Morgan POV:
Reid's head is down, his leg bouncing crazily, his long pianist fingers rubbing circles against his forehead. There's a gigantic cup of coffee sitting next to the file he's working on; it must be at least his third cup of the day, and it's only 10:30. I want to go over and ask him how he's doing, but I know that would only end in disaster. I'm about to turn back to the consult lying open in front of me, when his face screws up in pain. My brow scrunches in concern as I push my chair back and cross to his desk. Reid's my best friend and like a brother to me, and I'll be damned if he's gonna be in pain on my watch.
Reid POV:
The pressure in my skull is almost enough to make me consider asking Hotch for a sick day, but I have never in my life taken a day off because of health issues, and I don't intend to start now. My fingers gently massage my temple, alleviating the pain to some extent. Reaching out, I grab the mug off my desk and take a huge swallow of my doctored coffee that everyone calls my 'syrup'. I think it's my third cup of the day, but quite honestly I've completely lost count. One of the side-effects of these headaches is fatigue, and the only thing between me and unconsciousness is the caffeinated beverage. I put the mug down and am about to start working again, when I see somebody approaching my desk. 'Okay Spencer, act normal and remember to smile.'
Morgan POV:
As I reach his desk, he glances up and plasters on a fake grin, quickly stilling his leg in an attempt to appear calm. "Hey Reid, are you feeling okay?" His smile falters, and I see a flash of pain in his eyes before he quickly recovers.
"What do you mean? Honestly Morgan, of course I'm fine! Why wouldn't I be?" Reid swallows thickly, and averts his eyes as he rushes to convince me.
My eyes narrow and I feel myself frown. "Well, for starters you haven't stopped moving since you got here at 8:00, you're on your third cup of coffee already which is rare even for you, and you keep rubbing your forehead! You tell me?" He has the decency to look slightly embarrassed for telling such a blatant lie, but he doesn't say anything which concerns me even more. I soften my tone and try again, "Look Pretty Boy, I'm just concer. . ." My statement is cut off as a petit blonde woman walks out on the upper level.
"Sorry guys, but we've got a case. Meeting room in 5." JJ hurries off to Hotch's office and I see Reid let out a relieved sigh as he pushes past me.
Reid POV:
JJ announces a case, and I heave a sigh of relief as I quickly make my way past Morgan before he can continue the conversation. 'More like an interrogation!" I think as I settle myself in one of the chairs at the round table. In the stress of the situation, my headache had been momentarily forgotten, but now it rushes back with a new passion.
No one's POV:
Prentiss meanders into the meeting room and takes a seat across from Reid. She watches him for a few seconds and cocks her head, noticing that he's acting strange. 'He acts like he's been using. . .' Prentiss shakes her head, physically forcing the thought from her mind. There's no way that Reid would go back down that road. A few seconds later Morgan and Rossi enter, followed by Garcia and Hotch. They all take a seat, and wait for JJ. Reid shifts uncomfortably when he feels Morgan's gaze on him. 'Why can't he just leave me alone?!"
JJ POV:
'This's gonna be another tough one. . .' The thought sits heavily on my mind as I gather the files and head towards the meeting room. I breeze my way into the room and circle the table, distributing files as I begin the briefing. "Four women in Indiana, ages 23, 25, and 29, have disappeared over the last two months." I pause and pull up photos of two girls. "Amy Brandwell, age 23, and Martha Quis, age 29, were the first girls taken. Yesterday afternoon they were both found in a dumpster behind the Lucas Oil Stadium. They had been sexually assaulted and their throats were slashed." I sigh and bring up pictures of the girls corpses.
Morgan POV:
I'm listening to what JJ's saying, but I can't drag my attention fully away from Reid. Throughout the entire briefing he's gotten more and more fidgety, and every now and then his eyes would squint as though he was in pain. More frustrated than ever, I make myself a promise that I'm going to get him to talk.
Reid POV:
I try to focus on what JJ's saying, but my headache is quickly growing unbearable and with the way Morgan's watching me, I can't give in even the slightest to the pain. My eyes squeeze shut as I ride out a new wave of agony. Grinding my teeth together, I somehow manage to ground myself and open my eyes again. I know it's hopeless, but I still hope that Morgan didn't notice that I was in pain. Right when I think Morgan has finally had enough and he's gonna leap across the table and shake me till I give him answers, Hotch looks up from his file and says with a sharp nod of his head, "Wheels up in 20."
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