A/N: Phew…! I've been INSANELY busy so it's a bit of a surprise that I actually managed to update on time. Hooray?

First, though…! Thank you so much for your reviews and support! You can't even imagine how happy those make me. (beams and hugs) So thank you!

Awkay, because stalling is rude… Let's go! I really hope that you'll enjoy the ride.

Shocks to the System

"Sir?"

His eyes opened very, very slowly. And became screwed closed almost as fast when blinding white assaulted them. He groaned loudly, only to discover that it did nothing to ease the crushing headache he was having.

"Sir, I know that you're in pain. But I need you to open your eyes for a moment so that I can assess your… condition properly. Can you do that for me?"

It was the last thing he wanted to do. He was very much happy with the dark if it meant less pain. But he was far too stubborn to just give up like that. And so he fought, with all his might, to meet the mystery person's request.

At first all his eyes caught were blurry shapes and colors. But slowly the world around him began to grow clearer. Staring back at him was the somewhat cautiously smiling face of a woman in a nurse's clothes. Meredith, according to her nametag.

"Hello, there. We've all been waiting for you to wake up." She took a small flashlight, shining it to his eyes. "Could you follow this with your eyes, please?"

He obeyed although irritation bubbled in his veins. What the hell was this woman doing, wasting time on this nonsense? He wanted answers, he needed…

"Alright, thank you." Finally the obnoxious light was gone. Meredith made some notes before focusing on him once more. "Now, do you remember how you ended up here?"

He shook his head, both fists balling. No, he had no clue. Which was only one of the most irritating things in his current situation.

"That's only understandable. Your body went through quite a bit of trauma. Don't worry, you'll be alright and I'll go into more detail once you've recovered a little." She made some more notes, then searched his eyes and frowned. "I'm… afraid that we haven't been able to identify you. Could you tell me your name?"

His name? Well, he would've if he'd had even the faintest idea. Which he didn't. He shifted once more, his discomfort growing tenfold.

Meredith frowned again. A line of concern appeared. "Alright. I'll share this with your doctor." She attempted to smile but didn't quite succeed. "Is it alright if I call you John Doe until your memory comes back?"

John. It wasn't his name, he could tell. But it sounded… right, comforting. And so he nodded, wishing that the woman would just leave so he'd get the chance to think. She was pushing his headache to brand new hights.

Meredith, at very least, seemed to sense his discomfort. "It looks like you're in quite a bit of pain. I'll ask if I can give you anything extra, okay?" She gave his shoulder a squeeze that made him want to flinch away. "Try to relax. You'll be just fine. All your body needs is time."

With how his brain buzzed the patient barely noticed that he was alone once more. Nor did he notice the nurse returning with some medication. His thoughts spun around and around, making him feel dizzy. Or perhaps it was the medication.

All he had was the name John and a series of numbers that kept echoing in his head. What did they mean? And why did he have a feeling that time was running out?

In the end the medication got the best of him. Unable to stop himself the patient's eyes fluttered before he slid into a deep slumber.

He dreamt of giggles. He dreamt of falling. He dreamt of blood.

And even asleep he wished that it was a dream he'd be able to wake up from.

Derek was almost sure that he sent Aaron a text at some point. A text because there was absolutely no way he could've produced spoken words. Apparently he also managed to make his way to the couch. But that was about all he could comprehend about his current situation.

He'd had his suspicions since discovering that the body those hikers found from the river wasn't Spencer's. And of course he'd been hoping, praying, that there was some way his friend could still be alive. But having Dr. Spencer Reid actually in his apartment…

He had absolutely no idea of how long had passed until he realized that yes, Spencer was indeed there. Right? The man… was real, wasn't he?

A spark of terror striking through Derek glanced towards the general direction of where Spencer was where he first came home. The genius hadn't moved an inch. In the moments that followed he gave the other a good look, tried to see and understand.

