A/N: I'm so glad that this story is hitting the spot with so many people! I do hope this chapter will make you just as happy as the previous three.. :) Have fun now, you crazy kids! Beta read by the wonderful LT!
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"Genius is one per cent inspiration, ninety-nine per cent perspiration."
-- Thomas A. Edison (1847 - 1931), Harper's Monthly, 1932
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Five hours earlier.
Reid slowly opened his eyes. The bright light made him wince and turn his head to the side to get away. The pounding and spinning in his head was only outweighed by the nausea sweeping through his body. Focusing his eyes on anything was a task close to impossible, but somehow he managed to make his gaze fall where he wanted it to. What he saw, however, was not something he wanted to see.
Sand.
Sand and rubble.
Shaking his head, he tried to clear his mind. Where in the world was he? The young man pulled himself up onto his hands and knees, fighting the nausea. He finally gave up and sat down, rubbing his eyes. When his sight was eventually clear enough, he looked around.
As far as the eye could see, there was nothing but sand and rocks. And a burning hot sun shining above him in a clear blue sky. Reid glanced around, completely confused.
How did I get here?
Sweat dripped off his forehead and down his temples. The heat was merciless, radiating from above as well as from below. He was sitting in a light shadow cast by a medium size rock, but Reid could feel how hot the sand was, even as it was shaded. He dreaded having to walk on the scorching sand, especially as he just noticed that he wasn't wearing shoes or socks.
A quick once over told Reid that he was much less dressed than he'd like to be. The lack of trousers, shoes and socks was bothering him. He was thankfully enough wearing a t-shirt. A t-shirt that didn't belong to him, though.
Once his legs felt secure enough to use, he decided to try standing up. Every move was excruciating. Almost every inch of his uncovered fair skin was no longer fair, but a bright red and the young man more resembled a boiled lobster than a federal agent. The sun had not been good to him.
How long have I been out here?
Staggering, Reid rose to his feet. His skin felt like it was two sizes too small for his lanky frame, and he winced in pain. He once again looked around to try to get some sense of direction, but there were no landmarks in sight. Only gravel, sand and rocks. And the sand was burning hot.
What happened? Why am I out here?
"Hello?!" he called out into nothing, not really expecting an answer, but still hoping for one. Of course, there was no answer. "Anyone?!" Not even an echo.
Shading his eyes with his palm, he tried to calculate what time it was and which direction was which.
The sun isn't too high. Must be afternoon. And it's going down over there. So that's west. That doesn't help me much... But… There aren't too many deserts near Quantico. Then where the hell am I?
He knew he had to move. But to where? The only thing affecting his choice was the fact that he didn't want to walk with the sun in his eyes. The sand under his feet burned like fire as he began his trek – due north – into absolutely nothing.
It took him only a few moments to realize that there was no way he could walk barefoot for a long period of time in a desert full of sand hotter than the fiery pits of hell. Hurrying into a bit of shade from a big rock, he made a hard decision. It was either stay there and die from dehydration and heat stroke, or do his best to escape – whatever the price may be.
Pulling off the t-shirt, he used what little strength he had left in his arms to rip the garment into two pieces, binding them around his feet as makeshift shoes. Hopefully, it would help him get through the desert better. But in doing so, he left his upper body completely unshielded from the merciless sun. It was a risk he would have to take.
Reid tried his new 'shoes' on the scorching sand and found that they were actually working rather satisfactory. He continued his walk through the sizzling landscape in nothing but boxers and his makeshift shoes, sweat running down his face and the sun searing his skin.
All the while, his brain worked overtime trying to figure out where he could possibly be and how in the world he had gotten here. The last thing he could clearly remember was being ambushed in his apartment. After that, everything was a complete blur.
Someone took me from my apartment and dropped me off in the middle of the desert; a desert somewhere not even close to Quantico? That doesn't even make sense! God, it's warm here… I need water…
Reid's head began aching terribly after a while. He didn't know when the last time he drank water was, but as he licked his lips he noticed saliva was still being produced in his mouth. So far, he was not in any immediate danger of becoming dehydrated.
I'm still sweating normally and producing saliva. That means I have most likely have a two to seven percent fluid loss. Not fatal. But I have to find good shelter and water soon, or… At 15 percent there is the chance of muscle spasms, seizures, heart failure and…death. I have to find shelter.
He padded along aimlessly over the sand, hoping desperately to find someplace to shelter himself from the heat.
Hours went by. At least it felt that way to the young agent. He felt himself grow weaker and weaker every step he took over the burning land. Reid hung his head in fatigue, looking up only when he made sure he was heading towards the landmark he'd decided upon following. It was usually a specific rock or hill and once he'd reach it, he'd set up a new one. His mind was still clear enough, but he had a feeling it wouldn't last much longer.
Reid's mouth was growing dryer and dryer and there was hardly any sweat running down his face anymore. His shoulders were burning with pain as they turned redder and redder from the sun, and he felt himself becoming dizzy.
Ten percent… Maybe 12… Oh God…
As he raised his head to choose a new land mark, he saw it, just on the horizon. A house.
Reid's entire body jumped with new energy.
A house! People! Yes!
He hurried his steps as much as he could without stumbling over his own tired feet. All he could think was that he was finally saved. Someone would help him now; someone would give him water and help him get home.
