AN: So... an odd thing happened. I sat down to write this chapter and before I knew it, I was at like... almost 4000 words which is about double my normal chapter length. So... deciding I would rather post another chapter as opposed to having an abnormally loooong chapter, I split it up. Not to worry though, I don't plan on making you guys wait the normal amount of time for the next one, especially since it's complete. And, just for your information, there will be two more chapters. I'm rather certain of this.

Warning: A little bit shorter than the others, but as I said, the original chapter was odd in the first place and the next will be posted very soon. There is one curse word in here... um, self-beta'd. Yeah...

Okay, have fun!

Silence.

That was the first thing Dr. Spencer Reid was aware of. The world around him was so quiet he began to wonder if something had happened to his hearing. Slowly, however, be became aware of a few sounds, mostly rhythmic beeping and the low hum of rushing air. The latter sound, combined with the feeling of cool, but soothing air flooding his nostrils let him know he was in the hospital.

Unfortunately, with that last realization also came the awareness of the pain. It did not take him long to remember that he had been shot and taken to the hospital, but something seemed off. He could have sworn he had already woken up once and talked to JJ, which would have meant he was done with surgery. And yet, he was sure he was only just now waking up from surgery.

His thoughts confused him. JJ had seemed so real and yet so did the tell-tale signs of first waking up after surgery. His throat was coarse, he was still groggy from what he was sure were lasting effects of anesthesia, and he was still having oxygen fed into his body.

He began to try to move, but stopped when crippling pain shot through his stomach. He sat for a moment, eyes still closed, trying to catch his breath. He finally began to relax some, but just as he did, he felt someone enter the room. He waited for a moment, thinking it was perhaps one of his teammates, but when he heard strange clanking sounds, he slowly forced his eyes open.

His standard hospital room was dimly lit and the hallways outside of his room were rather desolate, alerting Reid to the fact that it was mostly likely really late or else really early. Slowly, his eyes wandered over to the figure standing at the foot of his bed.

Definitely the outline of a man, Reid studied him a bit further and realized, by the silhouette of a lab coat, that the man was a doctor. There was something familiar about him though…

"Dr. Reid?" the man said after noticing Reid was awake. Right away, Reid realized it was Dr. Barton.

"How are you feeling?" he asked as he came closer to Reid.

Reid opened his mouth to talk, but choked on the dryness of his throat.

"Ah, dry mouth," Dr. Barton said. "My apologies. I should have been more prepared for that," he continued light-heartedly as he grabbed a glass of water, already equipped with a straw, and held it up to Reid's mouth. "I don't usually handle the patients after surgery."

Reid slowly took a sip of the water and was thankful for the confirmation from Barton; he had recently undergone surgery. So, either that meant his talk with JJ had been a figment of his imagination or else Reid had undergone two surgeries.

"Feel better?" Barton asked.

Reid slowly nodded. "Yes," he said then cleared his throat. "Thank you."

Dr. Barton nodded and went back to the end of Reid's bed to grab his medical chart.

"My shift starts in about an hour so I was just looking at your chart and it looks like this surgery went well and they expect a full recovery," he said with a smile. " I guess you've technically already heard that after the first surgery, and I'm certain your surgeon will explain in better detail, but you're going to be just fine, Dr. Reid."

Confirmation number two: there had been two surgeries. Regardless, it was good news, of course, but there was still one thing bothering him. Reid swallowed and spoke again.

"There's a patient here," he started, then cleared his still dry throat the best he could, "another agent…"

"Agent Hotchner, I believe it was?"

"Yes," Reid replied, relieved that Dr. Barton knew who Reid was talking about without a whole lot of explanation. "How is he?"

Dr. Barton bit his lips, which made Reid slightly nervous. "I'm not exactly sure," the doctor began, "I didn't check his charts or talk to his doctor, but I did stop by early yesterday."

Reid, though curious of why Dr. Barton had stopped by Hotch's room, decided to overlook the detail.

"And?" he pressed.

"And it would appear as though, and I remind you I do not have the facts," he added, "he was stabbed several times."

The breath caught in Reid's throat. Foyet's signature was stabbing. Still, Reid was sure JJ had said Hotch had been awake and talking, but that conversation was also hazy at best.

"Whoa, Agent," Dr. Barton said quickly in response to the hastening speed of the beeps from one of Reid's monitors. "He was awake when I went by. Awake, talking… lucid, even. Better than you, I would say. Which would suggest that the stab wounds did not affect any of his major organs. And if that is the case, I would imagine Agent Hotchner will even be discharged before you."

Reid sighed, feeling both relieved and confused. Foyet had certainly demonstrated that he was capable of inflicting several non-fatal stab wounds but had only done so to himself. So, the fact that he had, most likely, done the same to Hotch would mean that Hotch was his newest obsession. And the fact that Haley and Jack were now in the protection program only supported that theory.

"You guys are pretty close, huh?" Dr. Barton asked, drawing Reid out of his thoughts.

"Yes," Reid said softly. "Like family."

"I would imagine so," the doctor said as he again came closer to Reid. "With a job like yours, I'm sure having a good relationship with the people you work with is necessary."

"It is," Reid answered without any thought. And it was true; if he couldn't trust the members of his team, he would have nothing. Likewise, if they weren't all close, so many cases would have ended tragically. Right away, Reid remembered how Hotch had figured out the clues Reid had hidden in an insult when he was kidnapped by Tobias Henkel. If Hotch hadn't truly known Reid, he would've likely died in the graveyard that night.

"Well, Agent… Doctor, whatever you prefer," Dr. Barton said with a smile, "I truly cannot thank you enough for what you did for me. Whenever I saw that man standing there with a gun, all I could think about was how Jeffery was going to grow up without both of his parents," he said quietly. "You made it possible for him to grow up with at least one of us. That means more to me than anything."

Reid, speechless by the surprise of his gratitude, just stared for a moment as he tried to gather his thoughts. Truthfully, pain was beginning to take over once again, as was fatigue.

"There's… there's no need to thank me, Dr. Barton," he said, fumbling over his words. "It's my job to save people."

Dr. Barton nodded, "That's my job too and while I'd like to think I would've done the same thing for you, I'm honestly not sure I would have."

Reid smiled. "Well, I hope you never have to find out."

Barton laughed at this. "I guess this is goodbye for now," he said, replacing Reid's chart in its holder. "You look like you could use some more sleep, anyway. I'm sure you're still feeling a bit out of it from the anesthesia and it is very early in the morning. So, rest and don't hold me to it, but I'd imagine you'll be allowed visitors tomorrow. Your teammates are all eager to see you."

Reid smiled in return and relaxed against his pillows, feeling more and more groggy by the second. "Thank you," he said quietly.

"No, thank you," Barton replied before giving a small wave as he left the room.

As thoughts of Barton, his son, Hotch and Foyet raced through his head, all trying desperately to keep him awake, the exhaustion Reid was feeling had a greater effect. Slowly, he felt his eyelids get too heavy to hold open and his aching body sink further into the sheets. And before he realized it, he was out.

EN: OKay, that's it for now. As I said, expect the next one soon (I will say though, reviews will make it come out very fast. I know, it's a shameful statement, but it's also the truth.) Regardless, however, I'll probably post the next one tomorrow or something. But please keep in mind, this chapter and the next one were originally meant to be one. They split nicely logically, but I write my chapters to have the same overall tone and so this chapter and the next will have the same tone. Hopefully that doesn't throw anyone out... Okay! Review if you can, if not, thanks for reading and please come back for the rest!