AN: *drumroll*...And we have the final chapter! Thanks to everyone who read this story, left a review, alerted, or faved this. Special thanks to my supporting friends on the CBS message boards and a special nod to Sparks :D Please leave a review and tell me what you thought of this story. All mistakes are mine...Enjoy!
Rossi speaks rapidly into his phone before reentering the room, his serious face greeting the team minus JJ, "We have a problem."
The team's attitude drops past rock bottom as Hotch dares to ask, "What?"
"He's been moved. The state took control as per advice of Dr. Hirid. Reid is now a ward of the state and they transferred him to a state facility 3 hours away."
"What do we know about this psychiatrist?" Hotch questioned Garcia.
"One moment, sir." she replies, her bright green nails rapidly clacking against the keyboard. "She has a spotless record on the surface. After a bit digging a bit deeper, I found numerous complaints of radical methodology and unprofessional conduct. It appears that she disregards her clients' wishes in favor of advancing her career."Morgan's fists clench tightly, his anger brimming to the surface at Reid's poor care. Rossi nods at this piece of information, it follows with what his contacts in the psychiatric profession have told him.
"Don't worry," Emily speaks up confidently, "I'll clear it with a couple people and we'll go get him now. Do we have a better facility selected?"
Rossi confirms that he has selected a state of the art center and that they are already awaiting Reid. They head for the cars. Morgan reaches for the door handle of one of the SUVs and is stopped by Hotch's hand on his shoulder.
"Morgan, Rossi and I will drive."
"But Hotch–"
"You need to get your emotions in check. Take the drive to calm yourself. We need to be collected when we arrived there for them to take our seriously."
Morgan sees the wisdom in Hotch's advice and moves out of the way.
They pick up JJ on the way, her face blanching at the news of Reid. Emily spends most of the trip talking rapidly on her phone in the car with JJ and Rossi. The team pulls up in front of the facility and stride in assertively, Hotch and Emily in the lead.
"May I help you?" the attendant at the intake desk inquires politely but puzzled.
"Yes," Hotch flips open his badge, "FBI. We are here to remove Dr. Spencer Reid from your care."
"I'm sorry," the attendant looks something up on her computer, "I'm afraid that's impossible. He's in state care and can only be release on Dr. Hirid's orders."
"Actually," Emily leans closer over the desk, "I'm Agent Prentiss. I believe you have orders from the facility's board of directors and the Director of Mental Health Services. We have been cleared to take Dr. Reid from your company."
The attendant shies away from Emily and Hotch's intimidating faces, "We don't have any record of that claim. Sorry I can't help you."
Hotch shoots an ice cold glare at the woman and she seems to freeze in place. Emily whips out her cell and speedily dials a number from memory. She speaks briefly into the phone and then hands it to the attendant who still has not moved an inch.
"Hello?...Yes Ma'am…Deeply sorry…Yes, yes I will." the attendant hangs up blushing strongly.
"Please go right on through, he's in room 114. He may be in the common area; you'll pass it on your way." the woman says and then presses a buzzer to unlock the doors.
Hotchner walks down the hall boldly, the team following along.
Morgan leans over to Emily and chuckles admirably, "That was impressive. You have this place wrapped around your fingers."
Emily smiles triumphantly back at him and comments, "It helps when you threaten to sue for malpractice while you have the backing of some very powerful people."
Morgan shivers and replies teasingly, "Remind me never to get on your bad side."
JJ tails the group at the end, lost in her thoughts. She still cannot believe that things turned out this bad, that Spence was stuck in a place like this. Garcia drops back next to her and wraps an arm around her comfortingly. They continue walking together in silence, Garcia's presence supporting JJ.
They pass a loud, crowded common area and then arrive at Reid's room and Hotch knocks briskly in the doorway before entering.
"Reid." he says gently calling his attention.
Reid is sitting on a chair staring blankly out of the barred window. It's a small, dismal room sparsely furnished with two beds, two dressers, and a chair. The walls are painted a solid white than has become smudged and dirty with time.
"Reid." Hotch repeats himself slightly louder. This time he gets a reaction.
