A/N Flashbacks in Italics
The BAU team drove up the smooth dirt road. The conversation was light and easy as they drove up to a cabin in the woods. The cabin was newly built with a porch, smoke was coming out of the chimney and the grounds around the cabin well kept. They got out to a hail of birdsong and sun and walked to the door. They knocked and Spencer Reid opened the door everyone on the team instantly saw him dressed in rags, leaning heavily on a stick. The vision cleared and Reid stood there clean shaven dressed in jeans, and a button down shirt his sleeves rolled up the elbow. Reid smiled and leisurely let them keeping the door open after they had all entered.
"I'm glad all of you could make it." Reid said turning to them with a bright smile.
"We wouldn't miss it." Garcia said hugging him.
The Agents looked around it was a clean well kept three room cabin a full front room and a bedroom and bathroom in back. The front room had two bookcases full of books, two chairs in front of a fireplace, a small table in the tiny kitchen area and a couch. Reid scattered wooden chairs around the cabin and soon everyone was seated.
"I got to tell you Reid I never in a million years pictured you in a rustic cabin miles from anything." Morgan said.
"People change, after Hale I needed peace and solitude." Reid gave a slight laugh "Actually David Hale did me a favor; he taught me how to find inner peace and contentment."
Seeing his teams' skepticism Reid elaborated "I read, played chess, watch Sci Fi but it wasn't until I was lost in the wildneress that I was able to shut off my thoughts and just be in the moment." Reid said struggling to find the words. Rossi spared him from further explanation by taking his hand "We understand." Rossi said.
Reid nodded and didn't flinch from Rossi's touch as he had so many times in the past.
"Reid can you come to my office?" Rossi asked two months after Reid returned to work.
Reid looked up from his files and nodded, joining Rossi five minutes later. Rossi was sitting on the couch and motioned for Reid to sit next to him. Reid took a seat at the far end of the couch, tense and nervous and clearly ready to leave at the first opportunity.
"Spencer," Reid jumped slightly at the use of his first name and looked up at Rossi before resuming his study of the floor "Spencer I know why you've been avoiding me but I don't blame you for my hand." Rossi pressed on when Reid didn't respond "What happened in the cabin isn't your fault. I know you never meant to hurt me."
Reid slowly turned to face him "But I did, I scarred you for the rest of your life."
"Yes you did and I have many other scars but very few I can look at with admiration and respect."
Reid turned to him dumbfounded and puzzled. Rossi took Reid's hand and put his scarred palm on top of it. "Spencer when I met you I thought you were an overgrown kid useful for your computer like brain and vast wealth of knowledge. I had to grown to respect you as an agent but that cabin showed me what kind of man you where." Reid looked at him with apprehension "A man of strength, courage, hope, intelligence and indomitable will, few people with your background could have survived as long as you did."
"My background?" Reid asked
"Yes an academic who was handpicked by the FBI for his brain, who never really took to the physical aspects of the job. In that cabin you got up every day and survived cold, hunger, with only the faintest hope of rescue. I know you claimed you would have committed suicide in three days if we hadn't received your message but I don't believe it, you would have fought to the bitter end to live."
Reid looked away overcome by emotion but Rossi gently guided his gaze back to him. "You hurt me because every night you dreamt of rescue and woke to nothing but loneliness and strife. Wanting false hope to end is human and I never blamed you for my scar and I never will." Rossi said.
Reid turned and hesitantly reaching out a finger traced the scar on Rossi's palm. "Thank you Dave." He said quietly
Rossi was drawn out of his memory by the scraping of a chair as Reid stood. "I'm sorry I forget to you guys something to drink." Reid said.
Emily, JJ, and Garcia took water, while Hotch declined, and Morgan and Rossi took iced coffee.
"So the grill is out back if Morgan wants to start cooking." Reid said
Morgan nodded and he and Hotch left to unload the car. Reid stepped onto the porch, while the others finished there drinks and looked around the cabin. The two men soon came back in with Reid.
"So we have everything except beer." Morgan said.
"Not a problem." Reid said going over to east end of the cabin, he moved a rug out of the way and then feeling along the floor raised up a part of it to reveal a basement.
"Wow kid, that's elaborate." Morgan said.
"It was Gideon's idea, he planned the whole cabin. Feel free to take whatever you need." Reid said straightening up "I'm going for a walk, I could use some air."
"I'll come with you." Hotch said, Emily, Rossi, and JJ chiming in their agreement.
Reid nodded his consent and went into his bedroom to get some things. When he came out he was wearing a light jacket, a belt with a knifing knife and three pouches, and he had a hunting rifle slung over his shoulder.
Reid's family looked at each other but didn't comment. Soon the five were out of sight and after inventorying there supplies Garcia and Morgan entered the basement. Walking down a short flight of steps they entered a large cavernous space. Morgan turned on the bulb above his head and his eyes grew wide at what he saw. Two sides of the basement was dedicated to food, water, and hunting supplies. The third side had stacks and stacks of firewood and above the pile on two shelves paper, matches, lanterns, candles and blankets. The fourth side held a table with three radios, various books, and some things that were hard to make out. Spooked Garcia grabbed the beer and two bottles of scotch from the corner and hurried up the ladder. Derek took another quick look before turning off the light and joining her. Derek took two beers and after opening them handed one to Garcia and guided her outside.
