hey, you guys! alright, here is chapter 11 for you.
sorry it´s been so long, i´ve been terribly busy. i wrote it all in one go today, so pardon any mistakes.
i probably still wont have much time the next two weeks, so i dont know when i´ll get to write the next chapter, coz there some planning involved with the plot and all.
if you want me two i can upload some shorter CM one shots that are more on the humerous side so the wait isnt too long. let me know.
we´ll anyway, hope you enjoy it, please R&R! Thanks!
With nothing but cold and darkness around him, Morgan had nothing to keep track of time except for Reid's shallow breaths disrupting the silence.
He figured it had been at least an hour since Hotch had left and he still hadn't quite gotten over the shock of that close encounter. He didn't know which was worse: the guilt he felt for aggravating the man enough to make Reid step in at his own expense or the guilt of knowing that another man was about to fall victim to Hotch because he hadn't been able to contain himself.
He closed his eyes against the darkness, trying to stay rational and goal oriented. He had –with some difficulty due to his restraints and his inability to see- tended to Reid's head wound, cleaning it carefully with a cloth and some bottled water. Then he´d checked if he had popped any of the stitches on the bullet wound during his stunt earlier but found that they seemed okay.
During all of this, Reid had not regained consciousness but remained lifelessly sunken against Morgan's chest, his shallow breath the only indicator he was still alive. And while in any other situation he would have been ecstatic to have Reid so close, now it only scared him more because it meant that he wasn't even lucid enough to push him away if he wanted to.
It was all Morgan could do not to try and shake him awake, to make sure that he could; but he knew that even if he were to wake Reid, it would only cut into his much needed respite and help neither of them.
Still, the other man´s health was worrying him more and more with every second that passed. He had been beyond weak due to his blood loss and head trauma even before he had jumped Hotch. Now his respiration sounded even more erratic. His forehead was covered in cold sweat and he was shivering.
Careful not to disturb him, Morgan lifted the hand nearest to Reid´s face to press it against his cheek, then his neck.
Damnit, he was burning up and freezing at the same time.
He absentmindedly combed some damp strands of soft hair out of Reid´s face while wondering if the fever had been so intense when they had first awoken.
He didn't put it past Reid to try and downplay even that. But then, there was really no way he could have known without touching him or seeing him, both of which he hadn't. And even now that he knew, there was nothing much he could do.
So instead he held Reid closely but gently, trying to block out some of the damp coldness of their prison with his own body temperature. He took the cloth again to cool Reid´s forehead some; the young man shivered at the additional cold and unconsciously buried himself deeper in the warmth of Morgan´s embrace.
Morgan put the cloth away with a sigh, trying not to notice the feel of Reid´s flushed skin against his own or the occasional soft moan against his ear, only intensified by the dark enveloping them.
Instead he decided to distract himself while he waited.
His thoughts wandered back to the team; wondering if they had found his message, praying they would believe him.
He remembered how hard it had been on him, trying to see Hotch as something other than a friend. But if they didn't, he and Reid would never be found. Alive, that was.
He was just thinking about ways to get them out of here should Hotch not come back –preferably one that didn't involve chewing off his own hand –when Reid stirred in his arms.
Just like the first time he had awoken, he started upon taking in his surroundings: the dark, the cold, arms around him that he couldn't place…
He tensed, hands reflexively pushing against Morgan's hard chest and tried to sit up hastily - which immediately sent him into a coughing fit.
Great, Morgan thought desperately, now he´s getting pneumonia on top of it all. No wonder, being cooped up down here in his condition…
He tightened his hold on the young doctor, pulling him back firmly but not to aprubtly.
"Hey, shht.", he whispered against Reid´s temple soothingly: "It´s okay, kid. It´s just me."
Then he waited for the other man to piece together why he was hurting and scared and held in this unusual way by his coworker. Sure, Morgan could have removed his hands from Reid´s back and arms to try and make him more at ease, but he couldn't risk it. Reid was hurt and half frozen and disoriented, he could not risk letting him retreat into the darkness when he wouldn't be able to follow him should he black out again.
No, he told himself as his hand moved to hold Reid´s head in place against the crook of his shoulder, it´s not for me. It´s necessary.
Luckily, Reid didn't put up much of a struggle weaken and only half there as he was but simply let himself be pulled down again once he recognized his friend´s voice. He didn't ask what had happened this time, obviously very aware of his last encounter with Hotch.
