Oh I just remembered I meant to start posting the music I listened to for each chapter, but I kept forgetting! Sorry. Anyway, the song I would say fit the mood of this chapter the best was Under Your Spell by Desire, but while writing I also listened to:

Giving Me A Chance ~ Gotye

Everlong (Acoustic Version) ~ Foo Fighters

And it works both ways, I'd love to hear if any of you have a song you think fits any part of their story, or them as a couple in general. :)

Anyway, enjoy! x

Morgan drifted into consciousness at around 1am with a general feeling of unease, which grew into a very specific feeling of unease when he opened his eyes to see that Reid wasn't in the bed anymore.

He got up and checked the bathroom and looked downstairs but he still couldn't find Reid, and he was on the verge of panicking when he happened to glance out the window.

"Oh…sweet jesus." He muttered to himself, shoving his feet into his boots with mixed feelings of relief and dread.

He put his jacket on and walked out the front door, which Reid had left unlocked. The night was incredibly dark and silent, apart from the faint yellow strip of light shining out across the snow from the half closed front door, and the soft crunch and squeak of snow flattening under Morgan's feet as he made his way over to where his friend lay on his back in the snow in his pyjamas, knees bent slightly with his hands resting on his stomach.

"Hey there." Morgan said, standing over him and tilting his head in a bemused fashion.

Reid half-opened his eyes. There were snowflakes, in his hair, in his eyelashes. His face had an expression of calm apathy and resignation.

"Aren't you cold?" Morgan asked finally, beginning with the obvious question, since he had no idea what was going on.

"Not really." Reid closed his eyes. "It's nice…it kind of…slows down my thoughts. Stops them colliding into each other."

"Oh..." Morgan said.

There was a pause.

"…d'you think maybe you should come inside now?" he suggested. "You shouldn't be lying out here on your own in the dark while there's a serial killer running around. And you'll get frostbite if you're not careful."

"I am being careful." Reid said in a strange washed out tone of voice.

"Right. Well that's okay then." Morgan said sarcastically. "Reid, help me out here, are you high or what?"

"Like a diamond."

"…I don't know what that means."

Reid chuckled softly. "I haven't taken anything, don't worry. It's a song. About stars. You know. Up above the world so high. Like a diamond in the sky." He opened his eyes. "I've never been anywhere I could see the stars like this. I don't want to go inside yet."

"Okay. Okay kid you don't have to." Morgan said with a kind smile, though he hadn't understood a word of what he'd just said. He sat down and then lay down in the snow next to Reid, so their bodies made two sides of a shallow isosceles triangle, with their heads close together. Looking up, the sky was huge and black and imposing, so that the moon itself shrank back nervously, a tiny fingernail of ghostly white. It was cold lying in the snow, but it wasn't as cold as he expected. It reminded him of being a kid back in Chicago in the winter, making snow angels with his friends in the park.

He wondered if anybody had ever made snow angels with Reid.

"Gimme your hands." he said, turning onto his side and shifting closer to face Reid. Reid held out his hands without looking away from the sky. Morgan took his hands and warmed them between his own, breathing on them and sliding them inside the neck of his own shirt to warm them up. They were cold but not ice cold yet. It looked like he hadn't been out here long enough for it to become dangerous.

Tears started falling from the corners of Reid's eyes. Morgan wanted to ask why, but he listened to his instincts and just looked on anxiously, waiting for him to speak.

"I didn't even cry when my father left." Reid said, wiping the tears away and smiling.

Morgan smiled too.

"The kids called me Robot Boy for a while in elementary school." Reid continued. "Because I was introverted and quiet, and I always knew the answers to the teacher's questions. And 'cause when they hit me I always told them it didn't hurt. It did though. I only said it didn't 'cause hiding the pain made me feel like I had power over them."

More tears welled up in Reid's eyes. Morgan propped himself up on his elbow looking down at him.

