A/N: I'm not even going to bother saying I'm going to try and get the next chapter out quicker. I probably won't. Sorry again this took so long and if anyone is still reading this then I thank you. 3

Disclaimer: No ownership of the characters in this fic. They belong to Criminal Minds. No copyright intended. Only O/C characters are mine.

Warning:Same as the other chapters this one is not really so bad but I guess it is still quite upsetting so reader discretion is advised.

Chapter 9: Finding Comfort

Hotch sat at his desk. He still had some paperwork to finish up but he knew that it would have to wait. His mind was elsewhere. He couldn't think about bureaucracy when his youngest agent was in a hospital bed. He couldn't think logically.

He should have done more. After Tobias, he had beaten himself up about not teaching Reid how to deal with the emotional side of the job and he had told himself that he was going to talk to Reid and try and help him but so much went on with the Dilaudid. Reid was closed off from the team and he never really had a chance to get close enough to bring it up. He would have hoped that Gideon would have talked to him but then he left and the whole situation got swept to the side in the chaos of it all. There were always more important things for the team to focus on. Now Hotch realised that once again he had let down Reid. Once again he had been put through horrible events and had no way to cope with them. Hotch wanted to scream. It was all so unfair for Reid.

Instead he resigned to get himself some whiskey. He knew it was breaking so many different rules drinking in his office but he couldn't care. He was hurting and he wanted a drink. Screw anyone who wanted to tell him that he couldn't.

Hotch took his first burning sip when a knock sounded on his door. He grumbled under his breath. Could they not leave him alone for five minutes? He put his drink in his desk draw.

"Come in." Hotch called.

Dave came into the room with a small grin on his face. He shut the door behind him and drew the blinds.

"I come bearing gifts." Rossi proclaimed.

"Oh yeah?" Hotch looked sceptical.

"Yeah how does a bottle of this sound." Rossi produced a bottle of expensive looking Whiskey from inside his suit jacket.

"I would say you are on the exact same wavelength as me." Hotch smiled pulling the glass from his desk draw.

"I see you beat me to it." Rossi murmured. Hotch passed him a glass and watched as Rossi poured the amber liquid.

"Cheers." Rossi lifted his glass. Hotch met him halfway. "To getting Reid home."

Hotch couldn't hide the grimace that fell on his face. "Cheers."

"Now try saying it like you mean it." Rossi chided.

"I do mean it." Hotch protested.

"Yes but there is something going on in that head of yours." Rossi probed.

"It's nothing. How are you? You seemed shaken up earlier." he tried to brush off the comment.

"I'm fine I've had time to process. But you... Aaron sneaking whiskey in your office is not something you do without reason."

"I just..."

"You can tell me. I'm not here to judge." A hand came to rest on Hotch's arm.

"I just feel like I have let him down. Again." Hotch's words came out only in a whisper.

"Okay." Rossi replied calmly waiting for Hotch to continue.

"I never taught him about this. Emotions I mean. Reid has no clue how to handle any of this. Look at how he reacted in the hospital. I have let him down. He was terrified. I said that I would talk to him after he was abducted by Hankel but I didn't. I let him get lost and now look at him."

"Are you quite done?" Rossi said as dismissively as he could. Hotch almost looked hurt but he quickly looked down at his hands.

"You have never failed that boy. He is lucky to have you as his boss, we all are. You lead this team in a way that no one else could. We are the best of the best. And do you know why?" Rossi paused for a moment. "Because you care about every member on this team. You lookout for us all even when you are not supposed to. You can't blame yourself for the way Reid reacted you can't teach someone how to deal with being abducted by a stalker. All you can do now is be there for him. Support him and I know that you will. You are a good man Aaron."

"Cheers." Aaron lifted his glass with a smile that really reached his eyes. "You always seem to know what to say."

"Cheers" Rossi lifted his and smiled as the clink filled the room. "It's all going to work out in the end. We just have to give it some time."

oOo

Morgan was sat in the world's most uncomfortable chair. Reid had gone back to sleep after their heart to heart. Morgan smiled at the thought that the kid had probably forced himself to sleep to avoid the awkwardness of it and to avoid talking anymore about feelings.

He glanced over Reid's body. The covers had moved from him while he had been awake showing more of his skin. For the most part is was covered in bruises and cuts. He could see lines of bruises disappear under the hospital gown and he briefly wondered how far over his body they went. He was curious but at the same time he felt utterly sick just thinking about it. How could anyone do this to the kid?

