Disclaimer: I don't own Criminal Minds.
Hey everyone! Sorry it's been so long since an update but this is a nice, long chapter. But maybe that's because I leave on Tuesday for vacation and won't have a chance to post before I get back. But I finally have diagnosed Dr. Reid…or rather, Dr. Matt did. Anyway, enjoy!
PS-thanks so much for the previous review!
Morgan paced around the room, waiting for his phone to ring. He jumped when there was a knock on the door. Calming his racing heart, Derek went and, after looking through the peep-hole, opened the door and accepted the fresh linens and bottle of disinfectant. Morgan distractedly made up the barren bed. He sprayed the floor and then went back to walking the length of the room. Morgan jumped again when his phone rang. He quickly flipped it open.
"Morgan."
"Hey, Morgan. It's JJ."
"What've you got? Did you find a doctor?"
"Yeah. The lead agent knows of a walk in clinic a few blocks from the hotel. Gideon will be there in ten minutes for you. Have Reid waiting in the lobby, if you can."
"Okay."
Derek flipped his phone closed and looked at Reid, who looked worse than ever.
"Reid…" Derek called softly. Luckily, Reid was only half-asleep and woke up with the one call.
"Hmm?" Reid didn't use words.
"Come on, Reid. Time to get up. We're taking you to a doctor."
"But it's late…isn't it?"
Morgan picked up on the same thing Garcia had. Reid losing track of the time or the day was a much better judge of his sickness than the color of his face or the reading on the thermometer.
"It is but we found a clinic to take you to. Can you get up?"
Reid didn't answer but Morgan watched as he struggled to support himself. Morgan wordlessly handed him his shoes. Reid fumbled with the laces and after a moment, it was too much for Morgan. He knelt down in front of Reid and put his shoes on, tying them tight.
"Thanks." Reid croaked. Morgan just smiled and handed him an FBI jacket that was draped over a chair. Reid put the jacket on and stood up unsteadily. He waited a moment, getting used to the change in altitude. Morgan stood beside Reid, ready to act in case Reid should fall over. However, Reid began taking steps. Morgan watched Reid's face and was fascinated. He could see the motto Reid was mouthing to himself.
"One foot…one, two three…next foot…one, two, three…" and on it went all the way out of the room, in the elevator and through the lobby. Reid paid no attention to the people working behind the counter—the same woman Morgan had talked to gave him a sympathetic smile, which Morgan returned with a nod. Just as they reached the glass doors, a black SUV pulled up. Gideon got out and jogged around to open the door for Reid, who kept right on walking, not wanting to break his concentration. Gideon and Morgan watched as Reid struggled to get into the back seat and then, once in, buckled himself in with an exhausted sigh. Morgan slammed the door shut and he and Gideon exchanged a glance before getting in the front seat.
As Gideon was pulling away, he turned to Morgan.
"JJ will meet us at the clinic. Then you need to go—Hotch needs you for something."
Morgan nodded, a bit upset that he had to leave Reid, but didn't argue. Gideon drove through the empty streets of Houston to the clinic. As they pulled into the parking lot, they spotted JJ and the lead agent just inside the doorway. Gideon parked and Morgan helped Reid out. Reid began his methodical way of walking towards the door. Gideon met Derek at the rear of the SUV and handed him the keys. Morgan gave the shuffling Reid one last glance. Gideon smiled.
"We'll call you as soon as we know something."
"Thanks." Morgan said and proceeded to get in the SUV. Gideon followed Reid up the walkway. JJ held the door open and let them both in.
"Hey, Reid. How're you doing?" JJ asked sympathetically. Reid gave her a weird glance.
"I'm sick."
JJ had to try hard not to smile but was not successful.
"I know, Reid. The doctor here will make you feel better."
JJ, Reid and Gideon followed the lead agent through the second doorway and into a waiting room. Surprisingly, for the time of day, the room was filled with people. Old men, pregnant women and crying babies were all around, waiting to be seen. Gideon led Reid to an un-occupied couch in a little uninhabited nook, where Reid gratefully collapsed on the couch. The agent trailed after them, seating herself in a near-by chair. JJ walked up to the counter and came back with a clipboard to fill out. She sat in another chair and began filling out the forms. She quickly realized she didn't know a lot of the answers to these questions. Instead of waking poor Reid, who was already dead to the world, she pulled out her phone and called Garcia.
