Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds
They finally called it a night. Hotch decided to let his people go free for the night until 8 am the next morning. Reid was happy for the slight buzz to wear off and he was able to truly analyze different materials to help build a more solid profile.
He sat down with JJ who was nibbling on a carrot. Something he always found amusing yet weird.
"So Spence, feeling pretty good?" She said grabbing another carrot.
"Never been better, how are you?" Reid questioned wondering how long it would take for her to eat her carrots.
"I'm alright. I mean I'm tired because Henry decided that he had to stay up to get a glimpse of Santa, which our neighbor did so wonderfully," JJ admitted with a smile. Reid smiled at the image of a little Henry bothering JJ all night for "Santa."
"That's really sweet," Reid said and JJ fake choked on her carrot.
"Next year, Sir, you can stay up with Henry while Will tries to find someone to be Santa so we can go to bed," JJ said throwing a carrot at him.
"Hey, it'll be just my luck that Henry find's out that it's not Santa," Reid said tossing the carrot back at her.
"True," She agreed and reached for another one. There was a moment of silence except the random crunch of carrots and JJ decided that now might be a great time to bring up Morgan.
"So, you and Morgan," She said raising an eyebrow.
"Me and Morgan what," Reid said hesitantly.
"You never told me that he asked you out or whatever it is that Morgan does," JJ said getting Reid's attention.
"Does the whole team know about this?" Reid asked incredulously.
"Nope, only the young people. We don't want to bring Hotch or Rossi into this," JJ said glancing around for any familiar faces. Reid nodded in disbelief. No privacy whatsoever.
"So, you turned him down," JJ smiled sadly.
"It was the right thing to do at the moment," Reid shrugged stealing a carrot.
"At that moment, though. Would you have said yes if you weren't with that girl, who you've never told me her name?" JJ inquired, folding her hands under her chin.
"Her name is Heather, and I don't know if I would have said yes even if I wasn't with her. Morgan is kind of scary. I mean he's big, has a temper, and I don't think he's the faithful type," Reid explained.
"So at least you've officially thought of it," JJ smiled brightly.
"Of course I thought about it. There were a couple of times where I've noticed he was being kind of different around me, but I just brushed it off as me not knowing any social queues," Reid said leaning back in the booth.
JJ sighed in thought. Reid had thought about it, and his answer was an overall no. How would Morgan deal with that? How can a friendship evolve from a rejection? Then again, Reid does have the right to say no. Does Morgan actually deserve someone like Reid? She knew Reid was a bit different from other men. Reid actually needs understanding. Someone who's willing to listen to his pointless rambles. Someone who can stimulate the kid mentally not just emotionally and physically. She doesn't want Reid to waste his time, but she also wants him to be happy. Despite the fact that he rejected Morgan's offer, she knew if Morgan pushed all the right buttons, Reid could actually change his mind. The problem is, she doesn't want Reid to regret it.
"Spence, could you even see yourself happy with Morgan?" JJ questioned. That's the only question she thought that truly mattered.
"I can see myself being happy with Morgan, but I can also see myself doing everything I can to get away from him. It's conflicting and just… No," Reid finalized.
"Are you still mad about—"
"Yes and one day I will get over it," Reid admitted. "I don't know, maybe today. He actually asked me out and I said no. There's no point in holding in the anger. But I sort of feel like this is payback to him," Reid admitted.
"And we will drink to that!" JJ said holding up a glass of water.
"If we weren't on the job I'd criticize you," Reid admitted as they taped glasses.
"I think you're turning into an alcoholic," JJ giggled.
"Well, I'll make sure to sign up for AA when it gets out of hand," Reid admitted.
"You're just stressed Spence, no worries," She smiled patting his hand.
"Thanks," Reid said gratefully. "Now, are you done with your carrots? They're about to close," Reid said and JJ realized that they were the only two in the small diner.
"Oh," JJ laughed. "Do you know how much the carrots are?" She whispered.
"Don't worry about it, I'll take care of it," Reid said dropping a twenty on the table.
"That's more than enough," JJ argued.
"They could have went home early if we had left," Reid stated as he opened the door for her.
JJ simply chuckled as they walked down the street. She was slightly nervous about walking in the dark at an hour not many people were out. She glanced over to Reid who seemed perfectly fine with the situation. However, she didn't bother to ask. Him staying calm seemed reassuring, but with each car that passed them, she felt more and more nervous. The ones that slowed down freaked her out the most. When they reached the hotel she finally relaxed.
