SPECIAL THANKS TO: Shotboxer! She let me bounce my ideas off of her for this story!!

AND TO: Sparx who gave me the idea for the code between Morgan and Reid.

You'll see what I mean after you read. I hope you all like it!

"Spencer," Morgan was shocked at the story he just heard. Reid's innocent stare caused him to chuckle and roll his eyes. "Did you ever get your stuff back?"

"Hotch kept the canisters," Reid replied a mischief gleam in his eyes.

"Hotch finds them and you're on your own kid," Morgan turned his attention back to the traffic that was finally inching forward. Morgan silently wished he could have been there. He looked at the SUV behind them with sudden clarity. He often wondered just when and how Hotch had started to get closer to the youngest member of the team.

"Got it," Reid yawned for the umpteenth time.

Morgan watched out of the side of his eyes as the younger agent fought to stay awake. Reid's eyes blinked repeatedly until he finally gave up and rubbed his eyes tiredly.

Morgan frowned immediately noticing the signs, "How've you been sleeping kid?"

"Huh?" Reid blinked at Morgan in confusion having missed the question.

"Are you getting any sleeping Spencer?" Morgan's voice held a note of sternness.

"Uh huh," Reid yawned.

thwap, thwap Reid sat up straighter with the two flicks he knew to meant 'you're on your last chance to avoid a spanking'. He looked over at Morgan with wide eyes.

Reid shrugged, trying to show his indifference to the situation despite the look he'd given Morgan, "I got some."

"I'll have Hotch bunk us in the same room," Morgan stated.

"I'm fine," Reid protested, "It's not like I'm having ni…"

Morgan held up a finger effectively silencing his kid brother, "Don't even think of finishing that statement. Do I look like a fool to you?"

Reid remained silent.

"I know you're not sleeping and I know that when you don't sleep it's usually because of nightmares. You would think after the last time, you'd have learned not to lie to me." Morgan's voice was thick with sternness and anger.

"It wasn't a nightmare…honestly," Reid added, before Morgan could continue. While he was still wary of his big brother's intentions the reminder of the last time was enough to make him nervous, "It was just a little weird not scary but I was awake and I just couldn't fall back to sleep."

"We'll talk about it later," Morgan said in a voice that left little room for doubt. "For now, close your eyes and take a nap; doesn't look like we're going anywhere."

Reid said nothing as he laid his head back against the headrest. He knew he wouldn't be able to fall asleep, he never could in vehicles, but resting did sound like a good idea.

As he did so he couldn't help but think back to the time Morgan had been talking about…

-- FLASHBACK --

"I'm not going." Reid declared glaring at his dad.

"You've been lying to Morgan everyday for the last month and he deserves to know the truth about why you missed the plane." Gideon stated. "You're going."

Reid stood his ground once again declaring that he was not going to his big brother's apartment.

"Let me change your mind," Gideon moved faster the Reid thought possible which is why he soon found himself face down over the older man's lap.

"No!" Reid tried to get up. "Jason, wait…please; I'll go!"

Unfortunately Gideon didn't heed his words and started to land swat after stinging swat on the upturned backside.

SWAT "I've been" SWAT "very understanding" SWAT "about this" SWAT "but you" SWAT "will obey" SWAT "me when I" SWAT "tell you" SWAT "to do something." SWAT "Do" SWAT "you" SWAT "understand?" SWAT

"Y-yes," Reid cried, "Please dad, I'll go!"

With a final four swats, each directed at the tender under curve, Gideon let his son up. He held the younger man close until Reid's tears started to slow.

Looking his son in the eyes Gideon stated, "I'd drop the attitude before you see your brother."

"Yes, sir," Reid sniffed.

"Go clean yourself up, the sooner you go the sooner it'll be over," Gideon gave him a small push towards the bathroom.

Muttering silently to himself Reid did as he was told.

OoOoOoOo

Twenty minutes later Reid was in his car making the too short drive to Morgan's apartment. As he drove he couldn't help but think about what had brought him to this point in time.

If you were to ask anyone on the team they would all agree that the current case they'd just closed had been the hardest case to date and not because of the gruesomeness. No, gruesome they were used to; it was the youngest member of their team that about made them all lose it.

They'd seen him go through many different temperaments over the time they'd worked together but never before had Reid not answered his phone.

