Chapter 10: Strength

The medics seemed reluctant to remove the screws without some sort of pain killer, but Reid refused so they couldn't give him anything. They were all confused as to why he refused narcotics, it was going to be painful. They were also confused as to why he has screwed to a chair, but that didn't matter, what mattered was getting the screws out.

"I don't think I will be able to listen to him scream" JJ whispered to Prentiss getting ready to leave.

"Jayj I think Reids a lot stronger than anyone gives him credit for," Prentiss whispered back putting a hand on her shoulder, but secretly she didn't think she could take anymore of Reid's scream… it just made her feel so, guilty. She didn't know why, maybe after the Hankle case she felt a need to protect the young man.

The team watched as the medics carefully started removing the first screw. They all made faces (including Hotch) hearing the blood and muscle making sloshy sounds. Sound wasn't the only terrifying thing, the sight of seeing a nail being removed from your close friend's hand.

After the nail was removed the team thought something was missing. But what? Reid's scream, everyone expected a really loud scream, but none came. They clearly didn't give him enough credit.

Hotch, who was the first to look at Reid's face, saw a look of pure pain on his face, but he also saw determination. Hotch was proud of him but he also felt so bad for the young man.

This is your fault, you could've protected him, Hotch thought.

No, you couldn't have stopped this, Hotch argued.

You should be the one getting screws removed from your hands and feet.

No one deserves this.

YOU should have protected him, he is in excruciating pain because of you, hadn't he been through enough, you have no excuse for not stopping this. You want to know why he isn't screaming? To prove himself to YOU! Then the argument stopped Hotch's guilt taking over.

The second nail was soon being removed and Reid rasped in pain but there was no scream. Everyone expected for him to scream, but once again he didn't.

This time everyone saw the pain in Reid's face. Each of their expression's changed from disgusted to sad. Now each of them where fighting their own conscious's (sorry I can't spell). Guilt won every time.

Now on the third screw Reid wasn't sure if he could take the pain anymore. It was too much. It, just hurt, so, so much. But, he had to prove himself.

You're not strong enough, now Reid was fighting himself.

You can do this, you won't scream, Reid ignored himself.

You're a weakling, may as well show your team that.

You can take the pain.

Lair.

You can take it.

Lair.

YOU CAN TAKE IT.

LAIR.

By the time Reid was done arguing with himself they finished removing the third screw and were starting to remove the fourth. He only had hold his screams in for a while longer then he would be in the ambulance away from this terrible place.

Reid thought about being back at work and away from the pain to get through pain. He thought of his family and everything being normal. He thought of seeing them, without a cloud of pain covering their features.

Soon the fourth screw was removed and he was being rushed into an ambulance. Finally he would be relived from the pain… well close , the pain wouldn't just disappear.

oOo CM oOo oOo CM oOo

A/N: Thank You Reviewers! You made my day… no actually my year! And thank you to Post U Later for giving me the whole chapter idea, lol this chapter wouldn't have happened without you! Anyways, I am so sorry for taking so long to update. I might not update again for months, but I will never just give up on this story, trust me. It was so much fun to write about someone arguing with themself. So what do you think? Improvement? Please review.