He turns to face Hotch, his face emotionless and still, "Hello," Reid says hesitantly, his voice flat with a lack of affect.
There are a couple minutes of awkward silence while Reid digests the fact that the team is present. That they know.
You are surprised to hear Hotch's voice calling out to you. Your days are spent in drudgery, each day as similar as the next. You walk around in a drug induced fog but even that is not enough to block the voices. They still whisper to you, creeping in every thought. Your sole consolation is that JJ is the only one who knows your shameful dark secret. The rest of the team must never know.
You find it harder to fight against the drugs so you let yourself sink away. Strong emotions have the lone capability to bubble to the surface. So when you hear Hotch and turn to see the whole team behind him you explode, yells bursting out of your throat.
"JJ! How could you?!" Reid stands and screams at the team, shaking violently before collapsing back into his chair.
JJ's face turns even whiter than possible at Reid's exclamation. She approaches Reid slowly and cautiously remembering how physical Spencer could become.
"Spence," she begins softly and then continues to explain her reasoning. The team wanted to be there for him too.
He gradually calms down and says, "Sorry it's just so hard to think or do anything at all these days. Either they talk or the drugs won't let me think. Today is one of my good days."
The team stares with pity at Reid. He does not look well, his face gaunt, his body thin. Garcia is the first to break the silence bustling over to Reid and giving him a huge, bone crushing hug.
"Oh Reid, you should've told us." she scolds lightly. "Everyone pitched in to help you out. You should've seen Em and Hotch intimidate the staff here." Garcia smiles.
"Well, apparently my contacts and Hotch's glare make a good team." Emily joked.
"I was wondering how you were able to visit me. I'm not allowed to have visitors." Reid admits.
"Pack your stuff. We're here to break you out." Morgan grins and pats Reid on the back happily.
"I've arranged a better center for you, tailored to your needs." Rossi informs him as Reid breaks into his first smile in a long while.
As they leave together, the team a whole unit again. Another woman intercepts their path, shaking Emily's hand.
"Agent Prentiss, so good to hear from your friends again. No hard feelings I hope?"
Emily looks at her intensely before replying, "Of course not…if you follow the instructions I gave you. Otherwise expect to her from my friends and their lawyers again."
"Don't worry, an official inquiry into Dr. Hirid's professional abilities has already been launched."
Emily nods and leaves with the rest of the team. Reid's face lights up as the rays of sun hit him and he breathes in the fresh air.
"Jayje?" he whispers to her as they walk over to the parked black SUVs.
"Yeah Spence?" she responds, glad that Spencer is speaking to her.
"Thanks." he says simply and hugs her, showing his appreciation for all she has done with one word.
She smiles brilliantly back at him, her spirits lifting for the first time in seven long months.
Four months later…
"Everyone ready?" JJ asks, hurrying around the bullpen making sure that everything looked perfect. Everyone had gathered to welcome Reid back. JJ and Garcia had been plotting the party for weeks and they had truly outdone themselves. Streamers, balloons everywhere and a huge chocolate cake baked by the ladies together.
"You do realize that we'll have to clean this all up later, baby girl?" Morgan questions Garcia.
She bustles by, her clothes' color scheme pink and orange today, shouting over her shoulder, "Nuh-uh…the guys are doing the clean-up, my chocolate prince." Garcia laughs.
Morgan groans audibly as Hotch and Rossi turn to each other, shaking their heads.
"It's good to see the team happy again." Rossi remarks.
Hotch's reply is interrupted by the dinging of the elevator as everyone runs over to welcome Reid back. Reid is smothered by hugs and cheers of joy. Garcia even has managed to rig sparkle bombs to the ceiling that spilled glitter everywhere.
Hotch desperately tries to brush it from his suit before he gives up. A smile breaks across his face too as he announces that Reid will be able to join the team again as a private analyst, more like a Garcia-type job without the title of agent.
A huge team hug then ensues, the younger agents managing to convince Hotch and Rossi to join.
You are finally happy and at peace. No more voices, the right meds were found. And now finally, you are among family.