Spencer… looked incredibly different from the last time he saw his friend. It wasn't just the hair and eyes. Spencer had clearly lost quite a bit of weight, which was alarming with how little the genius weighed to begin with. The man was pale and visibly exhausted if the bags underneath those haunted eyes were anything to go by. And very, very tense, a soldier waiting for the next hostile contact.

"You died." Well, if he had to start somewhere… With just those two words the damns became broken. His eyes actually narrowed. "You died! Prentiss, she… she saw you…!"

"I know." There was a sea of grief and remorse in Spencer's eyes when they finally turned to meet his. The doctor swallowed loudly. "I… I never, ever wanted things to go… there. But… They would've killed her, Morgan."

Derek scoffed, folding his arms. "So you made her watch you die instead? So you decided that it was alright to put us all through… that?"

Spencer curled tighter into himself, like someone who'd just been injured. It was incredible how small the tall man managed to appear. "They would've killed you all. Including Henry. I… I had no choice. It wasn't safe for me to stay alive. It still isn't safe."

"Then why did you come back?" The words flowed out before Derek could process them. Before he could stop the sharp and bitter edge. By the time he realized what he'd just slipped it was hopelessly too late. And in full honesty he was too hurt to even try to regret.

Spencer shuddered, pain and hurt pooling in those eyes when understanding seemed to dawn. The genius' lips opened but before another word was produced a knock interrupted them. They both tensed up and out of the corner of his eye Derek saw Spencer pull out a gun at a speed that stunned him. With the efficiency of a full trained soldier.

What the hell did you do while you were away?

The question burned on Derek's tongue. But he gritted his teeth together tightly and hauled his body up, beginning to make his way towards the door. All of a sudden he froze, wishing that he'd had the courage to peer over his shoulder to make sure. "You'd better be there when I come back", he growled.

At first there was only silence and for a moment his heart almost crumbled under the crushing weight of disappointment. But then… "I will be."

For now that'd have to do although Derek was nowhere even remotely close to trust. His feet were stiff and heavy when he dragged himself all the way to the apartment's door. For some reason he felt a touch of relief as Clooney had stayed behind to keep guard.

The team, along with John, appeared confused. Mycroft's face held that usual, awful stoic mask. "We got your text", Penelope spoke out. "What's going on?"

Derek swallowed heavily, hoping from the bottom of his heart and soul that the man he left behind would still be there. "There's… Something's come up. Just to warn you, this is going to be a shock."

Aaron's heart seemed to be taking extra leaps while he followed Derek to the living room, his posture tense and his body prepared for anything. Well, almost anything. Because there was absoluely no way he could've been prepared for seeing Spencer, alive and breathing, scanning through their faces with wary eyes.

Unable to even begin to process the emotions going through his own mind Aaron focused his attention on the rest of the team.

They all, save Mycroft who just seemed incredibly irritated, appeared far paler than usual. John gasped and blinked twice, shadows caused by unpleasant memories dancing in those blue eyes. Emily… was frozen, her eyes wide and nearly glazed over. Without a doubt the mental image of Spencer falling spun through her line of vision over and over again. She was trembling so badly that it was a small miracle she didn't fall down. JJ stared for a few long moments before something dangerous appeared to her eyes and she spun around, storming out of the apartment as fast as she could. She slammed the door with such volume that Spencer shuddered like he'd been shot at and the rest of them flinched. Derek went to follow her.

In a couple of seconds a grin took over David's face. "I knew it", the man declared, a barely audible tremor in his voice. "I knew that I saw you."

For a few moments Spencer simply stared at them all in a way that made Aaron wonder if the younger man considered them a threat. Moisture began to shimmer in those altered eyes. "I… I'm sorry", the supposedly deceased genius breathed out. "I'm so sorry."

The whole room remained frozen for a while. Then, so suddenly that it surprised the rest of them and most likely scared Spencer half dead, Penelope was moving. With Spencer unable to do a thing to defend himself the woman pounded his chest with both fists several times. "You… You… You…!" Tears were streaming down her cheeks while she screamed at him. So suddenly that it stunned Aaron her hands stilled, one fist opening and the open hand settling nearly tentatively to where the young man's heart was beating. "I'm so mad at you right now!"