"But the nickname worked too well at dehumanising me. Even the teachers started seeing me as this wind-up mechanical child they could leave to do his work by himself. Since I got almost no positive reinforcement at home, I worked really hard for their approval, but once they heard about the eidetic memory diagnosis they didn't think I needed to be told I was clever anymore. And the kids were awful to me, so needlessly, constantly…and none of the adults did anything to stop them."

"What made you think about all this now?" Morgan asked softly.

"I don't remember." Reid frowned. "But I'm not…I'm not like that nickname at all. I'm not cold or heartless. I never wanted to be different. I never looked down on people with normal IQs. I envied them. I hated feeling like the only thing I was valued for was my brain. And if anything I…feel things… far more intensely than most people. I mean, have you ever cried about stars?"

Not stars, no. Morgan thought, feeling himself start to get choked up.

He told himself to get a grip, and laughed so Reid couldn't see how much this was breaking his heart.

He squeezed Reid's hand gently and shook his head. "Nope. I don't really see what's sad about them."

Reid turned his head and looked straight at him for the first time. "Did you know that some of the stars you can see are so far away that by the time their light reaches us they're already starting to die? I think about that and I can't help feeling sad, I mean…they give out light their whole lonely lives just so that some faraway civilisation which doesn't even exist yet can look at them and think that they're beautiful, and maybe even make a wish on them or something. But eventually everybody stops looking up, because they're only stars after all. They're giving us this incredible gift, this glimpse into the birth of our universe and everybody's just missing it. It's like how Van Gogh worked out ways of using colour like nobody had imagined before, but he only sold one painting his entire life and died with no idea at all of how much his work would give to people."

This wasn't like Reid's usual way of talking, like he was reading from a book stored in his mind. This speech was painfully heartfelt, and he sounded so desperate that Morgan should understand these things the stars made him feel.

"I guess stars are kind of sad." Morgan said softly, at last.

Reid nodded and then seemed to relax, as if getting this message across to Morgan had unburdened him in some way. He looked at the sky again but his expression was different now. It was just blank and empty.

"Reid? Talk to me fella. Tell me some more things about stars." He sat up and placed a hand on Reid's shoulder and looked into his eyes. There was no response.

It was like he was conscious, but he wasn't really there. "Please Reid."

Morgan covered his mouth with his hand and choked back a sob. He stumbled to his feet and took his phone out of his jacket pocket. He walked away from Reid's earshot before calling Young's cell phone.

"What's going on? Is it the unsub?" Young whispered anxiously.

"No you're fine, but I really need you to come over right now." Morgan tried to keep the panic out of his voice.

"Arghh." Young complained. "Do you have any idea what time it is!?"

"There's something wrong with Reid."

Young immediately snapped into professional mode.

"I'll be right there."

Morgan put his phone away then walked back over to Reid and crouched down in the snow beside him, warming up each of his hands and feet and telling him it was going to be okay.

Five minutes or so later he heard the noise of a car engine approaching and tyres crunching on snow behind him. Engine cut out, doors opened and slammed shut.

"Morgan?" Young called out. Morgan turned around, Young and Prentiss were running up the path to the front of the cabin.

"I couldn't stop her coming. She overheard the call." Young said apologetically.

Morgan nodded. "He was talking. About…stars…and then he just…stopped talking and then he was gone and I didn't know what to do." He said.

Young crouched down beside Reid, shining a torch into his eyes.

"Does someone want to tell me what's going on?" Prentiss asked, confused. "And since when are you a doctor?"

"Please don't ask." Young said. "Reid? Reid can you hear me? Nod if you can."

For a moment Reid just stared blankly, but then his head moved a little.

"Good. Good man. We're going to get you some help. But first we need to get you inside, can you stand?"

Reid nodded again.

"Okay, we'll help you. On the count of three." He took hold of Reid's arm and nodded to Morgan to take the other.

"One, two, three."

They pulled Reid to his feet and lead him back inside. They sat him down on a kitchen chair. His hair and pyjamas were soaking wet.

It turned out Young was surprisingly good in a crisis. He sent Prentiss to get some dry clothes while he did some more cognitive function tests on Reid. Reid was able to perform basic activities like dressing himself and responding to yes/no questions so Young sent him into the downstairs bathroom to change out of the wet clothes.

