A Friend
Disclaimer : I do not own Criminal minds:
'Friendship always benefits, love sometimes injures.'~ Seneca.
Hotch and Morgan had hotel rooms on either side of Reid's room. They had both heard the yelling and the noise, and they both stepped out into the hall to investigate at the same time.
Morgan began to knock loudly on the door and call Reid's name, Hotch spotted a maid with her cleaning cart a few rooms down. He motioned to her and said they needed to get in the room. He turned and saw that Morgan had other ideas.
"MORGAN WAIT!" yelled Hotch.
But Morgan didn't wait. He put his siziable well musceled shoulder to the door and gave it a hard shove, then followed it up with a good hard kick. The door was no match for Derek Morgan, it burst open on it's hinges. A stunned maid stood there gaping at him while the keycard to the room dangled from her hand.
Hotch and Morgan, rushed into the room; they found Reid crumpled up on the floor like a rag doll surrounded by shards of broken glass. Morgan bent down and gathered the young man in his arms; Hotch felt for a pulse.
"Reid, Reid," Morgan said while gently shaking his friend. Reid moaned and began to stir.
"He's got a pulse and it's racing " said Hotch. He noted Reid's skin was pale and clammy. He helped Morgan lift the young man onto the bed.
"Morgan be careful of the glass on the floor" advised Hotch. He took a careful look around the was really nothing amiss aside from the broken lamp and they knew that had just happened. There was no sign he had been drinking, so he wasn't drunk nor did he see any signs of drugs. He kind of hated himself for even thinking that way, but after what Reid had been through, he had to consider any possibility.
"What the hell happened here" It was Rossi, still a little blurry eyed and in his pyjamas, he had heard the commotion from across the hall.
"We don't know," answered Hotch, who stood watching his youngest agent slowly become aware.
"Hotch and I heard all the noise coming from Reid's room. we heard him yelling then this lamp smash." Morgan said gesturing to the mess on the carpet.
"Do we need to call an ambulance?" Rossi asked.
"No, don't call an ambulance, I know what happened," Reid said in a barely audible voice. He was sitting up in bed with his hands over his face.
"What, what happened?," asked Rossi.
Reid sighed, "I think I had a panic attack, I'm sorry, I'm really sorry."
Hotch frowned, in all the years he'd worked with Reid he had never known him to have panic attacks.
"What brought it on?" asked Morgan.
Reid looked up at the three men with their worried expressions. He stared straight ahead as he spoke.
"I had a nightmare, a really bad one. It was about Maeve. It woke me up and... it just seemed so real, I..." He faltered.
Suddenly, a look of understanding crossed their faces. They almost looked relieved.
Reid couldn't tell them what really set him off. He couldn't tell them what he saw out the window.
Hotch nodded to the other two men and they left the room. He sat down on the edge of the bed and spoke to Reid in a very gentle voice.
"Reid, I want you to please think about taking more time off."
Reid shook his head "No, please Hotch. I need to work," He looked at Hotch with a pleading expression.
Hotch truly did understand, and perhaps Reid was right to keep his mind occupied with work. It always worked for him.
"Do you feel like you need to see a doctor, or do you want anyone to stay with you? " Hotch asked.
"No, I really am ok now, " He saw the scowl on the unit chiefs face. "Perhaps I'll see my own physician when I get home," He really had no intention of doing that, but it seemed to appease Hotch for the moment.
"Ok Reid, If you feel up to it, meet us for breakfast in 30 minutes." Hotch told him.
"Thanks Hotch."
Hotch left the room and Spencer immediately jumped up and went to the window. All he saw outside was the busy NY street. No dark haired woman in a rain coat.
He thought he must have dream't it. maybe he had been half asleep. He didn't really believe that, but for the time being he was going to pretend he did. He decided he was going to fight this. Whatever this was.
With a newfound sense of determination, he set about getting ready for work. He was going to think only about work, though Maeve still lived inside his head like a silent forlorn memory that was in no danger of fading anytime soon.
XXXX
Two days later the case was solved and the team headed back home. It was late at night and the flight was short. Reid arrived back at his lonely apartment on a Sunday.
He couldn't help thinking this was usually the day he and Maeve would talk, sometime for hours. He missed her so much. He sat down on his sofa and saw the book Maeve had given him and frowned. He knew he had been looking at it before he went to NY, but he was certain it was lying face up and now the cover was face down. Maeve's brown cardigan which he sometimes slept in was folded neatly on the coffee table. He was sure he had left it laying on the back of the couch.
He felt an iciness come over him. He didn't believe in ghosts so he must have been the one to move both the book and sweater, but why couldn't he remember doing it. He held the sweater close to him, It smelled slightly of ivory soap. He never noticed that before.
Was this the subtle beginnings of madness? He curled up on the couch grasping the sweater to his heart. A single tear rolled down his face.
"Maeve, why wasn't it me?" he whispered.
TBC.
AN: Please read and review and let me know what you think.
