Disclaimer: see my profile
A/n this follows "Amplification," another of my favorites.
Anthrax And Soap Operas
The only light in his room when she entered was a soft yellow light over his head. His eyes were closed and he appeared to be sleeping peacefully. She sat down in the only available chair and reached for one of his hands. The tears she'd held back by force of will began to drop down over her cheeks. She wiped at them impatiently and tried to talk.
"Hey," she croaked and cleared her throat. "It's Emily. I'm here."
His long wavy hair was mussed and he had a day's growth of beard, but he was still angelic as he lay there… Alive. He was alive and Morgan said he'd make a full recovery.
"Why?" She whispered. "Why did you go in that place? You scared the hell out of us. Out of me. I love you, babe, so much that it terrifies me."
She couldn't speak, it was too much so she pulled the chair in as close as she could to the hospital bed and lay her head down next to his shoulder and sobbed.
Someone cleared their throat behind her and she jumped up into a sitting position. She hastily wiped her eyes and turned around.
"I'm sorry to bother you," said Dr. Linda Kimura.
"It's okay," Emily said. "You probably need to check on him. I'll just wait outside."
"Hey," Dr Kimura held up a hand when Emily stood. "I didn't mean to intrude."
"It's okay, it's just…Damn it!" She swiped at her eyes.
"Please don't apologize or feel embarrassed. It's good that he has someone to love him."
Emily noticed that Dr. Kimura looked at Reid with interest, speculation and something that Emily had seen in her own mirror. Then the doctor looked at her with eyes held nothing but understanding.
"I do love him. Thank you for taking good care of him."
"He's the one that found the cure. I just made sure he stayed in bed. He wanted to get up as soon as he was awake and now I know why."
Emily swallowed hard. "Um, I'm going to go splash some water on my face. I'll be back."
"He's going to be okay," said Dr. Kimura.
"I know, it's just…"
"You're a very lucky woman."
"Yes I am and I'm going to make sure he knows it from now on."
She fled the room and hurried to the closest bathroom where she leaned against the wall and cried until her chest hurt. Someone opened the door so she turned to the mirror and ran out cold water to cool her cheeks. Her eyes were red and her face was very pale.
"Get it together," she said under her breath. "Do you want him to see you this way?"
No, she wanted to see him up and out of that bed. She wanted to see him smile for her. She wanted to hear him go off on some odd tangent about hospitals and doctors. She wanted to hold him and know that he was okay.
A woman came out of one of the stalls and smiled. "Don't you just hate hospitals?"
"Yeah, I think I really do."
CMCMCMCMCM
As soon as the door to Reid's apartment shut behind her, he grabbed her and kissed her. Her back hit the closed door and he had her jacket open and three of her buttons undone before she pushed him away.
"What?"
"Don't start, mister. You are going straight to bed."
He raised both eyebrows and pouted at the same time. His hair, a bit mussed from her traitor hands and his clothes were a little askew. How did that happen? She didn't remember responding with such enthusiasm.
"That's the idea," he was saying.
"Very funny, smart man. You are going to bed alone."
"Emily."
"No!"
He flinched in surprise at her vehemence." Emily, I'm sorry I just -"
"You walked right into a house with a broken vial of Anthrax on the floor. What is the matter with you?"
"I wanted to help Dr. Brown and -"
She waved him away. "I don't want to hear it, Spencer. You could have died."
"But I didn't," he reminded her.
"So, that makes it all better."
"No, I guess I wasn't thinking."
"You're damn right, you weren't thinking. What if I lost you? How could I live with that? I love you, Spencer Reid."
He went to her, but she pushed him away. "Don't," she said very loudly. "I can't believe you just said you weren't thinking."
"I didn't think. I'm not used to considering someone else's feelings, Emily."
He went to the sofa and sat. She didn't join him for a long time. He finally twisted around and held out his hand to her. "I'm sorry."
She didn't take his offered hand. "I know you are," she said in a tone that signaled surrender, "I don't know what I'm going to do with you. You make me so mad."
"I'm not trying to hurt you," he said.
She finally joined him on the couch. "I realize that you want to help people."
"I just -"
"Shh… Please let me finish."
He nodded and began fidgeting with his sleeve. She grabbed his hand and made him look at her. "I know you want to help because no one was there for you when you needed someone, but babe, you have to think about us. I'm here. I love you and I want you healthy and happy with me. Don't let the job tear us apart."
"I really am sorry, Emily. I'm not used to having someone in my life that cares whether I live or die."
"Oh, Spencer, I'm so sorry you had to be alone for so long, but I'm here now. Please remember that the next time you want to run into danger."
He finally laughed. "If you promise the same," he said.
"When have I ever run into danger?"
"Shall I write down the list or give it to you verbally?"
"That's very cute. Now, go to bed."
"Please come with me."
"No, the doctor said you have to take it easy."
He sighed, "I know, it's just that every time we get close something happens to interrupt us. I feel like I'm on a Daytime Television Serial."
She laughed and it felt so good. "Oh, Reid, you never fail to make me laugh just when I need it the most."
"I was serious," he said and began to pout.
"Come on," she tugged on his arm. "Go to bed like a good boy and I'll see you tomorrow."
"You don't have to patronize me."
"I do when you pout, even though it's pretty sexy."
He wiggled his eyebrows and she laughed. "For the last time, there will be no shenanigans tonight."
"Fine, I'll go to bed, but I'll miss you."
She kissed him. "I'm just glad you're around to miss me."
"Me too," he said honestly.
"Good, because I want you around for a very long time."