"Catatonia is another symptom of schizophrenia isn't it?" Morgan said while they waited.

"Another symptom?" Young raised an eyebrow. "What others has he had?"

"Uh…paranoia, depression, pretty much every type of hallucination there is…he didn't mention any of this to you?"

Young shook his head and shrugged. "All I gathered was that he wasn't sleeping very well."

"Oh Reid." Morgan closed his eyes. "He hasn't had more than an hour or two of sleep every night for over a week."

"Wow. That is quite definitely a case of not sleeping well." Young confirmed, filling a hot water bottle from the kettle. "His desire to lie in the snow could be due to temperature regulation problems caused by schizophrenia. But usually schizophenics fall into distinct categories, for example either paranoid or catatonic. A combination of those two symptoms is quite unlikely to be schizophrenia unless he has a rare undifferentiated version. Either way I wouldn't be too hasty with the antipsychotics if he's this sleep deprived. I think a short course of Temazepam should do the trick, or at least make him lucid."

Morgan nodded, relieved that Reid was finally going to get some help.

Reid came back into the kitchen in one of the White Star Resort complementary white fluffy bathrobes and Young handed him the hot water bottle. He sat back down in the chair while Young wrote out his prescription on the table. He stared into space, his snow-wet hair sticking to his head.

Desperate to find a way to be useful Morgan went and got a towel from the bathroom and started drying Reid's hair for him, rough and playfully at first as a kind of joke to check he wouldn't feel patronised or embarrassed or anything, then more gently. Reid gave a bemused, slightly self-conscious smile but he seemed to quite enjoy the attention, like a puppy that had just rolled in a puddle, and upon returning indoors was baffled but quite pleased to find itself getting rubbed down with a towel.

By the time Morgan had finished and took the towel away, Reid's hair had turned to ultimate fluff. Everyone in the kitchen proceeded to giggle at it, and then Prentiss came in with Reid's change of clothes and asked what was so funny and they just pointed and she started laughing as well, and the whole bizarre situation was suddenly easier to deal with.

Prentiss regained control of herself first, and then scolded Young and Morgan as if she hadn't been laughing just as hard. She went and got a comb to remedy the fluffy chaos Morgan had created.

Woken up by their laughter, Hotch opened the door to the kitchen, squinting in the bright light.

"What's going on? Prentiss? Why are you here?"

"It's a long story." said Young. "But basically we need to get young Dr Reid here some medication to help his insomnia before he totally loses his shit."

"Thank you for that professional diagnosis." Hotch said sarcastically.

"Am I missing something here?" Prentiss said. "I mean I knew you were a doctor…but I didn't realise you meant an actual doctor."

There was an uncomfortable silence as Young looked at Hotch to explain.

"Prentiss, can you go upstairs and tell the others what's happening? I need to talk to Young in private. I promise to explain later." Hotch said. She looked surprised and a little irritated to be pushed out, but she didn't argue.

When she had left Morgan looked at the prescription Young had written.

"Okay, so this Temazepam will make him sleep, right? I think I saw a pharmacy in town. You wanna head out there now?"

"Now?" Young said, raising his eyebrows. "It's like 2am. They probably won't be open."

"Yes, now. If they aren't open I'll just have to hammer on the door until they are." Morgan set his jaw determinedly. "Don't look at me like that Hotch. I'm not going to just sit around and watch him suffer until the morning."

Hotch sighed and gave a nod.

"Alright. We'll all go now."

Morgan breathed a sigh of relief.

Reid had sunk into an even deeper catatonic state now, so Hotch had to lead him into the bathroom and help him change into the grey hooded sweatshirt and loose sweatpants Prentiss had brought down for him. The clothes were actually Morgan's but he didn't say anything. The sight of Reid wearing them gave him butterflies in his stomach. He got Reid's coat from the wardrobe and helped him to thread his skinny arms into the sleeves, and zipped it up for him like he was a little kid.

