***

After a long night, Derek had finally left the room to freshen up and head down to the cafeteria for some breakfast. He felt a little guilty for escaping since he didn't really mind taking care of his friend. But the guilt hung on so he made a quick return to find his young cohort awake. "You're awake already? I've only been gone for twenty minutes."

"Morgan, can you help me to the bathroom? I don't want to use that 'thing' again." Spencer asked quietly while reaching up to take off his oxygen mask.

"Sure kid. But you should leave that on."

"No."

Morgan put down his soda and moved the table out of the way. "Just take it nice and slow, okay?"

Reid nodded his head and they waited a couple of minutes once he was up right before shuffling over to the door. "Can you stand by yourself?"

"I think so."

"Let's leave the door open and I'll just turn my back in case I need to make a quick grab for you." Derek got him positioned in front of the toilet before letting go of the back of the gown and stepping back just out of the small room.

"Uhm . . . Morgan."

"Jeeze, let me turn the water on. I know you're shy but I'm not about to take the chance of you doing a header."

"Sorry."

"No, it's okay. Just try not to be too long." Derek started humming in an attempt to give Spencer the privacy he needed. Once he heard the toilet flush, he turned around to find a panting Spencer. "Okay, we'll make the hand wash quick so you can get back into bed."

Two steps away from the bed, Spencer clutched the arms around him, "I can't breath." He wheezed.

Derek grabbed for the nurses button and then lifted Spencer up to sit on the edge of the bed.

"May I help you?" The tinny sound erupted from the speaker on the bed.

"He's having trouble breathing." Derek anxiously responded.

"Be right there." A minute later the aging nurse rushed into the room. "What happened?"

"I helped him to the bathroom and on the way back he started having trouble breathing." He watched her clip the pulse ox back onto Reid's finger on the hand that wasn't clutching his arm.

"Your due for another breathing treatment in twenty minutes but I'm going to go ahead and give it to you and see if that helps."

She was only gone a moment before returning with the apparatus and plugged it into the wall behind the bed. Derek took it and helped Spencer hold it while he tried to breathe in the medication.

"Deep breaths," she instructed. "Is that helping?"

Reid nodded his head and leaned into Derek's body since he was still sitting on the edge of the bed.

"Let's move you to the chair so it's easier to finish." He carefully scooped Spencer up and placed him in the dark green recliner that had been brought in. Derek then grabbed one of the blankets and laid it over his friend's legs and tucked it under the long bony feet.

When he noticed Spencer's eyes drooping, he pulled over the other chair and then helped his friend hold the device. "Nice deep breaths . . . that's it, you don't have too much more to go."

Five minutes later, Derek took the machine from Spencer's slack fingers. He straightened the sheets on the bed and pulled the blankets back. Then he gently placed his friend back in the bed, replaced the oxygen mask, and made sure the long, lanky frame was covered from toe to chin.

He settled in the chair with his soda in easy reach and began to read the magazine he had picked up when he went down for breakfast.

***

Derek heard a noise and slowly blinked open his eyes. "Hey, Hotch."

"Hey yourself. Are you getting enough sleep?"

Morgan scooted up in the chair to make himself sit a little straighter, "I'm fine. I don't want him to wake up alone."

"Any news yet?"

Derek sighed, "No, but Dr. Kimura should be in before too much longer."

"How's he holding up?" The older agent took a seat in the chair on the other side of the bed.

"Not so good. He made a trip to the bathroom this morning and then he couldn't breathe. Luckily, it was almost time for his next breathing treatment and that seemed to help. But he doesn't seem to be gaining much strength. His body isn't taking in the amount of oxygen he needs. I don't know if he's going to get better."

Hotch walked over to Derek and squeezed his shoulder, "Let's not jump to conclusions until we hear from the doctor. Is there anything I can get you?"

"Yeah," he fished his keys out of his pocket. "My "Go" bag is in the SUV. Can you get it for me so I can change clothes?"

"I can but why don't I stay with him and you run home to shower and change?"

"I don't know, Hotch."

"I do. It's obvious he's going to need help for a while no matter what the prognosis is. You need to take care of yourself or you won't be able to help him." The older agent softened his usual stern expression. "The others want to come see him. Do you think he is up to it?"

"Not right now. We should probably wait for Dr. Kimura and see how that turns out first. You know Reid doesn't like the attention placed on him and honestly, he hates having to have me help him with everything."

Derek stood up and grabbed his drink from the floor. "I'm going to go now so that I will be back in time to see the doctor." He double checked Spencer's oxygen level and then made sure the mask wasn't pulling any hair before he quickly left.

***

Hotch pulled out his phone and quickly punched in a number.

"Speak to me, your Queen of Knowledge waits to enlighten you."

"Garcia, I'm at the hospital with Reid."

"How is he?" She interrupted.

The older man pinched the bridge of his nose, "He's not so hot right now so do you think you can pass along the news that he is not up to visitors."

"JJ's going to be so disappointed. We were going to pick up balloons and bring a couple of things to brighten up his room."

Hotch sighed, "No, it's not really a good idea. I'll call when I know more." He quickly hung up before she could grill him for any more information.

"Hotch?" Reid barely made enough sound to be heard through the mask covering his face and the hiss of the precious oxygen it was delivering to him.

"Hey there, Reid." He got up and approached the bed to make it easier for Spencer to see him.

"Morgan?" Reid raised his hand as if reaching for something.

Hotch took the hand in his and gently brought it back to the bed. "He went home for a little while. Do you need something?"

"No," Spencer turned his head to the other wall and tried to pull his hand out of Hotch's grasp.

"Reid, look at me please." He wouldn't let the other man pull his hand free. "Morgan didn't leave you. I sent him home to take a shower and clean up."

"I know." The younger man closed his eyes. "I'm really tired. You don't have to stay."

"Yes, I do. Firstly, Morgan would kill me if I left you alone. And secondly, I do care about you so I'm not about to let you stay here alone when you don't have to. Would you like to see the rest of the team?"

"No, I really am tired."

"Okay, you rest all you need. I'm going to be right here and I can do anything Morgan does for you." He paused for a moment and squeezed the fingers in his hand. "I mean that. Even if you aren't comfortable with me, don't wait for Morgan to get back." He added a small smile, "And don't forget that I can easily turn you over my knee if I have to. You hardly weigh more than Jack and right now you have no strength to fight back."

Spencer finally did let a small smile show through, "Hotch, I couldn't take you on my best day."

"Okay, just get some rest then."

***

A/N: I'm sorry to say that it will take longer on the next chapter since I am just now writing the first draft. However, if I receive lots of feedback, I could be persuaded to move a little quicker.