Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds or its characters... I'm not one to spontaneously break out in dance, but WOW, over 100 reviews!!! :) *spontaneous happy dance*
Only one more chapter left after this one! I (obviously) appreciate reviews and comments!
Reid couldn't look at him directly in the eye anymore, but he could still see a look of shock on Hotch's face as the realization came crashing down on him. It was only there for a moment though, before he seemed to regain his usual composure.
"Are you absolutely sure, Reid?" he asked in disbelief.
Reid was sure. He didn't have any doubts anymore about who the man was. It was Gideon. His former mentor. That's why the man knew where and when to find him. That's why the man knew exactly where all of the cameras in the parking garage were. That's why he had let the man into his car and his home. That's why the cabin he had been taken to looked so familiar. That's why he had been dropped off near Hotch's house.
And that's why Reid had trusted him.
"Yes. I'm sure," Reid said sadly. He had spent all this time desperately trying to remember who had done this to him, but now, he wished he didn't know. It hurt worse to know.
Hotch finally moved from his spot across the small room and approached Reid, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Reid..."
"It wasn't him, Hotch."
"What? You just said-"
"No... I mean, it was him, but it wasn't him," Reid clarified. "He isn't the same person anymore. I think he was suffering from a psychotic break or something."
They were silent for a moment, both still trying to fully process Reid's final remembrance. "Come on," Hotch finally said, leading Reid out of the bathroom. Rossi and Morgan were standing a little ways away talking to each other. Rossi had obviously told Morgan what had happened after he left, and JJ and Prentiss were starting to approach them, too.
"Are you okay, Reid?" Morgan asked without trying to hide his obvious concern. Reid merely nodded in response. "Should I take you home now?"
"There's been a change in plan," Hotch simply said, and Reid was immediately grateful that Hotch wasn't sending him home anymore.
"What's going on?" Rossi asked. Hotch didn't answer, but instead started walking away. Reid immediately followed. The others, after overcoming their initial shock from Hotch's abrupt departure, followed close behind. All of them were extremely curious to find out what was going on.
"Okay, not that I don't love you all, but what are all of you doing in my office?" Garcia asked as everyone filed into her office.
"Garcia, I need you to find anything you can on someone during the past few years," Hotch said.
"Sure thing. Who am I looking for?" Garcia asked innocently.
"Gideon." The room suddenly became quiet. No one could hold back their shocked expressions.
"Hotch, what is this about?" Morgan asked.
Hotch sighed and glanced at Reid before speaking to everyone else. "Gideon's the one who took Reid."
"What?"
Reid could feel everyone's eyes turn to him, but he stared down at the floor, unable to meet any of them.
"Why the hell would Gideon do something like that?" Morgan asked incredulously.
Hotch ignored his question and turned back to Garcia. "Garcia."
"Uh, right," she said before beginning to type away on the computer.
"Reid thinks he might have had a psychotic break of some sort," Hotch informed them. The room turned silent again except for the typing noises coming from Garcia's computer.
"I'm not finding anything," Garcia finally said. "He completely disappeared after leaving the BAU... Oh..."
"What is it?"
"His son died a few months ago. Car accident."
"That could cause a psychotic break in his already damaged mind," Hotch reasoned. No one had to mention the way Gideon had left the BAU and why.
"He could have still felt guilty for leaving," Prentiss offered. "When his son died, he probably blamed himself, eventually displacing his guilt onto leaving Reid."
"The kid was like a son to him," Morgan admitted. The team continued analyzing the situation, oblivious to the fact that they were profiling Gideon as if he were just another unsub. They also seemed to be talking almost as if Reid wasn't there in the room with them. But Reid didn't notice since he had stopped listened to them anyway. He had other things on his mind.
"Hotch," Reid suddenly interrupted as a thought occurred to him. "We need to find him, now! He's probably still at his cabin."
"Reid? What is it?"
"I-I'm afraid he might hurt himself, Hotch. We need to get there before he does anything."
"Reid... It's been almost three days," Hotch spoke as gently as he could. "You have to realize the possibility that he might-"
"I know, but what if he hasn't yet?" Reid didn't want to think of the possibility that Gideon had already hurt himself, but deep down he still knew Hotch was right.
"Let's go," Hotch finally agreed.
