Note: As always, a huge thank you to my reviewers: ahowell1993, spxxxxx, San child of the Wolves, NatalieGH, pechika, Dextolan, Gawain and Ludub.
Reid finds a phone while Hotch is cuffing Greer. Or rather, he finds Hotch's phone.
In any case, he doesn't think he's ever heard Garcia pick up so fast.
"Hotch?" Nearly as soon as he's dialed, her voice is in his ear. And she sounds frantic. "Where are you? Where's Reid? Haley called and…!"
"Garcia," Reid says, and he can't help how tired his voice sounds, "it's me."
For a moment, she stops, shocked into silence. Then, "Reid?" she chokes out. "Are you okay?"
Reid nods, realizing somewhat belatedly that the gesture means nothing when she can't see it. He doesn't correct himself though, instead asking, "How long?"
"Five hours," Garcia answers, and her voice wavers dangerously. "Haley called us five hours ago. Everyone's been frantic, Reid. They got to your apartment, only… only you weren't there and there was blood and… Reid, we didn't know what to think!"
Reid closes his eyes briefly. "Sorry."
"Don't apologize. It wasn't your fault. It was that… that…" She falls short, likely because she couldn't find the right expletive to express herself. "Everyone is already on their way. They should be their soon," she says instead, changing the subject. The thought of the team makes him nearly weak with relief. He steadies himself with a hand against the chair. "I had a trace up on both of your phones."
"You should call for an ambulance," Reid tells her then. "He.. he hurt Hotch."
There's a sharp of intake of breath. "How is he?" Garcia demands instantly.
"He's conscious." Reid shoots a look at Hotch, who has finished cuffing Greer, and is now aware that they're discussing him.
Self consciously, he looks away and continues, "But there might be a concussion."
Garcia hisses sympathetically. "No worries, junior G-man. I'll have help out there before you know it."
"Did you tell her you'll need looking after too?" Hotch asks as soon as the phone is down by Reid's side.
Reid flushes. "You're hurt worse," he says by way of explanation.
Hotch doesn't deny it though. Instead, he turns his eyes to Spencer's temple and Reid knows he's examining his head wound.
"But you're hurt too," he says.
Gingerly, Reid brings a hand up to his temple, prodding at the wound and wincing as he does so. Dried blood flakes onto his fingers. "Yeah," he acknowledges, ruefully. He stares at his hand for a moment, before lowering it to his side. "He hit me on the head when he came to my apartment."
He meets Hotch's eyes.
"You did good," Hotch tells him and his eyes speak of his sincerity.
He means it.
Note: This chapter really did not want to be written. :P I was a little afraid that it might be slightly OOC... and I'm still not so sure about it, even though I reread and tweaked it quite a bit. If any of it is, I hope it's not the glaringly in your face kind.
As always, thank you for reading! Next up, we're going to be seeing some of the team!