I Love You
Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds.
"Whatever gets you through the night, it's alright, it's alright." John Lennon.
Rossi sat alone in the hospital waiting room recalling the events of the last two hours. He wondered how this had gone so horribly wrong. He was waiting for Hotch and Morgan to get back, they were trying to get information on Reid as the paramedics had immediately rushed him into an exam room and blocked the team members from coming in. Prentiss was in another room being checked over, JJ was by her side.
Rossi leaned his head back against the wall and closed his eyes. Suddenly he felt very old, too old to be doing this anymore. Was he losing his toughness or did he care too much for his team members this time around? Whatever the answer was, it didn't ease the guilt he felt. Guilt seemed to be his constant companion these days and he didn't like it.
He heard the voices of Hotch and Morgan coming down the hall. His heart sped up Their tone was serious but conversational, the news had to be good.
&&&&&&&&&&&
One hour earliar.
Reid knew he had lost conciousness, but now he was awake, he also knew that he had been shot but he wan't sure where. There was a warm sticky wetness around his head and pain on his entire left side.
His eyeslids felt heavy, he managed to open his eyes. He saw the worried faces of Morgan, Rossi and Prentiss hovering above him.
"Did you get him?" He managed to rasp out.
"Yes, we got him, stay still Reid don't move," they kept saying, even though he was sure he was lying perfectly still.
There were so many sounds and voices around him, it was difficult to tell who was who and what they were saying. He heard the unsub screaming that he was shot and another angry voice telling him to shut up. He could see officiers everywhere. He started to drift off again, a cool hand stroked his face and pleaded with him to open his eyes. He heard the unmistakeable sound of velco tearing as someone was trying to take off his vest, it made the pain return. The metallic taste of blood in his mouth made him feel like he had to throw up. He tried to spit it out instead, it sent him into a coughing fit and he felt like he couldn't breathe. People were calling his name, begging him to stay with them. He felt a brace being put around his neck and being lifted off the floor. The sounds were fainter now but he did remember one thing very clearly before he lost conciousness again, mostly because he so seldom heard those words spoken to him. Someone with a familiar voice leaned down close and whispered in his ear.
"Stay with me Reid, I love you."
&&&&&&&&&&
Every time David closed his eyes all he could see was the sight of Young Dr Reid sprawled out on that filthy wooden floor, with blood everywhere. The unsub lay several feet away from him writhing on the floor screaming at Prentiss.
Prentiss stood above the man with her gun pointed at his head, "Rossi, he shot Reid, call an ambulance."she said, her voice trembling.
He looked over at Reid and saw blood pooling around his head and his upper left arm. His eyes widened in shock.
"He shot him in the head?" Rossi exclaimed.
"What?". Morgan and Hotch were in the room now as well as several field agents and local police.
"Ambulance is on the way," the police sargeant had yelled.
Prentiss put her gun away the moment the police took custody of the unsub. She knelt beside Reid's head and told him to lay still. Rossi remembered the fear they felt that Reid might be dying right there in front of them. The paramedics came and took over. Hotch rode with him in the ambulance and now here they all were, waiting.
He now saw Morgan and Hotch approaching with Prentiss and JJ walking silently hehind them. Prentiss was still covered in Reid's blood, her visage even paler than usual.
"Hotch, how is he?" Rossi asked.
Hotch's mouth was set in grim line, "They just took him to surgery to remove the bullet from his shoulder. The other bullet hit his vest and thankfully he only has some bruising." he said.
"What they seem the most worried about is the injury he sustained when he hit his head on the floor. He hit it so hard his scalp split open. He needed stitches. All that blood we thought was from a bullet was really from the fall".
"Head wounds tend to bleed a lot." added Morgan.
"Will he be alright?" Rossi asked.
Hotch rubbed his eyes as if forcing them to focus, "Yes, they believe he'll make a full recovery but they'll probably keep him in a few days to moniter his head injury."
Rossi exhaled, he hadn't even been aware he had been holding his breath. He looked at the ashen face of Prentiss.
"You look like you need to sit down," said Rossi concerned at her appearance.
Emily sat down in the chair beside him and closed her eyes. JJ and Hotch exchanged looks.
"Emily, there's nothing you can do here. Why don't I take you back to the hotel and you can change and get some rest," JJ offered.
Emily shook her head. "No, Reid saved my life, he took a bullet for me, all because of my own stupidity. I should have seen the guy behind the screen."