Then Morgan sat in the back of the car with him throughout the two hour journey while Hotch drove them into town. As it turned out they were in luck. The pharmacy owner lived in a flat above the store, and although not exactly pleased to be woken up, she assured them that dealing with the occasional night time emergency was just part of the job for her, being the only pharmacy for miles around.

They bought the pills and a bottle of water and Reid swallowed them and they got back into the car after thanking the pharmacist.

They started to work pretty quickly. After ten minutes Reid's head kept nodding forward as he started to fall asleep, and then jerking back when he woke up again. Seeing an obvious solution to the problem, Morgan unbuckled both their seatbelts, turned around so he was sitting with his back to the door and one leg up on the seat, and then pulled the sleepy young man towards him so Reid's back was pressed against Morgan's chest, with his broad shoulder acting as a pillow. In this position Reid fell asleep almost instantly.

Hotch caught Morgan's eye in the rear view mirror and frowned.

"Come on Hotch, what the hell does it matter? He's unconscious." Morgan said guiltily.

It's not inappropriate. I'm only doing it to make Reid comfortable.

Well mostly to make Reid comfortable.

Hotch didn't reply.

It was such a relief to know that Reid was finally getting some proper sleep. Morgan could practically feel all the tension and sleep deprived frustration fading away with every passing minute. He closed his eyes and subtly rested his nose against the top of Reid's head so he could breathe in the familiar smell and tickle of his hair. He felt like a total creeper, but in the back of the car in the dark, with Reid passed out in his lap, he felt safe doing it.

He kissed the top of Reid's head. Reid stirred a little and turned his face towards the warmth in the crook of Morgan's neck, making a soft contented humming sound.

Tears pricked Morgan's eyes and he tilted his head back against the cold window.

It was like after the rape, knowing what it had been like to touch Reid and see him like that made it so much harder to accept that it could never happen. Now getting to hold him and look after him was just as agonising, knowing that if Reid wasn't ill, he'd never allow it.

Stop it. He told himself sternly. If you must take advantage of your friend, you are at least not going to waste the experience by crying like a little girl.

He kissed the top of Reid's head again and tucked a lock of his fringe, which had fallen loose, behind his ear carefully. But he couldn't leave it there. He started delicately running his fingers through the young man's hair stroking it back off his face, provoking more smiles and quiet sleepy humming noises.

I could quite easily develop an addiction to playing with your hair. Morgan smiled, then mentally shook himself. God Edward Cullen, stop watching him sleep.

After that he dozed off himself until Hotch reached back and shook them both gently awake when they arrived at the cabin.

Reid opened his eyes a little with a groan and mumbled. "Dun wanna gddup yt."

Morgan laughed softly and smiled down at Reid, pouring all the love he possessed for him into that smile so that for a moment it was like they were the only two people in existence. Reid looked up at him with a curious expression, like he wasn't quite sure what that smile meant, but was happy to receive it all the same.

Then Morgan said softly, "It's okay pretty boy. We just need to take you upstairs so you can get your beauty sleep."

Reid nodded. He stood up and walked up to the bedroom like a zombie. Morgan followed behind him and sorted out the things he was too sleepy to manage, like removing shoes and pulling the covers over him. He wanted to kiss his forehead, but that was too risky now Reid was more aware of his surroundings. He did stroke that bit of fringe behind his ear again though before he left the room and went back downstairs.

Young gave a hushed cheer when Morgan re-entered the kitchen. They shared a relieved smile.

"Man, and I thought all this time he just didn't like me!" Young joked. "I'm sure we'll be BFFs when he wakes up."

Morgan smiled again half-heartedly.

Prentiss walked in, looking tired and annoyed.

"Hotch says I'm taking you back to the hotel now." She told Young.

Young saluted her. "As you wish ma'am." He winked at Morgan and they left.

"Thanks for your help." Morgan called after him.

Once they were gone and he was left on his own in the kitchen pouring himself a glass of water, the tears came back and he couldn't stop them this time. He pressed his fingers over his eyes and leaned against the fridge, taking deep breaths. It didn't work. This always happened to him when something bad happened. He could shut everything out at the time, just compartmentalise his emotions and deal with the problem at hand. But once things returned to normal he began to fall apart.

