Author's Note:
Sorry for the late night update. I was super busy today. Started a new job this week, so updates may not be every day but I will try! Updates will still be often though! Anyway, all I have to say about this chapter...is karaoke and alcohol... Reid's POV. Enjoy and keep all your lovely reviews coming!
Reid watched the pile of alcoholic bottles get bigger as the night went on. He didn't know how Morgan drank so much and still be standing.
"Kid, you should have a drink with me."
"I can't mix alcohol with the medication I'm on, you know that."
"Just one won't hurt."
"Are you listening to yourself? You aren't drinking anymore tonight. You are drunk or at the very least well on the way there."
"I'm fine, Reid. We should go out tonight. I think I saw a karaoke bar down the street."
"Morgan, we are not going out."
"It'll be fun. Come on." Morgan left the room, leaving the door open.
Reid groaned but followed out the door, with some difficulty, as he wasn't accustomed to using the wheelchair on his own yet. Closing the door behind him was also troublesome but he managed. He found Morgan at the elevator, waiting for the doors to open. "Morgan, we should really get back to the room."
"Reid man, you need to loosen up." The elevator door slid open and he disappeared inside.
Frustrated, Reid followed. "If you insist on going out to karaoke, at least don't drink anymore. If you pass out, I won't be able to carry you back to our room."
"Please Kid, I can handle myself. I'm fine."
Reid remained quiet, figuring it was useless to argue and to just go with it at this point. He followed Morgan outside and down the sidewalk. Singing, well more like screeching, could be heard coming from one of the bars. To his chagrin, Morgan entered the bar that had the horrendous singing emanating from it. With a sigh, he went in after him. At least he was getting better at steering the wheelchair.
Morgan was at the bar, a beer bottle in hand.
"I thought we agreed you weren't drinking anymore tonight."
"No, you advised that I shouldn't but we never agreed to it."
At least whoever was atrocious at singing has concluded their song. Reid wasn't sure how much longer his poor ears could have taken the cacophony. Someone else stepped up to the mike. At least they didn't suck…too terribly.
"Hey Kid, you should sing a song."
"Me? No way. I can't carry a tune."
Morgan grinned. "I'm sure you won't be any worse than the rest of the people here."
Perhaps Morgan wasn't as drunk as Reid thought. It was good to know he wasn't the only one who thought the people singing were more than a little off key. "How about you sing a song. I'm content to sit here and be the only normal, sober person in this place."
"If I do a song, you have to do a song."
"No deal."
"C'mon. Have a little fun in your life for once."
"Doing karaoke at a bar where most people are drunk isn't my idea of fun."
"Okay. And what is 'fun' in the Spencer Reid handbook?"
"Well, I enjoy reading and watching reruns of Star Trek."
"Haven't you ever wanted to do something outside your comfort zone?"
"Not really."
"Reid man, you need to grow as a person. Just do one song. I'm sure you know at least one song that has words to it."
"I am not getting up and doing karaoke."
"Fine, I'll go do a song first but then it's your turn."
As usual, Morgan left before Reid could argue with him further. A few more people went and then it was Derek's turn. Spencer had no idea what song it was, other than it was probably some rap or hip hop song. Whatever genre if fell under, it wasn't something Reid would listen to on regular basis, or ever for that matter.
When Morgan finished the song he found Reid. "Hey Kid, come on I signed us up for duet to ease you into a singing solo."
"A duet? Us?"
"It'll be fun."
"What song are we doing?"
"Barenaked Ladies, If I Had Million Dollars."
"Barenaked…who?"
"How do you not know who the Barenaked Ladies are? One Week? Probably their most popular song."
"I have no idea what you are talking about."
"It doesn't matter if you don't know the song, the words are right there on the screen. You sing along with the words as they get shaded."
"I'm well aware of the premise of karaoke."
"Good, then let's go."
Reid didn't have a choice, because Morgan was pushing him to the stage. At least it isn't some cheesy duet that couples usually do together. He didn't have a problem with crowds but suddenly he felt very self conscious and the lights beating down him were all but blinding. How could people do this every night?