JJ didn't know how to respond. Morgan spoke up. "I'm going to wait till Reid gets out of surgery too, I'll get us all some coffees. Prentiss, want to go for the walk?''
"Sure," feeling tired but too restless to sit still, she got up and joined Morgan and JJ.
Hotch and Rossi were alone, Hotch sat down beside the older man. "Dave, he is going to be alright you know."
"It's my fault he's here," Rossi said quietly.
Hotch looked at his friend as if he had lost his mind. "What are you talking about? you weren't even there."
Rossi looked Hotch in the eye. "I told you to let him go with Prentiss, you wanted him to stay back."
Hotch sighed. "Why is everybody blaming themselves? The only one responsible for Reids injury is the man who shot him, if Reid hadn't been there Prentiss might have been shot in the head or maybe a hundred other things might have happened. Hindsight is 20/20 Dave, I shouldn't have to tell you that. It seems to me you've been awlfully preoccupied with Reid's welfare lately. What's going on?"
Dave opened his mouth to respond when Morgan, JJ and Emily returned with the coffees. Dave took the coffee from Morgan and said no more. The five team members sat quietly and waited for news of their youngest.
&&&&&&&&&&
Reid opened his eyes, he was still groggy from the anesthetic. He looked up at the sterile white ceiling and realized he was in another hospital room. 'Great, I should get a discounted rate' he thought. He tried to sit up and winced at the pain in his shoulder.
"Be careful dear, that's going to be sore for a while but I have something to help that,"
Reid turned his head to the side and saw a pleasant faced nurse adjusting his IV line. She picked up a syringe off a tray beside his bed.
She smiled down at him.
"You're already receiving antibiotics, this is for the pain," she said holding up the needle.
'It helps,' echoed the ghost of Tobias.
Reid nodded and watched her deliver the pain relieving drug into his IV.
"There!" she said as she gave his arm a gentle pat. "You should be feeling the effects of that very soon,"
"Thank you," Reid croaked out.
He suddenly became aware of how dry his throat was. The nurse poured him a glass of water. She held it up to his mouth.
"Take small sips. Your friends are here, they've been waiting to see you, shall I send them in?" she asked.
Reid began to feel a sweet familiar warmth spreading through his body, soon it would completely envelope him, how he had missed it.
He smiled up at the nurse. "Sure, send them in."
&&&&&&&&&&
The team entered Reid's room as if they were all walking on eggshells. Tthey were more than a little surprised when they were greeted by Reid sitting up in his bed with a big smile on his face.
"Hi Guys." he said.
"Reid, you look better than I thought you would, how are you feeling?" asked Rossi.
"Like someone shot me...again," he answered.
Prentiss made her way to the bed and gave him a gentle hug." I'm sorry," she said simply.
He looked at her perplexed."Why?"
She just smiled at him and gave his hand a squeeze.
Hotch studied his young agent's face and decided he must still be under the effects of the anesthesia, he was just too calm and a little dopey too.
"Reid, You should be back at work in a week or two depending on what the bureau's doctors say. The rest of us will be heading back tomorrow. Morgan has volunteered to stay here til you're released and drive you back,"
"You'll do anything to get time off wont you?" joked Morgan.
"Uh huh," Reid said dreamily, the narcotic in his system was in full effect now. His body felt numb and tingly and there was no pain anywhere.
"How's your head?" asked JJ.
Reid put his hand up to his head and felt it. "My head? it's right here," He furrowed his brow wondering why he was asked such an odd question.
Morgan had to stifle a grin, "Pretty boy, I think you should rest."
The team got up to leave "We'll stop by tomorrow before we go," said Hotch.
"Ok," Reid said unconcerned.
The team bade him goodbye as they filed out of the room. Once they left, he didn't think about them, his mind was free or so he thought. He wondered how he could convince this doctor to perscribe more of this drug for him. He felt he needed it ; he was shot after all. He felt like he was floating in space. Spencer closed his eyes and let himself be carried off to where ever his mind cared to take him.
It took him somewhere he didn't expect, he felt like he was back in the unsubs house, he remembered he hadn't even bothered to ask about the case. He could hear the voice again whispering in his ear saying.
'Stay with me Reid, I love you,'
He frowned, who loved him?
&&&&&&&&&&&
TBC.
AN:Sorry to take so long to update. Please read and review and thanks to those who have been reviewing. I appreciate and look forward to hearing your thoughts.
