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A few hours after Reid had woken up the team gradually began to arrive. As they would enter, Hotch would repeat the news to them. Doctor Langham had requested that when everyone had arrived, he was to be told so he could speak to everyone about his condition. Soon enough the entire BAU team was back in the waiting room, awaiting doctor Langham.

'Hello Agents.' Doctor Langham began as he strode into the room, his eyes looking tired but something had changed within them; they held hope. 'I would like to say first off that I am genuinely pleased with Spencer's recovery so far. His ICP scan showed that the swelling in his brain has downed significantly, causing his conscious state. At first he will wake very suddenly and only be able to stay that way for a few short minutes. This is common, despite what you may think, coming out a coma is very tiring, which is why Dr Reid is unconscious at this moment. Now, my colleagues and I are sending him off for MRI scan to see if there is no bleeding in his brain. If all is clear then he will have a CT scan, this may determine the damaged areas of his brain but we cannot know for sure until he is able and ready to undertake a neurological examination. In this exam he will be asked questions by a neurologist; things along the lines of physical movement and mental ability, so two plus two and squeeze my hand etc. However, I cannot speak further on what the future may hold until the results get back, which reminds me… ' The doctor fished a sheet out of his pockets. 'The results of your colleagues drug's tests have all come back positive for Heroin, I sent them back for retesting to make sure but they were positive that Dr Reid had been injected with Dilaudid while being held captive.' He handed the sheet to Hotch while adding 'I'm sorry.' Langham had read his patients history and obviously understood what that meant to them, and left without another word.

The unit chief turned towards his team, taking in their expressions.

Rossi seemed to have moved from standing beside Hotch, to sitting in the chair next to him. He couldn't believe that that son of a bitch had added to his colleague's pain. He had quietly spoken with Hotch about Reid previously and had learnt pieces about Reid's struggle with addiction. He just couldn't believe how the fragile human being could go through all of this and still be alive. He cursed himself at the thought, but he knew he wouldn't have been able to himself. With his legs crossed in front of him and his arms tucked in his lap, he sat, disbelieving.

Memories flooded the blond profiler as she thought back to that night, when she and Reid had split up at the barn and Reid had gotten kidnapped by Tobias Hankel. Tears began to well up in her deep blue eyes as the nightmares filled her mind. If she had just gone with Reid that night… if she had stopped him from entering that cornfield, he wouldn't have gotten kidnapped and ultimately, wouldn't have gotten addicted to the harmful drug. All of the blame and responsibility she felt for his addiction latched itself onto JJ once more as she sat, knees to her chest and arms around her knees, staring with wide watery eyes into nothing.

Morgan had been happy to hear that Reid had woken up. But that news had soon been over ridden by the fact that before they found him, Reid had once again been abused with drugs. He should have worked it out sooner, when he saw the Jazz club and flashed back to when Reid was meeting and old friend back in New Orleans, he should have pieced it together; then he wouldn't have had to go through this again. There was a nagging part of his brain that told him that Reid couldn't deal with addiction again. He soon stomped that cynical thought out. Reid was strong, he would get through this. This time he had him there for support. He wasn't alone. As long as Spencer needed him, he would be there for his little brother.

No offence, Emily but you don't really know what you're talking about, do ya? The words along with the harsh tone entered her mind as the doctor relayed the results of Spencer's drug test. The familiar sting of those very words still hurt, even though she knew it was the addiction talking. Deep down, Emily was scared. She was scared that Reid would act out again, even though she had grown to love each and every one of her team members, she still held the same feeling of rejection that was rooted to her soul from her childhood. She loved Reid too much to let him go through this alone though, she knew that much. She laid a comforting hand on JJ's shoulder once more, needing the support that was given when JJ put her hand atop of her own. As long as he wanted her, she would help him through his struggles, just as he had been with hers.

Garcia, having been already sitting down when the doctor had entered, had let her tears fall freely. She remembered watching him be beaten over and over again. Those images were engrained in her mind. The groans and pleading of Reid's also haunted her to this day. She thought back to when he came back to work after… after he was taken. He looked so… helpless. It broke her heart. She would constantly try and get Morgan to help him but he always pushed everyone away. She wouldn't let that happen to her Junior G-man this time, she couldn't stand by and watch his condition deteriorate like it had previously. Hell, she would live with Reid while he recovered if that's what it took for him to have the strength to overcome addiction once more. She would do anything to help her babies. As she cried, she reached for Morgan's hand, he was her anchor and right now, Reid needed them both.

