Chapter Nine
Abby collapsed next to her father and began to sob. David curled up in a ball and groaned.
"Abigail Andrews, you're under arrest for the kidnapping of David Schroeder and Spencer Reid and for the murders of Harry MacLean, Jeffrey Slade, James Brown, Todd Jamieson, Cameron Grey, John Michaels, and Henry Johnson." Morgan said as he pulled Abby to her feet. "You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford one, the court can provide one for-"
"Just get her the frick out of here!" David screamed.
"Hang on, man." Reid whispered as Morgan finished telling Abby here rights. "My team's here. They're going to get you and Stella to a hospital."
"I wish I'd listened to you." David groaned as an officer took Abby away.
"Me too." Reid sighed. Morgan knelt down next to David and put pressure on David's stomach.
"Sp-Spence." David groaned.
"I'm right here." Reid replied. "Right here."
"This is FBI agent Derek Morgan. I need an ambulance at 9137 Orange Avenue. We've got two people with gunshot wounds..."
X-0-X-0-X
Reid let his head fall back against the car door as he waited for Emily to get back with Erick Schroeder. School had gotten out three minutes ago. He looked up and sighed with relief. Emily was back, and she had a young boy with her. He looked exactly like David.
"You're Spencer Reid?" Erick Schroeder asked when he reached Reid.
"Yes." Reid replied. Erick grinned and hugged Reid.
"You got daddy out." He whispered gratefully. "Thank you." Reid patted Erick on the back.
"Uh, you're welcome." He replied awkwardly. "We should get to the hospital."
David and Stella were both in surgery when they got back. Mr. Schroeder arrived a few minutes afterwards, having been in court since the morning. Stella got out of surgery at five-thirty, an hour before her father. Mr. Schroeder took Erick to see her before he took Erick home with him.
Reid was pacing when the nurse approached them.
"Are you all with David Schroeder?" She inquired.
"Yes." Reid replied quickly. "Is he okay?"
"It was touch and go for a while. We almost lost him twice, but he pulled through alright. He should be able to go home in a week. You can see him now if you like." The nurse told him. Reid nodded.
"Thank you." He replied. As the nurse led him to David's room, Reid called James.
"Bradford residence."
"Jamie, it's Spencer. We found him."
"David?"
"Yeah. He just got out of surgery. Abby shot him."
"I told him Abigail was a bitch. Why didn't he listen to me?"
"Hey, I told him, too."
"Yeah, you did, didn't you? I'll be down soon, alright. You at Mercy?"
"Yeah."
"See you in a bit."
"Alright. Bye." Reid hung up and thanked the nurse before entering David's room. He sat down in the chair next to his friend's bed and sighed.
"You really should have listened to me." He whispered. "Wake up soon, okay. Jamie's coming. He'll be here soon." David remained still and silent. Reid took David's hand and let his mind wander...
August 22nd, 1990
The blonde teen looked over at the young boy sitting all by himself. He frowned. He'd seen the kid before.
"That's Spencer Reid." The boy next to him said. "He's a nice kid. I used to walk home with him last year."
"Why don't you walk with him anymore?" The blonde asked. The other boy shrugged.
"I don't really know. He said some kids were giving him trouble and he didn't want me getting hurt." He replied. The blonde stood and dusted off his shorts. "Where are you going, David?" David gestured at Spencer.
"He looks kind of lonely, don't you think?" David asked. He and his friend walked over to Spencer, who looked up in alarm when he saw them approaching.
"Hi." David greeted. "I'm David, this is James. Wanna' play football?"
"I… I don't know how." Reid replied hesitantly. He expected the boys to laugh at him, but instead they suggested another game.
"Basketball? Kick-ball?" James asked. "Or capture the flag?" David smiled.
"One question at a time, Jamie, jeez." He teased. James rolled his eyes.
"Well…" Spencer began. "I'm not really the athletic type." David shrugged and sat down next to Spencer.
"That's alright." He said. "James isn't too athletic, either."
"Not my fault I'm a hillbilly." James said as he sat next to Spencer.
"Just because you're from Tennessee doesn't mean you're a hillbilly." David replied in a mock southern-accent. Spencer smiled slightly. They seemed like good enough kids.
"So, what do you like to do?" James asked Reid. Reid bit his lip.
"Reading, right?" David inquired. "You kind of look like a bookworm. Which is fine, don't get me wrong." James jabbed a thumb at David.
"He'd read more if they wrote Star Wars books." He commented. David grinned.
"You bet I would." He replied. "Sorry, Spencer. We're not giving you much of a chance to answer our questions. What do you like to do?"
"I do like to read. Chaucer is my favorite." Spencer replied.
"Hey, mine too." David replied. Spencer gave David a skeptical look. "No, really."
"I prefer Tolkien and Lewis." James piped up.
"Always with your head in the clouds." David teased.
"Right back at you Mr. I pretend to be Luke Skywalker in my spare time." James teased. All three of them laughed.
*End Flashback*
"Spencer." Reid looked over at the door.
"He hasn't woken up yet." He told James.
"He will." James replied as he walked over to Reid. "Patience." Reid sighed and nodded. James sat down on the edge of David's bed. David let out a low moan.
"Hey, man." James whispered. "It's the Tolkien Geek." Reid smiled. "Look, I know I told Spence to be patient, but, wake up real soon, okay."
"Hypocrite." Both Reid and James nearly jumped out of their skin.
"Hey, buddy." James laughed as David opened his eyes. "You look very alive for a dead guy." David rolled his eyes.
"How's Stell?" David asked as he tried to sit up. James gently pushed him back down.
"She's fine." Reid replied. "She got out of surgery an hour before you. You dad came and got Erick." Reid told his friend.
"Dad was here?" David asked excitedly.
"He'll be back tomorrow." Reid assured David. "Now lie down and rest."
X-0-X-0-X
David looked up as Reid and Erick entered the room.
"Did you two have fun on your shopping spree?" David asked dryly.
"Yep." Erick replied enthusiastically. He handed his father a bag that said "Barnes & Noble" on it.
"What's this?" David asked as he took the book out of the bag. A grin quickly spread over his face when he saw what it was.
"And get this." Reid piped up. "It takes place right after Return of the Jedi."
"Sweet. Thanks you guys." David said. Erick gently hugged his father.
"I knew you'd like it." He whispered. The door slid open.
"Is there room for two more in here?"
"Dad!" David exclaimed. Reid quietly left the room as the Schroeder family reunited.