A/N: Hey everybody, yes, it really is a new chapter... I know it's nearly been a year since I updated this and I really hope you're still interested in it. I'm sorry that it has taken me so long to update this and that the chapter is a bit on the short side and I really hope you can forgive me and are indeed still interested... *smiles shyly*

If yes, comments would of course be most appreciated *puppy dog eyes*

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Thank you of course to Stendan4ever, RogueStorm84, sally94, lastbloom, Jae Ar, Hatsuharu Miku , fumina, KaL KeY, darkangel-silvermoon, laneydaze96, catz22, natheriver, Evie McFarland, LynnAshe, scifigeek22, Velandrae, fireball1012, Talia, Toris Lietvu Laurinatis, dr3, SerenadeInTheMoonlight, lucy, Catnatural, cristina reid, Alpecca Ankaa Black, sweetteetwo, angelbun86, Carlyxoxo, MyownlilfantaC, MistressELEMENT, MyGuiltiestPleasure (I'll try my best to complete all the stories I still have up), Dr. Monster, Artifical Dreams, Pamikae, Becca, Kiba515, Lenika08, Evci, Elura The Strange, Rain and Storm and marcallie for all your wonderful reviews *hugs you all* They mean the world to me *smiles* and I really hope I didn't forget anyone *smiles*

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Warnings: slight non-con (but definitely not in detail, merely mentioned)

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Disclaimer: None of the CM characters belong to me… I just borrowed them for this little story… my OC'S do belong to me though… this story doesn't mean to offend anybody… this is just for fun… and not for money either...

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Chapter 3


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The smack echoed through the room and many people actually gasped after what they had just witnessed. Morgan held his cheek and stared at Reid in complete shock. It wasn't that the punch in itself had hurt too much, okay, Morgan's cheek stung a little and he was pretty sure that it would leave a bruise, but still, that wasn't what shocked him too much.

No, he was more shocked by the fact that Reid had actually lashed out at him so violently and without a good reason to do so too. Derek had always called Spencer "Pretty Boy", because Spencer was just that... pretty... no matter if Reid wanted to admit it or not and so the nickname had just come naturally. And why did Reid react so violently because of the use of the nickname all of sudden?

/Maybe he doesn't want to be called that by me anymore after our last disastrous movie night./ the tiny voice in Morgan's head, that the other man had determinedly ignored for the last days, helpfully or not helpfully, depending on the point of view, supplied. Derek shook his head and focused on Spencer again.

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The young man was breathing heavily, his hand still in midair. He was pale and his eyes were impossibly wide. He looked like a scared fawn to Morgan and if it had been a different situation, then Morgan would have found the look adorable and endearing. But with the situation as it was, he was more angry and he was also concerned, because of how pale Spencer looked. Adding to that what Reid had just done, it became painfully obvious that something was very wrong with their resident genius.

"Reid," Morgan finally started and his voice seemed to bring Spencer out of his shock.

The young man dropped his arm only to wrap both of his arms around himself as if to shield him from something.

"God Morgan, I'm so sorry," the young man whispered, lowering his eyes. And then, before Morgan or anyone else of the team could react, he dashed out of the room and out of the station.

"I'll go after him and see if I can get him to talk," JJ whispered and then she quickly followed the young genius and nobody stopped her, because they all knew that she was the most likely person to get Reid to talk.

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Once she was gone, the rest of them team turned towards Morgan.

"Are you okay?" Hotch questioned, just to make sure that Derek didn't need any medical attention. He was still pressing his hand to his cheek after all.

"Well, a little ice for the bruise would be nice, but otherwise I'm perfectly fine. But I gotta admit, the kid has a mean right hook," Derek said, a small attempt at a joke. Hotch only frowned while Emily quickly went to find some ice for Morgan.

"I'll need to put this into his file. I can't have one of my agents running around punching colleagues," he murmured, clearly not happy about it. And to his surprise, Morgan wasn't happy either and he quickly shook his head. The last thing he needed was for Reid to get into trouble because of him. Sure, he was mad at the younger man, but he had the distinct feeling that it was something personal and somehow his words had provoked the younger man. So Derek really didn't want Spencer to get into trouble with Strauss.

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"Don't do that, Hotch. Even if you probably don't understand, but I fear it will only make things worse between us," he nearly pleaded and sighed, before sitting down on a chair and gratefully took the icepack that Emily gave him. Hotch meanwhile raised an eyebrow and started pacing the room for a moment. Then he stopped again and looked at Derek.

"Okay if you don't want to make a big deal out of it, I'll hold the formal reprimand, but only if you talk to Reid and work out your issues and this never happens again. If not, then I have to report him," he explained and Morgan gave a sigh of relief. He nodded.

"Thanks Hotch and I promise I'll talk to Reid as soon as I get the chance and I promise I'll get to the bottom of things," he promised and he made a mental note to confront Spencer as soon as they were back in their hotel. And this time he wouldn't allow the younger man to lie to him.

