Plutobaby494: Ok, kinda sad that I only got one review but I can live with it! Thanks to tearbos! You rock like there's no tomorrow. Here is the next chapter for you!

Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds or its characters! I just borrow and torture them relentlessly! I'll give them back after I finish!

ON WITH THE FICCIE

Chapter 2

Gideon followed Aaron into the briefing room where the rest of the team sat. Morgan was lounging in his black swivel chair staring impassively around the room. JJ had taken her normal stance at the head of the table, near the screen and was fiddling with the pile of manila folders she had in her hands. Emily and Garcia were in their own chairs, chatting quietly. Reid had his arms folded, staring out the windows but not looking like he was seeing anything. He looked lost in this own little world.

He looked over at the man who he considered his son and watched as he drew back into himself. He nervously drummed his fingers against his own arm, looking like he would bolt if anyone made any sudden movements. He forced himself to look away when JJ stood and became the center of attention.

JJ cleared her throat and than looked towards the large screen, pressing a button on the remote. Everyone watched as three pictures came up.

The first was a young man in his early twenties with dark brown hair. His eyes were dark green and were looking back at them, glazed over in death. His chest was blood-spattered from where blood had dripped from the slash wound across his neck.

The second was a woman, roughly about the same age, killed and posed in the exact same position as the first man. Her fiery red hair was matted with brain matter and her eyes were chocolate brown.

And the last picture was another man, identical as the first two. He had beach blonde hair and light blue eyes. Emily couldn't help but notice his striking features. Even in death he looked a mix between a runway model and Greek God.

JJ paused for a brief second to gather her thoughts then pointed to them, each in turn.

"Samantha Rawlings, age 21. She was found in her backyard. Her brother found her fallen over her flower garden," She continued moving to the next photo of the woman.

"Jonathan Rut, age 23. He was found in his dad's mechanic Workshop. His father found him lying on the car lift after lunch," She said, pointing to the first man.

"Kevin Walker, age 22. Was found in the back alley of the restaurant he worked at. He had only been dead for a half an hour before his boss came looking for him," she finished, looking away from the last photo.

"These three people were killed in Junction Utah, each a day apart. The last, Kevin Walker, occurred late yesterday. The coroner puts his time of death between eight and eleven o'clock," JJ said, pointing to each of them in turn.

She handed everyone a case file and than watched as they opened them and started reading. Gideon noticed that Reid flinched every few seconds and held a clenched fist in his lap, trying to hide it.

He glanced at Hotch, who was trying his best to stay on the case but couldn't help looking at Reid and noticed the same things as him.

"So cause of death was…," Morgan trailed off looking back up to JJ.

"The autopsy done on them shows that the gunshot to the head was actually done post mortem and the official cause was the throat being slit," JJ said biting her lip.

Reid clenched his fist harder as an uncomfortable flash back of Tobias pointing his pistol at his forehead came back to him. Tobias pulled the trigger and stood watching as the gun clicked not having any ammo in the particular shot.

"Choose," his voice rung in his ears, over and over again.

Reid winced and couldn't help the small gasp as he felt the inside of his hand sting in pain. He looked down to the burning palm and saw four small wounds that were bleeding from his fingernails that had broken his skin. He felt nauseas as his stomach rolled, but knew nothing could come up seeing as he hadn't eaten for a few days.

The pull of the drugs called to him and he didn't notice as his eyes glanced out the window where he left his messenger bag sitting at his desk.

He jumped as a loud voice calling to him broke his thoughts and he swung his gaze around to meet the rest of his team.

He looked up to see everyone silently watching him, worry in their eyes. Reid unclenched his fist slowly but kept it closed so no one would see it was bleeding.

"What?" he asked looking at Morgan, who had his arm outstretched towards him.

"Are you ok, man?" he asked his hand up as if he was going to rest in on Reid's shoulder, but stopped midair.

"Yea, I'm fine" he answered curtly. No one moved as Reid shifted uncomfortably under everyone's concerned eyes.

He looked them all in the eye, hoping his voice sounded more confident then he felt.

"Really, guys I'm fine," he said pushed forcing his shoulders to stop trembling.

With a doubtful look, Hotch nodded to JJ to continue the briefing and everyone reluctantly looked back up to her.

Reid took a relieved breath and sank back further in his chair, wishing he had the power to become invisible. He felt a set of eyes look at him silently and didn't have to turn know that Gideon was watching him. He straightened up and put both of his hands on the table palms down, and tried to concentrate on the briefing. He would only attract more attention if he was found spacing out again.

"Okay everyone, wheel's up in half an hour," Hotch said standing as JJ finished. Reid blinked and groaned internally knowing that he missed most of the briefing. He would have to try and catch information inconspicuously.

He watched as Morgan, Emily, Hotch, and Garcia slowly get out of their seats and headed for the door. He didn't notice Gideon's stare until he spoke.

"If you need more time off…," he said softly, leaving the rest of his sentence off, knowing the genius got what he meant. He didn't want Reid to push himself unless he was ready.

"No" Reid cried, startling the older profiler.

"I mean… I'm going crazy just staying at my house. I am ready," Reid amended, seeing his mentor's guarded gaze. He couldn't go back home where the temptation to use the drugs would be too powerful.

Gideon stared at him a long moment, letting his wary eyes gauge if Reid was telling him the truth. He finally nodded and stood, leaving Reid alone in the briefing room.

Reid knew that it wasn't over. Gideon was going to watch him like a hawk, so he really needed to be careful.

He looked at his injured palms one more time, before jumping up and following his team members out the door. He grabbed his messenger pack from his desk and walked towards the elevator, ready to prove that he could do this.

&

Hotch watched as Reid took the elevator and turned back to Gideon, who had stopped in his office before leaving.

"Do you know what that was about?" he asked, turning to the older man.

Gideon shook his head sadly. He had no idea what was going on in Reid's head lately. He had thought that it was just the prospect of getting back to work that was bothering the young man. He knew that that was part of it, but something else was hanging over Reid's head. And it frustrated him that he couldn't figure it out. He didn't know how to help. If only Reid would talk to them.

"We'll keep a close eye on him, Jason," Hotch assured the senior man. He knew how close Gideon held Reid, and how loved he was by all the members of the BAU. They couldn't lose him just after they got him back.

Gideon nodded and walked towards the elevator, grabbing his coat on the way. Hotch sighed, grabbing his own blazer before following him, knowing that this was going to be a long and difficult case.

TO BE CONTINEUD

Plutobaby494: Alright, I did change this one up more then the first so I hope you like it! It was mostly the case that was bothering me! I went into this not really caring about it but found out that it was a bigger part to my story then I had planned. So I gave you details that didn't make sense and changed aspects about he case halfway through the story! But I have a plan now so it will be better!

Thanks to my one reviewer! Unfortunately I am leaving the country for two weeks and won't be able to update! But I will be taking a notebook with me and I plan on working on it! So heads up for that!

PLEASE R&R