Morgan thrust a microphone into Reid's hand and the music started playing. He was hesitant, shy even, and he mumbled along to the words at first. Okay, so this wasn't as bad and terrifying as he thought it would be. About half way through the song, he felt confident enough to enunciate the words on the screen. The song finally ended and Reid couldn't get out of there fast enough but Morgan was holding the chair in place.
"Where do you think you are going? Time for your solo debut."
"I sang one song. What do you want from me?"
"I want you to have fun."
"Well, so far you've made me uncomfortable."
"You are just adjusting to living outside the boundaries you have set up around you."
"I don't set up boundaries for myself. I just know what I like, and what I enjoy doing."
"Kid, how often do you try new things?"
Reid was quiet, because he knew Morgan was right. What was wrong with wanting to live life in routine? To plan things out and act accordingly. He wasn't ritualistic to the point of OCD but he did like things neat and tidy in life. Or at least the part of the life he had control over, because his job didn't allow things to be neat and tidy very often.
"Fine, be a party pooper. I'm going to have another beer and make you listen to me sing karaoke all night."
"You don't need another-" Reid trailed off as Morgan headed for the bar. This was going to be a long night. Some chick shrieking or maybe she was supposed to be singing, he wasn't sure which, began some song he didn't know. He felt so out of place here. He'd much rather be back in the hotel room reading one of his books or making plans for tomorrow's itinerary. And that's how the night went. Morgan would sing a song, usually one Reid didn't know, and then have a beer afterward.
Eventually Morgan stumbled over to Reid, his words slurred. "Reeeeid. Yuuuu should have a dr-INK with meh."
"Okay, seriously. No more for you. You are now incapable of walking straight and speaking properly."
"I'm fi-" Morgan passed out, his body leaning against Reid's wheelchair. The wheelchair moved under Morgan's weight and he tumbled to the floor.
Reid sighed. What was he supposed to do now? He ran a hand through his hair in thought. Weren't Canadians supposed to be nice folk? No one offered to help him out. People either ignored Morgan's downed body or pointed and laughed. This was not going to be fun or easy. Slowly he eased himself from the wheelchair and stood one foot, using the chair for support. He crouched down cautiously, making sure to keep his bad leg straight out in the air so it wouldn't be subjected to unnecessary pressure. He let go of the chair, and drew Morgan's body up with strenuous effort. His shoulder was killing him and it was amazing he didn't topple over.
The next part would be a test of his strength and balance, neither were Reid's strong suit. He struggled to a standing position, hauling Morgan upright with him. He almost made it too, but gravity was working against him and Reid tumbled backward into the chair, Morgan toppling on top of him messily. He bit back a yelp of pain and wondered how Derek hadn't woken up from all of this. This wasn't what Reid had in mind but he suppose it would suffice. He took a moment to catch his breath and hoped the throbbing in his shoulder would go away sometime soon.
Once he was ready, Reid moved forward but had to stop and catch Morgan before he fell out of his lap. It looked like he was going to have to hold onto Derek with one hand and try to make the wheelchair move forward with the other. Even though you saved my life multiple times Morgan, once I get you to the hotel room…we are definitely even. Reid thought to himself and then went about his arduous task.
The trip took a long time, there was a lot of stopping and going. Finally Reid got to their door. He checked his pockets for the key card and grumbled as he realized he hadn't grabbed it before leaving the room. He moved in close to the wall and then leaned Morgan against and Derek slowly slumped down the wall and to the floor. Reid bent down and checked the pockets of his colleagues to no avail. Locked out of their own room, could things possibly get worse?
Reid decided to leave Morgan passed out in the hall and went down to the lobby to get a spare key or to have someone let them in. It took some convincing, since he hadn't been the one to check into the room but he finally got another key. He went back up to their room only to find Morgan missing. "You have got to be kidding me." He muttered, regretting that he had wondered how things could possibly get worse.