Disclaimer: I don't own the Criminal Minds series it all belongs to the creator Jeff Davis and producers Mark Gordon, Aaron Zelman and Janine Sherman Barrois.

*~ As It Seems ~*

Chapter Two

"Ready." one of the paramedics said.

The sirens of the ambulance blared as the driver headed towards the nearest hospital.

Two paramedics sat in the back with Spencer's body. The elder paramedic grabbed the defibrillator and followed the steps provided.

"One, clear." the paramedic stated as he watched the unmoving flat line.

"Again." The other paramedic said.

"Two, clear." the paramedic said as there was still no movement.

"Again." he repeated.

"Three, clear." The paramedic said his tone now holding little optimism; this was the last shock he was able to administer before the doctor would have to officially be declared dead.

His chest heaved, and the monitor conveyed that the young FBI agent had a pulse, it was faint but it was there.

The paramedic let out a sigh of relief as did his colleague it still felt right when they'd managed to save a life as they once again felt the recollection of adrenaline fill their veins. It made them smile as they realised that in the end all hope was not lost.

Spencer Reid, drifted in between consciousness, his team mates had come to visit him and had brought in flowers, and Morgan had read him books and brought some from his apartment so he wouldn't be so bored.

The team had been so relieved when they heard that there colleague wasn't truly dead, the paramedic's still holding hope for Spencer who had only been dead for a few minutes, his lifeless body still warm, and at the early stages of death had used a defibrillator as it was luckily still an option for the young FBI agent which in the end had saved his life.

Quantico, VA (FBI headquarters)

"A few weeks later"

"Reid, come with me for a minute will you." Rossi said in all seriousness.

"What?" Reid snapped.

"It's the withdrawal symptoms isn't it?" Rossi asked.

Reid's mind went into over-drive, feeling utterly defeated. How had he known about his ongoing drug problem?

"No, what are you talking about?" Reid replied hastily as he tried to keep his cover.

"The dilaudid, you've been taking it ever since your released from hospital." Rossi retorted.

"No, I haven't just leave me alone will you." He snapped.

"Reid, we found the bottles in your apartment, when you... you overdosed there is no way you could possibly be clean in only a few weeks you've pretty much been cold turkey since being in hospital."

"I'm not on drugs." Spencer snapped again.

"Reid." Rossi said with a harsh voice, as he grabbed his arm. "Stop being so cynical will you."

Reid conveyed a hurt expression. "Let me go!" He yelled.

"Come on, we're going for a drive." Rossi said in a composed tone as he pulled him by the arm and into his black SUV.

"We're are we going? Reid asked as he looked through his go - bag having found a book to immerse himself with.

"We are going to visit your mother." Rossi said. Spencer was taken - aback he felt shame when seeing his mother, she was a sick woman, and he was so afraid that he'd become sick like her, but in his present state was he really any different?

"No, I don't want to see her." Spencer stated glumly since his addiction had started he'd stop sending his mother daily letters, it had been a coping mechanism for her, but he'd been too selfish and caught up in his own life to really care anymore.

"You know that if you keep persisting to consume dilaudid you'll be at a higher risk of developing schizophrenia." Rossi said.

"Where did you learn that?" Spencer asked.

"The Internet." Rossi muttered.

Spencer laughed. "You, do know it's going to take us a day and a half to get there right?"

"It's a 2419 mile trip or if converted, it's 3893 kilometres." Spencer said.

"Now that's the Reid, I know." Rossi said with a smile.

Rossi pulled over, near a mid-ranged hotel, were he'd booked a conjoining room.

The room held a simple design, two double beds a simple kitchen with a fridge, kettle and sink and a small bathroom with cheap fittings.

Rossi, had gone down for dinner at the down stairs restaurant after hearing about their peppered stake deal. Spencer, having told Rossi that he wanted to have a shower and change his clothes since the drive had left him feeling stuffy. Rossi had agreed and told him that he'd go place an order.

Spencer, sat in the shower in a foetal position unable to control the urges of dilaudid that flooded his mind he'd shrouded a few bottles in his go bag. He'd been craving it all afternoon and having been in the care of Rossi hadn't help he'd only craved it more as he listen to Rossi's irregular compositions as the man droned on about rehabilitation and going to visit his mother.

"Reid, are you okay I've placed the order." Rossi said.

"I can't do it, I can't do it anymore." Spencer exclaimed as tears of frustration welled in his eyes.

"Hop out of the shower and we'll talk." Rossi said loudly enough so Spencer could hear him over the droning of the shower.

"You sound like a hostage interrogator." Reid replied back.

"Well, it's my job isn't it." Rossi said with a grin.

Spencer, dried himself off and change into clean set of attire, as he opened the door he found Rossi sitting there waiting for him.

I can't do it anymore." Reid reaffirmed.

"Reid, it'll be okay you'll get through it." Rossi assured.

"Are you sure, it's already taken my sullen life more than once." He questioned.

"I'm sure, quite sure this is the whole point of this trip, remember?" Rossi said.

The next morning the two men continued their drive, Rossi had pulled over at a nearby Hungry Jacks during the lunch time rush when Spencer had protested like a small child that he was craving a cheeseburger the two ate at the dinner in silence as Spencer was preoccupied, and relishing in the deliciousness of his cheeseburger, that he didn't have the ability to talk. Once they had finished there meal the two hit the road again until they arrived at their destination Bennington Sanitation.

Las Vegas NV, Bennington Sanitation

"My baby boy you haven't been writing to me I... I thought something had happened to you." Diana stated as she held her son in her arms.

