Author's note: This chapter will catch us up to the present, which is where the first chapter began. Thanks to all who are still with me. Your encouragement has been so great.

Send the pain below

Two hours previous

The three-hour trip passed uneventfully. Twenty minutes before landing, Reid started waking slightly and talking softly in his sleep. This led to a lively group discussion of Reid's inability to keep his mouth shut, even when injured and highly medicated. Garcia joined in on speakerphone, eager for an update on Reid's condition.

Finally, with just a few minutes left in the flight, Morgan attempted to wake Reid up fully. A couple of gently shakes, plus a light tap had little affect on Reid's level of consciousness. Emily went over to the couch and knelt down. Morgan noted the mischievous look she wore.

"What are you doing Em?"

"I have an idea," she replied with a grin. She leaned close to Reid's ear and spoke in a low, husky voice. "Wake up Spence. Time to get up baby."

Morgan clamped a hand over his mouth to keep from laughing loudly. JJ and Garcia giggled quietly.

When all she received was a flutter of eyes, Emily decided to try harder. She repeated her words in the same tone, but she added a gentle touch across his forehead and cheekbones. A flicker of eyelids and incoherent muttering were all she got for her efforts.

"I don't think it's working Em," Morgan said with barely-contained laughter.

"Oh yeah," she replied, "then it's time to bring out the big guns." She leaned forward more a lightly planted a soft kiss on the corner of his lips. His eyes half-opened at the touch, and flew open fully when he was that Emily was the source.

"Wha…?" came the sleepy, surprised voice as he tried to figure out what happened.

All of the team members were too busy laughing to answer him. He looked at all of them in foggy confusion as his brain slowly began booting to normal speed. He tried to rise into a sitting position, but his stiff left side caused him to wince in pain and remain lying down.

"What's going on," he asked? His voice, while still sleepy and slurred, was clearer and slightly angry at not knowing what was happening around him.

Morgan took pity on him. "We're about to land. I didn't want you to roll off the couch."

"Oh. We're about to land? I don't remember getting to the airport."

"Well you were knocked out," Emily said with a grin. "Until a few minutes ago, you were so quiet we had to keep checking to be sure you were breathing."

"But then you started talking, so we knew you were ok," Hotch added with a small smile. Everyone but Reid laughed again.

"Ha ha ha, you guys are hilarious. Laugh at the guy who got stabbed-that's just great."

"Come on guys, give my handsome injured genius a break," Garcia chimed in through the speaker.

"Oh, you'll be ok," Emily said, patting him lightly on the head as she returned to her seat for the descent.

"Come on, let's get you strapped in." Morgan helped Reid sit up, and fastened a belt around him before sitting on the couch next to him and buckling himself in. He noticed Reid was swaying slightly, and Morgan grabbed his upper arm to steady him.

"Are you ok, man?"

"Hm?" Reid turned to face him and blinked slowly a few times before responding. "What did you say?"

"I asked if you were ok."

"Yeah, I'm ok, just a little dizzy. I guess the pain meds are stronger than I thought when he gave them to me."

"What did he give you?" Hotch's tone and expression both showed slight concern.

"Non-narcotic," Reid replied quickly, "but the strongest dosage he felt was safe."

"So basically heavy duty Tylenol," Emily teased.

"Yeah, pretty much," Reid agreed.

"Is it helping ok," Rossi added from his corner of the plane?

"Yes, I'm just a little sore, and stiff."

"Good."

"I still think you should stay with someone for a day or two Reid," Hotch suggested.

"I'm sure I'll be ok Hotch. I promise to take it easy. I really want to go home."

"I understand that, I just think you might need a hand until you heal a little more. You're welcome at my house."

"Thanks, Hotch, but it's not necessary."

"Why don't you let me stay with you," Morgan asked? "I'd feel better knowing you aren't alone, all drugged up and one-armed."

"Really Morgan, I'll be ok. You don't have to look after me."

"I don't mind. I want to, at least for tonight, to be sure you don't have a bad reaction to the meds or any dizzy spells."

"Ok, I'll let you stay. Thanks," Reid relented. Secretly he was relieved; he'd wondered how he'd manage to get himself and his things home in this state.

"No problem," Morgan responded as he gave Reid's arm a gently squeeze. A couple of gentle bumps told him the plane was on the ground finally. Morgan gathered his bag along with Reid's before helping Reid slowly exit the jet. He left Reid under Hotch's watchful eye as he picked up his navy blue SUV from the parking garage. They loaded Reid in carefully, and then Morgan drove toward Reid's apartment. After a few minutes, he noticed that Reid's breathing seemed to be shallow and raspy. He turned to look at his friend, and nearly ran off the road at the sight of Reid's pale complexion and pain-filled eyes.

"Hey man, what's wrong?" Morgan suddenly wondered if taking him out of the hospital so soon was a good idea.

"Nothing…it's ok…" he grunted out. " I think the meds are wearing off now and my arm is throbbing…"

"Ok, well we're about 15 minutes from your place. Can you hang on until we get there and then you can take another dose?"

"Yeah…I'll be…ok," he managed through gritted teeth. Morgan wasn't convinced, but there wasn't much he could do right now anyway. After a tense drive with Morgan pushing the speed limit as much as he dared, the pair reached Reid's apartment building. Both were more than a little relieved. The trip upstairs was tedious, but they finally made it safely to Reid's apartment. Morgan got him settled on the couch and picked up the bag Dr. Richards gave Reid at the ER. He pulled out the sample pack and took it to the kitchen while he poured a glass of water. He then returned to the living room and sat next to Reid on the couch. Reid took the pills from his hand, but instead of swallowing them, he just looked at them curiously.

"What's up?" Morgan asked.

"Are these the only pills Dr. Richards put in there?"

"Yeah, I think so." He lifted the bag from the coffee table and checked it for pills. "There aren't any others here. Why?"

"Because these pills are for the infection, they aren't painkillers."

"Really?" Morgan flipped through the release papers to find the names of the medicines Reid was supposed to have. "Huh, you're right. I guess he didn't give you the pain killers," Morgan said with sympathy in his voice.

"Great," Reid replied with a groan. He laid his head back against the couch and closed his eyes.

"Isn't there a late-night pharmacy a few miles from here?"

"Yeah, it's ten minutes or so away."

"Well, why don't you stay put and I'll go get the prescription filled there. I'll bring back some food too, so you won't have to take it on an empty stomach."

"You don't mind?"

"Of course not, I hate that you're in so much pain right now. Will you be ok while I'm gone?"

"I'll survive," he responded unconvincingly.

"That's good enough for now," Morgan said as he stood up. "Why don't you lie down while I'm gone and rest? Then maybe you'll feel up to eating when I get back."

"Ok," Reid murmured wearily. Morgan helped him shift positions as carefully as possible. He noticed that Reid was nearly asleep already as he gathered his keys and the prescription.

I hope he gets some good rest while I'm gone.