He is strong. He can do this. The words replayed like a mantra in the unit chief's mind as he thought about the drugs that were in Reid's system when they had found him. He knew in his gut that Reid wouldn't take them willingly. He was strong enough to overcome addiction once; he wouldn't jeopardize his progress by taking again. Being the leader of this team, the feelings of responsibility and guilt almost suffocated him. Had they been earlier at looking at the obvious, he wouldn't have to be in the other room having all sorts of brain and body scans done; he wouldn't have wiped the progress that he had made by catching those movies once in a while, he would be safe. As Hotch ran his hand over his face, a sign of stress, his phone began to ring. Hotch had been dreading the call. He knew it would come eventually; the call that would take the team away from their recuperating colleague. It had only been a few hours ago that Reid had first woken up, his condition had been making improvements, but the call had come through. He walked out of the waiting room at a brisk pace, making a beeline for the bathroom; he didn't want his colleagues to overhear the conversation.

'Hotchner.' His voice had a necessary edge considering who and why the person on the other line had called.

'Agent Hotchner.' Strauss' voice resounded through his ears, an involuntary tingle went down the stoic man's back; he knew why she was calling.

'We need more time, Erin.' His voice was hard. This was not something he was going to let happen; he had just woken up.

'I'm afraid I can't give you that, Aaron. You have a case in Texas, 5 dead, 2 missing.' Her voice was merciless, Although one of her agents was in hospital, she did have a job to do and she had to enforce protocol before the body count got up to more than one digit.

'Ma'am I understand…' Hotch began, trying to manifest some sort of emotion besides anger in his voice.

'No, I'm not sure you do, Agent Hotchner.' Strauss interrupted, she was expecting the resistance. 'We have 7 people possibly dead and it is your job to stop the person who is adding to the body count. Now, I know Agent Reid's predicament is highly unorthodox…'

'…Predicament? With all due respect, ma'am, one of my agents was kidnapped, drugged, tortured and abused over the course of nearly five days and is still in a critical condition after the UnSub caused him to stop breathing as he was stabbed his femoral arteries with two screwdrivers. One of my agents died for a period of time, ma'am, and I intend on supporting them here, in Las Vegas, until he is in a stable enough condition for transfer; Then we will be able to concentrate on other cases with the comfort of knowing that he is only a car ride, not a plane ride, away.' Hotch's voice was piercing. The anger he had been stowing away had just made itself known, and to his superior no doubt. He knew he was out of line, but he also know that his team could not operate effectively without the reassurance that their colleague, friend and surrogate family member, was close by.

'…Okay, Aaron. I understand that Agent Reid has just taken a turn for the better. I will see what I can do about a transfer. I will put another team on this particular case, but I expect you and your team to be fully focussed on your cases when agent Reid gets transferred.' Her own her resolve cracked. Despite what some may think, she did have a heart, albeit not a very big one.

To say that Hotch was surprised to hear that response was an understatement.

'Thank you, Erin. I can assure you we will be.' Hotch said with sincerity. With that, he ended the call and walked back to the waiting room where his team still hadn't moved.

'Strauss is seeing to a transfer.' He spoke to the agents, fatigue etched in his features.

'Good, I thought she would be calling about a case.' Prentiss said worriedly as she stretched.

'She did. 5 dead and 2 missing in Texas but she put another team on it.' He replied casually as he sat down for what seemed like the first time in days.

'So she does have a heart.' Morgan joked half-heartedly as he stood and walked towards the door, heading towards the nurses' station for any word on how long it may take before they could see Spencer.

The dishevelled looking man returned after a moment with a slightly annoyed look on his face.

'It's gonna be an hour or two.' Morgan spoke to the group, he hated waiting.

'Let's all try and get some rest…' Hotch began his well heard speech.

'You and I both know that none of us will get one moment of rest waiting for Reid.' Morgan replied while he crossed his arms in a defiant manner, effectively stopping Hotch mid-sentence.

'You're right.' After a few moments passed Hotch stood before adding 'Coffee anyone?'

For the first time in what seemed like forever, every single one of the team had the same three things pooling in their beings; Guilt, hope and coffee.

HOW WAS THAT? Haha I thought I would end on a sort of high note, (sort of) I thought it was nice for the team to have a half break. :L I am actually quite proud of the length of this chapter! Its probably the longest chapter I have ever written in a fanfic. (yes I know that sounds silly, but its true! :L) Its the content im a bit iffy about! Sorry about the lack of Reid again, I just thought the team needed the spotlight, I have a soft spot for Hotch as you may have guessed! :P

Thank you guys so much for reading! Special thanks to all who review!They inspire me to write more, faster and write better! THANK YOU GUYS! :) Opinions on this chapter would be awesome! INCLUDING YOU, GUEST READERS! Tell me how I did! Good or bad I don't mind! :) Again thanks for reading and reviewing and favouriting and following! THANKS! xx