Alone

So I was trying to publish a new chapter everyday, but you know adulting got in the way, so anyway- here ya go, Let me know what you think! - Cassidy

Once everyone had returned from their assigned tasks, the team gathered in the conference room to discuss their findings; Morgan and Reid explained that they thought the unsub was attacking his victims from behind and Hotch and JJ described the families' statements— most all of them echoing the same notion that their loved one's deaths were a devastating surprise. Rossi, however, did not have much to offer. They knew which meetings to investigate but because of the anonymous nature of the programs, no real answers were given.

After a rather unproductive morning, Hotch assigned new objectives to each of his colleagues. Reid was to work on a geographical profile— charting the victims' locations they were last seen and where they were found once killed, JJ was to collaborate with Garcia on victimology— digging more into the victims' lives, and Rossi was told to check similar MOs in past case files. Meanwhile, it was getting to a later hour in the afternoon so Hotch and Morgan went to grab dinner for the team knowing they were going to be working well into the night, which gave them the perfect opportunity to discuss what was going on with their youngest agent.

The car engine humming was only noise in the otherwise comfortable silence.

"So how were the families?" Morgan inquired. Hotch replied,

"They're doing as 'bout as well as you'd expect. Scott and Robyn Li were especially distraught, which, understandably so seeing as their son died just yesterday and so young, and right as they were getting some hope…" the older agent trailed off, contemplating his next words— an oddity for the normally well spoken and sure-of-himself unit chief. He continued, "you know, they had just had a celebration for Ryan's sobriety milestone. Friends and family rallying behind him… and now…" as Hotch trailed off a second time all Morgan could do was shake his head and sigh. The mood deflated. "How's Reid by the way?" Hotch asked, not taking his eyes off the road or shifting his hands on the wheel. This time it was Morgan's turn to carefully contemplate his words. While he knew Hotch was as well aware of Reid's predicament and he was, he didn't think it was his place to divulge anything the young agent had told him in confidence.

"He's… handling it. I mean this isn't the first case we've had that's dealt with this kind of MO. He's managed so far, I guess, I don't know… I just feel like this is different. I feel like it's been building up, with us not talking about it, and it's just now starting to wear on him, you know?" Again, they avoided the word "addiction", they weren't supposed to officially know about it. Even after eight years, the threat of exposing this secret they had within the team could prove detrimental to any of the agent's careers. So they continued to dance around it. "Like you said, Ryan had family and friends helping and supporting him… Reid didn't have that. He was alone." It was quiet once more for a small duration, allowing Morgan's words to sink in. Reid had been alone in this struggle. He's still alone. Does he ever talk to anyone? Does he have a sponsor? Does he still go to meetings? What's the closest he's ever come to backsliding? How did he not relapse after Maeve? After Gideon? Does he carry a sobriety chip with him? Should we talk to him? Would he want us to talk to him? There's got to be some way we can help. These were the thoughts that ran through the two agents' minds. After securing some take out for the group they headed back— their conversation focused more on the case itself than their fellow team member.

There wasn't much to go on. The leads on whom their unsub might be ran dry and it was useless keeping the team any later than it already was. Hotch dismissed his agents to get some sleep. They would reconvene in the morning and continue with their investigation. Reid was the last to leave, getting home to his apartment at around two in the morning. He didn't bother getting undressed, he simply kicked of his converse and just about fell onto his bed. His headache that had been plaguing him throughout most of the day had slightly subsided now that he had retreated into the darkness that was bliss on his eyes. He fell asleep almost immediately— a rarity for him.

After four hours of restless sleep, Reid was woken by that all too familiar buzzing of his phone. Although all he wanted was to ignore it and sleep for another four hours, he forced himself to sit up and answer,

"Reid." It was not Garcia, but Hotch, who responded this time around,

"It's Hotch— I need you to come back to the office, we've got another victim. 65 year-old John Wolf, former Associate Deputy Director of the Bureau, was found dead in his home about an hour ago, same MO as our guy." Reid had froze, he couldn't be hearing this, could he? He lowered the phone away from his ear, neglecting whatever Hotch was saying on the other end. Reid thought to himself: John Wolf. John from the Beltway Clean Cops meetings. This isn't happening.

"Spencer," He heard Hotch's raised voice exit the small speaker of his phone which snapped him back into this painful reality. He brought the phone back up to his ear and replied,

"Give me twenty minutes, I'm headed over now."

Thanks again so much for reading and for your lovely reviews - Cassidy