when he saw the red rimming Hotchner's eyes. Silent tears traveled down his cheeks, and stained the file below him. Morgan suddenly couldn't stand and collapsed into the seat behind him.

"No." Was all he could say as he stared at Hotchner in disbelief. His hands came up, and cupped his smooth head. "Please Hotch," Morgan begged. "Please…tell me you're wrong. T-tell me h-he's alright. T-that he's in t-the hospital. P-p-please, Hotch. P-please." Tears formed at the corners of his eyes, and began to descend down his round cheeks. Hotchner grabbed hold of the file, and walked toward the crying man.

"I'm sorry Morgan. We have all lost someone today, all the more reason to catch this man and bring him to justice." He placed the file in front of Morgan, whom sat with his head in his hands. Hotchner continued speaking as he walked away from Morgan.

"Where about to head out, but…."

"You're lying." Hotchner turned, his eyes fixated on Morgan. "You're lying to me!" Derek continued as he steadily got to his feet. His hands were balled into fists, and he was advancing on Hotch. "That man is not Reid! He is not dead! You. Are. lying to me!" Hotch did not back down, and stood his ground.

"Morgan, I know you're upset, and I understand. You aren't the only person who cared about Reid. We all did, and we are all going to miss him." Rossi began to back up towards the door, and slowly-without making any noise- cracked it open slightly. Rossi caught Hotchner's eye, and gave him a stern nod. Hotchner turned back to Morgan, who was clearly enraged.

"Stop lying Hotch, Reid is fine. Don't think you can pull an Emily on me. He is not dead, and I know it."

"Do you really, Morgan, because right now you're being irrational. The pictures that were taken do not lie. Think clearly Morgan. Reid would not have wanted you to do something so…"

"STOP TALKING LIKE HE'S ALREADY DEAD!" No one had expected Morgan to lose all control, let alone for this man to attack his superior. Yet time seemed to slow as Morgan lunged at Hotchner, his fists in the air ready to beat-or maybe kill- the man that stood before him. Hotchner side stepped the attack and looked to Rossi before turning back to Morgan. The burly man was already preparing for another attack when multiple policeman came rushing in through the door. The rest of the team where ushered out as policeman surrounded the chaotic agent.

"Reid isn't dead you son of a bitch. He's alive…alive, alive, Alive! He can't die! Not that way, not like everyone else. Not that way…please! Goddamit, please!" Morgan began to curl in on himself as he leaned up against the wall. Fresh new tears now coming down his cheeks.

"Morgan, you need to calm down." Hotchner stepped through the throng of policeman, and waved them back a couple feet before he took his position in front of his agent. "I know this is hard, but we can't do anything except find the man that did this. I don't believe it myself, but I have seen the photos, and I have seen the DNA tests come back positive. Reid is gone Morgan, but his killer is still out there." Hotchner paused, and took a step forward. Morgan was no longer kneeling against the wall, but he now sat against it. One leg bent, and the other lay flat on the ground. He leaned forward slightly in a slouched position as he held his head in his hands. He saw Hotchner moved towards him, but made no attempt to get away or attack. He let his superior come and kneel down next to him, and he allowed Hotchner to place a hand on his shoulder. The previously enraged, out of control man that was a danger to those around him, had now turned into a lost child. Morgan spontaneously pulled Hotchner into a hug, his tears soaked into the man's business jacket. Hotchner did not pull away; instead, he embraced his subordinate, and allowed the man to sob away the broken emotions that had hit him the hardest. Everyone was quiet, except for the whimpers as Morgan tried to save any type of dignity he had left.

"I failed him Hotch. I failed him, I let the bastard take him, and now he's gone… forever." Morgan cried into Hotchner's shoulder as he felt a new wave of tears and emotions overcome him.

"You didn't fail him Morgan. We didn't expect this to happen, and Reid wasn't in the category for possible victims. This all came to us as a surprise. But right now, the last thing we can do is break down. He wants that Morgan. His killer wants to see your pain. Do you want that Morgan? Do you? Do you want that sadistic bastard to 'get off' on your pain? At this moment, we have to band together and catch this bastard. You are of no use to use if you cannot get yourself together. I will NOT let you assist us, and I will even take you off the case unless you get yourself together and calm down. Can you do that for me? Can you, Morgan?" The agent nodded hastily, and took a shaky breathe. Aaron lightened his death grip he never knew he had, on Morgan's wrist.

"Thank you, now I need you to stay here while we head out. An officer will keep you company until we come back. Is that alright with you, Morgan?"

"I'm not a child Hotch, I can take care of myself. I don't need an egotistic policeman taking care of me."

"I realize you're not a child Morgan, but at the moment, with everything that's happened, we can't take our chances. You will stay here until we return, and if I have to order it, I will."

