I apologize for the long waits, but I appreciate you guys hanging in there! That's why I don't respond to most reviews anymore-takes too much time…. But Thnx everyone; now, on with the story!

Stranded in the Desert Place- Chapter 5

Lost and Found

"Spencer, I'm going to leave for a second, okay?" Hotch asked. He didn't wait for an answer though, as his hands were already pushing Spencer safely off him. Spencer mumbled some sort of response, but Hotch couldn't qutie make out the words.

Hotch rushed out of the car and next to the road; he started waving his hands and yelling 'we need help'. The smaller car pulled over, and Hotch silently hoped that it wasn't another UnSub. Getting Reid kidnapped wasn't on his list of things to do, and he wished it to stay that way. The driver, Hotch noticed, seemed to hesitate before getting out, and Hotch silently swore to himself, reaching for his gun. 'Great, that kid really can't keep himself out of trouble, can he?'

So it was a surprise when the man did walk out with a frown on his face.

Hotch lowered his gun, silently thinking that only Reid would know the precise chances of running into your father in the desert when your car broke down and you're now horribly ill. And only Reid would know if they actually had statistics for such a detailed situation.

"Agent Hotchner! I didn't know the team was in town." William Reid said.

"Well, your son and I are supposed to be on our way to a seminar right about now, but the car stalled."

"Oh, well, I can give you guys a lift." he offrered. He watched as his son;s superiror frowned, and he knew that something was wrong. "What is it, Hotch?"

Hotch turned back to the car, quickly glancing at Spencer's lanky form. His eyes made their way back to William, who had caught on to the fact that something was wrong and that his son was most likely involved in it. Sighing, Hotch nodded his head. "Reid got really sick on the way here. He's been dry vomiting for a while, and he's extrememly exhausted."

"How bad it it?" William asked, his fatherly insticts kicking in.

Hotch sighed as he motioned toward the vehicle. "Wy don't you just see for yourself?" William didn't even hesitate as he started making his way toward the car. He quickly planted himself inside of the car where he found his son doubled-over in pain. William's frown deeped as he looked over Spencer; he hated seeing his son in pain.

'"Dad...?" he whispered weakly.

"Yeah, it's me Spencer." William nodded. "We're going to get you out of here, okay? You need help, but to get you there, we have to move you."

"Just do it." Spencer moaned.

Hearing the 'we' part, Hotch walked up to the Reid family, ready to offer his assistance. With a nod from William, Hotch gently wrapped his arms around Spencer's left side, leaving William with the right. Both of the older men could tell that Spencer was trying his best not to scream, and that encouraged them to transport him much faster. Finally, Spencer was rested safely in the back seats of his father's car.

"You drive, Hotch. I want to stay with my son." William ordered sternly. Hotch just nodded; being a father himself, he understood the need to wamt to take care of your kid, no matter what age he may be.

"Come on Spencer; just rest again me." William cooed as he, just like Hotch had, lowered Spencer on top of him. His son buried his head into his chest, whimpering lightly against the fabric. William shushed him as he ran a hand through his hair.

Hotch made his way around to the driver's side. After he closed the door, shoved the key into the engine and started the car. As he slid on his seat belt, he rammed his foot on the gas petal.

"Where's the nearest hospital?" Hotch asked.

"It's a few miles up the road." William started. "Unfortunately, it's going to take at least forty-five minutes to get there."

Spencer once again moaned as his father uttered those horrible words, and as he tossed and turned in the seat, he felt a new wave of nasea give way. He pushed it back though; there was no way he'd be able to take puking again up his stomach again. He was too weak for that now. So instead, he curled into his father's side and continued to fidget.

William gently placed his hand around Spencer's waist, effectively keeping him from moving again. He knew that Spencer was only moving because of the discomfort, but he also knew it would only make him feel worse. Finally, Spencer stopped moving. William sighed as a large bump caused Spencer to slide a little- not enough to push him off the seat, but just enough to make William lose his gripping and allow Spencer to bang against the seat in front of him.

"Sorry." Hotch muttered.

"You didn't build the road, did you?" Spencer glared. He hated it when people apologized for somehow 'hurting him' when it wasn't there fault to begin with. Especially when he was sick, he noted, he didn't tolerate such an attitude. Hotch just nodded his head, obviously getting the hint. Reid thankfully rolled back into his father and closed his eyes.

"Spencer, try to stay awake. At the most, we're forty-five minutes away, and we need you awake to take you in. I know it hurts, but please stay with us." William pleaded.

"I...I'm sorry. I'm just...so tired." Before William could protest, his son had fallen to sleep.

"Damn it." he hissed.

"He fell to sleep?" Hotch guessed, his eyes never leaving the road. He still wasn't much of a fan of driving in the desert, and he would need all the concentration he could get. He knew that the roads weren't all that hard to drive on, but when you're used to big city traffic, it was very different.

"Yeah, but I guess it's for the best. At least he's not in pain." William said.

"We'll just wake him up when we get there; no big deal." Hotch agreed.

The rest of the car ride to the hospital was fairly quiet. Hotch had turned on the static-y radio as William stroked his son's hair repetitively. Both of the men were too busy worrying on Spencer's health to attempt useless small talk, and besides that, they honestly didn't get along that well. Hotch was still a bit upset about what William had done to Spencer in the past, and William was jealous of the relationship that Hotch had with his son. Even if they had attempted small talk, he doubted that it wouldn't end with a fight.

"Turn here." William instructed, pointing to the right. Hotch nodded as he turned down the street. He was pleased to see that the desert area finally gave way into a Las Vegas suburb, and as he kept driving, he quickly saw the hospital.

"I see it now." Hotch said, although he knew it was unneeded. He just needed to fill in the empty space left by the silence, and he was glad to see that William seemed to agree.

"Yeah, it's hard to miss in an area like this."

Within a minute, Hotch was pulled into the hospital, running out of the car, lifting Spencer up, and dragging him into the building. As soon as a nurse saw them, she grabbed a wheel chair for them to place Spencer in. They were amazed that he had slept through all of the commotion, and they weren't sure if they should be worried or relieved by that.

Hotch and William both abandoned their thought, though, when a scream pierced the air around them.

~* SITDP *~

Yeah, I'm that mean. Two more left! Thnx for reading everyone!