Spencer swallowed thickly. His own hands twitched but didn't quite move. "I'm sorry", he whispered in a absolutely heartbreaking, broken voice that barely carried to where Aaron stood. "I'm sorry. But… There was no other way." Those desperate eyes searched through all of them. "I swear. If…"

His words were cut short when Penelope finally made her decision. She wrapped her arms as tightly as she could around Spencer, sealing him into a crushing hug. Her whole frame shuddered from loud sobs while she buried her face to his shoulder. Slowly, slowly, Spencer managed to move one arm to return her embrace. His lips opened but the words just wouldn't come out.

Seeing the traces of pain on Spencer's face Aaron frowned. His eyes scanned through the other's frame, unable to find answers from the covers of the dark clothes. Was the younger man injured? If so how badly?

Before he could actually ask, though, Mycroft sighed heavily. "I was afraid that you'd do something like this. You can be as insufferable as my brother sometimes."

Emily's eyes blazed upon meeting the British government. Her hands were shaking with sheer fury. "What?" she growled like a wounded lion, her tone making Clooney emit a whimper of startle. "Are you seriously telling me that you knew this entire time? That all this time you watched me grieve, knowing fucking well that he was…!"

Mycroft sighed. His eyes were annoyed and tired. "Agent Prentiss…"

Emily's response was instant. With the speed of a attacking cheetah she was right in front of Mycroft, her fist approaching his face at a incredible speed. The man was, however, faster. With a firm hold he trapped her wrist.

Another sigh left the British government. "I might deserve that. But I'd very much appreciate it if you didn't." Not letting his hold on her falter for even a second he refocused on Spencer. "I'm sure that you can't even imagine what kind of a security and paperwork nightmare your sudden return from the death has caused."

Spencer's eyes flashed and for a moment Aaron was sure that soon the older man would have another person trying to swing in a eager punch. "You know full well why I decided to return." A voice like that had never left Spencer's mouth. "The circumstances have changed. For the sake of their safety they need to know everything."

JJ was feeling dizzy and sick to her stomach, enough so to gag dryly. In the end she didn't make it as far away from the source of her shock as she'd hoped. Instead she slumped to the hallway almost right outside Derek's apartment when her prosthetic leg failed her. Despite her best attempts she couldn't push herself up. The ball of frustration and fury brought tears to her eyes and several of them rolled, so hot that they seemed to burn on their way down. Her lips parted but the scream that wanted to crawl out just wouldn't come, leaving a foul taste lingering to her mouth.

This was too much.

TOO MUCH.

She didn't hear the steps and shivered when Derek's voice spoke, colored by bitterness, shock and anger. "So… How does it feel to be on this side of the secret?"

JJ winced, the memories still slashing far deeper than they should've. "Do not bring the Doyle fiasco to this. Alright?" She emitted a unsteady sigh, rubbing her stinging eyes with both hands. She was beyond caring whether she'd end up destroying her makeup. She tried to get up, get away, but the prosthetic leg still wouldn't work for her. She tried to snarl but it came out as something closer to a yelp. "This fucking leg…!"

They remained in utter silence for what felt like ages until Derek finally spoke, so quietly that it could barely be heard. "He… He said that he had to do it. Or we would've all been killed. Henry, too."

At the mention of her son having been threatened JJ swallowed, her eyes flying wide. The sick feeling from before returned tenfold. "What?"

Derek took a deep breath. "I… I'm still pissed off at him. But… Maybe he had a reason."

JJ gulped, blinking away the moisture that'd pooled into her eyes. The taste in her mouth wasn't quite so horrific anymore, or perhaps she was getting used to it. "Yeah. Maybe."

There was another prolonged silence before Derek managed to bring himself to break it. "Do you want me to help you up?" He didn't sound quite as upset anymore. More tired.

JJ nodded, coming to a conclusion that there was no point in even trying to speak. Without saying a word in return Derek helped her up. It took another five minutes before they managed to bring themselves into entering the apartment, both of them wondering just what they'd find out.

