Chapter 05

Mercy General Hospital
Manzanita Country, OR

Morgan

"Wait. We're not going after this guy?" Morgan asked. He was shocked. Spencer was held by an Unsub for weeks, one that had left seven bodies in the woods, and they weren't going to do anything?

"We don't have any evidence." Hotch replied. He looked sheepish and apologetic. "I know, I know." He stifled Morgan's protest. "Cramer will turn this around and say he was out using in the woods with some woman, was caught out by the fire, and now is trying to ruin the Sheriff to cover."

"Oh that is bullshit and you know it! Cramer can't prove that!"

"He can't, you're right. But we can't prove Reid's story. There isn't a mark on him. He doesn't bear any injuries like the previous victims."

"The kit came back positive!" That had been horrifying, ordering a rape kit on the man who was so much like his little brother. But more horrifying were the initial findings. It would be weeks before they could run DNA but it looked like multiple samples were present. The thought made Morgan's skin crawl.

Hotch just looked at him a long moment.

"Son of a bitch." Morgan muttered. Yeah, Cramer would say that. Without any evidence of force or coercion it could be argued that Spencer had volunteered...

"The only other witness has disappeared." Hotch continued. "And he was found with narcotics in his system. There isn't anything to back up his story and that last might be just enough to support Cramer's."

"You really think anyone is going to believe that Spencer Reid ditched his job to spend six weeks in drug fueled orgy in the Oregon wilderness?"

"The agent who was too young to begin with, who came in under Jason Gideon's personal request with a stack of waivers in his file? Cramer can make anyone who doesn't know him believe that." Morgan sighed. Hotch was right. "I believe Spencer. Everyone who knows him believes him. The Director is going to bat for him. But with Congress the way it is right now Cramer holds too much power. The best thing we can do to help Reid is let it go. Let him take some personal time to heal and when he's ready have him come back to work."

"What, we're not even going to be there for him?"

"We're already down by two people with JJ and Kate on maternity. With him out we're seriously shorthanded. We need to go back in the field as soon as he returns to DC, the cases are piling up."

"And if this Unsub kills again?"

"Then we re-open the case." Hotch sighed. "I'm sorry, my hands are tied."

Now it was Morgan's turn to sigh. "I'm the one who's sorry." He said. "I was so focused on Reid I didn't even think to ask where they were sending the girl."

"It's all right. We should have been out here with you. Now we just have to help him through this."

Hotch left to catch up to Rossi and Sheriff Johnson. Morgan turned to the visitors chair again but a voice from the bed stopped him. "The Unsub won't strike again." Spencer said.

"Hey, look who's awake." Morgan said, feigning cheerfulness.

"The Unsub got what he wanted." Spencer continued. His voice was so faint and hoarse that it was almost painful to hear. "His lair has been destroyed, he's dispersed his team, unless he's triggered he won't attack again."

"Do you think he'll come after you?"

"No. I should be far outside of his comfort zone by the time he even realizes I'm still alive. And he's convinced I have no credibility with the FBI." Spencer managed a smile that wasn't. "Thanks to Cramer the FBI's behavior will support that."

"Hey, kid..."

"While it's just us there is one thing I'd really like to know. Why did everyone go all out for Strauss and leave me to sort it out on my own? Am I that bad at my job or is this whole family thing just an act?"

Now that question stunned Morgan. "What? Are you sure they're not giving you something in that IV?"

"Oh they're giving me a lot in this IV." Spencer looked up at the bag with a more honest smile. "I am feeling remarkably loopy. None of it narcotic though. You know, you only break sobriety if you ask for it. Not if it's given to you in an emergency situation. Or in my unique case by an Unsub."

Morgan didn't want to get sidetracked. "Strauss got the same deal you did. One shot at rehab and ongoing support from one of the shrinks."

"I didn't get that. I didn't get any of that. And she didn't exactly have the excuse of an Unsub causing her initial addiction. I never went near the stuff before Tobias. I never even considered it."

"Wait, what?" Now Morgan was confused. "Gideon said he took care of it. I heard him tell Hotch."

"Gideon sat me down for a talk. I detoxed in my own bathroom, an old friend from college came up to help me. And I didn't get any support until I decided to go to group on my own after that case in Chula Vista."

Morgan was stunned. "Are you serious?"

"Yeah." Now it was Spencer's turn to be confused. "Wait, you thought Gideon sent me to rehab?"

"Yeah. In your case medical detox and a weekly set up with a shrink. And you just didn't want to talk about it." Well damn. "I'm sorry. I had no idea Gideon didn't get you set up. I don't think Hotch does either. If I'd have known that I would have..."

"You would have done that for me?"

"If I could have." Granted Gideon or Hotch would have had to do it. And having Hotch do it would have made it very official... "I would have at least come over and helped your friend hold your head." Spencer chuckled at that, and Morgan realized that something that had been there between them for a long time was gone now. Just like that. And Morgan hadn't even realized it had been there. "If there's anything I can do now..."

Spencer turned more serious. "Help me put those monsters away."

Morgan could understand that. He'd hated Carl Buford for how long? "You got it. But we have no evidence and the only other witness is gone."

"Start with getting Garcia on the phone." Spencer started struggling to sit up. "And find my clothes." He got to sitting, swung his legs over the side, and dissolved into a coughing fit.

"No. Now here..." Morgan hurried to raise the bed and push Spencer back into it. "We can send other people to find her."

"We're not officially investigating, remember." But he sank back in the bed.

"Do you know where she is?"

Spencer nodded as he coughed again. "I have a pretty good idea."

"Any chance she'll move from there?"

"Unlikely."

"So we can go tomorrow. After they let you out."

"I guess."

"In the mean time let's see what my baby girl can do for us."