The cab pulled up outside of the prison entrance.
"That's $22 even."
Reid pulled a couple of bills out of his wallet and handed them to the older man. "Keep the change."
Reid climbed out of the cab and walked slowly towards the visitor entrance.
A guard approached him as he reached the door.
"Visiting hours are over."
Reid pulled out his ID. "Spencer Reid. I'm on the list for the execution."
The guard consulted a list in the guard's cubicle. "Yes, sir." He waved to a second guard to escort Reid inside.
"Remove your jacket please, sir."
"Of course." Reid handed his jacket to the guard, who quickly inspected it. Reid was quite familiar with the procedures, having been inside several prisons during cases.
The guard quickly patted Reid down. "All clear." Reid nodded, slipping his jacket back on.
The guard showed Reid to a side room where other witnesses were waiting. He dropped into a chair, resting his head in his hands.
Time seemed to grind to a halt. Reid found himself dropping off in the uncomfortable silence.
"Ladies and Gentlemen." A guard's voice woke him up. "Please follow me."
Reid waited until the others, the widows and children of the fallen, had left the room before falling in behind them. They walked across a short stretch of the inner yard to a concrete building. The guard paused outside of the witness room, allowing the group to file inside. Reid could see the chair through the thick glass. He knew that in mere minutes that chair would contain the body of a living human being. That man would be strapped down, a hood placed over his face, electrical conduits attached to various points on his head and chest and then, at the stroke of midnight, a current of electricity would be sent through his body, overloading all bodily functions and killing that man.
Panic filled Reid's mind. His chest felt tight, he couldn't breathe. He wasn't sure he could even remain standing. The air around him felt hot, the room too small.
"Sir?" The guard gave him a concerned look.
"I just need a moment."
The guard nodded and took his place just inside the open door.
Reid leaned against the wall, his eyes closed. "I can do this." He muttered to himself.
"Of course you can."
Reid opened his eyes to find Morgan standing next to him.
"What are you doing here?"
"Hotch didn't tell me, if that's what you're thinking." Morgan held out the letter. "You accidentally shoved it in the case file."
"So you just read it and decided to turn up."
"This isn't something you should be doing alone, Reid."
"I've dealt with it for eight years alone. I didn't want to drag anyone into it."
"You mean you didn't want anyone to know. Didn't want to add one more thing to the list of reasons why Spencer Reid is a total freak."
"Well, if you must know, yeah." Reid smiled half heartedly. "I'm glad you came."
"Sure thing, kid." Morgan smiled at him.
"Sir." The guard nodded to the clock. "I need you to step inside now."
"Let's do this." Morgan said with a grim chuckle.
They moved inside the room. Reid took a seat in the back. He could sense Morgan standing behind him.
Reid felt the panic rising up again as the guards escorted the condemned man into the chamber. Morgan reached out and put his hand gently on Reid's shoulder.
The ceremony was a blur. Words slipped by Reid's attention as he watched. He was, generally speaking, not a violent person. He had joined the FBI to stop those who were. It took all his will not to look away as the switch was thrown, but he didn't. He watched as the body twitched and writhed from the current, as the attending doctor entered and pronounced the condemned man dead.
"It's over," Morgan said softly.
"Can we go now?" Reid slowly stood up.
"Yeah."
They walked out in silence, Morgan leading the way to a rental car in the parking lot. "We've got time until the first flight. You hungry? I'm buying."
"Not really."
"Me neither."
"There is something I'd like to do."
"Sure."