Title: Stay with Me

Author: Ashley

Fandom: Criminal Minds

Rating: T

Ship: Reid/Morgan, Hotch/Prentiss

Summary: After Reid is assaulted, can Morgan help him put his life back together, or will this send Reid over the edge, for good?

Warning: No warnings for this chapter!

Chapter Summary: The team deal's with some unwanted attention at the club, and they prepare to take off for their first case. (In my story.)

Author's notes: I'm so sorry it took me so long to get this chapter up! I've been going through a lot… Between a concussion, my baby having an ear infection, my girlfriend is getting deployed in two weeks, and me getting ready to go through a round of AI to have another child, things have been crazy. Thanks as always to lonelygrl19 for her support through this fic.

Spencer was fidgety in the passenger seat, rolling and unrolling the hem of his dress shirt. I had managed to convince him wear jeans, and had only gotten him to agree to go when I promised I wouldn't leave his side the whole night.

"Baby, it's going to be okay." Spencer nodded absently. "Spencer, look at me." He looked up, and I could see the fear on his face, I knew it would be hard for him to be around so many people, but it would also be good for him to be around people other than the team. "We aren't going to let anything happen to you Baby boy you know that." Spencer smiled softly and laced his fingers through mine, kissing the back of my hand softly.

"This is the first time I've been out since I moved in with you." Spencer scoffed slightly, "Unless you count the times we've been out to dinner, but there wasn't so many people around then. I'm just really nervous about this."

"It's going to be fine baby," I repeated, pulling into a parking space. Garcia, Emily, Hotch, JJ, and Rossi were waiting for us at the entrance to the club already and I pressed a quick kiss to Spencer's cheek before we both got out of the car. "Just stay as close as you need to baby." Spencer nodded and I grabbed his hand and we headed toward the team.

"Hey lovebirds!" Garcia was bubbly as always, and when we reached them she wrapped Spencer in a tight hug. JJ and Emily hugged us both in turn, I took shook Hotch and Rossi's hands before we all walked in. The girls and Spencer left to find a table while me and the guys went to get the drinks. I didn't know what Spence would drink, so I ordered him a beer and a coke.

"So how's life at home?" JJ was asking Spencer when we got back to the table. I could tell he was nervous, because he kept wringing his hands and looking over his shoulder.

"Things are good, how about you?" I sat down next to him and put my hand protectively on his thigh. We all sat around and talked for a while, just enjoying being out and being together after our 'victory' with Strauss.

"Let's dance baby." Emily batted her eyes flirtatiously at Hotch as she asked, and he sighed, grabbing her hand and pulling her up out of her seat. I chuckled and pulled Spence up too, leading him up to the dance floor while Garcia and JJ pulled a very reluctant Rossi out of his seat as well.

"Come on, we'll all dance together." Spencer looked thankfully at Garcia, before grabbing her hand as well.

We glided onto the dance floor, Spence and I pairing up while Emily pulled Hotch close to her and we watched JJ grab Rossi's hand and pull him to her as well, Penelope easily found a partner; smiling easily at us.

I couldn't help but notice Spencer's discomfort, and I grabbed his hips lightly before pulling his back into my chest and moving my body in time with the music. It didn't surprise me that Spencer stiffened when I ground against him from behind.

"It's ok Pretty Boy, It's just me, no one is going to hurt you.... I won't let them. You've just got to trust me." I was glad when Spencer relaxed and started to move his hips back against mine.

I watched as the rest of the team let go and had a good time, Hotch and Emily were both smiling and slow dancing, even though the song was a fast one. Rossi was laughing and his arms were wrapped tightly around JJ's waist, JJ was leaning back into him her arms laying on top of his.

The song changed to a slow one and I watched as Penelope slowly twirled in the arms of her dance partner and moved to face him. I spun Spencer around in my arms so he was facing me and I kissed him slowly. When we broke apart I chance a look at our friends again when Spencer let his head rest on my chest. JJ had her head on Rossi's chest and that made me smile; it would be nice for the two of them to find each other after everything we had all been through. They were utterly perfect for each other, and it was quite obvious that JJ was in love with the older profiler. Emily had her arms around Hotch's neck and Hotch had his hands resting tenderly on her hips, whispering in her ear. Penelope looked over at me and winked.

Before we all knew it, we had been dancing for over an hour. The night was going by too fast, and we were all enjoying ourselves. I had noticed that Spencer was starting to seem tired, so I kissed him quickly on the cheek. None of the rest seemed to be tiring, but I whistled sharply, caching Penelope's attention.

"I have to use the facilities baby, why don't you go to the bar and get a drink of water, I can tell you need to sit down. I'll head over there as soon as I'm done okay?" Spencer nodded and kissed my lips quickly before making his way through the crazy dance floor.

"Keep an eye on him baby girl, I'll be right back." Garcia nodded and went back to dancing.

I made my way quickly to the restroom, and took my time using the bathroom and washing my hands. Finally, I dried my hands and walked back out into the pulsing lights and blaring music on the club. I could tell something was wrong when I realized that Spencer wasn't at the bar. I made my way over to Garcia, and grabbed her arm, pulling her away from her dance partner.

