Prompt: This week's prompt involves song-related one-shots. I'm going to leave it very open, all I ask is that you pick a song or pieces of several songs that you like and relate it to CM. It could be related to a scene from the show, a character, however you want. Since it is thn's idea, I kind of want her to post first so that she gets first dibs and so that her one-shot can kind of serve as an example. Good luck!

A/N: Hello once again my friends. As you may have noticed, I'm having way too much fun with this prompt! It seems like every day I hear a song and another random story finds its way into my head! I love it when that happens. This time around (yesterday, in fact) the song was "Welcome Home (Sanitarium) by Metallica. In my personal opinion it's one of the best songs they have ever written! I'm going to step outside my comfort zone one more time and give writing Reid another shot. Hope you enjoy! (Really, enjoy may not be the right word for this one, but you get what I mean. At least I hope!) And thanks again to those of you who have reviewed/alerted/favorited this fun random mix of stories! It means more than you know!

A/N 2: WARNING! This story is dark. Very, very dark. I'm about to delve into what I consider to be Spencer Reid's worst nightmare. So it will be rated 'T' just to be on the safe side.


"I hate these interviews," Reid very quietly stated from the backseat of the SUV. Morgan was next to him, choosing the backseat to keep a close eye on the man whom he considered his little brother. Visits to sanitariums and psych hospitals were always the hardest on their youngest member. He heard Reid's comment, but opted to remain silent. He didn't want to make Reid any more uncomfortable than he already was. Hotch was driving and JJ was in the passenger seat. If they did hear his comment, neither spoke up.

They left Quantico and drove for just over two hours before finally reaching their destination in Williamsburg. Reid was the last to exit the vehicle. Hotch could see the tension spread across his face from a mile away. He and Morgan exchanged glances, silently saying, "We need to watch him" to one another. JJ watched him warily. This entire situation made her very nervous.

.

Welcome to where time stands still

No one leaves and no one will

Moon is full, never seems to change

Just labeled mentally deranged

Dream the same thing every night

I see our freedom in my sight

No locked doors, no windows barred

No things to make my brain seem scarred

.

Sleep, my friend, and you will see

That dream is my reality

They keep me locked up in this cage

Can't they see it's why my brain says "rage"?

.

Sanitarium, leave me be

Sanitarium, just leave me alone

.

As they entered the psychiatric hospital, Reid became more and more stressed and agitated. Uncomfortable simply did not come close to describing how on edge he felt. Silent panic would have been closer to the truth. JJ eyed him cautiously as he pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes tightly.

"I don't like this," she whispered to Hotch.

"I don't either, but it's too late to back out now," he replied.

Morgan stayed close to Reid. He could feel the apprehension flowing of his friend in waves. He felt horrible for having to bring him along, but they needed him here. Having to make that decision was one of the more difficult choices Morgan had faced, and he spent that day wishing Aaron Hotchner would take his job back. He and Reid hung back while Hotch and JJ stepped up to the window and spoke to the receptionist, showing their badges and explaining their reasoning for their visit. After a few moments she stepped away from the window, and Hotch and JJ made their way back to Morgan and Reid.

"They'll be out in a few minutes," Hotch said. Morgan nodded. Reid watched them all intently. Something didn't feel right. He knew they were all watching him. He'd expected that. But they were all very tense and wouldn't hold their eye contact for very long. It was uncharacteristic for all of them.

.

Build my fear of what's out there

Cannot breathe the open air

Whisper things into my brain

Assuring me that I'm insane

They think our heads are in their hands

But violent use brings violent plans

Keep him tied, it makes him well

He's getting better, can't you tell?

.

Reid watched as the others all shifted around nervously. What was it about this particular interview that had even Morgan and Hotch so on edge? It seemed understandable for JJ to be nervous because she usually was not part of interviews like this. She'd assisted with them before, but it had been years ago. But for Morgan and Hotch to be so unsteady was cause for concern. Reid was so busy trying to piece this puzzle together that he didn't notice Morgan had shifted behind him, essentially blocking his way out.

"Agent Hotchner?"

"Yes," Hotch said, extending his hand to the older, kindly looking gentleman in the dark suit.

"I'm Dr. Castiel, we spoke on the phone."

"Yes, thank you for seeing us. I know this has been an unusual request."

Dr. Castiel gave an understanding nod. He received requests like theirs more often than they realized.

"If you and your team are ready, you may follow me."

.

No more can they keep us in

Listen, damn it, we will win

They see it right, they see it well

But they think this saves us from our hell

.

Sanitarium, leave me be

Sanitarium, just leave me alone

Sanitarium

Just leave me alone

.

They followed the doctor through a long corridor and into a smaller room, where two large men in white scrubs were awaiting their arrival. Immediately, Reid began to panic.

"What's going on?" he asked, looking first to Morgan, then to Hotch.

