The Abby of Thelema Ch 3
"How long till we land," Hotch said quietly to Gideon.
"Twenty minutes... What are you thinking," Gideon's eyes wandered over to Reid curled up in a chair,
his head resting on Morgan's lap. He watched Morgan's head rest in his right hand as the left subtly
stroked Reid's hair. "Did you know those two were...," her cleared his throat.
"No," Hotch said. "By the look of it, they don't know either." Hotch inclined his head in a small jester
towards JJ. "I was under the impression that Reid and JJ had been seeing each other." Hotch let a small
smile slip, "guess I was wrong."
The blond woman sat in a chair at the other end of the jet, pretending not to watch them, Emily at her
side. The women spoke in hushed tones but Hotch and Gideon could see the tears threating JJ's
composure.
"We need to keep this quiet. Reid could be kicked out of the Bureau," Hotch said quickly. "I don't want
his future destroyed over something that isn't his fault."
Gedion nodded, is affinity for the boy clouding his reason. "Nobody forced the needle into his arm this
time Hotch."
Erin gave him the look. "You know what I mean." They stared at each other unblinking.
"I know some people...I could make some calls," Gideon sighed. "I don't know how Reid would do in a
hospital though...considering his mother."
"You have a point, but what else can we do?"
The two looked back at Reid and Morgan. Reid was beginning to shake slightly. Four hours after his
revival and the withdrawal was beginning again. Reid turned his head up to look at Morgan sadly.
There were tears coming.
He'd read dozens of books on drug addicts. He knew what tortures were on the horizon.
Morgan whispered to him as Reid whipped his nose, "Your tougher than you think kid. Your gonna be
okay." He cleared a few strands of hair from Reid's clammy brow and smiled down at him, "try to get
some sleep".
Hotch and Gideon shared a glance before smirking their plan into action.
The car radio read one am on the drive from the small private air strip to Morgan's apartment.
"No one can know about Reid's...condition," Hotch said with a soft but firm tone, addressing his whole
team. "He's an integral part of this team...this family. He's been through a lot in the last couple days
and I expect everyone to support him now." He sighed. "We've all been under a great deal of stress
recently and I think it would be a good idea if we took some time off, all of us." Hotch looked each one
of them in the eye. "I don't want to see any of you again for at least two weeks. No
arguments...dismissed."
Hotch pulled Morgan away from the group as they exited the plane.
"Gedion and I are going to find a...discrete treatment facility for Reid, and we'll call you when we have
something. In the mean time I think it would be a good idea if he stayed with you."
"What...Hotch I'm not qualified to do this. Reid has some serious psychological issues, not to mention
actually detoxing heroin! He needs a professional..."
"You have experience with drug addicts and you know Reid better than anyone else on this team."
Morgan sighed loudly. He cared for Reid, more than he let on, even to himself. But this was serious.
Reid wasn't just some un-sub, he was...Reid.
Morgan shook his head, "I don't know Hotch".
The pilot, a strange short dark skinned woman with piercing cat shaped eyes, helped Reid down the
short flight of stairs and out of the plane.
When his feet touched the ground he stumbled, racked by shakes. His head spun with nausea and
Morgan caught him just as he lost his lunch, and his dinner.
Morgan knelt beside his shivering friend and looked up at Hotch.
A nod was his consent.
Morgan stared at Reid's trembling shoulders from the drivers seat. His head rested on the window and
his slow breaths fogged the glass.
Morgan's brow furrowed, "you with me kid?"
Reid's lips parted, his breath raged, "I...". He swallowed, "I need it Morgan". Reid squeezed his eyes
closed. "Just a little bit...I swear I'll stop after that...". Reid turned wide eyes on Derek, his hands
rubbing together squeezing and stretching his fingers. "Please...Derek. Just...just until Hotch and
Gedion find somewhere for me to go...".
"Reid you know I can't do that...".
"Derek I'm asking you as your friend...you have connections, you could get me a little...a little bit, I
know you have friends in the DEA, you could do it!"
Morgan shook his head. "That's the drug talking and you know it." He took a breath to calm his anger.
"The Reid I know would never ask me to jeopardize my career to do something like that."
Reid clenched his jaw and turned away from him, laying his head back on the window with a thud. He
closed his eyes, "you're right... I'm sor...I'm sorry Morgan."
Morgan laid a hand on Reid's knee before taking his hand and giving it a squeeze. "It's okay..." He
continued still holding his hand and Reid squeezed it back. "Are you hungry? You haven't had anything
but heroin in your system for the last three days."
"I'm not hungry," Reid replied weekly, his breath still fogging the glass.
"You should eat Reid. There's a really good PHO place near my apartment I've been meaning to take
you to, and they have carry out service."
Morgan spoke the name of the restaurant out loud and the built in car phone dialed the number.
When they pulled up across the street Derek turned to Reid. "I'll be back in a minute. Hey," he ran a
hand through Reid's hair pulling his chin towards him. "You're going to get through this Reid. What
happened was not your fault." A thick tear escaped Reid's eye and he nodded. "I'm going to help you
get through this. Okay?"
He unlocked the car door, taking the key with him, "I'll be right back."
Derek paid quickly and jogged back across the street to the car.
The cartons of PHO spilled in every direction as the bag slipped form his hand.
Reid was gone. The passengers side door left wide open.