Chapter 8

"Mrs. Hotchner, I am going to ask you something. The subject is quite delicate, and I don't want to upset you, but please tell me the truth."

Haley leaned forward in her seat. What could be worse? She met Thomas' eyes, blinking away tears. "What is it?"

"It seems your husband has taken some kind of narcotic. Would you be able to tell us what it is?"

Haley stared in bewilderment. "Narcotic? Why on earth…..?"

Thomas spoke gently. "There is a mark on his arm; we need to know what he's taken."

"My husband has never taken drugs. This must be a mistake!"

The phone rang on the doctor's desk. He picked it up, then put it down without saying anything.

"I am sorry, Mrs. Hotchner, I have to attend an emergency."

He stood and opened the door for her. "Please think about what I've said, won't you."

Haley nodded once. She left the office in a daze.

Garcia saw her at once. She put her arm around her and led her back to the waiting area.

"He said Aaron's taken something." She said in a high frightened voice.

"I know," said Morgan. "But don't worry, we'll sort it. It's a mistake, that's all."

He thought, "At least I hope so……"

The silence between them was palpable. Each lost in their own thoughts, memories of these two men. Men they would die for, who would give their lives for them.

"You can go and sit with Spencer now," Shaken out of their reverie, they looked up, desperate to be with him, terrified of what they would see

"I'll stay here and wait for Aaron." Haley said. She sat down again, head in her hands. She looked up at them, an attempt at a smile. "I'll be ok."

………………………………………………………………………………………………

The emergency that sent Thomas back to the OR was Hotch, although he was not about to tell his wife. The lift was on another floor so he took two at a time.

Hotch was already back in theatre, dressings removed and ready.

"What happened?" Thomas demanded, scrubbing up.

"Somehow he managed to fall off the trolley." said Tina. He was trying to get to his friend, you know, that young guy with the broken arm."

Thomas gave her an annoyed look,

"Do your job! Then I won't have to do mine twice!"

and pushed through the swing doors. "Ok, let's get started."

………………………………………………………………………………………………

Spencer was floating. It wasn't a nice kind of floating, though. He felt sick and out of control. He didn't like it. He thought that dying was supposed to be a serene feeling. This was not serenity.

He could hear someone calling his name.

'…leave me alone! Just let me die……I don't want to come back…… hurting...….can't face being alive…..'

The voice was insistent; hands were pulling at him, pain in his chest…..

'No…...leave me!...I don't want to….'

Too much pain…..too much pain…..

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

"He's in V-fib!"

Again the paddles were applied to Reid's chest.

Again, his injured body jerked from the bed.

Again………nothing.

And again

And again.

Morgan watched from the door in abject horror.

"Come on, Reid! Don't you dare go!"

JJ and Emily stood wide eyed in disbelief. Garcia was crying unashamedly.

They were watching him die.

The doctor stood back.

"Are we all agreed?"

Silent nods.

"Time of death…."

"No!"

Morgan pushed forward to Reid. He held Reid's body and shook him. Holding him tight, "C'mon, kid, we need you!"

"Don't give up! Please, don't give up!" Garcia cried out. "Please try again!"

JJ and Garcia clung to each other. Tears streamed down Emily's face.

The doctor pulled Morgan away from Reid. Morgan stood against the wall, shaking, hands covering his face.

Once again the doctor applied the paddles.

Reid's tired battered body jerked again.

The doctor stood back again.

Morgan moved his hands away from his eyes. "Please kid…"

"Sinus rhythm established. He's back!"

The doctor turned to Morgan. "Looks like the sound of your voice has called him back, but now I think you had better wait outside."

"We're not moving." Morgan tried to sound threatening, but his voice was trembling.