"I know Mum I'm sorry." Spencer said as a rush of guilt overcame him.

"Something's wrong?" Diana said.

"I… I have a drug problem." He stated.

"Oh, Spencer you know the repercussions don't you what it can do to your mind? How did this happen?"

Spencer, sat down on the chair that was situated beside his mother and told her everything, every little intricate detail about Tobias Hankel and his torture, his fear of the darkness, how dilaudid had helped him, and was now becoming the 'death' of him, and how he was unable to control it how it scared him that he was unwillingly changing without feeling it, how he was slowly becoming a different person.

His mother had listened intently without interruption.

Spencer, this isn't your fault this was never your fault just promise me just promise me will you that you'll never take, dilaudid or narcotics again, and that you will write to your dear mother everyday so she doesn't have to worry.

Spencer, nodded unable to meet his mother's gaze.

"Promise me Spencer." She said in all seriousness.

"I promise." He replied.

Rossi, couldn't help but smile at the situation that was quickly unfolding before him, this was definitely a good step in his recovery.

Support Group for Drug and Alcohol dependency (6'clock to 7'clock, Thursday nights)

Spencer, checked his watch it was 5:49 he only had eleven minutes until the support group started he had enough time to run, to run away he hated to admit that he needed help, and that's exactly what he'd have to do in eleven minutes time if he left now he'd still be able to hang onto a little bit of pride.

Spencer, shook his head no he couldn't, he couldn't leave the urge to run was strong, but he'd promised he'd promised his mother and he'd promised the team that he'd get help, and so here he was there was no way he could leave now.

"What's your name?" The support group manager asked as she scribbled notes onto a clipboard.

"Hello my names Spencer, but you can call me Reid." Spencer said.

The manager had given him a sincere smile she had a natural amount of makeup which he noticed suited her auburn coloured hair, she had chocolate brown eyes and purple framed glasses along with a purple shirt with white polka dots, black Lee Copper jeans, and sophisticated black wedges.

This woman reminded him a little of Garcia which made him wonder if the two would become friends? And if Morgan saw her would she try and snap her up right way? The prospect had made him laugh.

"Make Reid feel welcomed everyone." She'd in a tone that was supposed to push the group into showing a little enthusiasm.

"Hello, Reid." The members drowning voices said in unison it had occurred to him that these people didn't want any part of themselves there either, but they'd stuck though listening to people's problems as they tried to gain that much needed support so they didn't need to come to this dreaded place ever again.

"Now Reid, why don't you tell us why you came here his evening, hmm?" She said.

"Ah, okay." He replied as he saw a whole bunch of eyes watching him, making him feel a twinge of nervousness.

Spencer told them, he told them how he'd been kidnapped and drugged and had since developed a dependency on the narcotic. He'd actually astounded himself on how easily he'd managed to tell these complete strangers his darkest secret, maybe it was because they wouldn't judge him and hassle him like the team, maybe these people where his new barrier of support in a way in which it would be anonymous and they would help each other to defeat there dependencies. Spencer thought to himself.

They had gone through everyone's problems and discussed techniques to get through them along with the twelve - step program:

Twelve step program (overview)

-Admitting that one cannot control one's alcoholism, addiction or compulsion.

-Recognizing a higher power that can restore sanity.

-Examining past errors with the help of a sponsor (experienced member)

-Making amends for these errors.

-Learning to live a new life with a new code of behaviour.

-Helping others who suffer from the same alcoholism, addictions or compulsions.

Which Spencer managed to find quite insightful he found it to be like a check list and hopefully if he stuck to his OCD routines he wouldn't go off track, but in his current state he wasn't totally sure.

He'd gone home that night feeling a sense of accomplishment Emily, Morgan and Garcia had decided to ambush him as he found them in his apartment with movies in hand and packets of microwaveable popcorn, Morgan had ordered pizza and Garcia had brought along a plate full of decorated homemade baked goods. He'd enjoyed himself being with his friends it made him feel that he belonged that he had something to cling onto and make him want to stay and keep trying to live life to the fullest and beat his dependency on dilaudid.

"Hey, kiddo how are you going?" Garcia said as she gave him a loving hug.

"I'm fine Garcia; it's good to be back." He said as he returned her hug.

Glad to hear it, now take this." she said handing him a package.

"This is a Schwab test." Spencer stated with a quizzical look.

"Yes, I have to make sure you keep to your word, and don't lie to me." She said.

"Are you going to do this every day?" Spencer asked.

"I'll do it as long as it makes sure you don't relapse, and put yourself in harm's way." Garcia said kind heartedly; Spencer knew to take her seriously on the matter though.

"Thanks Garcia, for everything." He said with a small smile.

"You're very welcome g-man, now you'd better get to work." She said with a grin.

Spencer went to the bathroom and took the Schwab test in peace, not wanting everyone in a building full of FBI agents to know that he'd had a drug problem.

Spencer ripped open the packaging and put the Schwab test in his mouth, coating it in as much saliva as he could possible muster and then he handed it back to Garcia.

"Thanks, sweetie, luckily for you there's no drugs in you system today, your results are negative." She said as she read the fine print with a beaming smile.

This was one of many steps though his rehabilitation and it made him smile at the thought that his friends were there for him every step of the way to make sure he stuck to the regime and didn't go off the rails. They were like his own personal support group, and they were more than friends, this team was his family.

*~The End~*

Thank you for reading, reviewing, and adding this story to your favourites list and also following!

This is the last chapter and I immensity enjoyed writing it.

I hope you enjoyed it just as much as I did.

A.L107