A/N: So sorry for the delay but I have been finishing another story that will be posted soon.

The next day Spencer enjoyed lunch with JJ while Morgan went home to collect his mail and check on his dog. He also picked up some movies and documentaries to help his friend take his mind off things. Reid had tried reading, but he had a hard time focusing on things, so Morgan also picked up some audio books from the bookstore Reid frequented. They were able to help him pick out some that the younger man would both like and either hadn't read to their knowledge or enjoyed re-reading.

***

Morgan woke early and checked on Spencer. He was still asleep, but the covers had slipped during the night and his arms were wrapped around his torso tight. Derek pulled up the navy blue covers and then grabbed an extra blanket and placed it over him.

His shower was quick and breakfast was almost ready, so he made his way back into the bedroom.

"Reid, wake up." Derek gently shook his friend's shoulder. Spencer snuggled deeper into the blankets. He chuckled, "Come on, you have to get ready for your appointment. Hotch will be here before you know it." He handed the younger man his glasses when he sat up and untangled himself.

"I'm up, I'm up." Spencer grumbled.

"I can see that. Why don't you try to make it to the bathroom? Breakfast will be ready in five." He left the young man still sitting there and went back to finish breakfast.

"Smells good."

"Biscuits will be done in . . . ," the timer went off. "That would be now." Morgan scooped eggs onto each plate and then placed the butter, jelly, and plate of biscuits on the table. He grabbed a glass of orange juice for himself and a bottle of Ensure for Spencer.

"You fixed too much food." Spencer whined.

"No, you eat too little."

They finished their breakfast in silence. Then, Derek walked back to the bedroom with Reid. "What do you want to wear?" He stepped over to the closet and pulled the doors open.

Spencer instructed him to pull out what seemed like five layers of clothes. "You do realize the doctor is going to want to listen to your chest?"

"I know, but I don't want to freeze before then."

"How about a compromise--leave the sweater vest and extra under shirt and you can keep the cardigan and we'll bring a blanket."

"O-okay."

Derek sighed softly. He hated to see his friend so dejected, but he would only be colder if he had to undress. "Do you want to take anything to read?" He watched Spencer just shake his head. "Okay, you get dressed while I clean up the kitchen."

He walked over to the fridge and collected the paperwork for the doctor. Then, he went to the living room to collect both of their Ipods.

***

"Hi, Hotch." Derek let his boss into the apartment.

"Is he ready?"

"Let me get him." He walked into the bedroom to find his friend dressed but laying down on the bed. "Hey, kid. Hotch is here. Are you ready?"

"I . . . don't . . . think . . . I . . . can . . . make it." Reid wheezed.

"Hotch rented a wheelchair so you don't have to walk." He watched the young man close his eyes. Derek knelt down beside the bed and began to rub Spencer's forearm. "Just take some deep breaths. Nice and slow."

"Everything okay in here?" Hotch asked from the doorway.

"I'm just getting his shoes. Can you go ahead and take the oxygen tank down to the car? There's a blanket on top that is going. I figured we couldn't use the wheelchair on the steps and we could just attach the oxygen when we get down there." Derek reached over beside the side table and picked up the shoes.

"No problem. I'll come back up so I can lock the door for you."

"Okay. Pretty Boy, hold the tubing and wrap your arms around my neck." Spencer did as instructed and Morgan carried him out to the waiting SUV.

***

They arrived at the medical plaza twenty minutes later. Hotch retrieved the wheelchair from the back; Derek walked around to the other side and opened Spencer's door. The young man had already removed his seat belt and laid the blanket beside him. He took Derek's hand and used it as support to climb from the vehicle. Once they were situated, Morgan pushed the wheelchair and Hotch pulled the oxygen tank for them.

The waiting room was crowded. Morgan found two free seats by the long wall where there was room to place his wheelchair. Hotch placed the tank neatly behind him. He was freezing already and tucked his hands under the blanket.

"I'll sign in." Morgan walked over to the window while Hotch grabbed a magazine off a nearby chair.

He watched Derek at the window and was surprised to see him pull an insurance card out of his wallet and then cash. Spencer felt his pants and realized his wallet was still at home. His friend walked back with a clip board in hand.

"Morgan, I left my wallet at home with all of my insurance." He said in a panic.

"Calm down. I put your ID and insurance card in my wallet at the hospital. We can deal with the co-pay later. I know you're good for it." He smiled. "Besides, I know where you live if you don't pay up."

"I'll pay you back. I promise." Reid ducked his head letting his long hair fall forward and pulled the blanket a little higher.

"I'm just joking, kid." Derek picked up one of his hands. "Your fingers are like ice." Then he began rubbing them between his strong hands. It felt so good that Reid wanted to offer his other hand for warming, but tucked it between his legs under the blanket.

***

It was taking forever. Derek was getting frustrated. They had already waited a little over an hour. Spencer was tired and starting to list in his chair. "That's it." He stormed over to the window and waited for the receptionist. She smiled warmly at him but it didn't help his mood.