He choked back a sob, gasping breaths like the start of a panic attack.

The kitchen door opened and Hotch walked in, and he got a hold of himself sharply, but he knew Hotch had already seen. He started laughing at himself to try and make Hotch see that it wasn't a big deal, just pent-up tiredness and worry spilling out.

"This is exactly what I was afraid of." Hotch said, not fooled in the slightest.

"I know." Morgan said weakly. "It was just…he was just lying there and I was so scared. I just wanted to know…what it would feel like. To hold him. It was stupid, it was a mistake, and it's going to hurt for a long time, I know." He wrapped his arms around himself as if trying to keep himself from literally falling apart. "I won't let it happen again. I can't go through this again."

Hotch sighed and nodded. He gave Morgan's shoulder a squeeze and went back into the other room. A few seconds later a confused JJ wandered into the kitchen.

"Um…Hotch said he couldn't tell me why, but that there was somebody in the kitchen who needed a hug?"

Morgan blinked in surprise, and then laughed. "Oh. Well I guess that would be me. C'mere Sweetness." He held out his arms and she gave him a big hug.

"Unbelievable. Where exactly in my job description does it say 'happy to be used as a cuddleogram to compensate for my emotionally stunted boss's inability to show affection?'" she grumbled, pretending to be put out.

"You should demand a raise." Morgan smiled, releasing her.

"I should." She agreed, searching his eyes with her own in a concerned fashion that all women seemed to learn instinctively once they became mothers. She had this way of looking into your eyes now which made him uncomfortable, like she maybe knew more about him than she let on. As if their shared love for a certain skinny long-haired genius gave them a kind of unspoken understanding.

Before now he'd always seen her as a threat because of this connection, but now it was kind of a comfort.

"Thank you." He said, suddenly overwhelmed with gratitude towards her.

She looked surprised. "You're welcome. Always happy to help."

"No," he smiled, "I mean…thank you, for being a friend to him." He laughed awkwardly. "I just…I don't know what I'm trying to say, but…thank you."

She smiled and nodded, and he knew she got what he meant.

"Dr Reid huh?" she laughed shaking her head.

"Dr Reid." He agreed with a wry smile.

...

You're welcome my pretties. xD I believe it was Medeia456 who requested that Reid sleep well for once, preferably in Morgan's arms? Never let it be said I do not listen to my audience's needs. I hope you have forgiven me for the cliffhanger now Medeia xD

NatNazzy ~ *huuug* you always say the nicest things! I'm so glad you enjoyed the last couple of chapters, Young and Reid's talk and the innuendos and the angst. I'm really starting to enjoy the story again, as you can probably tell from how quickly I'm posting the chapters now xD

Undertaker Lau ~ thank you, your comment really meant a lot to me. It's a lovely feeling when other writers compliment my writing, and it really motivates me! :) I'm so glad you're enjoying the creepiness and that the innuendos made you laugh. I think that romance stories should have drama and angst to make it interesting, but they should always have times where they just laugh and do silly things together to keep the story anchored in reality. I don't find couples believable if they don't make each other laugh, even in the most difficult times. :)

People Person I'm Not ~ Wow, thank you so much! I seriously reacted like an overexcited child when I saw your review in my inbox, I love the long ones so much! Thank you for telling me each thing you enjoyed, it was really lovely to read. And 'Hotch doesn't follow protocol, protocol follows Hotch' made me laugh xD very true.

marcallie ~ it was really nice to hear from you again! so glad you're still around! and yes, thank god Reid has his sexy guardian angel around to make sure he doesn't die like three times a day.

I wish I had time to reply to all of my reviewers, but there are just too many of you now! I want you to know that if I don't reply to you it's not that I'm not grateful, it's just that I don't really have anything to tell you except 'thanks'! So I'll say it here, thank you very much, I appreciate all of your comments and hope you continue to enjoy my story. xx