A/N: Sorry about the wait. This one took me forever to get out. Does anyone know what Hotch's son is named. I'd appreciate it if you could tell me. Thanks!

Fate

Chapter 10: Insight

We found a motel close to the hospital and got two adjoining rooms with two beds each. While I took one room Morgan took the other. I only slept for a few hours, before needing to get up and move around. Maybe it was the coffee I drank earlier or the fact that I wasn't used to sleeping in the middle of the day. Maybe I needed to eat something... or maybe it was something else entirely.

I peeked in on Morgan and, much to my envy, found him snoring softly into his pillow. I quickly wrote a note, telling him that I had gone back to the hospital. I figured I could at least give Gideon the chance at some rest. I grabbed a donut and another cup of coffee, before heading to see Reid.

Gideon sat in a chair by the bed, writing in a notebook. He looked to be ignoring Reid, and I wonder if he realized that the younger man was awake.

I watched Reid's long fingers play with a thread from the blue hospital blanket. He paused to tuck black locks of hair behind his ear before returning to the unraveling blanket. He glanced up at the quiet tv and immediately noticed me standing in the doorway. While the small smile he gave me was somewhat forced, I was happy to note that his eyes weren't as clouded and he was more alert. "Hey." His voice was clearer as well.

Gideon looked up, but went back to his work when he saw that it was me.

"What are you guys up to?" I asked, coming farther into the room.

"Gideon was telling me about your last case."

"Oh yeah?" I asked sitting on the edge of the bed. "Is there anything you would have done differently?"

Reid shook his head slightly, returning his attention to the blanket.

Gideon cleared his throat. He didn't look up, but said the words to his notebook, "His first thought was the volunteer group. Would've solved the case a lot faster."

"No extra lives were lost, so it really doesn't matter." Reid murmured into his lap. That sounded like our Reid, always doubting his own worth.

"Yeah, guess not." Gideon said with a sigh. He looked up and gave me an inquisitive look. "What are you doing here?" I got the feeling that we had put too much attention on the younger man and now Gideon was trying to direct it away from him.

"I wasn't really tired. Thought you might want to go back to the motel and get some shut-eye." The first part was a lie, but I wasn't about to say what was really wrong in front of Reid. There was no reason for him to know that I was so worked up over him, that I couldn't sleep.

Gideon watched me for a moment, before rubbing a hand over the lower part of his face and saying, "Okay." He closed his notebook and got to his feet, pausing to look at Reid. "I'll see you later today."

The tight smile that Reid had offered me when I came in returned as he spoke, "Yeah."

I followed Gideon into the hall and quietly asked how Reid had been before I got there.

The older agent's eyes darkened with sorrow as they drifted to the open doorway we had just exited. He sighed, "It took him a few moments to get his bearings together when he woke up. After that he was... normal, I guess."

"Normal?"

He shrugged, "He acted like Reid."

I nodded. I could tell he wanted to elaborate, but for some reason he chose to stay silent. I had a nagging feeling, but like Gideon, I kept it to myself. I handed him the key to the motel and to the rental car we had picked up, before telling him where to go.

Gideon made to leave, but turned back. He squeezed my shoulder, "He'll be okay."

My throat tightened painfully as I nodded again. I watched Gideon walk to the elevators and get in one. Taking a deep breath, I returned to Reid's room. A nurse followed me in and I quickly stepped to the side, getting out of her way.

I listened to her ask Reid a series of questions ranging from the pain medication to his breathing. He answered that he was fine to all of them. As the nurse was leaving Reid shifted, trying to sit up against the pillows. I couldn't help but wince at his pained gasp. I wondered what was wrong until his hand went to his hip.

"Is that bothering you, hun? I know it's a little bruised up." The nurse asked sweetly. She ignored Reid's 'I'm fine' and moved to run her hands along his hip bone. She was too close to see his eyes go wide.

I moved to step in, but Reid didn't wait for me. "It... it's fine, really. I'm okay." he said, taking her hands in his and moving them away.

"It may have been sprained. I need to take a look." Her sweet tone had been replaced with a firm, no nonsense one. Much to my chagrin it took on a slightly patronizing tone as well. She was talking to him like he was a disobedient child, and no one could call him a kid but us, the people who actually cared about him.

I cleared my throat, making both of their eyes meet mine. I made my voice sound as commanding as I could, "If he says he's fine, then he's fine. We'll call if it starts bothering him. Thank you."

The nurse's hands, which had been poised over Reid's hips, withdrew to her side. She straightened her back and squared her shoulders before nodding and quickly leaving the room.

"You okay?" I asked softly.

He nodded once, but wouldn't look at me anymore. Both of his hand were now covering his hip, gently rubbing at it, like her touch had burned.

I reached my hand out to grasp Reid's shoulder, but paused, thinking that he would react the same way as he had to the nurse.

He caught my movements and looked up at me with a questioning gaze. He looked slightly embarrassed as he returned his attention to his lap. "I... it's just that... " He sighed, looking frustrated because he couldn't get the words out.

"It's okay. You don't have to-" I started.

"No, I..." Reid took a deep breath before continuing, "He used to... hold on to my hips. All the time. I-I don't know why." He finished rubbing at his eyes.

My hand closed the distance between us, squeezing his shoulder gently. I tried to portray comfort and understanding as my mind raced.

There's only one reason for someone to hold onto another. Control. You know when you see a man with his arm around a woman's shoulder or waist, she's his. What reason would Sibly have to do that? Who was he showing off to? Was it to remind himself of what he had, or to remind Reid of who was in charge?

It was odd how such a small detail had me feeling so sick. It suddenly opened my eyes to the things victims go through, that as a cop, hold no importance to me. I've seen many victims, but I have never been around long enough to see the aftermath. Now I'm getting that chance.

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