"Our appointment was forty-five minutes ago. Do you know what the problem is?"

"What is the name, Sir?"

"Reid, Spencer Reid."

She flipped through some papers. "He's with Dr. Rahaj."

"Yes, we know that." Morgan answered irritably.

"He had an emergency and should be here shortly."

Morgan ran a hand over his face before replying. "Do you have a room he can lay down in? He just got out of the hospital and is not really up for this."

"I'm sorry, let me see."

He walked back over to Spencer's wheelchair and knelt down in front of him. "She's going to find you a room to lie down in."

"I just want . . . to go home." The young man replied without opening his eyes.

"I know but we really need the doctor to see you and find out what medicines you need to get better." Morgan watched him nod his head.

"Reid." The nurse called from the side door.

Morgan and Hotch maneuvered Reid back to one of the rooms. The nurse left them alone and Morgan helped Spencer climb onto the table and lie down. She stepped back in a moment later and handed a pillow to Hotch.

"Here you go, Reid." Hotch helped the younger man lift up long enough to get the pillow under his head; Morgan covered him with the blanket. Then they sat down to wait for the doctor to finally show up.

***

There was a light knock on the door before it opened. "Hello, I'm Dr. Rahaj."

Morgan stood up and shook the man's hand. "I'm SSA Morgan; this is SSA Hotchner, and Dr. Reid." He pointed accordingly.

"I apologize for my lateness. My son broke his arm and I was the only one available to take him to the hospital." He flipped through the file in his hands. "Dr. Reid, I am sorry that this had to add to your discomfort as you have only recently been released from the hospital.

"First, there are some tests that we need to run. That should take about twenty minutes and then hopefully we will be able to access your condition, set up a treatment plan, and get you back home where you may rest properly." He briskly left the room and began speaking with one of the nurses.

They came back in and whisked Spencer away to begin testing.

***

Forty-five minutes later, he was finally wheeled back into the room. Spencer really wanted to go home now; the tests had been awful. They made him get up and walk down the hall and he had almost passed out. Then there were the breathing tests that made his chest feel like it was on fire and forcing his long legs into that tiny enclosure and lack of air made his heart feel like it would either stop or beat its way right out of his chest.

Morgan came over and helped him climb back onto the table. After the nurse left, Morgan asked, "Are you okay?"

Spencer shook his head no and closed his eyes.

"Whoa there," Morgan said.

He didn't realize he had been leaning until Derek caught him. Spencer didn't have the strength to sit back up so he simply laid his forehead on his friend's shoulder.

A few moments later Dr. Rahaj walked back in carrying his file. "Well, the honest answer is that the unknown strain of Anthrax you contracted means that I cannot give you a guarantee on your prognosis."

Reid felt like crying; he was so tired of not getting straight answers.

"However, based on your test results, I think it is reasonable to believe that you will improve once we find the right medications. For now I want you to stay on the oxygen until we get your lungs strengthened back up. It will keep your body and mind oxygenated without having to struggle for it. Continue the breathing treatments the hospital sent you home with until they run out. When I see you again, we will determine if you need more. Now I am going to put you on a high dose of Advair. This is a daily inhaler and will help reduce the inflammation in your lungs. I also want you to use a rescue inhaler. This will help you recover easier after you have been up moving around and start to wheeze. If you start needing the rescue inhaler when you haven't been moving around, such as while watching TV or as soon as you wake up, then you need to give us a call." The doctor finished writing out the scripts before continuing. "I want to see you in one week to see how things are progressing. Do you have any questions?"

He was feeling rather overwhelmed and was sure that he had a question, but really couldn't form anything coherent at the moment, so he just shook his head.

"Okay, I want to take a listen to your chest before you leave."

Dr. Rahaj listened to both the chest and back and Spencer couldn't get his coughing under control once he was finished. "This is one of those times that you will use the rescue inhaler." He walked out to a cabinet and brought back a box. "When you get a new bottle you need to prime the pump at least four times. Also, any time that you have not used it for a while it needs to be primed again." He placed the unit in Spencer's hand. "You need to expel as much air from your lungs as possible and then place it in your mouth and depress the plunger to dispense the medicine. Release the plunger before taking a deep breath of the medicine."

Reid did as instructed. "Now do that one more time," the doctor said.

He was amazed as his lungs began to relax some and air began flowing into them easier. "Oh god, that feels so much better."

Dr. Rahaj smiled at him and patted his knee. "Okay, well it was nice meeting all of you and I will see you in a week."

***

Back out at the car Derek watched Reid trying to keep his eyes open. "Why don't you ride in the front so you can lay the seat back?" He only received a nod so he helped his friend get situated and then laid the seat flat. Morgan covered him with the blanket before securing the seat belt.

They met at the back of the SUV where Hotch was loading the wheelchair. "I think eating out is a no-go. Do you want to pick something up and eat back at the apartment with us?" Morgan asked.

"Sure, any suggestions?"

"If he's still awake we can check with Reid first." Morgan replied.

The two men didn't get anything coherent out of their youngest, so they just stopped for fast food.