Chapter 7

Author's note: Ok, So first, in my last author's note I tried to say Webmd can only tell you so much…note sure why fanfic .net removed it, but whatever.

Second, someone suggested having the parts of the story that take place in the past to be in italics, so from this point on those parts will be in italics so there is no confusion.

Third, sorry this is a short chapter. Very, very sad. A lady I got to church with had her 5 day old baby pass away. Without going into a lot of detail she was very sick and she wasn't expected to live more than a few hours. So, while they were able to spend 5 days (including Mother's Day) with her she died yesterday morning. While I know she is being taken care of and that her family will be able to see her again after this life, it has not put me in a very good writing mood. Please bear with me a few days until I get that fire back and I hope there aren't too many mistakes in the writing for this chapter.

"You don't mean that." Morgan leaned forward in his chair. Reid remained silent. "Reid, you don't mean that."

"Yes I do." He answered back. "I don't think I can do this anymore."

"Look man, you aren't thinking straight right now." Morgan tried to reason with him.

"I can think just fine on narcotics, I've done it before remember," He bit back.

Morgan sighed, "That's not what I meant and you know it. You have just been through something terrible. Don't let your emotions make that decision for you."

"Why shouldn't I? I have been thinking in statistics for my entire life," Reid explained. "Look where it has gotten me. I can remember every horrible, nasty detail of every case we have ever been on with
crystal clear clarity like it happened yesterday. Not only that, but look what it has done to the people on this team." He licked his lips, "I've been kidnapped, shot, poisoned, and beaten up. I've killed people; I've been in situations where realistically I shouldn't have survived. And after all of that I come back to this job, time after time." Reid swallowed. "Maybe I should let my emotions lead the way for a while."

"Reid, I know what this job does. It's me man, I know." Morgan leaned on the side of the bed. "You are an astounding person, who could do anything you wanted. You chose to do this; you make a huge difference in the lives of the people we come in contact with. It takes a special breed of person to do this job. Maybe we can't have the life that other's have, but isn't that what being a part of what changes the word is about? Being willing to sacrifice what you have so that others might live?"

Reid stared at the ceiling, breathing slowly. "Why does this job have to take everything from us?"

"Reid," Morgan began, but Reid grunted as he rolled himself over.

"I'm tired." He said quietly.

"Ok," Morgan leaned back in the chair not pushing the subject farther. "Get some sleep. I'll be here if you need anything."

Prentiss slowly surfaced out of that stage between being asleep and awake. The night had been long and her lower back was feeling the strain of staying in one position too long. She uncurled herself from the chair, and stretched her legs. Seaver was leaning against the opposite wall with her legs stretched out over three chairs, she appeared to be asleep.

Hotch was sitting upright in a chair near her, his suit jacket thrown across the back of the chair adjacent to him. She didn't see Rossi.

"Has there been any word?" She asked quietly.

"Nothing yet," Hotch shifted in his seat. "I think one of us should give Morgan some time to rest."

"If he lets us," Prentiss pointed out.

"I may make it an order," Hotch smiled slightly.

"In that case, I'll sit with him." She offered.

"You sure?" Prentiss nodded. "As soon as we get an update, we will go back to the hotel and get a few hours of sleep. I'll have Seaver pack up your things and once we get back we'll find a hotel here and you can get some sleep. I imagine they will want to keep him for a few days."

Rossi appeared carrying 4 coffees and handed them out, receiving a thank you each time. He gently shook Seaver's shoulder to wake her.

"Thanks," She took the cup and rearranged herself as Rossi took a seat next to Hotch.

"Still nothing?" Rossi asked, sipping the steam liquid, Hotch shook his head.

"Well," Rossi settled back in his chair, "which one of us will take the first shift?'

"Prentiss has already offered," Hotch replied. "You know Reid, he will want to brush off any concern we show for him. It embarrasses him and he will be very self-conscious of the fact that he is taking a narcotic. We all need to not push him into talking. Let him be the one to initiate the conversation. If he doesn't while we are here, I will take care of it when we get back to DC." They all nodded in agreement. He stood as he saw Dr Hiers enter the waiting room.

"Agent Hotchner," He approached the team.

"How is he?"

"Well, he is doing better," they all sighed. "He has just a low grade fever and his blood pressure is dropping steadily. He is weak but that is to be expected and he is still experiencing severe muscle pain. I am going to keep him on the ACE inhibitors, which he can't mix with his Migraine medicine. We are still managing the pain with morphine, but after a few more days he should be fine without it. We are moving him to a room upstairs and we are keeping him for a few more nights."

"May we see him?" Hotch was already pulling on his coat jacket.

"Once he is settled upstairs I'll have a nurse show you to his room."

"Thank you," Hotch shook his hand.

Reid was sitting up and sipping a small cup of water when they all entered the room.

"Hi guys," he mumbled as they surrounded his bed.

"How are you feeling?" Emily patted his leg.

"I'm fine." He smiled weakly, "When are you headed back to the hotel?" He wanted to change the subject quickly.

"We're going to go in a bit; we wanted to check on you first." Rossi replied.

"Well, I'm fine. No need to worry." He looked down and played with the edge of the blanket.

Morgan and Hotch exchanged a glance. They all talked a few more minutes; then the loud growl of Seaver's stomach was Hotch's queue to head out.

"Well," Hotch began, "We will grab your things from the hotel. Call us if there is anything you would like us to pick up for you. Emily will be staying with you. Morgan, you're going to come back with us to the hotel."

"Ah, Hotch," Morgan stood, "I would rather stay here with Reid.

"I really feel like you need a break."

"It's ok Morgan," Reid said before Morgan could speak again. He would rather not discuss the conversation they had the night before any further, which he knew Morgan would want to do if he stayed. Emily would be less pressing. "You could use a shower," he added with a small smile.

"Ha ha, funny," Morgan mocked. "You just better hope that the nurse giving you a sponge bath is gentle."