Rossi shook him slightly trying to get a response, Morgan called his name: Reid was passed out cold. Thankfully Emily rushed into the room only a minute later followed by two EMT's. Hotch quickly moved the basket out of the way and they laid Reid flat on his back on the couch.
"Sir how long has he been unconscious?" one of them asked Hotch, while the other got out medical supplies
"Only a minute."
The two paramedics examined the gunshot wound and then asked Hotch another question
"How long ago was he shot?"
"I don't know, he walked in here seven minutes before you came, his lower right side and shirt was already covered in blood." While they were talking the men were applying fresh bandages.
After they were done the put Reid on oxygen, and loaded him onto a stretcher. They carried him out the door and into the elevator: Morgan accompanying them. The others went into the bullpen and walked over to JJ and Garcia who were standing by the door of the bullpen feeding the infants in their arms at the same time. Anguish and dismay plain as day on both their faces as they turned to the rest of the team. Rossi gave a questioning glance at the bottles they were using
"We found these in the duffle bag, how's Reid?" JJ said with desperate hope
"Their taking him to the hospital, they didn't tell us anything. JJ I want you to get in touch with your contact in the police department tell them we're going to be delayed, warn them we might not even be able to come out. The rest of us are going to head over to the hospital, Garcia you and Rossi put the babies back in the basket we need to take them to the hospital and have them checked out." Hotch said
The two women finished feeding Diana and Elena. JJ then handed Diana over to Rossi and went to her office to make the call. Before Garcia went to the conference room she paused and handed Hotch an envelope stained with blood
"I found this in the duffle bag, it's addressed to you."
"Thanks, did you find anything else?"
"We didn't really look, this was on top."
Garcia left and Hotch put the envelope in the pocket of his suit jacket. Emily had taken the empty bottles and quickly rinsed them out in the sink, before putting them in the duffel bag. Rossi and Garcia came out of the conference room: Garcia carrying the basket. Emily picked up the duffel bag, JJ hurried over just as they reached the elevators and they all drove to the hospital. Once they got their Garcia and JJ took the babies up to the pediatric ward, while the others joined Morgan in the waiting room.
"Hey Morgan, what happened?" Rossi asked
"They took him into surgery, that's all I know." Morgan replied sad and even sounded a little scared
"He's going to be fine, he's a fighter." Hotch said trying to sound reassuring but failing
Everyone took a seat except Morgan who started pacing. Hotch took the letter out of his jacket and opened it inside was: two birth certificates one for Diana and one for Elena, a letter, two notes, a picture, and a beautiful gold cross.
"Dave, these are the twins birth certificates, I need you to take these to pediatrics. " Hotch said handing them over
"Aaron the twins are only three weeks old. Something bad must have happened to Anna." Rossi said as he glanced at the papers
Hotch just nodded in agreement and Rossi left. After puzzling over the contents of the envelope Hotch got a plastic bag and put the articles in for safe keeping. They would be sent to a lab for further testing. Emily in the meantime had gone through the duffel bag. The team waited an hour before JJ, and Rossi joined them. Garcia was staying with the twins who were being kept in the pediatric ward until a relative or guardian was found.
"I went through the rest of the papers and Emily went through the duffel bag. The birth certificate lists Anna Smith a twenty five year old waitress as the twins mother. The letter is addressed to Garcia and Morgan granting them full custody over Diana and Elena in case anything should happen to the parents. The first note is from Anna to Reid asking him to look after their children. The second note is for me asking to help Morgan and Garcia gain custody of the twins and to act as executor of Reid's will. The picture and the crucifix I assume are Anna's and were put in their for safe keeping." Hotch said
"The duffle bag was packed in a hurry. Reid put in bottles, formulas, some clothes both his and the twins, and the letter. There were also two hand knitted baby blankets one for each twin with their name embroidered on them. Anna probably spent months knitting them. " Emily said
Emily I need you get Garcia down here so I can go over the letter with her and Morgan, and then I need you to stay with the twins." Hotch ordered
Garcia came down confused Emily had not explained anything, Hotch handed her the letter and she Morgan withdrew to Reid it. After a couple of minutes they came over to Hotch and sat down
"As you can see from the letter Reid is giving you two guardianship of the twins. Since Reid is not going to be in any condition to take care of his children while he recovers and Anna is missing. Garcia, Morgan I know Reid asked you to be godparents but before I ask a judge for temporary custody I want to make sure you two are willing to look after Diana and Elena. "
"Of course Hotch, he's my brother, I couldn't do anything else." Morgan said
Garcia just gave Hotch a fierce look that said plainly why are you even bothering to ask, of course I would look after these children as if they were my own flesh and blood. Hotch gave a small smile and nodded.
"Okay then, as soon as the courthouses open I'll go and arrange temporary custody. I need to know which of you is going to act as the primary caretaker."
"I will my job schedule is more regular than Morgan's." Garcia said they had already made their decision before speaking to Hotch
The doctor came over to them just then, his expression did not suggest that had he had good news
A/N Please review, all reviews help and improve my work. They also motivate me and inspire me to write more.