Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds or their characters.
The wind howled fiercely, pushing him left and right, the cold air burned his skin as he continued to push forward, icicles and clumps of snow fell from above falling on top of him trying to force him to turn back. He couldn't see that far ahead of him and after a good thirty minutes, Reid realized that his trail had disappeared. He cursed at himself for not thinking of that earlier. He could have brought something red to help him find his way back.
He shook his head and continued forward. If he continued to walk in a straight line then all he would have to do is turn around. With each step, the snow slowly got deeper. His legs were getting soaked from the cold substance.
"Morgan?" Reid called out hoping Morgan would hear him if he was nearby. Reid grimaced as he looked up. The sun had just about disappeared and that only meant the temperature would drop. Either he would find Morgan and then find shelter, or he would die trying. At the moment finding Morgan didn't seem possible.
He could barely hear anything through the falling snow and howling wind. Reid persevered. He continued forward until he heard something crack and the ground fell from under him.
As soon as the water hit him, he lost his breath. Feeling the stinging water around his body he inadvertly took in a gulp of water. Trying to get his legs to work, he forced them to kick until he was able to get to the surface. Immediately he grabbed for the ice, but it broke.
Loosing feeling in his arms as well, he reached for the edge once more. This time, he was able to get a decent grip as he forced his torso on top of the ice. Tiredly, he kicked his legs over the ice and rolled. Coughing raggedly, he forced himself to move towards the tree line in front of him. He needed to get off that ice. Once at the tree, he continued to cough up the water as he shivered violently. He knew that at this moment, nature was winning.
Morgan had finally cooled off as he headed back towards the cabin. He was cold. In fact, he wondered why he even went out there. Then again the cool air did him some justice. He walked back into the cabin to only be bombarded by Ethan.
"Where's Spencer?" Ethan panicked.
"What do you mean he was here when I left," Morgan said in confusion.
"No he went after you in that storm!" Ethan shouted and Morgan glanced towards Heather who seemed completely distraught and worried.
"How long ago did he leave?" Morgan asked grabbing an extra coat off the coat rack.
"Almost thirty minutes ago!" Ethan said in a panic.
"You guys didn't go after him?" Morgan damn neared growled.
"By the time I got to the front window the kid was gone. We can't lose everyone!" Ethan said matching Morgan's tone.
"Fuck!" Morgan growled as he quickly turned and headed out the front door.
"Turn the heat up so when I get him he can warm up," Morgan ordered.
"Okay, be safe," Ethan stated as Morgan walked out into the cold wintery mix. He tried to think like Reid. If Reid was coming after him, Reid would assume that he went straight ahead. Morgan knew he went diagonally because of the fact that he didn't want to be followed. Oh how he regrets that now.
Morgan quickly started running as he hoped that he went in the right path. However the wind and knee-deep snow slowed him up to a shuffle. He felt like ti would take him forever to find Reid and that is if Reid is even alive to begin with.
That thought alone made Morgan stomp a little faster, breathe a little harder, and pray a little longer. He was starting to feel disorientated with all the snow falling around him. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. As soon as his head stopped swimming he pushed forward. He couldn't give up. He couldn't leave Reid.
Finally he saw a clearing. But as he approached the clearing, it was pretty obvious that someone was there due to the gaping hole and water. He glanced around what he learned was a river and on the other side was a heap of black, that Morgan knew had to be Reid. However, Morgan couldn't get across the frozen River. If Reid fell through, then he knew he would as well. He couldn't carry Reid over this river. Morgan glanced at the trees. One of them had to be weak enough for him to push over and use as a bridge. But he also needed it to be strong enough to support his and Reid's weight.
"Shit shit shit," Morgan said knowing that time was of essence. Running down the river bank, he knew there had to be a crossing somewhere. About three minutes, he found it. A small fallen tree that he didn't hesitate to use to cross over. Quickly he started running back towards where he was sure he saw Reid and after another three minutes he fell to the ground and flipped Reid over. Automatically he nervously felt for a pulse. Waiting a few seconds, he felt it. It was slow and weak, but it was enough to mean that the kid was still alive. Morgan picked Reid up and tossed him over his shoulder. Quickly, he started running to get back to the crossing to get back into position to head back to the cabin. As soon as he saw the hole in the river, Morgan almost sprinted back towards the cabin, only slowing up when he hit the deep patches of snow. He continued to pray that he'd get back to the cabin in time. Hell he prayed that he would be able to get Reid to a hospital after they get to the cabin.
As soon as the snow wasn't so deep, Morgan started Sprinting again. He remembered certain trees he had picked out on his way up. Something he knew from years of snowstorms in Chicago.
Within the next few minutes, he made it back to the cabin. Immediately, Morgan threw Reid by the fire and ran to the back to grab some warm clothes.