John listened to Spencer's tale quietly, the words sweeping through without making a lot of sense. He learned that Sherlock had definitely known of Spencer being alive, was even the driving force in making the necessary arrangements. He learned that Spencer was the previously unnamed American agent that Mycroft mentioned several times. He learned that Spencer had spent his time undercover hunting down the leftovers of Moran's web. He also learned that Spencer was the last person Sherlock called before disappearing entirely.

"I'm sure that you've heard of Queen by now. We lost the traces of her nine months ago. At some point we learned that she was keeping a close eye on Sherlock."

"There was something she wanted from him", David mused out loud.

Spencer nodded. "In the end she contacted him, asked to spend a night of fun and sin with him. He went in, armed and expecting a trap. Mycroft lost contact on them both that night. Two weeks later he called me, saying that he was sorry but he'd have to cancel our dinner reservation. It was a sign that something was wrong."

John shuddered, a horrific feeling settling into the pit of his stomach. It took what felt like ages before he managed to squeeze out the words. "Do you… think that Queen and the others still have him?"

Spencer sighed, appearing ready to pass out for the briefest of moments before pulling himself together with a visible amount of effort. "I… don't know. I really hope not." It was clear why without it having to be spoken out loud. If Sherlock hadn't managed to get somewhere safe… then he was most likely already gone.

Back at the hospital the once more awake John Doe was very fast to spot the series of numbers tattooed to his arm. A phone number. But whose?

It was infuriating to be aware of the fact that he should've remembered but couldn't.

He drifted very, very deep in his thoughts, only partially aware of the fact that at some point a nursing student appeared to change the dressings of one of his wounds. He registered no physical discomfort even when she apologized, a horrified look on her face. All he could do was think.

He didn't fall back into reality until he realized that she'd left the room. And forgot something upon leaving. The ward's cell phone.

It took him only seconds to reach a decision. He took the item without a hint of hesitation and dialed numbers. Dialed, although he was dreading what he'd discover.

"Morgan… asked me why I came." Spencer's voice cut the silence that followed. His eyes were full of something close to terror. "There's… a possibility that me being alive has been discovered. You've been kept an eye on. There's a reason to believe that whatever little there's left of Moran's web will be closing in on your families to smoke me out."

JJ gritted her teeth so hard that it must've hurt. The woman's eyes darkened. "Then we'd better move fast before they get the chance to strike."

"They already have. That's… That's the second reason why I came back now." Tears shimmered in Spencer's eyes but miraculously none of them spilled. It took a moment before the man managed to go on. "I… I have a son, now. And they've got him. They have my child."

In the turmoil that admission caused John barely managed to spot that his cell phone was ringing. He frowned at the unfamiliar number. After exactly three seconds of hesitation he finally made up his mind and picked up. "Hello?"

The voice that spoke after a long pause was painfully familiar yet unrecognizable at the same time. Hesitant. "John?"

Henry was just beginning to make his way home from a friend's house when a woman with long, red hair blocked his path. He didn't like the smile on her face. "Hello there, little guy. I've been waiting for you for a while, now."

Henry frowned. Even took a step away, just like his mom and dad had taught him. "I'm not supposed to talk to strangers."

Her eyes gained a look that scared him really, really badly. "Oh, but you will talk to me unless you want mommy and daddy to get hurt." She knelt to his level, brushing his cheek with one carefully manicured finger. "Now let's go. Jack is right there in my car waiting for you and he'd be really upset if you wouldn't come, too."

TBC

A/N: Oh dear… (winces) So now it looks like the creeps have Henry, Jack AND – apparently – Reid's son. What, exactly, are they planning?! And what's up with the mystery patient?

PLEASE, do a note! Hearing from you seriously makes my day, ya know? I wonder if promising cyber cookies would do any good…

IN THE NEXT ONE: John is in for a far greater shock. And so is Aaron. Offered a deal that has no positive outcome, what will the unit chief do?

Until next time, folks! I truly hope that you'll all join in then.

Take care!