Alternate

Chapter 10: Hotel Room

Prentiss and JJ watched as Derek's mouth hung low at what Bates had just told him. They already had saved the little boy. Who was she referring to?

They watched as time slowed and Derek's eyes stared sternly at the back of her head as she disappeared around a corner. Fists clenched, his brow furrowed, his legs planted sternly on the ground. He stood and continued to stare where Claire Bates had just been. Where she spoke a simple sentence that sent him reeling.

According to the change in his body language, if there was someone to be saved, he would save them.

Reid looked at Prentiss and JJ, if only they could see him. If only they knew he existed. The blonde liason brushed the hair from her neck and stared right at Reid. For a moment he swore she was staring at him. Then the reality hit. He was dead, only Morgan saw him. He needed to know what happened to him. He was running out of time.

He didn't like this... he stared at the transparency of his hands the ring of light seemed to fade even more within the past few hours. It would only make sense that when the light dies, he offically would too.

"Go tell Hotch what you need to." He spoke quietly. "We have to find that case file, we have to figure out what happened."

"I will save you." Derek spoke, almost trying to convine himself. How does save a boy who died in an alternate universe and give him peace?

Hotch looked at Morgan. That was the second time this week that name had been mentioned; this Reid, who now apparently needs saving, or had died. Was it a case from Morgan's past? Was it haunting him that it had never been solved.

"Morgan." He spoke over the heads that still seemed to have their focus on Derek.

Suddenly, Derek looked over and stared at Hotch. He realized this wasn't the same Hotch he knew, somehow he was more strict if that was even possible. He couldn't waste his time lying to Hotch about what had happened. He had to save Reid. And he wasn't about to let what needs to be done be delayed any longer.

"Sorry Hotch."

Jumping up, he sprinted out of the police station, Reid in spiritual toe and jumped into the SUV only leaving a trail of dust as he drove off.

Emily's mouth hung in the air. She looked at Hotch, he sat on the nearest chair and wondered what the hell just happened. "What the hell just happened, Prentiss?"

"No idea sir."

"Call Garcia, I wanna know who the hell this Reid is, if he's dead, how he died and how Morgan is connected to the case."

"Right away Sir."

The ride back to the Flamingo was a quiet and fast one. Reid found himself every couple of minutes just staring at Derek. The older agent did not speak another word and looked to be on the warpath. The first couple of minutes he wasn't even sure where they were heading. They had no leads; they had no idea what had happened to the young profiler in this world.

"I will save you." Reid just stared, he had to believe in Morgan. They entered their room. Lights were turned on, and Derek stared at Reid. "We'll find out what happened to you in this world, how you died, and who did it. Then we'll wake up in our time and everything will be fine. You will exist, and I will be healing a broken leg. It'll be fantastic."

Reid was too busy staring at the nightstand to register what Morgan was saying.

"Reid."

Reid was trying not to laugh, his face still on the small cardstock folded on his nightstand. The bright display held a face he was shocked to see.

"Reid. Kid."

"I have an idea." He pointed to the night stand.

Staring at them was a photo of David Rossi, famed author. He was doing a guest speaking at the Flamingo today.

"Rossi? Is here?"

"How much do you want to bet his cold case hasn't been revisited. We tell him you looked into it and then-"

"Reid-"

"Rossi can do this, he can get us the case files, hell, I'm sure he'll want to help-"

"He hasn't come back to the field in this life and probably with reason, Reid."

"Well, why do you think Gideon left in this time."

"I would assume some things stay the same, kid."

"Frank." He could still see the pain of the mention of Gideon in Reid's face. No matter the lifetime Gideon would always leave, Frank would win. Monsters will always exist.

"I mean, I'm not sure how I would ask-"

"Look, Morgan, Rossi is staring us in the face. We can at least try."