I hope to get another update ready Thursday.
Chapter Thirty-Seven:
"Tonight, Annabelle Edwards is here with a report from Iraq," Calvin read as a Connie flashed a piece of paper in front of the teleprompter.
"Prentiss," it said.
"Ray, cover for me," she said and got up from the anchor desk. Calvin quickly pulled off her microphone as Connie handed Calvin her phone. She put it on speakerphone.
"Reid was injured at the institute," she said.
"What happened?" she asked as Connie handed her makeup wipes.
"A patient got agitated and knocked out the counselor on call. He was holding patients, hostage and Reid seemed to get him calmed down for a little while. Then he grew angry when he saw his hostages had fled."
"What are his injuries?" Calvin asked as her voice shook.
"Broken ribs, fractured tail bone, and a nasty head wound. He's in a coma, Gwen."
Calvin fell to her knees. Connie held her.
"I'll be on the next plane to DC," she said shakily.
"Okay, Gwen," Prentiss said.
She hung up and wiped tears away with the makeup wipe.
Owen appeared with a phone.
"Cornell is on the line," he said.
"I know you don't break broadcast without a good reason," he said. "Take the private jet wherever you need to be."
"Thank you," she said as she got up.
"Gwen," Connie said. "I need to keep the show on track. I'm going to have Nick meet you at the airport to keep you company, okay?"
Calvin silently nodded as more tears came. She darted to her dressing room and began to change.
…
"The jet's nice, isn't it?" she tried to say, once they were settled. "I've only flown in it a handful of times."
"Under any other circumstance, I'd be happy to be here," he said. "But not now."
Gwen sighed. "I thought his troubles were over."
"I know," he said.
"I've lost count of how many times he's been shot," she said. "He also ended up in the hospital with a lung infection, during what has been referred to as a minor outbreak of influenza. I have a CIA friend who claims that's bunk, and says they're hiding something."
"What happened to him the day after the Superbowl?" he asked.
"A guy with a multiple personality disorder who worked from home as an IT consultant was turning on people's webcams and spying on them. The other personality would take over and punish people for the sins seen. Reid and I think Jennifer Jareau caught him, before backup could arrive and the guy ambushed them. He abducted Reid and kept him in a shack in a cemetery for three days. I don't know many more of the details beyond that."
"What hasn't this guy gone through?" Nick asked.
"An excellent question. Mercer it the BEST in the United States by a wide margin and this sort of thing still happens. Spencer Reid can't seem to catch a break."
"It'll work out Gwen," Nick said. "I promise."
Calvin didn't say anything, as she just felt overwhelmed.
…
Prentiss greeted Calvin with a hug.
"How are you holding up?" Calvin asked.
"I'm okay," she said.
"How are you really?"
"I'm sick of this," she said. "I'm sick of seeing him in hospitals. I'm sick of worrying about him. I thought he was safe. Why'd this happen? Why?"
"It sounds like he was trying to be the hero," she said. "Reid likes being the hero. He likes trying to help people. It is who he is."
"It's my fault."
They both turned to see Iris in the hall.
"I thought they knocked you out," Prentiss said.
"Oh, I'm sedated, but I can talk and stand," she said. "This is all my fault."
"You were just trying to help people Iris," Calvin said. "Reid had training in crisis management that no one else had. It was a good idea to ask for his assistance."
"Then why'd he end up hurt?" she asked.
"Because other people could have been hurt worse if you hadn't gotten Reid," Prentiss said.
Iris's knees wobbled. Prentiss grabbed her.
"I'll never forgive myself if he doesn't come out of this," she cried. "Never!"
Prentiss gestured for Calvin to keep moving.
Calvin found J.J. She gave Calvin a hug.
"I want his pain to be over!" she said. "When does he get to enjoy life?"
"I wish I knew," Calvin said. "I wish I could do more."
"He's going to be okay," she said. "He can't have survived so much only to end up like this. No!"
"I know," Calvin said. "This is ridiculous."
"Why don't you go see him?" she said.
"Thank you, J.J.," she said.
She entered his room and Juno sitting in a corner. Reid's head was heavily bandaged and there seemed to be some sort of cushion under him. His expression was grim.
Calvin had never seen Juno look so emotional. She had clearly been crying and the sense of calm about her wasn't present. There was something very sad about her presence.
"Mercer is the best," she said out loud without looking at Calvin. "I wouldn't have placed him anywhere else. Yet this happens."
"Are you blaming yourself?" Calvin asked.
"I shouldn't, but I am," she said. "I wanted to give Reid a safe place to recover. I wanted him to leave prepared to live life to the fullest. I just can't believe I failed him."
"You didn't fail him," Calvin said. "From what I've Googled, this is a minor skull fracture."
"The next twenty-four hours will tell us his prognosis," Juno said. "I don't know what to feel. I rarely get this attached to patients, but as you know, Spencer Reid is special."
"I know," she said and held his hand.
Calvin looked at him.
"I love you."
She then kissed him gently on the cheek and sat closer to him.
"What happens after he wakes up?" she asked.
"It all depends," she said. "We're transferring the patient who injured him to another facility. He'll need some treatment for his fractured coccyx and ribs. That is all if he makes it out of the coma without serious brain damage."
"I'm trying to stay optimistic," Calvin said. "It is the only way I can stay sane."
"I don't know what to do any more," Juno said. "I've seen more of his medical history than you. I don't know how he keeps beating the odds."
"Because that is who Spencer Reid is," Calvin said. "He'll always beat the odds because he is so special. I knew it when I first started researching the story and now, I understand why. His heart is pure and there is fire in his soul."
"You're right Gwen," she said. "He is truly one of a kind."
Calvin looked to Reid.
"I know you'll get through this. And I'll be by your side when you wake up."