Spencer Reid walks into the hospital room, like he had done for Riley so many times before; only this time, he comes in with a wide smile on his face. A smile that's almost too wide; like he was trying to overcompensate for something. He spots both kids in the bed closest to the door, Wren curled up against Riley's side, just like the last time they found themselves in this place.
"Hey, you're awake! I got great news! Doctor says you only have stay here a week, two at the most!" Reid says as he pulls the chair over to sit next to her bed.
Riley looks over to him with the same blank expression she used to stare at the wall in front of her before he walked in. It doesn't change upon seeing his grin; she can tell it's not genuine. She looks down at the floor, trying to hide the pain in her eyes. After awakening an hour or so ago, she's spent the entire time lost in her thoughts.
She sighs and shifts, trying to sit up without bothering her brother sleeping beside her. The movement sends pain through her ribcage, despite the morphine pumping through her veins. She grimaces, the physical pain etched across her face.
"Hey take it easy, Riley. You just got out of surgery." His smile fades and is replaced with concern.
"My regular doctor was working with God, wasn't he?" She croaks out quietly, not acknowledging anything he's said up to this point. Her throat raw from the sleep, the medicine, and the abuse, she grunts trying to get it some moisture.
Reid hesitates, looking into her eyes. He can't lie to her, but he doesn't want to upset her either. He shakes his head and looks to her bedside table. "Here, have some water. Sounds like you need it."
She reaches out for the mug and takes a few tentative sips until her throat feels better. Not good, but better. "That wasn't a no, Reid." Her eyes pierce his with that omniscient look she wears so well.
"Riley, do we really need to talk about this right now?" He begs. "Let's just focus on getting better and…"
She gives a sardonic snort, "It all makes sense now…that's why I haven't seen him since I've been in here. And how God knew where to find us; Hotch said it in the hallway that day. And how God knew I was out of the hospital after he kidnapped me a year ago. I…I can't believe I missed it this whole time…"
"There's nothing you could have done. There was no way you could have known. We didn't even have an inkling until…"
"How could you guys have known? You didn't know him like I did. I should have seen it. I trusted him." Her eyes start to gloss over, threatening tears. "He helped me get better. He spent months helping me. And it was all for what? To just sell me out in the end like that?"
"It turns out he cheated on his medical board exams. He should never have been licensed as a doctor. Somehow Elizabeth knew this and used it to blackmail him. He was being coerced this entire time."
A few silent tears break free and roll down her cheeks. Her hands shake against the mug of water. "Then why did he act like he cared so much about me? I think that's the part that hurts the most."
Reid grabs the mug and puts it back on the table before grabbing her hands and giving them a reassuring squeeze. "I wish I could answer that for you, but you and I both know we may never know. The thing I can tell you though, is that it's all over. He's been arrested and he'll be spending years, if not the rest of his life behind bars for accessory to crimes and medical forgery."
Riley nods slowly, accepting this information as some-what reassuring.
"And if you're so set on talking about the undesirable things now, there's something else you should know." He takes a moment to pause and read her quizzical, but prepared face, before continuing. "After we dropped you guys off at the safe house we went back to your foster home because we thought they might go there. Hotch and I talked to your foster mom, Riley…"
"You what? Reid, why would you do that?" She lets go of his comforting hands as anger and fear fill her mind.
"Why didn't you tell me she kicked you out months ago? I knew it was rough for you in that house, but I didn't know it was this bad. You know you're always welcome at my place."
"I didn't want your pity. I don't want to take advantage of everything you're offering."
"I offer it because I care about you, Riley. I want you to be safe." He pauses. "And from what I hear, you have someone else to lookout for now too." He glances over at the sleeping Wren.
She swipes a hand over her face in quiet frustration, "So she told you everything, I take it. I don't…I don't know what we're gonna do now." She stares down to the floor in shame and deep thought.
"Riley. Look at me. I'm not kidding when I say you can stay at my place. Both of you. We can figure something out here, alright? But please, bring him to stay with me. Both of you please stay with me."
"Are you sure? I don't want us to be in the way."
"I insist. I want you both there." He smiles and squeezes her shoulder gently. "And we both know I'm rarely there anyway. I think the house might actually get its full use if you two come stay there."
She turns her mouth up in a half smile. "Thanks, Reid. This means a lot."
A moment passes as Riley speaks up again, "So you met the lady who runs my foster home. What'd you think?" With a cheesy, fake smile on her face.
"Oh wow, she's…"
"A real charmer, right? Yeah"
"She said you 'got lippy' with her and that it was so insulting that's why she kicked you out."
"Well I'd say that's a little subjective. Although I think if I said 'subjective' to her she would consider that 'getting lippy' so really I think we both know why we're here."
"By the time we left I think I might have started to get a little lippy with her myself. I left speechless."
"No way! Speechless? That's very unlike her."
"It's true," Hotchner cuts in as he enters the room followed by the rest of the team. "I practically had to drag him away from the house and back to the car." The group files in to stand behind Reid.
"No!" Riley exclaims with a wide smile. Her first genuine smile in a day. A smile that all the agents in the room find infectious. She imagines Reid going off on her foster mom; viewing it as a spectacle she wished she could have been there to witness. "You were that mad about her kicking me and Wren out over a little conversation?"
"Among other things." He reaches up and brushes the bruise that formed on Riley's forehead where her head met the foster home doorframe days earlier. Her smile fades.
She looks into Reid's eyes to confess, "That time after I got out of the hospital the first time and you came home to me on your couch, I lied to you. I did go back to my foster home first and I was going to stay there, but I fell asleep getting Wren to sleep and she found me. We're not supposed to sleep co-ed so she kicked me out that night." She takes a deep breath before continuing, "You asked why I had a fat lip and I told you I just slept on it funny. I lied to you." She looks down at her hands. "I'm sorry."
Reid gives her a small smile and grabs her hands again, "hey. It's okay. I understand. It never has to happen again. You're safe now. Wren's safe now. Neither of you ever have to go back there or see her ever again."
"Thanks, Reid…and I am really sorry for lying to you all those times."
"It's okay, Riley. Really." He gives her a reassuring smile.
"You know, Riley, you've been through a lot this last year and a half. More than we ever even knew about. And I don't think anyone's ever told you this, but we're proud of you. Lesser men could not have…" Morgan steps forward to say.
Proud of you…proud of you…proud of you. His words echo through her mind, tuning out everything else he's saying. Her eyes widen, her body goes rigid, and her heart rate spikes. "P…please don't say that."
"Riley? What's wrong?" Reid asks, looking up at her monitor.
"That was…that was the last thing He said. He looked me in the eyes and said 'you're just like me now. I'm proud of you'. I can't…I don't want to think about it." She closes her eyes. "I think I'm gonna puke. Reid, get me a bin or something. I'm gonna be sick."
"Riley take some deep breaths. You're okay. You're safe. You are not like Him. Listen to my words, Riley. You are good. You do not hurt. You help."
The quick beeps of the heart rate monitor begin to slow and she opens her eyes.
"You are not evil, Riley. You will never be anything like Him, understand?"
She nods gently, trying to get herself to really believe his words.