"God, I never thought Reid would be like that." Garcia said
"Like what?"
"Like an end of the world survivalist, a doomsday prepper you know." Garcia said half her beer already gone.
Morgan sighed he wasn't surprised just saddened by his friends fear and paranoia.
It was Reid's second case after he was rescued. The first had been simple; a serial arsonist caught before he killed anyone though he was able to burn six buildings. This case though; a man had killed his wife and kidnapped their two daughters, the team had worked the case for the three days with little rest and were barely in time to save the two daughters from there father. The flight was supposed to be two hours but turbulence and weather had added two hours. It was ten at night and they had been in the air for two hours when Morgan was woken up by sharp bang. Getting to his feet Morgan saw Reid in the galley ransacking the cupboards. Morgan quickly went over to see what was wrong.
"Reid what's going on?" Morgan asked putting a hand on Reid's arm
Reid jumped and looked at Morgan "We need food, we don't have enough food."
"Yeah, okay, well here "Morgan said holding out crackers and a bag of pretzels "We have these."
Reid knocked them to the floor "That's not food; we need meat, vegetables, fruit, not this garbage."
"I see, don't you have food in your messenger bag?"
"That's for an emergency." Reid said sharply
"Listen" Morgan putting a hand on Reid's arm "We will landing in two hours and we'll get food then."
Reid shook himself and then stared at the mess he had made "I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me." He said looking past Morgan at the rest of the team who were hastily trying to pretend they weren't watching.
"I'll clean up, why don't you get some sleep." Morgan said pulling out a blanket.
Reid felt the thinness of the material and pointedly grabbed three more before going to a seat and curling up with a pillow and buried under a mountain of blankets. Morgan looked at Hotch who came over to help him clean up. When they landed they got food from an all night diner before heading to Quantico. They received another case eight days later, Hotch told them to meet on the plane.
"Reid what's with all the bags?" Emily asked noting the three bulging bags Reid was carrying.
Reid dumped them on the floor "I've been doing extensive research into survival situations and I noticed that neither the jet or the SUV's were well equipped so I made up these bags of emergency supplies. I also brought three decent blankets, jerky and dried fruit for the galley."
"Why didn't you consult with me before you did this?" Hotch asked
"I didn't want to bother you." the team instantly knew it meant I didn't want you to stop me.
Hotch looked searchingly at Reid but then gave his consent. Three months later new guidelines were drawn up by Hotch and Reid for emergency supply kits for the BAU teams and given approval by the necessary higher ups.
Morgan quickly shook himself out of his reverie and grabbing the cooler made his way back to the back of the cabin.
Reid led them deep into the forest treading a well worn path and pointing out interesting trees and birds. After an hour they came to a small stream and pond bathed in sunlight and surrounded by trees and flowers and flowing with fish. While the others were busy enjoying the sun and the sights Reid led Hotch back into the trees to a fallen tree trunk. Reid slipped the rifle of his shoulder and sat on the trunk leaning his back against a another upright tree trunk.
"Gideon paid for the cabin, he designed it, hired the builders everything."
"Why would he do that?" Hotch asked
Reid sighed heavily but stared directly into Hotch's eyes "Because he's the one responsible for my kidnapping."
Hotch didn't say a word nor did he betray his surprise. Knowing Jason for years, Aaron had noticed he had not been entirely forthcoming when they interviewed him after Hale's death.
"Gideon invited me to an upscale restaurant the night before he left Washington. I insisted on meeting him there. I got there fifteen minutes late but Gideon who was already seated didn't say a word and simply waited for me to order a drink. He thanked me for coming and we made small talk throughout the meal, we even discussed some of the cases we had worked on together." Reid broke off and stared off into the distance "Near the end of the meal, while we were eating our crème brules Gideon handed me the keys to the cabin and a map. He told me the cabin was almost built and it and the surrounding land was mine; the deed had already been filed. I asked why and" Reid broke off too emotional to speak Hotch came over and put a hand on Reid's shoulder "Gideon told me he was responsible for my kidnapping that he had given David Hale the idea to kidnap me. I waited for him to elaborate but all he said was that while they were hunting for Rhoades they had discussed how long someone could hide out in a cabin in winter. Gideon said he told Hale that a person like Derek Morgan though raised and at home in a city could survive for months in harsh conditions. Hale brought up my name and Gideon said that he didn't think I'd survive more than a week."
Reid broke off and leaned into Hotch who put an arm around him. Gideon's confession wasn't damning but it was clear to both men that Jason Gideon hadn't been entirely truthful. A few minutes passed then Emily's voice was heard calling for them. Reid slipped of his rock and both men rejoined the group at the stream, then they all walked back to the cabin. Peace, happiness and the contentment of friends filled the air as the family ate together but there was also a quiet tension in the air.
A/N Done maybe, I consider this an epilogue to my story. I put flashbacks in because I wanted to show how the cabin affected Reid but I didn't want to bore readers with too many similar stories. Now I leave it to you to decide how guilty Gideon is and if you want more from this story please comment or just Let me know your thoughts on how I did the last chapter. Thank you for all your reviews 72 wow I am honestly floored and is have to say I greatly appreciate and value each and every one and a big thank you to all my wonderful readers.