"Good," Hotch nodded and Emily, who had been silent the whole time, looked back and forth between the two men for a second, relieved that Morgan seemed to be okay, well Reid's punch would leave a nasty bruise but nothing serious. But she was also worried about Spencer. The last time she had seen the young man act like this, was when he was still taking drugs. And she vowed to keep an eye on Reid to find out if maybe he was showing signs of drug abuse again. Only when she had confirmation to her suspicions she'd talk to Hotch and Rossi about it, because the last thing Emily wanted was to get Reid in any more trouble than he was in already if it wasn't necessary.

So she decided to change the subject, they had to solve a case after all.

"Maybe we should get back to work," she suggested and Morgan looked thankful for the change of topic.

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Hotch and Rossi nodded too and so the four profilers went back back to work and things seemed to get back to normal since all of them tried to ignore the fact that JJ and Reid were absent. They hadn't worked more than half an hour when suddenly Hotch's phone rang and with a raised eyebrow the man picked it up.

"JJ?" he asked, his voice betraying no emotion, but as soon as he had greeted JJ, Morgan looked up from the file he had been reading to try and listen what JJ had to say and why they weren't back yet. But he didn't have much look and, judging from the look on her face, neither had Emily, who had shifted a little closer to the Unit Chief, her file half closed too.

But the phone call didn't last long anyway and Hotch hung up seconds later after telling JJ: "Stay calm and make sure you stay with him, we're on our way."

Then he turned to Rossi, Emily and Morgan, who all looked at Hotch with wide eyes, worried what JJ had said to Hotch. Aaron sighed a little and ran a hand through his hair.

"Grab the files, so that you can review them on the way to the hospital," he stated, already shoving some of the files in his bag.

"Hospital?" Prentiss asked, following his example almost automatically, while Morgan just stared at Hotch, not sure if he'd like what Hotch was going to say next.

And he was right, because Aaron's next words were like a blow to the gut: "Reid collapsed and is on his way to the hospital..."

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As soon as JJ stepped outside the police station, her eyes darted to the left and the right to see where Reid had gone. Luckily she spotted him just rounding the corner of the street and she quickly ran to follow him, calling his name.

"Spence, wait!"

For a moment it looked like Reid didn't want to wait for her, because the young genius just continued to run and it was hard for JJ to keep up with the younger man.

"Spence, please wait and let's talk. I'm worried about you," she tried again, her voice slightly breathless, because she was running so fast, but her words seemed to have the desired effect, because Spencer slowed down and finally stopped, putting one hand against the wall to steady himself. He was breathing heavily and his cheeks were flushed. If they hadn't been running so fast and JJ wasn't sure that this was why, she'd think that Reid was running a fever.

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She stopped in front of Reid and refrained from putting a hand on the young genius' shoulder, because she feared he might bolt again if she tried to touch him. Instead JJ looked at her friend and teammate with concerned eyes.

"What's going on with you, Spence?" she asked, trying to show Reid that he could talk to her and that she'd gladly listen. Spencer looked at her, his eyes wide and somewhat unfocussed, as if he was trying to hold back tears. Then he hung his head and murmured: "I'm really sorry that I snapped like that, JJ. I'll go back and apologize to Morgan. And I promise it won't happen again."

JJ tilted her head and the strong urge to pull Spencer into a hug came over her, but again, she didn't dare to.

"Spence, that's not what I meant. Well, of course you need to apologize to Morgan, but that's not the reason I came after you," she said, taking a step closer to Reid, but she made sure that she was still out of his personal space.

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Her voice was soft, much like when she was talking to Henry when her son was upset and crying: "Spence, I'm worried about you. Ever since you came back after our days off, you've been different. So whatever it is, please tell me and I'll try to help you. And I'm pretty sure the rest of the team too when you tell them, even Morgan, no matter that you two haven't been the best of friends lately, but I bet he's as worried about you as I am... as we all are," she said and reached out to gently touch his cheek. But the reaction to her touch was unexpected, because suddenly Reid started shaking, jerking away from her touch, his eyes wide, but still unfocussed, just like he was lost in a distant memory.

And before JJ could react in any way, Reid's knees buckled and he hit the ground hard.

"Spence!" she yelled, falling to her knees beside him, touching his face again, noticing with worry that Reid really seemed to run a fever and not just a light one.

"Reid?" she questioned, trying to get Spencer to wake again by gently tapping his cheek, but Reid didn't even stir, he just whimpered softly.

JJ made a decision while trying not to panic, she quickly dialled for an ambulance while checking Spencer's pulse, which was disturbingly weak. And while she waited for the ambulance to come, she gently laid her hand on Reid's cheek and whispered, tears in her eyes: "Please be okay, Spence... and please tell us what has happened to you..."

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to be continued, if you're still interested...