He had gone into the case with no intentions to ignore his phone but that's what he did. He let it ring and go to voicemail multiple times while he talked to a friend about why he left the FBI during training and how he was thinking of leaving the FBI now.

By the time he finally listened to the message Morgan and Prentiss were already in Texas, finishing up their interview. Gideon and Hotch had all but pounced when he set foot in the police station and Reid told them that he wasn't in signal range and had just gotten the message.

Reid sighed, he knew the two hadn't brought it…hell, Morgan defiantly hadn't brought it. The only difference there was that Morgan wasn't afraid to call him out on his lie but Reid wasn't changing his story.

Reid squirmed in his seat, as if that weren't bad enough he'd been lying to Morgan about his sleeping habits and was starting to feel guilty over it. On the other hand, he couldn't bring himself to tell Morgan that.

It was bad enough that he wasn't following the code he and Morgan had come up with after the older man had called him out on using caffeine pills but he was lying straight to the older man's face every time he'd been asked how he was sleeping.

"Morgan will kill me when he finds out," Reid groaned aloud.

All too soon Reid was pulling into his parking space at his brother's place. He had to smile when he remember how Morgan had gotten him his own parking space so he wouldn't have to park in the visitors parking lot.

The smile vanished as he realized he had to get out of the car…and soon.

OoOoOoOo

Spencer Reid stood outside his big brother's apartment, staring at the door. He had to knock he knew that much…he just couldn't make himself do so. In fact he so didn't want to knock so much that he was half tempted to just walk away and go to his own place but he knew that that wasn't possible.

With the reminder of Gideon's displeasure known at Reid's rather emphatic 'no' when he was told he had to go and talk to Morgan he knocked nervously on the door in front of him.

Morgan opened the door and gave him a look, "Lose your key?"

Reid shook his head, "I wasn't sure…"

Morgan gave him another look, "Can't get rid of family kid. Have a seat."

Reid sat on the couch and stared at his hands. Morgan went into the kitchen and came out with two bottles of water, "What's on your mind kid?"

"I lied to you." Reid's eyes bulged. That was not how he planned on the conversation starting.

Morgan raised an eye brow, "Care to explain?"

"No," Reid mumbled more to himself. He took a deep breath and continued. "I've been having nightmares lately and I haven't been staying at Gideon's."

Reid refused to look at Morgan not wanting to see the anger and disappointment in his big brother's eyes.

Morgan took a deep breath, "So every time I've asked you how you've been sleeping you've been lying to me?" Reid nodded. "Every time I asked if you had a nightmare you've been lying to me?" Reid nodded again. "And when you told me you were staying at Gideon's when I mentioned that you looked tired you lied?" Reid nodded for a third time. "Any other time?"

"I wasn't out of signal range during the case," Reid looked up briefly and saw Morgan's 'ya think' look. He continued, "I…I had to know if I could leave it. I don't know anything but the FBI Morgan. It's getting to me and I didn't know what to do."

"Why didn't you come to me Spencer?" Morgan sat down and put an arm around his kid brother. "When you first started having nightmares I told you, we all go through this."

"Gideon said that the day our job stops effecting us then we should walk away." Reid met his big brother's eyes for the first time.

"He's right," The older man agreed. "When you can look at a crime scene and not flinch or see a dead body and not feel sympathy then it's time to get out."

"But I feel too much," Reid couldn't stop the tears from forming in his eyes.

"There's no such thing," Morgan informed his younger brother. "I told you before use what you feel to make yourself a better agent and a better person."

Reid looked down at his hands, "I'm sorry."

"You know I hate lying," Morgan stated.

Reid nodded his head and looked up. He was expecting to still see anger in his brother's eyes but it wasn't there. There was disappointment and even sadness but worst of all for Reid there was hurt.

Morgan sighed, "Go get ready for bed while I call Gideon and tell him you're staying here. I'll be in and we'll talk."

"Ok," Reid's voice was quiet as he went and did as he was told.

Hearing the soft click of the door Morgan sat back and sighed. Truth of the matter was he didn't really want to punish the younger man. He knew though that Reid would let the guilt start to eat him…besides he'd promised quick consequences for lying.

With that thought in mind he called Gideon to discuss the situation. Gideon helped him calm his own emotions about what Reid was going through and come to a decision about how to handle the situation.

