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Hotch breathed a sigh in relief when he saw the cops outside of Reid's room.
"He's still in there?" They nodded. He pushed open the door and Reid looked at him, obviously confused.
"Why are all these cops here?"
"It's for your own safety...in case..."
"In case Foyet comes back?" Fear was etched on Reid's face. Hotch nodded. He decided not to tell Reid about Foyet's message. He iddn't want to panic the kid anymore than he already was.
Reid swallowed, and nodded.
"Are you going to catch him?"
"I promise you, I will," Hotch told him as he sat down.
"You weren't gone for very long," Reid accused him and Hotch smiled.
"Believe me, I'm far to wired to sleep at the moment."
Reid nodded. He didn't want to admit it, but truthfully he was glad not to be alone.
Morgan walked into Garcia's computer room.
"Hey baby girl," he said quietly. "I need to you to find these people for me." He handed her a list and slowly she nodded.
"Garcia?"
He knelt beside her when he saw a tear trickle down her cheek.
"Garcia, girl, what's wrong?"
Garcia shook her head.
"It's nothing."
"Come on." He placed a hand on hers. "It's me, Morgan. Talk to me."
"It's...Reid." She mumbled. Morgan closed his eyes. "What happened to him...what IS happening to him..."
"I know baby girl..."
"It's not fair, Morgan!" Anger in her voice rose. "It's not fair! Why does it always have to be Reid? I mean, he's barely 30! He's so young and he's seen all this stuff..."
"I konw, it's not fair. Not at all. And if I ever catch Foyet you can bet I'm going to make him pay."
Garcia nodded and wiped her eyes.
"I'm sorry...for losing it.."
"It's okay." He squeezed Garcia's shoulders. "Losing it like this is what seperates us from people like Foyet. I don't ever want you to apologize for experiencing feelings. It what keeps us alive, keeps us human."
She nodded.
"I just hope Reid can recover from this," she whispered. He nodded, worry in his eyes.
"So do I, Garcia. So do I."
"I stabbed Hotch 9 times...let's make this 11" Reid experienced the stabbing over again and the smashing of his leg. But what he hated the most was reliving how weak he was...how pathetic. How helpless.
He woke shouting. Hotch sat up quickly and hurried over to the bed.
"It's all right, Reid." He kept his voice calm, professional. "It was just a nightmare...you're still here."
Reid nodded, and sweat trickled down his face as he laid back down.
"I couldn't defend myself," he mumbled.
"I know." Hotch's voice was grim.
"I was so weak...pathetic."
"No, Reid. You were not weak and you were not pathetic. I never want to hear you describe yourself that way ever again, do you hear me?" Hotch's voice was harsh and slowly Reid nodded. "He attacked you because you were vulnerable. Because you were already hurt. That does not make you weak. That makes him a monster."
Again Reid slowly nodded.
He grabbed Hotch's hand as Hotch started to leave into a tight grip.
"Don't leave me," he begged. Hotch stared at the terrified face of the young man in front of him.
"I'm not," he promised. "I just want to check on the guards briefly. I'll be right back." Reid slowly nodded.
"Good...because I don't want to be alone right now."
"And you won't be, Reid. I won't let anything happen to you." Reid nodded again and sank into the pillows and watched Hotch carefully, wondering if he would ever be comfortable being alone again...wondering if things would ever go back to the way they were.