Wings to Fly
Summary: After finishing a case the team was ready to head home, or go out and relax for a bit, Reid was one of the ones on his way back to his apartment when it happened, three hunters ambushed him. He thought they were going to kill him, but no, what they did was much, much worse. They exposed his secret to two members of his team, which led to the others finding out.
Character(s): Hotch, Reid, Morgan, Rossi, JJ, Emily, and a few necessary OC's
Warning(s): Ambushing, angst, hurt/comfort, hurt Reid, over-protective team, Reid has Wings!, Blood, form of torture, awkwardness, NO ROMANCE, Secrets, Lying.
I DO NOT OWN CRIMINAL MINDS
Last Time
Hotch didn't bother watching as the man crumpled to the ground, instead he rushed to Rossi's side who was standing there staring down at Reid in Shock. Hotch was confused until he was what Rossi was staring at, then he was frozen in shock as well.
It wasn't...things on Reid's back. It was wings. Large, Tattered, Black wings.
Suddenly, everything just became a thousand times more complicated.
Chapter Two: Secrets
"Dave, we need to get him to the hospital." Hotch finally managed to say, but he still couldn't bring himself to look away from those black...black wings on his subordinates back. Not receiving a response Hotch forced himself to look away and over at the man next to him. Rossi looked...horrified. Of what, Hotch wasn't sure but he knew the man needed to snap out of it now, Reid was still Reid...somewhat...and he needed them. "Dave!" Hotch leaned over a bit and nudged his friend's shoulder.
Rossi visibly shook his head as though shaking away whatever he had been thinking about, "Aaron...we can't call 911."
"What?" Now all of Hotch's attention was effectively on Rossi, "Why not?"
"Aaron you know as well as I do how people with wings are treated. The police and any doctors? They wont have the kids best interest in mind."
"M'fine..."
Rossi and Hotch both leapt back, startled, as Reid's previously still form began shaking from exhaustion as he struggled to push himself up to his knees with his wings falling limply to his sides. Even from where they stood they could see the blood running down the mangled feathers.
Even seeing how much energy Reid was clearly loosing, neither stepped forwards to help him. Though they loathed to admit it, they were wary of getting near him, and didn't that thought just sicken them to the core.
Reid hissed and arched his back slightly, his wings twitched and stretched out just a tad bit before suddenly trembling violently and vanishing from sight right before Hotch and Rossi's eyes, once gone Reid collapsed to the ground unconscious, his head smacking against the concrete before either of them could do a thing.
Once more Reid managed to shock the both of them that night, but he did just make things a hell of a lot easier for all of them.
"I'll call the cops, and an ambulance." Rossi finally said, moving off to the side to do just that.
Hotch on the other hand kneeled down next to Reid and carefully began slipping his shirt off, it wouldn't do any good for the medics to arrive and see two huge slits in the back of Reid's shirt where his...his wings had burst out.
Reid let out a low whine and struggled feebly to get away from Hotch's touch.
"Shh...Shh," Hotch shushed, "Reid you're alright it's me, it's Hotch. I'm just trying to help okay? You're going to be alright."
If anything Reid only began to squirm even more, trying to get away from Hotch which confused the older man until he looked down and saw Reid's half lidded eyes staring at him in fear. Seeing the fear in his youngest subordinates eyes, especially directed at him made Hotch feel sick to his stomach.
"Reid..." Hotch swallowed, "Reid it's okay. I promise...I...won't let anything happen to you okay? This changes nothing."
Despite how much emotion Hotch tried to convey in those few words, Reid continued to look at him as though Hotch were the one about to hurt him, not those men from before.
"Aaron the Ambulance is on the way." Rossi said, walking back towards them. And Hotch knew it was true, he could hear the ambulance and the cops getting closer. Out of the corner of his eye Hotch saw Reid try to squirm away the moment Rossi came near and he knew Rossi saw it as well considering how he pointedly stepped back.
"...No..."
"What?" Hotch turned his head to look at Reid fully.
"...No am'ulance...m'fine..."
"Reid," Rossi started but stopped the moment Reid flinched upon hearing his voice.
"Please...leave..."
Hotch cleared his throat and was not ashamed to admit that it hurt to still see the fear in Reid's eyes when he looked at them but it hurt even more that Reid wanted them to go away. All of them were saved from having to say anything else as the ambulance arrived and the EMT's all but flung themselves into action. Quicker then either of them thought possible, Reid was loaded onto a gurney and put into the back of the ambulance with Hotch and Rossi left standing there.
"Ah, hold up a minute! I'm riding with the ambulance okay?" Rossi quickly explained to Hotch before hurrying over to jump into the back of the ambulance.
Hotch nodded to himself and got back into his car to head back to headquarters knowing he'd have to explain things and calm everything down before it all got out of hand...and do something about Reid's torn shirt he was still holding tightly. Sighing, Hotch drove off in the opposite direction than the ambulance and regrettably knew he'd have to call the rest of the team, and explain everything to Strauss without getting Reid in any trouble...maybe the team could wait until tomorrow to be called.
The ride in the ambulance wasn't quiet whatsoever. The moment Rossi got in the back of the ambulance the lighting with Reid bare from the torso up on the stretcher was a sight Rossi didn't think he'd ever forget. The blood stood out against Reid's pale complexion, along with dark bruises spread across his skin. Rossi blamed the poor lighting in the alleyway for not noticing all the wounds covering Reid's body, especially his arm. Dimly Rossi wondered how Reid managed to push himself up on a broken arm but the thought was quickly washed away when he remembered how neither he nor Hotch made any move to help him sit up when it was clear he was struggling.
Rossi snapped out of it when the EMT's began yelling {okay so maybe they weren't yelling but they were being pretty damn loud} different things to one another about Reid's condition and how they were almost at the hospital.
Rossi listened to them best as he could but he was distracted with looking back at Reid who looked like he would like nothing better than to be as far away from Rossi as humanely possible. Slowly Rossi reached out and despite the flinch he got at the movement, he gently took Reid's hand in his own and squeezed softly.
"You're gonna be just fine." Rossi said, even he was put off at how gruff he sounded, "Hotch and I will take care of everything. You just rest okay?"
Reid looked...confused. Like he wasn't sure how to react. Rossi didn't mind, at least Reid had stopped staring at him with those damn terrified puppy eyes. Sighing to himself, Rossi settled back into the bench or whatever the hell they were called.
He had a feeling things were about to change for all of them, but he couldn't decide if it was for the better or worse.
HAPPY NEW YEARS TO ALL OF YOU AMAZING HUMAN BEINGS
