The Agreement

I cannot stand being awake, the pain is too much: - ??

Disclaimer: Criminal Minds is not mine

They walked slowly in silence through the light rain back the way they had come. It was going to be a long trek back even as far as the railway line they had originally been walking along.

Every so often they stopped so Aaron could take five minutes rest and each time Spencer would ask Floyd to put him down to see if he could manage walking.

Which he couldn't.

The trio managed to get as far as where Reid had been dragged off the path by the time it got dark. At least now they weren't seeing the blood Spencer had left behind. His coat was laying sodden on the track.

Floyd sat Spencer down under a big tree just at the edge of the track and Hotch sat down with him. He pulled Spencer close. "Lay down and sleep." He said in a low soft voice. Reid sort of collapsed sideways and put his head on Aaron's lap, but closing his eyes was not going to be easy.

Flanders went and picked up Reid's coat and felt deep down into the pockets. A deep sigh and he returned to Spencer and Aaron.

"Two each." He put out his palm. Reid's pain killers. "It will take the edge off. Let you sleep."

Hotch looked up at Floyd. "No thank you. I can manage."

Flanders crouched down in front of Reid. "Just two babes. It will help."

Shaking hands reached out and took the two white pills from Floyd's hand.

"Thank you." A voice which could hardly be heard.

"Swallow them Spence. Don't crunch."

A small nod in return. Floyd was watching and so he swallowed knowing full well it would have no effect on the pain he was feeling. As soon as Floyd had turned his back he carefully ground them with his back teeth – needing to feel just that tiny bit of nothingness for a little while.

Flanders pulled out Aaron's blanket and laid it over them both. "I can't light a fire." He moved back away from them and leaning on a tree bent down and pulled his boots off. He curled his toes in the wet leaf mould. "Look after my boots. I don't wanna lose them." He chucked them over to Spencer then turned and started to walk back down the trail Reid had been dragged.

"Flanders?" Hotch. "Where are you going? You can't just leave us here. You said you would get us out of this forest." He could feel Spencer trying to sit up so put a firm hand on his shoulder to stop him.

"I'll be back later."

"Floyd?" Spencer's worried voice.

"I had an agreement. Now wait here. I will be back. Don't go without me." A half smile and he moved down the track at a jog.

"Aaron, stop him!" Reid tried to get up again but not only was Hotch stopping him but his head was swimming. The pain already fading. The memories getting cloudy. For now.

As it got dark and Aaron held onto Spencer tighter they listened to the night animals moving around. Nothing came near. The darkness no longer left like it was full of terrors any more. It was almost calming not being able to see what was there. Not knowing what it had been. Spencer thought if he had been able to see it he may have lost his mind. At least this way he could permit his imagination to smooth over it and make it less horrific than it was. He finally closed his eyes, and Aaron felt Spencer relax and his breathing deepen as he fell into a deep dreamless sleep.

………………….

Flanders jogged on for a short distance. He hoped he was out of range of their hearing but it was hard to tell. He stood and looked around. "OK here I am." There was sudden movement in the undergrowth. "I could argue that you broke the agreement." He got no reply. Floyd crouched and put his fingers to the ground and opened his mind just a crack.

A loud hiss.

As he lifted his fingers from the forest floor the hiss became a loud painful squeal. He put his hands to his ears just as something hit him from behind slamming him face first onto the ground.

…………………

Spencer woke with a start and Aaron's arms held him tighter – gently stroking his hair as a blood curdling scream ripped its way through the forest.

"Wh what was that?"

Hotch could feel Reid was shaking.

"Don't worry about it. Just forest animals." Now he was a liar too.

"No Aaron – that wasn't an animal." He was trying to get up off Aaron.

Hotch held him tightly to him. "I don't know what it was Spence. We need to stay here. Flanders told us to stay."

"Aaron – I thought you didn't trust him. You call him a liar. Tell him he is untrustworthy so why are you doing what he advised?"

Hotch sighed. "Because right now we have no option. I can hardly walk and you can't even stand. We are going no where. We are waiting at least until the morning. He said he would be back. Let us see if he will be." Hotch looked down at the pair of boots and very much doubted they would ever see Floyd again. "If not then I will take some of your painkillers, as will you and we will try to find our way out."

"I do need him. I don't expect you to understand." Reid was still shaking.

"I understand. More than you might think." Hotch was staring at the boots. "I don't understand why you let him hurt you. You know he is sick. He needs help."

"It's complicated Aaron. I don't know how to explain it."

"I'm not asking you to explain it Spencer. I just need you to be careful – and know I am here."

Reid snuggled back into Hotch and curled his toes with contentment.

……………………..

Floyd lay on his back. The thing had gone now. He just hoped it was appeased by the offering. For now he couldn't move. Right now he had to just lay and attempt to heal a bit. He didn't know how long he lay there but he knew he needed to get back to the others. Broken trust was a hard thing to mend – especially when you are a compulsive liar. Floyd let out a mad giggle. He knew Spencer would still trust him. He always would. Floyd had broken him a long time ago, it was Hotchner who interested him now. It was gradual and he doubted Aaron had even noticed, but he was slowly bending.

It hurt. It hurt so much. Floyd groaned and rolled over onto his side pulling his knees up in an attempt to sooth the pain and briefly wondered if he had ever hurt Spencer this much. He knew himself that through all and everything he had never experienced a pain like this. He opened his eyes and looked around for the clothing which had been unceremoniously ripped from him. At least if he had to lay here he could do it with some clothes on. He grabbed his jeans and firstly slipped his hand into a pocket. A tiny twist of cellophane and a few pills. It would help, but first to get dressed.

As he moved the world span and took Floyd to that place where there was no pain.

……………………

Birds were singing in the trees when Spencer opened his eyes again. The light was dim, but it was that early morning misty light. Everything smelt fresh. He stretched out his legs and let out a sigh.

"Good morning." Hotch leaned down and gave Spencer and quick kiss on the ear.

He rolled over onto his back and had a quick look around. "Is he……?"

"Not yet - no." Pushing Reid's hair off his face. "It's OK – we can wait. Give him time. You need to stay here I am going to see if there is any way I can get some water."

Spencer pushed himself up to sit. His throat was dry and his tongue felt sticky. He needed water but didn't want Hotch wandering off. Then again he was an FBI agent – he could take sitting in the woods alone for ten minutes couldn't he?

He watched Hotch get to his feet and close his eyes against the pain. "I won't be long Spence. Wait here. Don't move."

Spencer had no intention of going anywhere, except maybe to get his coat. He knew down in his pockets was something to make him feel better. Aaron would understand.

He waited until Aaron had disappeared down the track and then crawled over to his coat. He slid his hand into his pocket and pulled out a handful of pills. Most of them he put in the front pocket of his cords. The five still in his hand he quickly put in his mouth and then he crawled back to where he had been sitting.

"It's ok – He will understand. I am safe here. Floyd will be back soon." Muttering to himself as he put the pills in his mouth. "After all Aaron will be back in ten minutes. What can possibly go wrong in that short amount of time?"

He crunched down and slid gracefully to the forest floor.

…………………..