"Where is he?"; he asked, his voice raspy and laced with underlying distress that he tried to hide. He was shaking even harder now that he was conscious, his teeth all but shattering as he fought to keep still.
"He left after you blacked out.", Morgan answered vaguely, shuddering at the memory.
Instead of responding, Reid drew in a shaky breath and at first Morgan thought he was chocking - until he felt wetness against his neck.
A little shocked, he looked down at Reid even though he knew he wouldn't be able to see his face, speechless as the younger man tried futilely to keep from crying.
Of course, Morgan knew it was a natural reaction to the kind of situation they were in for any normal person but he had seen Reid stay calm in much more dangerous ones. Usually the kid waited until he was safe at home to break down. So what was he…?
"I was so scared…", Reid suddenly choked out, his bony fingers digging into Morgan's collar with surprising strength: "How could you put yourself in danger like that? I thought I would have to sit there and watch you…d-die…"
He sounded so terrified that Morgan actually felt his stomach cramp up in guilt.
He pulled the shaking man closer in a comforting manner and waited a couple of minutes until he could be heard over Reid´s erratic sobs; then he murmured: "I´m sorry. I swear I am…it was stupid…I was just so angry…I felt so betrayed…so scared for you…"
He kept on talking calmly, hoping it would calm him down: "…but it´s alright now. Nothing happened; you saved us by talking some sense back into him."
"He was lucid again afterwards?", Reid asked hopefully, regaining some of his composure. At least the crying had stopped; now if only that terrible rasping sound would…
Reid lifted his head from Morgan´s neck and wiped his wet face with the palm of one hand; Morgan could feel his expectant gaze on him even though there was nothing to see for either of them.
He hesitated briefly. He didn't think he had it in him to tell Reid that he might just have another murder victim on his conscience. Or that Hotch was the farthest from lucid he had seen in a long time. Plus, Reid was upset enough as it was.
So instead he evaded the question: "He told me to take care of you and left us some supplies. I checked your wounds, they are just as before. Are they bothering you much?"
"No. Thank you.", Reid murmured, reaching up to carefully touch his forehead.
In the darkness he didn't notice Morgan's fingers next to his cheek until their skins met. Both men jumped slightly, if for different reasons and Morgan shifted his body so that his arm was still behind Reid´s back, just lower and nowhere near his face. He was glad that the dark covered his burning cheeks, but Reid seemed oblivious to his reaction anyways.
"Sorry.", the genius murmured, slightly embarrassed by his reaction: "I'm a little jumpy…with the dark and the…" - "…being kept prisoner by a psychotic murderer, right.", Morgan finished his sentence.
He more felt than saw Reid frown at his words: "He´s sick, Morgan. It´s not his fault."
Well, it certainly hadn't taken Reid too long to go from a complete mess to his usual stubborn self. It was as relieving as it was frustrating.
"Yeah, you said that.", Morgan scoffed, trying to keep his irritation at bay: "But –leaving aside that he almost beat me to death not an hour ago- you forget that I saw Mortinson´s living room, Reid. It looked like a homage to Jackson Pollock! Look at you now, you can barely sit up!"
He regretted his words immediately when Reid stiffened; obviously he would find that memory traumatic.
Almost immediately the doctor shifted from his arms which apparently took a lot of effort on his part and sat up as best as he could, wheezing and trembling, but determined. His blazing eyes were the only thing he could make out in the dim light.
Morgan internally scolded himself for starting yet another fight with Reid when he hadn't even apologized for the first one yet.
In the end, what did it matter if he was right? Why not let Reid have his opinion for now when all they could do was sit here and wait anyways?
He was about to apologize when Reid surprised him by explaining: "I know there was a lot of evidence of a struggle, Morgan. But Hotch didn't hurt me. Not on purpose. I was trying to tell you earlier…Mortinson attacked me –Hotch just tried to save me from him. The leg…was an accident."
Despite his good intentions, Morgan simply wasn't able to swallow the answer to that. It felt like it would scorch his throat if he did.
"Defend him all you want, Reid.", he replied, the grip on his shoulders tightening automatically when he felt Reid pull away from him even more. He knew it was the worst timing ever, but he had to make him see reason, he had to make him see that they were on the same side. Not Reid and Hotch.
"We all have had traumatic experiences.", he continued urgently: "But we didn't let our past destroy what defines us."