He couldn't help but look over his left arm to where there were small grazes in the crook. That was years of hard work gone. The kid had been forced to take drugs again and this time it was so much worse. He didn't know if Reid had it in him to kick the stuff again. At least not on his own. He read somewhere that addicts that relapse are less likely to be able to kick their habit a second time. Reid always beats the odds but sometimes even he can get overwhelmed by them.

Morgan placed a hand on Reid's head brushing the hair off his face. He looked so peaceful. If he didn't have such a bruised face he would almost think that this had never happened. Reid looked like he was finally able to get a good rest and he hoped that he stayed sleep. The kid needed a break.

"No." A small mumble came from Reid.

Morgan lifted his hand away from Reid scared of disturbing his sleep.

"No." Again slightly louder this time.

Morgan was about to wake him trying to be as non-threatening as possible.

"Come back. Please."

"Please don't leave me here. Someone please."

Morgan placed the hand back on his friend's hair. He let his hand graze through and de tangle some of the knots.

"Please." A smaller mumble slipped from Reid.

Morgan watched as Reid slowly started to calm down. His breathing started to slow and the talking stopped. He felt Reid's head turn towards his hand and push into it. He let a smile slip, sometimes this kid was just too precious.

oOo

JJ was in her office. She came here every now and then when she needed to be alone. It had been a long time since she had bothered to go in here but after the last few days some time alone was just what the doctor ordered.

She liked the solace that she received from the dimly lit room and the pale walls. She came and sat at her old desk and sank down into the frayed office chair remembering just how uncomfortable the thing was.

There was still a picture of Will and Henry on the desk and she took it now and stared hard at it. She couldn't help but imagine what she would do if either of them happened to be in this situation. She pulled out her cell phone and called Will. She knew that speaking to her Husband and Son would calm her.

oOo

Blake was in the bull pen. She decided that it would be best to get the paper work out of the way. She knew that it would only get in the way later on and she knew that she would rather spend time with Reid when he was awake and sure of what was happening than be stuck here working.

She let out a sigh and pulled he purse out from her desk. From her purse she grabbed her wallet and pulled out a picture of Ethan. A smile pulled at her lips. She often looked at the picture when she needed comfort but only when she knew that no one could see her. The others didn't know about her son and that was the way she wanted to keep it for now. She silently willed Ethan to look after Spencer and to help him through this. She knew that it was stupid but somehow a part of her still hoped that her faith would prevail.

oOo

In the dim light of her computer screens Garcia wiped a tear from her face. She was glad that she could be in her little hide away. This way she could behave any way she wanted without trained behavioural experts looking at her. Sometimes she needed a break from the profiles and time to just be human.

She pulled a picture of the team up on her screen and looked at the awkward smile on Dr Spencer Reid's face. It comforted her to see her little dork smiling away; happy. She didn't know how long it was going to be until she saw something like that again. That thought terrified her. She wanted Reid to be happy. She wished she could take all of the hurt from him even if that meant putting it on herself.

After a few moments Garcia turned off the monitors and grabbed her bag a plan formed in her head. She was going to make Spencer happy and she knew exactly how.

oOo

"He is still hot even like that." Christine commented to Angela. The two Nurses shared a giggle at the sight of Morgan sprawled out in the chair with his mouth hanging open.

"The dribble on his chin really accentuates his eyes." Angela grinned sarcasm filling her voice.

The two women started in the window of Reid's room for a moment longer before carrying on with their rounds. They had to hand it to the man he really was a good guy. He had been waiting there for hours. Most men they saw would leave or at least grab some food and come back but the FBI agent had left for a coffee a few hours ago and that was all.

A small moan woke Morgan from his sleep. He instantly sat up snapping his head over to Reid. He met his eyes and Reid threw him an instant smile.

"Glad to see you're feeling better." Morgan quipped.

Reid let out a small chuckle wincing as it pulled at his broken body.

"What?" Morgan was confused now.

Reid didn't answer but continued to laugh silently at him.

"Reid?"

"Did you have a nice nap?" Reid said between laughs.

"What are you talking about?"

Reid gestured to his chin and Morgan instantly realised. He quickly wiped his chin off.

"Haha. Very funny but it's nice to see you smiling." Seeing Reid smile made Morgan smile.

"It feels nice to smile." Reid came back to his shy self.

"Then let's try and keep you smiling." Morgan pulled out his phone. "Here I found another one of those try not to laugh videos."

