Artist, Thomas Cole once said, "How lovely are the portals of the night, when stars come out to watch the daylight die."
Dr. Spencer Reid stepped out of the driver's seat and pressed his back to the car door. He released a deep sigh as his head rolled back and his eyes looked upon the dimly lit sky. Faint traces of stars could be seen from the parking lot of his apartment complex. They made him feel so small... so insignificant.
Then again… maybe it wasn't the stars.
There was bound to be one but at that moment, Reid could not recall a time in which he felt so worthless. Even during the peak of his drug addiction, he never knew this feeling. It was like someone tore their hands into his chest with the ill intent of clawing at his heart.
'What was I thinking? How the hell did I trick myself into believing she could possibly feel the same way? You're just a loser. You're an idiot. You've got a worthless IQ of 187 and you're still an idiot. When are you going to figure it out? No one will ever love you.'
So much anger and despair festered inside of Reid and he had forgotten entirely about Gideon's letter and package. As he pushed himself up off the car, the young man made his way toward the lonely building he called home. His hands fidgeted in his pockets to keep warm as there was a chill in the air.
Barely a yard from his car, Reid flinched at the loud, screeching noise of tires tearing wildly through the security gates of the complex. A glaring pair of headlights burned his eyes, making it difficult to identify the vehicle. It was only the sound of a familiar voice that revealed who his company was.
"REID! REID! OH THANK GOD!"
A cluster of infinite emotions came over Reid when he recognized JJ's voice calling his name. Her presence alone still initially filled him with joy. Then the memory of their last encounter came back to him that delight was replaced with shame and humiliation. Finally and more than anything, Reid felt afraid. Her words were laced with so much distress and urgency… something had to be wrong.
JJ threw open the car door and practically flew out of it. She didn't even bother turning off the engine. Seeing this made the young doctor stare dubiously, standing still in his tracks, "JJ? What's wrong?"
At that moment, a beeping from Reid's wrist stole his attention. Over his long-sleeves, the alarm on his digital watch buzzed and told him it was now midnight. It was his birthday. He looked down for a split second to switch of the unrelenting beep.
"SPENCER!"
For only a fraction of a second, the two teammates locked eyes. Then there was a flash of light and an excruciatingly loud boom. While JJ was still far enough to only feel a heat wave from the blast, Reid was taken by surprise and thrown several feet by its force. Watching her friend fly through the air like that, made JJ sick to her stomach as she stumbled backwards.
"No…. Reid! REID!" SSA Jennifer Jareau regained her balance and raced to the young man's aid. Even from a distance, she could see he was still and that flames covered his backside. Sirens wailed and came closer as she reached the motionless form of her colleague. Immediately, she removed her jacket and worked to put out the flames; All the while, calling his name. "Reid? Reid! Come on, please, Reid! Say something! Please! Please!"
When he rolled him over, JJ saw the large gash on Reid's forehead. Blood trickled down the side of his face and his eyes were closed. The ambulance was still not in sight. Without any consideration for her clothes, the woman then used her coat to put pressure on his wound. As she waited for the medic, JJ pulled her dear friend's head into her lap and frantically stroked his hair.
"Just hold on, Spence. You'll be fine. You're going to be fine."
Even though her words were meant for the man in her arms, JJ was mostly trying to reassure herself. This was the very last thing she ever wanted. Reid had to hold on. He had to be fine. He had to be. Her eyes slipped shut. He had to be.
How many minute passed, she wasn't sure. But the next thing she knew, Morgan's hands were on her shoulders and he was calling her back to reality. "Let him go, JJ. They've gotta get him in the ambulance."
Eyes fluttered open to see a pair of impatient medics with a stretcher waiting for her to release the victim. JJ jerked her hands away the moment she understood that she was in the way. Without anywhere else to fall, she collapsed back into Morgan's embrace. He reacted instantly and helped the trembling woman stand.
Words were beyond either of them at this point. As fear and regret overwhelmed JJ, hot rage coursed through Morgan like he never knew. For a moment, all either of them could do was watch in silence as their teammate was loaded into the back of the ambulance.
Finally, it was Morgan who broke the silence between them. "Let's go JJ. I'll call Hotch and let him know we'll be at the hospital. This investigation is gonna have to wait until we know he's alright."
Unable to tear her gaze away from the spinning lights that shrank in the distance, JJ remained still as if she didn't hear him. In a second attempt to get her attention, Morgan placed a light hand on her shoulder and waited until she looked at him.
"Reid's strong, JJ. He's gonna make it."
Perhaps those words would have been eager to believe if they were spoken with a bit more confidence. For the first time since she met him, Morgan didn't seem so sure about something.
~ Author's Notes ~
It's not just you. The chapters have been getting shorter. Fear not. I'm ready to bring it. I just hope you're ready for this.