"Morgan," Emily muttered as she sat up. "You're really hot."
He gave a satisfied smile, going in to kiss her, "Thank you for noticing, Prentiss."
"No," She shook her head, looking at him seriously. He stopped before their lips connected. Her hand rested on his forehead. "I mean you feel warm... are feeling alright? You feel like you have a fever."
In truth, Morgan felt downright horrible. Hearing Emily had been hurt had been enough of a distraction from it, but now that things had calmed down, he couldn't ignore it. Morgan did feel warm and very nauseas, the pain in his stomach was starting to increase again. Still, he was too proud to admit he was sick. Accepting that fact would be like saying he was too weak. He had to keep reminding himself it wasn't anything serious. If he fought through it, he would get over it in a day or so.
"I'm fine," He said to her, waving it off. "It's just the flu."
"I don't think so." She shook her head. "You said you've been sick for a month, and it's apparently gotten worse over the last day. We're in the hospital, why don't you just see a doctor while we're here."
She looked so worried. Had Morgan not been so prideful, he would have obliged her, just to prove his point. "I'm not going to waste a doctor's time over this, it's nothing."
Emily argued, furious. "Morgan, why can't you just do this for me? You're sick, you need help. Maybe it is nothing, but I can't stand here and watch you get sicker. When are you going to get help, when you're unconcious on the floor?"
He didn't want to fight with her, and even if he did, he didn't have the energy. Morgan took her hands and brought them to his chest, looking down at her with compassion and affection. "Emily, listen to me... I'm okay. I've just got the flu. If it were something serious, I wouldn't hesistate to get help. But I'm fine. Really, I am. When we get back to the hotel, I'll take some Ibuprofen and get some sleep, everything will be better in the morning. I promise."
Emily wasn't quite sure she believed him, but she knew she couldn't force him, even if she weren't in all this pain. "Alright... but, when we're done with this case and we go home... you will let me take care of you."
He felt very comforted by that. It didn't matter how he acted or what he said... he did love her taking care of him when he was sick. "If you insist," He said with a fake moan.
"I do insist!" She argued. "Could you help me on with my blouse, please?"
He picked it up, holding it to slip first her good arm in and then gingerly easing in the other. She was able to button up herself, and Morgan watched her lovingly.
"I do have a condition, if you insist on taking care of me." He said as she smoothed out the wrinkles of the fabric. Sitting up to meet his eyes again. "You have to make me that chicken soup of yours."
"You've got it." She grinned, with that reaching with her good hand to pull him to her for a kiss. She did love him. With all her heart... she just couldn't say it out loud.
The world didn't exist as they were kissing, not realizing a newcomer had arrived at the door. He stood back, watching them a moment, remember how shocked he was the first time he saw this.
As they parted, he cleared his throat loudly, getting their attention. Morgan looked up, surprised to see they had an audience.
"Reid," He exclaimed.
Emily suddenly felt very cold. She slowly turned, seeing Reid watching them, his face impassive. Morgan never wavered from her side, as if ready to protect her should the usually unseen temper of this man explode like a volcano.
Without a word, he stepped into the room. Emily jumped off the exam table, staying close to her boyfriend. She didn't know what to say, how to explain what had happened.
"Reid..." She stammered as he approached her. "I'm sorry... I know I should have been paying a better attention-"
"Are you alright?" Reid asked anxiously, looking her up and down. The way she handled her arm told him immediately she was injured.
She was speechless for a moment, almost needing to think of the right answer. "Uh... yeah. I dislocated my shoulder, but mostly I'm okay."
"Oh..." Reid sighed, relieved. He reached down to gingerly pull her into a hug. "Good. I'm glad it wasn't too bad."
It was painful to hug him, but she held him in return anyway. "Thanks," was all she could mutter.
She met his eyes as they stood back, finding her voice much more easily now. "Reid, I'm so sorry, it was an accident."
"Of course it was an accident." Reid replied, amazed she felt she needed to explain herself. "I'm just glad you're both alright."
"So Riley's okay?" Morgan inferred.
At his hesitation, both Morgan and Emily were horrified. He hung his head a moment, his body language an obvious clue to the morbid news.
"She's going to be okay," He clarified, "but the baby..."
"She miscarried?" Emily gasped, guilt immediately filling her stomach. There hadn't been any blood or anything in the car... but maybe she hadn't seen.
"No... not yet." Reid assured, looking up. "There's still a chance she could, though. And... if they find she has internal injuries that need surgery... they'll have to..."
His voice trailed off, but they knew what he was about to say. Reid rubbed his eyes a moment, hiding his tears from a pretense of exhaustion. Morgan put a hand on his shoulder, trying to give him strength.
"How's she taking it?" He cautiously asked.
Looking up, Reid announced. "Well... I don't know if it's just the threat of losing it or something that Emily said, but either way, she's finally seeing things differently."
Morgan looked to her in surprise, not to mention curious as to what they were discussing. "She wants to keep it?"
Nodding, "If we can get through the next 48 hours without any complications... we're going to have a baby."
It was a very bittersweet moment. All three of them were thrilled for Reid and Riley, but they couldn't be happy about it while they were in this situation. Just when the couple got through one horrible situation, there they were plagued with another.
"Listen, guys, I'm going to stay here tonight, but I'll see you at the station in the morning."
"I'll bring some clean clothes and pick you up, kid." Morgan offered.
Reid was very grateful. "Thanks, Morgan, I appreciate that."
"I'm sure the doctor will be back in a minute, so I'll go call Hotch and bring the car around." He pressed a kiss to Emily's temple. "Meet me out front when you're ready."
"I'll see you in a minute." She sighed, watching him as he walked to the door. Just before he exited, he looked back, giving her one last affectionate glance before leaving.
Turning back to her friend, she said with a school grin smile. "He loves me."
Reid was just as happy for her.
Just as he turned the corner, that's when Morgan collapsed. He buckled down to his knees, his hand positioned on his gut. He knew a few minutes ago this was going to happen and made an excuse to get out of the room. The last thing he wanted was Emily to see him like this.
The pain was blinding, blocking out the world for several minutes. His one hand grabbed onto the safety bar of the wall, needing extra strength. This was getting worse every day... he didn't know what to do.
At last, it started to fade. Morgan inhaled several times, each breath coming in easier than the last. Sweat had formed on his brow, a few drips sliding down the side of his face. At last, he felt normal again. Shaking and his heart beating like it was trying to pound out Morse Code... but normal.
Reception wasn't too far away. Maybe he should ask to see a doctor. His hand pressed on his abdomen, right where he felt the pain. He was starting to believe Reid was right, as he so often was. Maybe it was his appendix... but that didn't necessarily mean he needed surgery. It might go away on it's own, right?
Unfortunately, he never knew anyone who had his appendix out. For now, he wasn't going to worry about it. It was only a few times a day this happened. He would have more time before this needed to be treated. He would get through this case and take care of this when he got home. Hopefully then, there would be nothing to worry about.
"I am really sorry Riley go so badly hurt." Emily said. Her arm was strapped in the standard issue medical sling. She'd been officially discharged and free to leave. First, though, she wanted to see Riley. "I should have been paying better attention, I just... you two had a fight and she was upset... and I just wanted her to see things differently..."
"I don't know what you said to her, but I think it was partly why she's had a change of heart." As they waited at the elevator, he folded his arms, staring down at his sneakers.
"I knew she would, if she just calmed down and thought things through." She admitted. "I just wish it didn't take an accident to put her in the right frame of mind."
Ironic, she thought, since it had been the push for Morgan to confess his love. Unfortunately, that's how it had always been. When the unspeakable happened, that's when a person saw things in black and white.
"She's strong, though." Reid said, looking up. "She's survived injuries and attacks a lot worse than this."
Emily frowned slightly. "You don't sound very optomistic."
Reid hesitated. "I want to be... I just..." He shook his head, unable to continue.
"What is it?" She gently brushed his arm. "You can tell me."
"I just can't shake the feeling... it won't happen. Predicting the future is impossible, but... I just have this sense, no matter how much I hope we have... it won't happen. I'll never see this baby born."
Tears were forming in his eyes again, and this time he couldn't hide them. Emily put an arm around him, showing him there was no shame in letting his emotions out. "I know... and I hope everything works out. But the good news is she appears open to having a family. So even if she loses the baby, you can always have another."
"I know," Reid nodded, looking up. "I just don't want to have to."
Feeling ready to cry herself, Emily reached to pull him into as much of a hug as she was able. Reid was still careful with her, but hung onto her more tightly. His tears fell on her shoulder. He loved Riley and he loved their baby, a being created purely from their love. He'd wanted this for so long... he couldn't lose it now, not when he was so close to the life he never knew he wanted... until he saw a glimpse of it.
He poured the last of the soda into the two glasses, carrying them back into the living room. Riley was relaxing on the couch, watching the commericals before the program came back on.
"Thank you, Baby," She smiled, accepting her refill. Reid blushed at that. He still couldn't get used to all these pet names - baby, sweetheart, honey - he'd never had a girl who spoke to him like that besides his mother. It had a much different appeal coming from her.