Reid pulled himself up the bed to see the screen. He loved these videos and he and Morgan often betted each other who would crack first.

oOo

After watching a few videos Morgan got a text that the rest of the team were on the way. In all honesty it made Reid nervous. It wasn't that he was scared of the team he knew that they were his best friends, his family but being around the women it made him remember. It made he feel scared and vulnerable. He knew that it was stupid that he was being completely illogical but he couldn't seem to slow his heart down or fix his breathing whenever they came near.

He knew that the team would be arriving any moment. Reid closed his eyes and tried to calm himself and prepare. He knew that he could just say that he wanted some space. He could deal with them if they were further away from him. Morgan had told him about what happened with Garcia and he felt awful. He knew that Garcia would probably try to compensate for that with some kind of gift and that made him more nervous.

oOo

After making sure Reid was okay for the thousandth time Morgan came to wait for the team outside. He knew that he needed to talk to them first before they came into see Reid. Eventually he saw the black SUV's pull up outside the hospital. The team gathered round Morgan and followed him inside.

The team looked terrible it was clear already that they were all trying their best to cope with what had happened. Morgan could tell that Rossi and Hotch has been drinking; not much but the signs were there. Garcia stood clutching at a round thing covered in foil. Morgan knew this would be a 'Get Well Soon Reid' cake and that it would probably have some kind of Doctor Who pattern on it. Blake shuffled at the back not really focused and JJ clutched to her purse like it was a person. Each one trying to cope with their youngest member being captured and tortured by a psychopath.

As they came to Reid's room Morgan paused. He spoke in a low tone as to not let Reid hear him.

"He had a nightmare earlier. I think it was about us leaving him alone with that bitch. I managed to calm him down but he is still very on edge. We need to play this one very carefully. I don't know what might freak him out."

Morgan pushed open the door and let the rest of the team in behind him.

"Hey Reid. The rest of the team are here to see how you are doing." Morgan tried to be as cheerful as possible.

Reid sank back into the pillow and gulped.

"Hi everyone." Reid was so quiet everyone had to strain to hear him.

"Reid I'm glad your awake. How are you feeling?" Hotch was the first to ask.

"I'm a bit sore but other than that I'm okay." Reid looked away from the group and to his hands.

"Reid I brought you something that I hoped would cheer you up." Garcia beamed. She took of the foil and placed the cake on the table.

"It's vanilla and look I painted it just like a TARDIS. It took forever to get the right shade for TARDIS blue." Garcia had never sounded prouder.

"Thank you it's amazing. Garcia... I'm sorry for earlier. I heard about what happened. I'm so, so sorry."

"Hey it's okay." Garcia came closer trying to show some kind of comfort to her little guy.

Reid flinched away without even meaning to. Garcia looked instantly hurt moving back away from the boy.

"Sorry. I... It's just… Sorry." Reid stuttered.

"Hey come on now. It's okay Garcia knows you're just a little jumpy you don't need to apologise for that." Morgan said from his place near the back of the group.

Garcia sent a silent prayer that Derek had helped her out of that. She had no idea how to act with Reid. All she wanted to do was give him a big hug but she knew that was the last thing that Reid needed. She had to admit that she was out of her element.

"It's not okay." Reid spat.

"Hey now Reid. What the matter?" JJ spoke up for the first time.

"What's the matter. How about that I'm so messed up I can't even accept a hug of someone that I love and trust." He rushed.

"Spence-

"DON'T call me that." Reid snapped.

"What Spence? I've always called you that?"

"Yeah well I don't want you to call me that. Call me Reid."

"But I… Spence I…"

"Shut up."

"Reid" Hotch warned.

"Spence please." JJ reached out to his arm.

"GET OUT" Reid yelled he slapped the hand away from him. "LEAVE NOW. ALL OF YOU!" Reid was screaming now.

"Reid we are not going to leave you. You need to calm down." Rossi called from Hotch's side.

"NO! NOW LEAVE" Reid screamed.

"What is happening in here?" Doctor Giles burst into the room once again.

"Nothing Reid is just getting himself a little upset."

"Doctor Reid. I need you to calm down. If you won't I'll be forced to sedate you again."

"Reid man Relax." Morgan added.

"Doctor Reid. Take some nice deep breaths for me and just calm down. You are safe here I am going to look after you. No one else can hurt you." She tried to calm the boy.

Reid did the opposite his breathing picked up and his grip tightened around himself.

"I think it is the female presence." Hotch called over the noise. "his attacker was female he might feel more comfortable around a male."

"I'll another doctor. Everyone out."

"Morgan." Reid called.

"You stay." Giles pointed to Morgan "The rest of you with me."

The team left with one last look at a shaky panicking Reid and a confused overwhelmed looking Morgan.