With a quick goodbye he slowly made his way to his younger brother's room.

Inside the room Reid was sitting on the bed confused. He'd been ready to have an argument with his older brother about everything. He'd been ready for Morgan to tell him to leave and never come back. Yet with every revelation Morgan had been sympathetic and understanding.

Reid stood up as Morgan walked in. Seeing the look of determination in his brother's eyes Reid knew he was in a lot of trouble.

OoOoOoOo

Morgan sat on the bed and looked at Reid, "You know if you'd come to me at any point and said 'I lied' I probably would have grounded you, maybe given you a few smacks and that would've been it. You've had a month though and each time you've lied to me without reservation."

"I'm sorry," The guilt Reid had been suppressing came to the surface.

"I know," Morgan got up and gave the younger man a quick hug before working his way to the dresser and grabbing something from it.

Reid saw the item in his older brother's hand and backed up, shaking his head, "No, please Morgan…"

Morgan placed the item by his side, "Let's get this over with."

It was the guilt that caused Reid to walk over to his brother. Morgan wasted no time in bringing him down over his lap and baring him.

"Only the last six will be with the brush; ok." Morgan waited for Reid to nod in understanding before raising his hand and bringing it down with a sharp swat.

He started to lecture immediately wanting kid brother to understanding why he was being punished.

"You" SWAT "will" SWAT "follow" SWAT "the code" SWAT "we made" SWAT "from now on" SWAT "or you" SWAT "will find" SWAT "yourself" SWAT "in this position" SWAT "again." SWAT "You will" SWAT "not" SWAT "lie to me." SWAT "Every time" SWAT "you lie," SWAT "I will" SWAT "use" SWAT "the hairbrush." SWAT "Do" SWAT "you," SWAT "understand?" SWAT

"Y-yes…" Reid cried, "Morgan please, I'm sorry!"

Morgan stopped and gave in inaudible sigh, "Give me your hand Spencer."

Reid did as he was told though he didn't understand why. Morgan feared the shock of the brush would cause the younger man to put a hand back. The least thing Morgan wanted was to hurt his kid brother.

Keeping a firm grip on the hand, Morgan picked up the brush and brought it down with a resounding smack.

SMACK "OW!" SMACK "Please Morgan…" SMACK "I'm sorry!" SMACK "AH!!" SMACK "OWWIE!" SMACK

With that last smack Morgan quickly righted the Reid's pajama bottoms and righted him, holding him close for both their sakes.

"I got you kid," Morgan soothed.

It took a little longer then normal for Reid's cries to soften but Morgan wasn't worried. He knew part of the reason was because the younger man was dispelling the rest of his guilt.

When Reid had finally calmed down Morgan looked him in the eyes. "No more lying."

"I won't," Reid promised as he yawned. His eyes feeling heavy it was obvious to both that sleep wasn't that far away.

"Before you fall asleep," Morgan started, "Tell me what our code is."

Reid started to groan but a raised eyebrow had him answering, "If I have a dream or just can't sleep but I'm not scared I text you two stars. If I have a dream or can't sleep because I'm feeling uneasy I text you three stars."

"And if you need me?" Morgan tilted Reid's chin up.

"I text you four stars." Reid answered with confidence. Knowing the next question he finished, "And if I'm in trouble I send a blank text."

"Good," Morgan stood them up, "Time for bed."

"Can…I mean would…" Reid looked flustered.

Morgan smiled as he pulled the covers back, knowing exactly what his kid brother wanted. "Hop in; I'll go change and I'll be right back."

Reid did as he was told and after Morgan got back and laid down he fell sound asleep feeling, for the first time in a month, safe at last.

-- END FLASHBACK --

Feeling the car moving faster then before Reid opened his eyes and looked out. "What's going on?"

"Hotch called and said to force our way through the light." Morgan answered, frowning at the fact that Reid had fallen asleep despite the fact that it was something he didn't normally do.

"About time," Reid muttered, feeling the indifference settling back within him.

"Spencer, I'm telling you what," Morgan glared at the younger man. "You keep it up and you're going to be finishing the case unable to sit."

Reid said nothing. As Morgan drove Reid watched him out of the corner of his eye. 'How far would I have to push' he wondered to himself. Only time would tell…

THE END