A/N: I know you all just want to kill me for taking so long. All I can do is apologize. I can't really blame it on the glasses again 'cause thankfully Reid doesn't really wear them anymore (which I am eternally grateful for), but I can blame the creators of Criminal Minds for turning him into a junkie... which I am seriously not happy about. Besides that, the two-parter was awesome!! Okay, enough from me... on with the story!

Fate

Chapter 13: The Road Ahead

The clothes were too big. Either that, or Reid had lost more weight than I had thought. The wardrobe didn't consist of a sweater vest or a button up, but he looked comfortable. And young. He looked so young, sitting sideways on the hospital bed with his legs dangling over the edge.

The father I had recently become was flaring up in full force now. It was an odd experience. I wanted to do all I could to comfort the young man, but that would be embarrassing for both of us if it went too far. I wasn't his father figure and I know he wouldn't want to be coddled. I couldn't be too caring if he was ever going to be comfortable working for me again. That's if he ever did want to work for me again. But that's one thing I don't have to worry about right now.

We stood around in silence, waiting for the doctor to come in and tell us we could get Reid out of here. I wanted to get him home, back to Quantico, but the motel room would have to be good enough.

Morgan eased himself up onto the bed next to Reid and I wish I hadn't seen the way the younger man's shoulders tightened at his space being invaded.

God, we have such a long road ahead of us.

The doctor walked in with a roll of gauze, a small stack of papers, and a smile. He rolled the small bedside table in front of Reid and placed the papers and gauze down on top of it. "You about ready to get out of here, Spencer?"

I couldn't get over how strange it was to hear him called Spencer. I was used to 'Spence' from J.J., but 'Spencer' was foreign to me. It made him sound like a kid. He may look like one, but he's probably the most mature person I know. The name just doesn't do him justice.

Reid nodded and the doctor continued to smile paternally. He motioned for Reid's arm, "Could you put that up on the table."

Reid tentatively rested his right arm on the tabletop and curiously watched the doctor.

The older man put on a pair of gloves and started to gently wrap the gauze around Reid's bruised and raw wrist. "I'll give you some more of this. I want you to keep your wrist wrapped up for a few days. It'll help keep it clean and stop it from scarring much more." He turned to look at me, "Someone will need to change it for him every day."

I nodded.

Next, the doctor walked Reid through the discharge papers and then explained how to care for his casted arm and ribs. He briefly mentioned the nutrition guide the nurse had spoken about. He had the written instructions just in case we forgot something, and handed them to me, along with the extra gauze and ace bandages for Reid's ribs. Last came the prescription pain medicine that we would get filled on the way back to the hotel.

"You got all that?" The doctor asked me as a nurse with a wheelchair came into the room.

"Yeah. Thank you for your help, doctor." I replied, shaking his hand. Gideon nodded in agreement and shook his hand as well.

The doctor smiled and turned back to Reid, pushing the table out of the younger man's way, "Okay, Spencer. Looks like your ride's here."

Reid looked at the wheelchair for a moment, then said, "Oh, I don't need that-"

"Hospital rules, Spencer. Sorry."

Reid sighed, but carefully got to his feet and moved to sit in the wheelchair.

"I got him." Morgan told the nurse before she had the chance to start pushing Reid into the hallway. I watched Morgan squeeze Reid's shoulder gently before making his way out of the room. Gideon followed, but I was held back by the doctor's hand on my arm.

At my questioning look he said, "I asked Spencer if he wanted to see a psychiatrist before he left, but he refused. In my opinion it would be in everyone's best interest if you convinced him to see one. Don't just ignore this."

"I won't. We'll take care of him. Thank you, again."

He nodded, "You're welcome."

The long road ahead of us is beginning to look unpaved and bumpy. I'm just waiting for the car to break down.

A/N: Review Please!