"Reid," Morgan began, but his words caught in his throat.

"Reid, please understand," Hotch tried to continue Morgan's phrase.

"NO!"

"I'm sorry, Spence, but you need help," JJ finished.

"No one is going to harm you here, Dr. Reid," Dr. Castiel said in a comforting voice.

"No, there's nothing wrong with me!" Reid argued. "Why are you doing this?"

"Your behavior has changed over the last few months, Reid," Morgan stated once he'd regained his composure. "We've all tried to help you, but nothing we do seems to help. You need professional help, Reid."

"What are you talking about?" Reid was beyond panic.

The two men in scrubs made their way towards him and he tried to back up, but ran into the wall.

"Don't touch me!"

"Please don't fight them, Reid," Hotch pleaded. "They're not going to hurt you."

"Get off me! Let me go!"

"Spence, please. Please don't fight."

"Why are you doing this!? I'm not sick! Nothing's wrong with me! Please stop this!"

"Reid, I'm sorry man, but this has to happen."

The two men began trying to escort him out of the room.

"Please stop this! Hotch! Morgan! I know you can stop this! Please! Help me!"

"I'm sorry, Spencer," Hotch uttered in defeat. "It's too late. I'm sorry."

Reid kept fighting to the point that the two men had to physically drag him out of the room.

"Morgan! JJ! Please don't do this! Please! Morgan!"

He continued to scream and beg as he was carried farther and farther away.

.

Fear of living on

Natives getting restless now

Mutiny in the air

Got some death to do

Mirror stares back hard

"Kill", it's such a friendly word

Seems the only way

For reaching out again

.

"Reid! It's Morgan! Reid, wake up!"

"No! Get off me!"

Morgan shook him harder. "Reid, it's okay. It's me!"

"Let go! Stop!"

"Come on, man, you gotta wake up now!"

"No! No!"

There was a frantic knock on the door.

"Morgan, are you guys alright?" Hotch yelled through the door.

"Morgan, open the door!" yelled Rossi.

They had heard Reid screaming from their room next door. Morgan got up and ran to the door, flinging it open.

"He's having a nightmare. I can't wake him up," he said, immediately running back to Reid's side. Hotch and Rossi followed closely, putting away their guns in the process.

"Don't do this! Morgan! Hotch! Please!"

"Reid," Hotch tried. "Come on, buddy, wake up. You're safe. But you've gotta wake up."

Reid opened his eyes frantically and, seeing Hotch and Morgan standing over him, took a swing at both.

"Get away from me! Don't let them take me!"

Reid seemed to be afraid of both Morgan and Hotch. Rossi noticed and pushed them back so he could get closer to him.

"Reid, it's Rossi. Look at me, only at me," he said, placing his hands on Reid's shoulders. "Nobody here is going to harm you. You're safe. It's okay. It was just a dream. Nothing more. You're safe."

Rossi flashed back to the time he'd gone with Reid to be hypnotized in Las Vegas. He remembered the total panic that had consumed Reid as he remembered his childhood. And he remembered how hard it was to pull him out of it. The scene before him was now eerily familiar.

Hotch and Morgan stood back in a state of shock. They couldn't begin to fathom what had Reid so terrified.

They watched as Rossi was finally able to pull him back to the here and now. Reid's shaky breathing was finally starting to calm. He looked around the room and saw the concerned look on all of their faces. After several minutes and some deep breathing, Reid finally found his voice.

"I'm sorry," he uttered, running a shaking hand through his sweat-soaked hair.

"Are you okay?" Hotch asked.

He nodded, not truly trusting his voice.

"Reid, what happened?"

He looked up at Morgan. There was so much concern in his eyes. Reid took several deep breaths and told them all about the dream, and about how close to his worst waking nightmare it truly was. They could all hear the terror and panic in his voice. By the time he finished, he was in tears. So were Hotch, Morgan, and Rossi.

"Reid," Hotch began, his voice full of compassion. "There is no way we would ever allow that to happen to you."

"Never," Morgan added. "We will always protect you. That's what family does. We take care of each other."

Rossi looked over at Hotch. "I'm going to get our stuff. I think we're camping out over here tonight."

Hotch nodded in agreement.

"You don't have to do that. I'm okay, really." He was feeling a bit embarrassed now.

"There's no way we're going to leave you alone tonight. Not after that. You need to know that you're safe."

"Besides," Morgan added, "I don't think any of us are going to be sleeping now anyway."

Once Rossi returned, they all settled in for what was bound to be a long, sleepless night. Morgan turned on the TV just for some background noise. None of them were paying much attention to it. They all kept glancing back at Reid, who still seemed a little uncomfortable but was considerably calmer. After several moments of silence, he spoke up.

"Guys?"

"Yeah, man?" Morgan answered.

"Thanks."

Morgan smiled. "Anytime."

THE END.