"Where's Spencer?" Garcia looked around quickly, and her face fell.

"He was over at the bar, I just looked over there not even a minute ago." My heart fell and I took off, scanning the small club, looking for my absentee lover. It didn't take long for us to establish he wasn't inside, and we all headed for the door.

I saw Spencer immediately, and anger surged up inside of me. A man with dark hair was pulling on Spencer's arm, and Spencer was obviously frightened.

"Yo! Get your hands off of him." The man looked up at Penelope.

"We were just talking miss, I'm sure you can appreciate that," Next thing I knew the man was pulling Spencer farther away from us, and Hotch had grabbed the back of my shirt.

"Let me go!" Spencer was struggling to get away from the man, his face covered in tears. I wrenched out of Hotch's grasp and ran toward my boyfriend, throwing my fist into the man's jaw.

I grabbed Spencer and shoved him behind me, throwing another punch toward the man. "Keep your grimy paws off my boyfriend!" The man made a move to punch me, and I swept my leg out, knocking his out from under him.

"David! Do something!" I could hear JJ cry out, but I didn't care, I just fell down on top of the man and continued to assault him, repeatedly punching him in the face. I could feel Hands on my back, trying to pry me off the smaller man, but I ignored them. Finally Rossi wrapped his arms around me and dragged me off the man.

"Derek! Knock it off! Reid needs you!" That calmed me, and I turned to my lover, slowly taking in his frightened appearance.

"Baby?" Spencer ran toward me and barreled into me. I wrapped my arms around him tightly, and ran my hands soothingly up and down his back. "It's okay baby, I've got you, I've got you." Spencer sobbed into my chest, and I held him closely.

When I finally did look up, the man was gone, and Rossi was sporting a bloody lip. I frowned, and raised an eyebrow, questioning him.

"He decked me as I helped him up and ran off." I glared and pulled Reid closer to me. "Don't worry about him, just get Reid home." I nodded and we all said our goodnights, the girls hugging Spencer and I extra tightly.

POV Change, Monday morning.

I crossed my ankles and stared back at the Psychologist I had been ordered to see by Hotch.

"So Dr. Reid, I under stand the past few weeks have been very difficult for you."

"They have, I've never felt so helpless in all of my life." I sighed and folded my hands together, wishing that Derek could have come with me, but unfortunately he was working on a case, and I couldn't join them until my therapist cleared me for active field duty.

"Have you been having nightmares Dr. Reid?" I nodded, they had been lessening, but I still had them almost every other night. "How is Agent Morgan dealing with them?" I smiled softly, and ran a hand through my long hair.

"Very well, he's completely understanding and comforting. It's a relief to have him by my side." Dr. Andrews smiled.

"How have things been at home? At work?"

"Things have been great! Everyone at work has been amazing, we have always been a close unit and it seems that lately we have gotten closer than ever." Dr. Andrews nodded, and looked momentarily thoughtful.

"And why do you think that is?" I considered his question briefly.

"Because we all realized something that night."

"And what was that?" I smiled broadly, leaning forward slightly.

"We're more than a team, we're a family." Dr. Andrews laughed softly, and shook his head.

"That's always a good thing, to have family by your side." I smiled and nodded.

"Conference room in five, we got a case." I nodded and looked over at Derek, who just shrugged. The team was supposed to be on standby for two weeks, although I wasn't really complaining. I had missed working cases, almost as much as I had missed Derek when he was away working one.

We stood and headed toward the conference room, where Hotch and Gideon were already sitting, watching JJ pull pictures from the case file up on the screen. I was shocked at the pictures of men and women naked with their throats slashed.

"What the hell?" Derek muttered beside me, sitting down in a chair. There had to be at least thirty different victims up on our screen. Emily came in, and as soon as she took a look at the screen, choked on her coffee and sputtered desperately.

"What is this?" JJ shook her head, hitting a button on the remote control in her hand.

"Forty five victims, nine different states. All over nine years." JJ sighed and sat down directly across from Emily, whose mouth was hanging open, running her hand through her hair.

"Why are we just now being called in?!" Rossi was pissed, his knuckles white as he gripped the edge of the table.

JJ sighed and shook her head. "Every victim was murdered in a different city, I'm worrying that we may have to split the team up for this one." I shook my head quickly, looking at Derek in a panic.

"No, I don't think so. We go to the state where the latest bodies have been discovered, and then we do a geographical profile with the cases from the other states." Hotch looked in my direction as he spoke, and I saw him catch Derek's eye's and nod.

"We're all going out on this one together, and it looks like the majority of, and the most recent, the murders are in Michigan." Hotch nodded solemnly, and stood up. "Go home, pack a bag, looks like we'll be gone for a while, JJ, go get Garcia and tell her she's coming with us on this one. We're going to need everything, Rossi help Garcia pack up her equipment and put it in her car, and send her to pack. Meet at the airstrip in forty five minute, wheel's up in one hour." We all agreed and separated to go home and collect our things.

The ride home was silent, my hand wrapped tightly around Derek's. I couldn't explain it, but something didn't feel right to me about this case. I pushed it to the back of my mind, I needed to be completely clear headed on this case.