AN: Thanks to Rayne McKenna for yet another prompt for this chapter. Sorry about the long wait for an update!

Prompt: Edgar Allan Poe - I had a lot of fun with this prompt as you will see.

Coming out of the obliviousness of sleep, Morgan opened his eyes and looked around. His surroundings were not the familiar ones that he normally woke up to but were familiar. Opening his eyes further, and shaking off sleep, Morgan sat up. It wasn't long before he realized where he was and why he was here.

Swinging his legs over the side of the bed, Morgan headed toward the bedroom door, his sock-covered feet making no sound on the hardwood floor. Reaching the doorway, he paused his gaze falling on the lone figure sitting on the couch. He let out the breath he hadn't realized he had been holding. He'd had a hard time falling asleep a few hours ago, worried that as soon as he fell asleep Reid, though finally past the withdrawal process after six days, would leave. As Eric had warned him many times, getting Reid off the drugs was only the tip of the iceberg. Keeping him from going back to them was going to be the longtime battle. Still, keeping an eye on him twenty-four hours a day was impossible and when he had started dozing off while he and Reid had watched TV, his friend had suggested he get some sleep. Morgan hadn't been able to logically argue with that suggestion and had headed for the bedroom.

As tired as he was though, having been up most of the night with Reid as the nightmares had made sleep almost impossible for his friend, the need for sleep had finally won out. Still, seeing Reid on the couch where he had left him was a relief.

"Yes, I'm still here," Reid said, without looking back at Morgan. "I didn't go anywhere. You're welcome to look for fresh track marks if you want."

~Don't let him get to you, ~ Morgan told himself. ~He may be past withdrawal but he's still not himself. He's still overtired and that's bound to make him cranky. The nightmares have only gotten worse and he still needs to heal emotionally from what was done to him.~

Eric had warned him that the nightmares and insomnia probably wouldn't go away for a while as they were rooted in the emotional trauma Reid had suffered in Georgia. He had speculated that if not the cause of the drug addiction that they had definitely fueled it.

"Give it a couple of days, and let's see how he does. If getting sleep is still an issue at that point, I'll give him something to help him sleep," Eric had told him the day before as he had gathered his stuff to go home. "I'll stop by daily for the next week or so to check on him, longer if necessary. The best thing you and your friends can do for him right now is just be supportive. Even if he doesn't want someone around, he shouldn't be alone for a while, as that's only going to make the desire to go back to the drugs that easier to resist. His appetite probably won't be there for a few days, so coaxing him to eat is going to be necessary. His body has been through hell the past six days and it needs proper nutrition and rest to recover."

"What about him going back to work?"

"Not for a few days yet. He needs to regain his physical strength first. Like I told him, I'll let you know when I think he's physically ready to go back but only he can decide when he's mentally and emotionally ready."

"I don't think that is necessary," Morgan replied casually, walking slowly into the living room and around the couch.

Morgan noted that Reid had a book open in his lap, his feet propped up on the coffee table. He had on one black sock and one tan argyle sock with a black and grey diamond pattern. A bottle of water, about a quarter of the way empty, was sitting nearby.

"What are you reading?" Morgan asked, as he sat down on the couch next to Reid.

Reid flipped the cover over so that Morgan could read the title - The Collected Works of Edgar Allan Poe.

"Shouldn't you be reading something more, I don't know, upbeat?" Morgan asked.

Reid shrugged. "It was what I was in the mood to read. Besides, I think that the poem "The Raven" contains a very good motto for an addict to live by."

"Oh?"

"Quoth the Raven, 'Nevermore'," Reid said lightly.

Morgan smiled. "Yeah. I can see your point there," he replied. "Did you eat anything while I caught up on my beauty sleep?" he asked, as the only thing he had seen the younger man eat all morning was the two slices of toast that morning.

"Have you ever read 'The Raven'?" Reid asked, instead of answering Morgan's question.

Reid's avoidance of the question told Morgan what he needed to know. He hadn't eaten anything. "No, I haven't," Morgan replied, answering the question posed to him. "Why don't I go make us something to eat?"

"I'm not hungry."

"You need to eat something."

At the words, Reid suddenly closed the book and threw it in the direction of the wall. The book didn't reach the wall, falling to the ground, its pages falling open to a random page. Reid took his feet from the coffee table, and sitting up, leaned forward. He rested his elbows on his legs and hid his face in his hands, blocking his face from Morgan's view.

The action took Morgan by surprise. He wasn't sure what he should do. Giving Reid the support he needed without smothering him or making him resentful was going to be a fine line to walk. Morgan felt as though he was balancing on that line right now. Getting to his feet, Morgan walked over to the book.

"I'm sorry," Reid said, as Morgan bent down to pick up the book. "I know you're trying to help but as much I want your help, I also feel ashamed at needing it. At showing weakness just like when I turned to the drugs. I feel like there is a war raging on inside of me that I don't understand."

Morgan straightened up from retrieving the book and looked in Reid's direction. Reid was looking up at him now, his face a mixture of fear, confusion and shame. ~Patience, ~ Morgan reminded himself, as he tried to figure out what he should do. ~There are going to be times I need to push and do what I know needs to be done for his physical well-being and times that I'm going to have to let that go for the sake of his emotional well-being. Which time is it? ~

As he contemplated the thought, he looked down at the book he now held. He glanced down at the page that it had opened to when it fell. The title of the poem was at the top of the left page - "The Raven."

