7

8:32 a.m.

"No. I-I'm not okay," Spencer said, looking down at his hands. Hotch pursed his lips, looking at his hands as well.

"Yeah…me either," he mumbled.

There was a lapse of awkward silence between the two. "I'm sorry," Spencer said.

"For what?" Hotch asked, incredulous. Spencer glanced at him, folding his lips like he did when he was nervous, or in this case, ashamed.

"For, for talking or doing something he told me not to. He hit you for it…I'm sorry." Hotch shook his head.

"I'm glad you did." Spencer frowned, confused. Hotch didn't look at him, and when he spoke his voice was very soft. "I…I'm glad I didn't have to go through that alone. I'm glad you said something. Thank you…for…for being there." Neither of them looked at the other.

"Y-you too," Spencer whispered.

"You should rest," Hotch said.

"I…yeah, you're right," he whispered, shutting his eyes. They opened again when the door creaked.

Garcia peeked through the door at them, trying to be quiet if either of them was asleep. She came in, looking at both of them. "Hey," she smiled.

Her eyes moved between the two and finally rested on Spencer. He looked back at her, those big brown eyes filled with tears.

"Oh, honey…" She rushed over to him, wrapping her arms around him tightly. She hugged him close, thankful that he was alright. She planted kisses on the top of his head, his forehead and his cheeks, unbelievably happy that he was okay. He'd scared her so badly…

Spencer hugged her back, shaking a little and trying not to cry. He didn't succeed very well. "Ow," he hissed when she squeezed him just a little too tight.

"Sorry!" She exclaimed, loosening her grip a little. "Sorry, sugar." She looked at him, noticing the deep dark circles under his eyes. "You need sleep," she said, gently guiding him back down to the pillows. She took his hand in hers, rubbing his forehead with the other.

"You have to stop scaring us like that," she said sternly. "You're gonna give poor Morgan a heart attack." He smiled a little, a tear escaping to his cheek.

The drugs started to kick in, his eyes feeling heavier and heavier. He was asleep before he could tell Garcia to get them to stop administering him narcotics.

She smiled at him painfully, brushing his newly shortened hair out of his face. "You're right," she said to Hotch. "He does look like he joined a boy band, huh?"

She looked over her shoulder at him, wondering if she made him smile like she intended.

He smiled a little. Her eyes were pained.

She stood, wringing her hands nervously, trying not to stare at the deep purple bruises on his cheeks.

"Jack and Jessica are safe," she assured. "They'll be in protective custody until all of this is over."

She could see the weight that was lifted off of his shoulders as she spoke. He shut his eyes, sighing.

"Thank you," he breathed. She smiled and nodded.

"Will and Henry are safe too. So's Reid's mom and Morgan's family. We're not sure if we should worry about them or not, but we're just being careful," she said quietly.

"What about Kevin?" Hotch rasped. She smiled.

"Kevin works with a bunch of FBI agents every day. He'll be just fine," she assured. There was a beat of silence before he spoke.

"Did…did they find my gun?" He asked in a small voice that brought tears to her eyes. She bit her lip and shook her head.

"No it…it wasn't in the room. We can't find Reid's either." He nodded, not looking at her, holding back another wave of tears that threatened to overwhelm him in his weakened state. Those memories just wouldn't leave him alone…

Garcia chewed her lip, wringing her hands even faster. "Uh, sir?" She squeaked. He looked up at her, trying to keep his lips from shaking again. "Can…can I hug you?" He nodded, smiling a little.

She hugged him tight, just as worried about him as she was Reid. He hugged her back, knowing that the tears he was shedding would stay between the two of them..

"Shh…it's okay, Hotch. Shh…"


"GHB?" Morgan repeated, still unable to believe it.

"Yes," the doctor said, nodding. "The effects should wear off in a few hours. He's actually lucky he didn't overdose."

"Lucky…" Emily scoffed quietly.

"Is that it?" Morgan asked, exasperated and unsure if he wanted to hear the rest of this for not.

"Yes. Other than that neither of their conditions has changed."

"Thanks," Morgan said shortly, not sounding as if he meant it at all. The doctor walked away. Emily sighed.

"What should we do?" She asked.

"We've made sure everyone's family is safe, right?" She nodded. "Then we just have to figure out who he's gonna go after next."

"Guys!" J.J. exclaimed, jogging around the corner with Garcia and Rossi in tow. "We figured it out, we know who he's going after next."

"Who?" Morgan and Emily asked in unison.

"Me," Garcia said. "It's me."