He saw that Heather was following him.
"Call 911 and see if anyone can come out to help us," Morgan said grabbing blankets clothes and towels. He even grabbed a plow dryer. Morgan hurried hack towards Reid where he was happy to see that Ethan was already stripping the boy. Now Morgan was grateful that the man was also a genius.
"We should get him in some luke warm water," Ethan said trying to remain calm.
"But if it'd too warm it could hurt him," Morgan disagreed not wanting to take that chance.
"Okay then let's get some warm water bottles," Ethan stated. "Body heat could also help you know."
Morgan nodded and felt for a pulse. It was still weak and slow, but it didn't get any weaker than it already was.
"So we don't want him to start sweating in fear of him going into after drop, so I think we should move him away from the fire and put him into the bed. You are bigger than the rest of us meaning that you would give off the most heat. Heather said they couldn't get over here and that we should keep doing what we are doing, but I am going to see if I can drive over there. If I can, then I'll come back and we can take him in okay?" Ethan informed. Morgan nodded and picked up Spencer. Quickly he gently placed Reid in the bed. Ethan handed him five water-bottles, but Morgan wasn't 100% sure where he would best place them.
"Two by the neck, one under each arm, and one on the groin, to heat up his major arteries," Ethan stated quickly before walking out of the room. Morgan quickly ran to his room and got out of his cold wet clothing and quickly headed back to Spencer. Gently, he climbed into the bed and wrapped himself around Reid and threw the covers on top of them both. Reid's breathing was beyond slow, but it was the only thing that gave him hope at the moment.
He slowly opened his eyes. At first everything was blurry, but after blinking, everything came into focus. He felt pressure all over his body and weird sensations in some places. He felt lethargic and he couldn't stop shivering. Then he remembered. He went after Morgan. The ice. The moment of drowning and freedom.
He opened his mouth, but nothing came out. Instead he coughed slightly and the pressure on his body moved slightly.
"Spencer?" Reid heard his name being called. Reid tried to swallow in order to gain some composure of his voice.
"Here," He felt a water bottle being pressed to his lips. He took a small sip and swallowed.
"Better?" The voice asked. Reid nodded.
"Thanks," He croaked quietly. Finally the pressure lifted off his body and suddenly he felt cooler. He shivered involuntarily and the pressure came back immediately.
"Still cold," He heard the voice mumbled. Reid closed his eyes and searched for a face to match the voice. Finally he figured it out. Morgan.
"Morgan?" Reid questioned.
"Yeah kid. I'm here. We found you," Morgan said softly.
"Do you hate me?" Reid finally asked. He remembered that Morgan left because of him and Heather, but Reid still couldn't figure out why.
"Wait, what?" He heard Morgan's voice say in disbelief.
"Um… You left. The only logical reason was because of me and Heather," Reid explained quietly.
Morgan sighed.
"Okay kid, it's about to get a little cooler for a second. Would you prefer to sit up?" Morgan asked.
"Yes, please," Reid said in a small voice. Morgan repositioned himself and pulled Reid up and close.
"Okay, I'm going to reach into your shirt and pants. I'm not trying to be creepy, but we put some water bottles there to—"
"Warm up major arteries," Reid finished for him.
"Exactly. Ethan told me that you would not be very mobile today, so…Yeah, I'm just a heater," Moran stated as he pulled out the water bottles from Reid's shirt as well as his pants. "Good thing you had a pair of sweats," Morgan said with a half-hearted laugh.
"Morgan you never answered the question. Do you hate me? Heather? Us? I don't know," Reid said his voice slightly strained. Morgan held his breath for a second. Either he could be honest know or play 20 questions which is Reid's version of an interrogation, given his non-threatening stature.
"Spencer I don't hate you and I don't exactly hate Heather. I may not care for her, but that reason is very personal and I don't think now is the time for me to tell you why," Morgan said deciding that part of the truth is better than none of it.
"I think now is a pretty good time," Reid shivered and Morgan held Reid closer. Morgan shook his head. Now is the moment he might lose Reid for good.
"Okay Spencer. The reason why I've been acting a little strange around you two is… Well…" Morgan couldn't find the strength to say it.
"Go on, Derek," Reid encouraged despite his slight anxiety.
"I um, I have feelings for um… Gosh this is so hard," Morgan grumbled.
"For Heather? Have you two met before?" Reid questioned.
"No Reid. I have feelings for you," Morgan blurted out. "There I finally said it. I have feelings for you and I have been on this emotional rollercoaster for the longest time. I'm sorry I didn't say it earlier. After seeing how happy you were with Heather, I just lost it and realized that you and I will never have what you and Heather have," Morgan finally admitted. He felt like a great deal was off his chest and he waited anxiously for Reid's response.
Reid was stunned.