"What the hell?" Morgan muttered. The team were staring incredulously at Reid, who had curled up in the chair next to Emily's bed and fallen asleep.
Rossi chuckled, "Remind me not to underestimate him in future." A stern frown spread across Hotch's face as he looked down at the sleeping agent.
"I can't believe the nurses didn't see him, I mean he's not exactly steady on his feet" JJ said from the corner.
"They're undermanned and overworked. Plus, I'm sure Reid can be pretty crafty when he wants to be" Rossi said fairly.
"He shouldn't be wondering around the hospital in his condition. I'll go get a nurse to take him back to his room." Hotch said, making for the door.
"C'mon Aaron, let the kid sleep." Rossi chided. Hotch noted Rossi's amused tone and turned to look at him.
"This isn't a joke Dave, he's suffered a major head trauma, he could have brain damage!"
Emily took in a surprised breath, she didn't realise that Reid had been so badly injured. Rossi held Hotch's gaze.
"I know that Aaron, but look at him, he's exhausted. I don't think letting him stay here for a bit will do any harm."
"I'm not sure the doctor would agree" Hotch replied, but let the matter go. Secretly he found himself relieved to have the whole team in one room where he could watch over all of them. Garcia smiled down at the sleeping man and gently brushed a strand of hair from his face. Morgan stood next to Garcia, smiling at the interaction.
A light tap on the door brought the team out of their thoughts; they all looked to the door. An unfamiliar nurse walked in carrying an envelope. She hovered in the door, looking unsure of herself.
"Errr, are you the uhh, the FBI?" she asked nervously, her eyes darting around the room, unsure of who to address. Hotch stepped forward, pulling out his credentials.
"I'm SSA Aaron Hotchner, can I help you?" he said fixing his stern glare on the woman.
"Oh okay umm, well this was left for you at reception. Umm there you go" she said, shyly handing Hotch the envelope in her hand before leaving the room as quickly as possible. Hotch held the package in his hand, looking down at it confused.
"What is it?" Morgan asked, moving towards Hotch. Hotch just shook his head, signalling he didn't know, before carefully opening the envelope. He pulled out a piece of paper, his eyebrows pulling together in anger as he read it, before wordlessly showing it to the rest of the team.
I COULD HAVE KILLED THEM. NEXT TIME THERE WILL BE NO SURIVIORS.
The team shared panicked glances, none of them speaking. It was as they had suspected, the unsub had deadly plans still for the BAU.
Reid slowly began to regain consciousness. His eyelids slowly began to open, the harsh sunlight making his face contort in discomfort. He became aware of a pounding in his head, as well as a dull throb coming from his arm. He moaned slightly as the room in front of him came into focus.
"Hey there sleeping beauty" a teasing voice said. Reid looked over to his left where the voice had come from, meeting a pair of amused brown eyes. He looked at the woman for a moment before it clicked. Emily.
"Emily" he said pitifully, still half asleep.
"Hey there" she said softly
"You're okay?" Reid questioned, becoming more alert. He looked down her body, looking for signs of injury, her leg was heavily bandaged but that seemed to be it.
"I'm fine Reid, how are you feeling?" Emily asked, concerned.
"Hurts" he replied pitifully.
"Well that's what happens when you decide to go for a stroll around the hospital" a new, stern voice said. Reid looked up at this new voice, seeing an authoritative, tired looking woman stood at the end of his bed. His face pulled together in confusion for a second before he remembered, Doctor Fallon.
"Stroll around the hospital?" Reid questioned innocently, having no idea what she was talking about.
"It seems that you decided to leave your hospital bed to visit Miss Prentiss here" the doctor replied, looking less than amused. Prentiss looked sheepishly at the doctor, unsure if she should say anything.
"I did?" Reid asked, a little embarrassed.
Doctor Fallen nodded before softening her gaze. "Obviously you are suffering from the effects of your head wound, so I doubt you were in your right mind when you decided to go walk about. But it is imperative that you stay in bed and rest."
Reid nodded his head, agreeing with the doctor. She had been very nice to him, but he got the feeling that she was not someone he should annoy.
"As you can see" Doctor Fallon continued, gesturing to Reid in his bed "You have been moved to share a room with agent Prentiss here"
"Why?" Reid asked confused. The doctor and Emily shared a look before the doctor turned back to Reid and jokingly said.
"So that Emily can make sure you don't wonder of again."
Reid was about to cut in with something but the doctor was quicker.
"I've run a few more tests, and it seems that the swelling around your brain has started to reduce."
"That's good news?" Reid asked, trying to draw up his vast knowledge of head injuries but finding his mind blank.
"It's a good sign" the doctor said noncommittally. Reid just nodded, knowing the doctor wouldn't make any promises. The doctor asked if there was anything else they needed before leaving. Reid turned to lay on his said so he was facing Emily before asking "Where's the rest of the team?"
"They went to get some food." Emily replied, not completely meeting Reid's eye. She felt bad, she desperately wanted to tell him about the letter they had received, but the team had agreed to tell Reid when he was feeling better, they didn't want to put unnecessary stress on him when his mind was so fragile.
"I hate secrets!" Garcia complained, looking at Hotch. They all sat in the hospital cafeteria on a large table, away from anyone else. JJ rolled her eyes, they had been through this a thousand times.
"I know baby, but Reid's mental state is too delicate right now, we can't put this on him." Morgan said gently, taking Garcia's hand.
"Even the doctor said that telling him right now would do more harm than good" Rossi chipped in. Garcia lowered her head, grumbling about how she hated to lie. Hotch looked about his team, worry pitting in his stomach, he would be damned if he let this unsub hurt anyone else.
"Okay, here's what were going to do. Garcia, I want you looking back over past cases, look for anyone with a grudge against the BAU with a similar MO to this case. Check people we might have put away who have just been released, or any family members of people connected to a case. JJ, I want you to get a rush on the envelope, see if there's any prints on it. Once you've done that check security footage of the hospital entrance and talk to the nurse who brought up the envelope. Morgan, I want you to head over to the last crime scene, the warehouse, look for anything that'll tell us who this guy is. Rossi and I will start building a preliminary profile. Understood?"
Everyone nodded their understanding that they knew what to do.
"Sir, what about Emily and Reid?" Garcia asked.
"We've moved them into the same room so they'll be easier to protect, and we've got armed guards outside their room checking everyone who comes in and out. They're safe." Hotch reassured her before adding "Remember, this guy has made it clear that each of us has a target above our head, so be careful. No unnecessary risks."
The team nodded before getting up and leaving the cafeteria, heading to their assigned tasks.
Thanks for reading, please review.