He would have liked to say more, but Reid silence told him that he wouldn't get far with accusations. God, how he wished for some light. If only Reid could see his face he would know that he wasn't speaking out of spite, that he was just as troubled by Hotch´s state.
If only he could see Reid´s face. Just because. Not because he needed to read his expression. The tension in his shoulders, the trembling of his body and his ragged breathing told him all he needed to know.
Reid was in no condition to argue. Unfortunately though, Reid didn't seem to realize that.
So instead, Morgan tried to reason more calmly: "The fact of the matter is that sick or not –Hotch is dangerous. He has to be stopped."
"Yes, so that we can help him get better!", shot back immediately, agitated and louder than before: "We´re all he has, we´re his team…!"
"Reid there is no…", Morgan started to say but was stopped short when Reid´s frame contorted in itself, suddenly wrecked by violent coughs that sounded vicious even to his ears. He reached out reflexively when Reid fell back against his chest, his body protesting his sudden movements by beginning to shut down even more.
"Never mind. Never mind…", he said as he tried to support the fragile agent as best as he could, waiting for his breathing to even out. Reid did not to try to sit up again. In fact, Morgan almost worried that he had lost consciousness again until he felt long fingers clutching weakly at his shirt.
"Morgan…", the was no color left in Reid´s voice, no strength to it at all.
It was time they got out of here.
"It´s alright.", Morgan told him soothingly, smoothing out his hair without thinking: "Let´s not argue about that. I think you need to sit still now. Save your energy for when we get out of here."
They were silent for a long time, so long in fact that when Reid finally gathered the strength to reply, Morgan had already almost forgotten what he´d said.
"So… I suppose you have a cunning plan then?", Reid inquired dryly, his tone bordering on acidic. He likely was still upset, and even more likely too exhausted to keep fighting. So instead he vented his frustration in cynicism: "Well, I hope it doesn't involve me walking."
Morgan refused to let himself be bothered by Reid´s mood. It was understandable.
"Come on, man, have a little faith.", he tried to sound cheerful: "And if I have to carry you -I will get you out of here, I promise."
That actually made the young doctor chuckle slightly. It sounded bitter.
"You can't even get yourself out of here.", he then murmured without glee, touching Morgan's arm that was still chained to the wall. He didn't even sound resentful anymore, just tired and lost.
"Hotch said he´d send an ambulance.", Morgan said before he could stop himself.
It was all he had been able to think of right then. It might be cruel giving Reid hope when he didn't trust Hotch´s word as far as he could throw him, but it was all he had left.
Sure enough, he felt Reid let out a little sigh of relief then, his body relaxing minimally. Only a second later though, Reid´s mind processed what he´d heard and his breath hitched.
"So…he´s not coming back then…?"
"I don't think so."
"What about Jack?", Reid asked worriedly.
"He…said he was going to get him and then leave the state.", Morgan answered truthfully.
"Oh, no.", Reid immediately moaned in despair, burying his head deeper into Morgan's jacket: "God, no…"
"Hey, I'm sure it´ll be okay, pretty boy."; Morgan was quick to say, cursing himself for even mentioning it: "Hotch won't hurt his own kid. You said it yourself; he just wants to protect him."
"That doesn't mean I want to see my theory tested on Jack!", Reid gasped frightfully, his voice shaking again.
"He won't hurt him. He won't.", Morgan repeated, trying to calm him down. Why couldn't he have kept his mouth shut, for crying out loud?
"He wouldn't hurt you because you're his friend. He loves his son more than anything. Jack will be safe."
He didn't know how much of those words he´d aligned before Reid finally started listening.
"Yeah… you´re right.", the young man finally let himself be convinced: "Hotch will do the right thing. He´s not a bad person…If we never find him…maybe –instead of the murders- we can try to remember that as the last thing he did, saving Jack and making sure we are saved as well…"
"Yeah, maybe.", Morgan murmured, smiling as Reid finally relaxed some. Maybe.
In that moment the door swung open, banging loudly against the wall. They both jumped when the harsh light was suddenly switched on again and heavy steps hurried down the stairs.
Despite the pain, Morgan forced his eyes open –only to look into the black eyes of one furious Aaron Hotchner.
"YOU TOOK HIM FROM ME! You stole my son!", he yelled beyond reason as he stalked towards them, a mad glint in his eye: "YOU´LL PAY FOR THAT!"