He reclaimed his seat on the sofa, putting his arm around her. It was still a bit awkward for him, being so open with another human being. Amazingly, they'd been dating for a little over three months now. The three greatest months of Reid's life.
"Thanks for babysitting with me this weekend." He said, giving her a squeeze with his arm. "I know it's not the ideal date for a Saturday night."
"No problem." She grinned, leaning into him. "Snuggling on the couch with my boyfriend and a baby sleeping upstairs... it makes me feel like a teenager."
"Oh, so... you did this a lot when you were young?" He asked. The hint of jealousy in his voice could not be denied.
"Well," She said, turning to face him, her denim leg wrapping underneath her. "I baby sat a lot. I did just about everything to make extra money. But never with boys. I didn't really date until I got to college." With a smile, she leaned into him. "But I think, if you and I had been in high school together... I would have made an exception."
"What an adventure that would have been." He chuckled and closed the fading distance between them to meet her in a kiss. She sighed blissfully, gripping to his shirt as she always did. Their lips moved so naturally together, in a perfectly coordinated dance. Her other hand buried itself in his hair. Those kisses would wind up being the end of him... and he would follow willingly.
Gently, Reid began to ease her back onto the couch so as to lay her down. He wasn't thinking straight, here in his friend's house. All he could think about was being with this wonderful woman, whom he was falling more in love with each day.
"You have to stop, Spencer." She squeaked, pulling away. "The parents are going to be home any minute, we're going to get caught."
Reid leaned back, a little confuse. JJ and Will weren't going to be back until late tomorrow afternoon, she knew that. Suddenly, however, he realized what she meant, and decided to play along. With a grin, he pushed her further back on the couch. "Don't worry, they'll be gone for hours. Come on... I can't help it, you're just so pretty. You're the prettiest girl in school."
He grinned again as he kissed her, guiding her lay on her back. He lay over her, staring down in her beautiful brown eyes. "We have to be quiet," She laughed, starting to untuck his shirt. "We don't want to wake the baby."
"I can be quiet." He smiled, pulling her one leg up so as to rest on his hip. "What about you?"
With that, he leaned down and started to kiss her neck, right in the spot that always made her squeal. Riley had to bite her lip to keep from crying out, her fingernails slicing into his arms from the will.
She hadn't even been loud enough to sound over the television, but it didn't matter. Through the baby monitor, Henry's obvious cries blared from his bedroom, calling out for someone to help him.
The couple fell out of their fantasy world, moving to sit up. "He probably needs changed."
"I can do that," Riley offered. "Why don't you take these plates in and clean up this mess?"
Immediately skeptical, he looked to his girlfriend with uncertainty. "Are you sure? No offense, I know you have experience baby sitting, but changing a dirty diaper is not as easy as it looks."
"I think I can handle it." She smiled, pressing a kiss to his cheek as she stood up. "Meet me in the guest room."
Reid watched her grab the monitor and hurrying from the family room to get to the stairs. He did as requested, cleaning up after their meal of pizza and ice cream. They really were acting like teenagers tonight.
In about ten minutes, everything was neat again. The doors locked and the television off, Reid was ready for bed. There hadn't been a peep from upstairs the whole time. He had expected Riley to call for help. Changing a diaper wasn't easy. It took him six tries the first time he'd done it, the tape just wouldn't stick. Not to mention, Henry was a very fussy little boy. He didn't take to just anyone. Even over a year, he still got upset easily if anyone besides his parents, Garica, or Reid tried to hold him for too long.
But there wasn't a sound. Nervous, Reid quickly ran up the backstairs, rushing towards the nursery. The door stood halfway open, enough for the young man to slip in without being noticed. He was glad he did... because what he find inside was something he never expected.
Henry was calm. Relaxed, clean and dry now. His little eyes were closing as he rested his head Riley's shoulder. She bounced him in her arms, like she was some veteran mother with decades of experience. Softly, she hummed the old mockingbird lullaby to put him back to sleep.
He stirred a bit more and Riley rubbed his back gently. "It's alright little one." She soothed, pressing a kiss on his head. "You go back to sleep." With that, she started humming again, and within a moment, Henry had completely doozed off.
It was absolutely breathtaking. Reid didn't speak, not wanting to disturb them. They looked so beautiful together. If he hadn't known, he would have assumed that was her own child.
He sometimes thought about children. He liked children, but had no desire to be father... until now. Seeing this filled him with a longing. Someday, that could be their baby she was rocking to sleep. Maybe someday... they would have a family.
It seemed like such a fantasy now. They hadn't lost all hope. This baby wasn't gone yet, and as Emily had said, they could always conceive again. Maybe that perfect life was too perfect. It felt too out of reach to ever be real.