"Fine. Go, I'll be here when you get back." Morgan slouched forward, clearly defeated as Hotch began to leave; the rest of the officers leaving with him, except for one. The officer that was left behind had a strong build. The cop's slender figure showed off the muscles underneath his uniform, and allowed Morgan to analyze the possibility of taking him down in a fight. The unnamed cop stepped forward, and placed a hand on Morgan's shoulder. Morgan shrugged him off with a sneer, and started to get up. The cop took a few steps back, and held up his hand, palm facing Morgan.

"Woah Mister. I need you to sit back down. Your boss said that you needed to stay here 'till he comes back." His voice was thick with a southern accent. Morgan ignored him, and continued to proceed forward.

"I said stop Mister. Now sit back down, or were gunna have a little altercation." Morgan stopped in his tracks, and looked the cop in the eye. His red rimmed eyes locked with the cops large blue ones.

"I'm not going anywhere. I'm just going to get a drink. My head's hurting like hell." His voice was low and menacing as he whispered towards the cop. The cop stepped back, his dirty blond hair shining in the light as he neared the door.

"Well wait here Mister, and I'll getcha something. Wadda ya need?" His voice thick with the syrupy accent embellished his appearance.

"Get me some water, and an Ibuprofen." The cop smiled before disappearing, leaving the door wide open. Morgan walked towards the door, and looked about. No one was on the premises, and those close by were engrossed in their work. He quickly walked back to the table, where the file lay closed on the ebony brown polished table top. He grabbed the file, and walked out of the room nonchalant. He opened the file, and read the location of the dump site before closing the folder. His hand tensed, and the crumple of paper could be heard as Morgan's fist held tightly onto the folder. He made it to the double doors of the Alliance Police Investigation building, and walked out into the hot Ohio sun. He grabbed the keys to his SUV in his pocket, and found the car parked exactly where it had been earlier that day. Acting quickly, he opened the passenger door, and threw the file in before running over to the driver's side and getting in himself. He turned on the ignition, and was about to pull out of the drive way when he saw his babysitter cop run out of the building. He paid him no mind as he pulled out of the drive way, heading towards Pony Expresso on N Union st., and E Vine st. He drove with a certain determination that can only be described as love. Nothing more, nothing less.

His car came to a screeching halt as he neared the coffee shop. The back was blocked off by the common black and white sign of justice. Two other black SUV's, identical to his, also stood adjacent to the cop cars. Morgan parked his SUV, and unbuckled his seat belt as he jostled the door handle. He thrust open the door, and practically fell forward as he tried to get to the crime scene, to Reid. His feet pounded on the ground, each step bringing him closer to his dead friend, but someone stopped him. He felt the arm come across his chest, and and another push against his chest. He heard distant voices all around him, but his only focus was on the covered form on the ground. The form that was to still, and that stained the white cloth that covered it. Morgan pushed against them, he fought and writhed as they tried to take him away. Faintly, he heard Hotch yelling in his ear.

"... Calm Down!... Can You Here Me? Morgan!" Morgan ignored him and continued to push forward as he felt another pair of hands join the two that tried to keep him from his brother.

"Not Working... sedate... Medics!" Multiple hands began to pull him away, he felt the cold touch of metal on his wrists, and his hands became immobile. The world turned and Morgan could now see an ambulance in view. Morgan began to panic and move. He twisted himself this way and that, throwing off almost all of those that held him securely. He could only feel the touch of Hotchners hands on his shoulders, which proved to be no challenge. In a flash, Morgan twisted himself around and began to run towards the crime scene again. He heard the shouts and yells from multiples, but he paid them no mind; he was getting to his brother, and that's all that mattered, nothing more, and nothing less.

Suddenly, he felt the sensation of falling, and the burning of cement on skin. The hands were touching him again, they were pushing him into the ground, stopping him. He tried to get up, but someone was pushing his head down. He heard Hotchner's voice again, it was louder, and angry.

"Morgan! You are being taken off this case, and suspended. Get him out of here!" Something in Morgan's mind faltered, and he finally found his voice.

"No! No. Leave me alone! Let go of me you son of a bitch! Hotch! HOTCH!" Hotchner turned his back on his subordinate. Embarrassment and rage filling his bosom. Rossi came up to him, and put a hand on his shoulder.

"You stay here Aaron, I'll go speak with him." Hotch nodded sternly and walked back to where Reid's body lay on the cold floor. As he walked away, he could hear Rossi's footsteps, and the slam of a car door as Rossi got into the same vehicle as a handcuffed Morgan.

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*Hides behind a wall* I know I haven't updated in quite a while, but there it was! Whadda ya think? I'll try to update soon, but no promises. Until next time!