Just as he reached the house, he tripped and fell into the sand face first. The heat was unbelievable and he jerked up with a yelp, staggering back up onto his feet and into the shadow of the house. Panting, he paused momentarily before wobbling on along the house wall, holding on to it with one hand for balance. His head was giving in.
The front door was only a few steps away. Reid took hold of the railing, dragging his legs up the short stairs and onto the porch. With his final strength, he hurled himself against the door, banging it with all his might.
To his despair, there was no answer.
No… No, please… You have to be home… You… Have to…
The young agent slipped down onto the wooden floor, leaning against the door. His breath grew weaker and he finally collapsed, dangerously dehydrated.
--
"Hey, kid."
The voice wasn't familiar to Reid at all. His mind was muddled and his body ached terribly. His eyes refused to focus as he turned his head to the side towards the voice.
"Hey. Good morning. How're you feeling?"
The voice was gentle, yet rugged, but didn't ring a bell with the young agent at all. He tried to talk. "Mmmhuum…"
"Easy, kid. You're in pretty bad shape. Here."
Something cold dripped onto Reid's lips, and he instinctively opened his mouth. Divine liquid drizzled onto his dry tongue and he swallowed greedily, as good as he could. His mouth felt like sand paper.
"Slowly", the voice said. "Gotta take it slowly."
Reid cleared his throat. Finally, there was some moist on his lips and he felt his sight return. Once his eyes had cleared up, he could make out the image of a man in his 40's sitting by his side. He blinked. "Where am I?" he wheezed.
The man smiled. "You're at my house. Found you on my porch about half an hour ago. You look like a boiled lobster, how long have you been out there?"
The young man frowned and closed his eyes. "I don't…know…"
"Hey, it's okay. Your brain fries pretty easily when you're walking the plains in your underwear. You really don't look too good. What's your name? You remember that?"
Reid dry coughed. "Reid… Spencer Reid."
"Well, Spencer Reid, my name is Jacob Hall. I'm gonna get you some more water and then we'll get you to the hospital. I have my car outside." The man got up and disappeared for a moment before returning. "Here you go. Take a few sips."
Placing his hand behind Reid's head, he lifted it slightly, allowing the young man to drink the water more easily.
Reid sucked in the water like there was no tomorrow. Gulp after gulp went down his dry throat and it felt like liquid ambrosia. It took only a few moments once the water had hit his system for his head to clear up a bit further. "Where are we?" he asked in a weak voice.
Jacob gave him a kind smile. "We're at my house, I told you so just a second ago."
"No, I mean…" Reid cleared his throat. "Where is it?"
"You mean what town are we in? We're about 60 miles outside Nashville. Not many people come by here."
"Nashville?!" Reid's head jerked up and he was instantly punished by a lightning bold of white pain flashing through his forehead, and he moaned.
Jacob reached for the bucket beside the bed and took the towel he'd hung over the rim. He drenched it in the water and wrung it out before placing it across Reid's forehead. "Easy."
"Nashville…" Reid mumbled, rather disoriented. "How…?"
"That was gonna be my next question", Jacob asked, a small smile on his lips. "How'd you end up all the way out here – and in your underwear?"
"If I knew, I'd tell you…" Reid coughed and made a move to sit up. His skin burned with every move. "Oh, God…"
"You good? I can carry you to the car." Jacob reached out to support the younger man.
"No, I can… I can…" But he couldn't. Whatever little strength he had gathered ran out as he slumped back onto the bed.
Jacob took his hand. "Drink some more water and we'll get going." He lifted Reid's head once more to give him water, and the young man drank greedily from the glass.
"Do you have a phone?" Reid asked in a raspy voice once he noticed the feeling coming back into his hands and fingers.
"Not a landline, but a cell." Jacob pulled up a phone from his pocket. "Who do you need to call?"
"My boss."
Jacob looked at him quizzically. "I don't think your work is more important than surviving a stroll through the desert."
"No, it's…" Reid cleared his throat. "I work…for the FBI."
With a jerk, Jacob frowned. "FBI? What are you doing out here in the middle of nowhere?" Before Reid could answer, the older man raised his hands. "Never mind, I have a feeling I don't want to know. You want me to dial?"
Reid nodded, and gave Jacob the number. The older man dialed and held the phone next to Reid's ear. Once the young agent heard the voice of his superior, he felt an enormous amount of relief.
"Hotch", he rasped. "It's Reid." He could hear Hotch call Morgan on the other end of the line, and he knew his entire team was right there. It made him feel even more secure.
"Are you okay? Where are you?"
"I'm…okay. I'm in Nashville, I…have no idea…what happened… We're going to the hospital now..." He felt his voice beginning to give in, and Hotch definitely could hear that he was slipping away again.
"Alright, stay there. We'll be there soon. I'll send someone for you. Stay there!"
"Okay…" Reid answered somewhat dizzily and heard a quick click at the other end of the line. He looked up at Jacob. "Thank you. They're coming."
"That's good. Now, let's get you to the hospital." Slipping his arms under the sheet, Jacob lifted the young agent clean off the mattress without any greater effort and began carrying him through the house.
Something came to Reid as he was lugged out the door towards the car. "Jacob?"
"Yeah?"
"What day is it?"
"It's Wednesday. How long have you been out here?"
Reid didn't answer. He just stared out into nothing, mouth slightly open and eyes wide with confusion before slipping back to exhausted unconsciousness.
Wednesday? But that means… Four days… I don't remember the last four days. What happened?