"Wealth of all information. How may I help you?"
"Hey Garcia. I need you to pull up Reid's profile. I have some medical questions for this form."
"Sure. One second…okay, shoot."
"Middle name."
"None."
"Allergies."
"Um….bees. Has an epi-pen."
JJ went on and on until finally the form was completed. She thanked Garcia and hung up after promising to call when they knew something. JJ rose and returned the clipboard and then sat down again to wait. No one said anything; they just sat and waited. After what seemed like a lifetime, a nurse called out "Spencer Reid." JJ rose to alert the nurse, who came over and waited while Gideon woke Reid. JJ stayed behind as Gideon and Reid followed the nurse. Once out of sight, she gave a sigh and rubbed her eyes. She felt a gentle hand touch her arm.
"Your friend will be okay, Agent Jareau."
"I'd like to believe that. This is just so unlike him."
"He'll be fine." the agent repeated. "He's in good hands. It's obvious your team is very close."
"Well, we spend virtually every day together including holidays. For some of us, we're the only family they have. We're there for each other."
"And it shows. You all care about Dr. Reid very much."
"Yeah, we do."
JJ and the agent lapsed into silence again. Meanwhile, the nurse had led Gideon and Reid though the hallways to a small examination room. Gideon had taken the chair by the door and the nurse helped Reid lay down again. She went through the procedure of taking his vital signs and then entered them in the computer.
"The doctor will be with you soon." She said. Gideon smiled and thanked her and then she left, closing the door behind her. Reid shifted on the table, the thin paper crinkling.
"Gideon…" Reid asked.
"I'm here." Gideon spoke up.
"Gideon…what's happening to me? I'm never sick." Reid asked. Gideon thought for a moment.
"Well, maybe your body thought it needed a break. Don't worry, Reid. You'll be back to your old self before you know it."
Reid didn't say anything and silence enveloped the room again. After about 5 minutes, there was a knock on the door and the door swung open and a doctor strode in.
"Hello. I'm Dr. Matt."
"Jason Gideon." Gideon shook the doctor's hand. "And that's Dr. Spencer Reid."
"Nice to meet you." Dr. Matt directed his comment at Reid as he sat down behind the computer. He logged on and read the information the nurse had imputed and then turned to face Reid.
"So, Dr. Reid, how long have you felt sick?"
"About two days now, I guess." Reid tried to focus his eyes on the doctor but the urge to close them was tempting.
"How about this: I'll let you close your eyes and I'll talk with your friend. How's that?" Dr. Matt asked kindly. Reid merely nodded. Dr. Matt turned to Gideon.
"Has Dr. Reid been eating at all?"
"As far as I know, whenever he tries to eat anything, it just comes right back up. He's been sleeping pretty much non-stop."
The doctor nodded.
"What about liquids?"
"We're trying to force water on him but when he does drink, it's only small amounts."
"How long has he had a fever?"
"About 2 days now."
"What about a cough?"
Before Gideon could say anything, Reid gave a low, deep cough.
"Well, I guess that answers that." Dr. Matt said, smiling. Dr. Matt then stood and removed the stethoscope from around his neck. He listened to Reid's breathing and then nodded. He sat down again and began typing in the computer. After a moment, he turned to face Gideon.
"Well, it sounds to me that Dr. Reid has a case of acute bronchitis."
"Okay."
"Dr. Reid's case doesn't seem that bad so it should clear up in a few more days. He's defiantly in the worse stage right about now. The worst is over, you might say."
"Is there anything we can do for him?"
"Bronchitis is a virus so I can't give you any antibiotics. Since vomiting isn't usually acquainted with bronchitis, I suggest something to calm his stomach—gravol or pepto- bismol are usually most effective. Other than that, just let him rest. Make sure he drinks a lot and eat something, if he can. If the fever persists, he can take Tylenol or Advil with the ant-acid. Do you have any questions?"
Gideon didn't and said so.
"Already then. Come back if you have any more concerns." Dr. Matt then logged off his computer. He and Gideon awoke Reid and helped him down. Gideon thanked the doctor and then led Reid out the way they had come in.
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