~What are the chances?~ Morgan asked silently, taking it as a clue as to how he should handle the current situation. "So, seeing as I haven't ever read this poem you're quoting from, would you mind reading it to me?" he asked, as he walked back to the couch, choosing to let the subject of food go for now.

Morgan sat back down next to Reid, and handed the book to him. He thought at first the younger man would refuse as he looked down in surprise at the page that was opened. Instead though, Reid settled back against the couch and started reading.

"Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,

Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,

While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,

As of someone gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door."*

As Reid finished reading the last line, there was a knock at the door, causing him to jump slightly.

"Well, whoever it has good timing," Morgan quipped, getting to his feet.

Morgan crossed over to the door, glancing out the peep hole as he reached for the doorknob. Seeing Prentiss standing in the hallway, he opened the door far enough for him to be able to stand in the gap. Garcia had been back to visit a few times, but Reid hadn't said anything about being ready to face the rest of the team.

"Hi, Prentiss. The case is over then I take it?" Morgan asked. He had kept in contact with the members of his team and tried to keep tabs on the case as much as possible.

Emily nodded. "We got back this morning."

"You can invite her in," Reid said, form his spot on the couch. Morgan could hear the hesitancy in the words but was relieved that the younger man was ready to stop keeping the rest of the team at arms length.

"Come in," Morgan said, stepping aside and opening the door the rest of the way.

Feeling a bit uneasy, Emily stepped into the apartment. She kept hearing the shouts she had heard the last time she was in this apartment. Her eyes fell on Reid, still sitting on the couch. Emily already felt the young genius was too skinny, and that was before he had lost more weight since she had seen him last. His face was pale, except for the dark shadows under his eyes.

"I made some lasagna," the dark-haired profiler said, holding up the Pyrex dish she was carrying. She felt like the words were stupid even as they came out of her mouth but she was sure what else to say, and as nervous as she was, she had to say something.

"Great," Morgan said, reaching out to take the dish from Prentiss.

Emily gave it up reluctantly. Now that her hands were empty, she wasn't sure what to do with them. Though her mother would scold her for unlady like behavior, she finally stuffed her hands into the pockets of her slacks.

"I'm starving. I'll just take this into the kitchen and warm it up some, and then the three of us can sit down and eat together," Morgan said, even as he headed for the kitchen. He was hoping that the presence of Emily would put an end to Reid's protests of not being hungry.

As Morgan left the room, Emily took a few tentative steps toward the couch. Not moving to get up, Reid closed the book and placed it on the counter. Not looking in her direction, he started speaking.

"Look, Emily, I know I haven't been exactly nice to you lately. I've lost track of the number of times I've snapped at you for no reason. I knew you were only trying to help, but at the time I didn't want that help, and it made me felt weak that you all thought I needed it, even though I did. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm sorry and I completely understand if you can't forgive me."

The words broke through Emily's hesitancy. She quickly closed the distance between her and the couch and sat down next to him.

"Oh Spencer, forgiving you is not a problem. Yes, those words you threw at me hurt but that's all they were words. I could see you were hurting but I had absolutely no idea how to help you. I still don't know how to help you," shed admitted.

"Just tell me you'll be here for me through all this. I know it isn't over and I don't want to do this alone. I can't do this alone."

Emily reached out and put her arm across Reid's shoulders, pulling him close to her.

"Anything you need, that it is in my power to do, I will do," she told him sincerely.

Reid shook his head slowly. "I just don't get you guys. I treat you all terribly, and you should all be furious with me, and instead . . ." Reid paused, swallowing hard to fight back the emotions that were raging inside of him. "Instead, everyone is just showing sympathy for me. Is willing to let my behavior slide. I don't get it. If I were you all, I'd hate me. Hell, I hate myself as it is."

Prentiss gave Reid a slight squeeze. "None of us hate you."

"I'm sure JJ does."

"Then you'd be wrong. We may hate the choices you've made and hate some of the things you've done but we don't hate you and we want to help you through this. The fact that we haven't really been able to do much this past week has been driving us crazy. I'm glad you're finally letting people help."

Reid was shaking his head, causing Prentiss to wonder what he was disagreeing with.

"None of you needed to see what I went through the past few days. I hated that I had to put Morgan through that, but I needed someone's help."

"I'm just glad you finally asked for help. I may only have known you for a few months, but the guy I got to know before Georgia was a pretty great guy, and I'm looking forward to getting him back," Prentiss told him lightly, making reference to the words he had thrown at her during a case in Texas.

"I want that person back too. I feel like I don't know myself any more."

"Give it time. We'll get you through this," Prentiss told him. "You know, JJ is really worried about you. Can I tell her its okay to come see you?"

The scene in the hotel lobby, when he had made her cry came to mind. Reid groaned and hid his face in his hands.

"I can't believe I hurt her like that. Are you sure she wants to see me?"

"I'm positive," Prentiss told him, her hand now resting lightly on his back. "I'm supposed to call her and let her know how you're doing as soon as I leave here."

"I can't deal with another apology tonight. I just can't do it," Reid said softly.

"I'll tell her to wait until tomorrow," Prentiss suggested.

Reid nodded, and sitting up turned to face Prentiss. She could see unshed tears sparkling in her eyes. "Tell her I'll understand if she doesn't want to come."

"Oh, she'll want to come," Emily told him, reaching out to hug him.

Prentiss wrapped her arms tightly around him and held him close. It wasn't long before she felt Reid returning the hug and a slight shake of his body as the tears finally started to fall.

"Shh . . . it's going to be okay," Prentiss said softly. She glanced up to see Morgan standing in the doorway of the kitchen, a look of concern and relief on his face.

* "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe