Hey everyone, here is the next chapter for you all. I hope you all enjoy this chapter. Sorry for the late update but I haven't been well the last week or so due to a cold and chest cough. Most of my family has it so I couldn't really avoid it. I'm happy that you're all still enjoying this and I hope that you all had a nice Christmas. My favorite new toy I got was my new hand mixer. I have lots of baking planned. Enjoy and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Thank you so much for all the reviews. They are brilliant and they made my Christmas. Thanks!

Enjoy and please review

All mistakes are my own (There might be more than usual as cold medication is making me feel a little drowsy).

Garcia walked over to the the bed with every step more effort than the last. She just couldn't believe it was her junior g-man laying in the bed. Every inch of him seemed covered by either bruises or white bandages. Her hand hovered over his swollen eyes. She let out a small sob and brought her over her mouth. Hotch stepped up behind her and put his arm around her. "He'll be okay, Garcia. He's strong."

"I can barely tell it's him," she cried, her cheeks already moist with tears. "That son of a bitch almost killed him. I can't imagine how scared he was when he was with Dell. I want to touch him but I'm scared of hurting him."

"Hold his hand," Morgan instructed. "You can hold his hand, Garcia. I think it'll be nice if he knows you're here."

Garcia reached out and brought Reid's hand into her own. She held it lovingly and stroked her thumb over the back of it. She leaned forward to his ear and whispered quietly. "I'm here, Reid. We are all here for you. You're safe now and that monster will never touch you again. Just rest and we'll be here when you wake up."

As she rose up, she caught sight of JJ crying. "JJ, are you okay?"

"He's been through a lot and I just hope he comes out of this without any life changing problems," JJ sighed shakily. "He's a good man who leads a good life. I don't understand why bad things keeps happening to him."

"I don't think any of us understand why bad things keep happening to him," Morgan said. "We need to make Dell suffer for what he has done. He's not only hurt Reid physically but mentally. Hotch, Reid probably saw the motel owner get killed. He was forced to watch someone die again. That is going to have an effect on him."

"We'll be here to help him through those bad effects," Garcia spoke up. "I'm going to stay here with him. I can't leave him. Not when he's like this. I stayed with him when he was shot in the neck and I want to be with him now."

"There is no-one better to take care of him," Hotch smiled sadly. "Morgan, I want you to stay here too. Until Dell is in custody, I want Reid under protection. This has also hit you hard and the best place for you is by his side."

Morgan simply nodded. He didn't argue because every word Hotch had said was true. Every time he closed his eyes, all he saw was Reid hanging from the trunk of Dell's car by his wrists. "I'll take care of him."

"We'll find Dell," Hotch assured him.


Morgan watched as Garcia covered Reid with another blanket. Her motherly actions acting almost like a shield to stop herself from thinking about all the horrible abuse her friend had suffered. She tenderly kissed the back of Reid's hand and let out a shaky breath. "You just sleep, baby boy. I'm going to pamper you silly when you wake up."

"I bet he won't moan about you fussing over him this time," Morgan said before taking a sip of his extra strong coffee. "Garcia, how are you holding up?"

"I'm fine," she nonchalantly shrugged.

"Baby girl, it's me. You can't lie to me."

Garcia gently sat back in her chair. "I'm so upset, Morgan. I don't want to cry though. I want Reid to hear my voice when he wakes up and not the sound of my tears. He doesn't need to worry about anything but himself. I hate Dell for what he's done to Reid. Not only has he done all this but he's given Reid memories that will stay with him for the rest of his life. Memories that will cause him so much pain. He already has enough bad memories. He doesn't need any more."

"It's okay to cry, Garcia. I understand your reasons for not wanting to cry but I know how much Reid means to you. He means so much all of us. We'll be by his side throughout his recovery. We can pamper him, put some meat on his bones while he's on bed rest and give him a stress free atmosphere. We can give him the full on Garcia experience."

Garcia let out a small smile. "I know some great recipes that are full of calories."

"Think about Reid's future and not what happened. Plan all your pampering for him. Don't focus on the terrible things you saw Dell do to him. Focus on how you can help him forget those memories."


Hotch shook his head as he stared at the evidence board in front of him. Dell was still on the loose after shooting a deputy in the arm and escaping the police. Having Reid back was brilliant but the fact his attacker and torturer was still out there made his skin crawl. Reid didn't need to wake up to news that Dell was still out there.

"We'll get him, Hotch," Blake said from behind him. "The department won't stop till they get him and neither will we."

"No, we won't stop," Hotch nodded. "It's late though and we need sleep if we're going to find Dell. We need to stay sharp and we're running on fumes. The surrounding states are on alert and we have road blocks. Tell everyone to go to the local hotel and get some sleep."

"I would argue with you but you're right," Blake agreed. "We need to have clear minds when Dell makes his move. I'll pass on the message."

"Blake, do you know why I sent you with Rossi to search for Dell with the others? You can remain calm when the situation needs it."

Blake stepped forward. "I know that this is having a hard affect on you. It's okay to admit you are struggling with what Dell did to Reid."

Hotch rubbed his tired eyes. "I'm the leader of this team and sometimes I can take that responsibility. I can deal with everything that comes with the role of being the leader. Sometimes though, I can't handle the pressure. Dell called my phone every time and I had to listen as the youngest member of my team was brutally tortured. I listened as Reid cried and told me how much pain he was in. I helped bring him to this team. He could have done anything he wanted but he came to this team. I thank the world for giving the FBI a genius like him and he's done so much good. What if he blames me for all the pain he's gone through? By bringing him to this team, I brought him into all this danger. He's lost so much."

"Hey," Blake said gently. "He won't blame you for anything because you haven't done anything wrong. Reid has always known the dangers of being with the FBI and it has never stopped him. You know why. Coming into this team also brought him a family that he never had growing up. Hotch, he'll be okay."

"I hope so," Hotch smiled sadly.


Five hours later

Morgan groaned gently as he woke up. He checked through the blinds to see two guards now on duty. He checked his gun and knew he shouldn't have fallen asleep but he hadn't even realized he had fallen asleep. Garcia had fallen asleep with half her body on the chair and her head and upper body on the bed. Her hand still held Reid's hand in a caring embrace. He took a spare blanket from the bedside table and covered her up.

"O'rgan," a muffled voice filled the room. Morgan rushed to the other side of the bed and saw Reid's mouth was open through the plastic of the oxygen mask.

"Kid, it's Morgan. Don't try to move. You're in hospital and you're safe."

Garcia rose from her seat and noticed Morgan talking to Reid. "Is he awake?"

"Gar...cia," Reid slurred quietly.

She held his hand against her face. "It's me. You're safe now. I'm here."

"My...angel," Reid sighed painfully as he gripped Garcia's hand with what little strength he had.

Garcia let out a little sob before kissing the back of his hand. "I'm your angel if you want me to be. I've got my knight here too. Morgan is your knight too."

"I can't seee," Reid slurred before his grip on Garcia's hand loosened. His mouth closed and he fell back into a peaceful slumber. Garcia's lip quivered as she kept hold of his hand. Morgan walked over to her and held her as she broke down. She cried into his chest but never let go of Reid's hand.

"Let it out," Morgan soothed. "It's okay. Just let it out."


Hotch gasped as he jolted up in his bed. He turned on the lamp quickly and shook away the dream state that hung over him. He rubbed his hand through his hair and took a deep breath. The small hours of sleep he had managed to get had been anything but peaceful. He had dreamed about Dell torturing Reid but in his dream they had found Reid dumped near a river after being strangled. Every member of his team had faded away in the dream. They wouldn't survive if they lost him and Hotch knew that even in his dreams.

His cellphone began to buzz on the bedside table. Hotch grabbed it and opened it up. "This is Hotchner."

"Agent Hotchner, this is Officer Kate Marks. I was the one who helped your agent with Agent Reid. We've found something in the woods. You need to come straight away."

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