"You know we were safer out there than in here," Reid stated and she stared at him.
"Thanks for helping my nerves Spence," She said sarcastically.
"Hey, I took us by all the traffic cameras. No matter what, if anything had happened, it would have been caught on tape," Reid informed as they walked to the elevator.
"Well why is it more dangerous in here. There's more people," JJ wondered.
"Well there's the possibility of the stairwell had the elevator been broken, people are afraid to come out with information, and lastly someone can come into you're room if they have access to the hotel universal room key," Reid stated and suddenly JJ didn't feel so safe.
"So they can come in while I'm sleeping?" She asked.
"Yup, but you have Prentiss and Prentiss is kind of scary with a gun, not to mention you could totally hurt them with your ninja moves," Reid reminded her and she laughed.
"Thanks Spence. You really know how to compliment women," She giggled.
"I try," Reid smiled as he walked her to her room. After a nice farewell he headed to his own room. He walked in as quietly as he could, but when he turned around, there seemed to be no need. Morgan was wide awake and waiting for him.
"Where the hell have you been?" Morgan asked.
"I was out with JJ," Reid said shutting the door behind him.
"This late at night? Do you know what could have happened to you two out there? You should have called," Morgan said as he began to pace the room. Reid's eyes narrowed. Since when did he have to start answering to Morgan? Morgan was not Hotch. Reid doesn't have to say a thing to Morgan.
"I'm taking a shower and I'm going to bed," Reid stated simply as he walked towards his bag to grab his clothes.
"No you're not. We are going to talk," Morgan insisted.
"Ha!" Reid said humorlessly. "I love how you're talking to me as if there's something between us, because we don't have anything to talk about," Reid admitted and Morgan wanted to strangle the younger man for just one second. Reid knew it too. He saw it in Morgan's eyes. Reid grabbed his clothes and simply went into the bathroom. Morgan growled in frustration, but he sat back down. JJ said he deserved Reid's wrath, but Morgan needed to know why. He had to know why or he wouldn't focus on a damned thing.
After a good fifteen minutes Reid came out of the bathroom. Morgan's breath caught in his throat as he watched Reid walk out in his sweats still dripping from the shower. Reid caught him staring and Morgan automatically tried to hide it. Reid automatically felt self-conscious.
"Sorry Spencer," Morgan decided to apologize.
"It's okay," Reid said quietly. Morgan frowned in confusion, now he was with the softer Reid. Why is there two sides to this kid? Maybe the shower helped Reid cool off a bit.
"Can we please talk?" Morgan said softly. Reid sighed.
"Well since you asked kindly," Reid mumbled as he sat on the bed and tapped for Morgan to join him. Slightly elated and nervous Morgan sat on the bed as well.
"Still cold?" Morgan asked.
"Yeah, it'll last for maybe another day, but it should be gone soon," Reid stated.
"Yeah, kid. Ethan hired me to keep you warm and you ran away from me," Morgan said raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah, I think my head was practically spinning by that point," Reid admitted as Morgan got closer.
"Yeah kid, sometimes your mind just needs to slow down," Morgan pointed out and Reid nodded in agreement.
"You're right," Reid agreed. "So what do you want to talk about?" Reid asked wanting to get this conversation over with.
"Please don't get upset, but I want to talk to you about us," Morgan said slowly. Reid took a deep breath and nodded.
"Okay," Reid said.
"Are you against me liking another guy? I just have to know, so if I'm bothering you that way, I can just stop," Morgan said hoping that Reid wasn't against him for that. He was praying that Reid would not hate him.
"Morgan never. That isn't even on my mind. Okay?" Reid said making sure Morgan understood.
"Are you sure? I just feel like you've hated me ever since I told you," Morgan asked looking away.
"Morgan I'd rather kill a puppy than to hate you for being interested in men or women—okay not really I can never kill a puppy, but I'd kill myself. There, now I won't hurt anything but myself," Reid rambled slightly. Morgan looked at him dubiously.
"Then why do I feel all this animosity coming from you?" Morgan asked still not quite believing Reid.
"You see Derek, I don't hate you. I am angry at you, but for different reasons that have stemmed from a long time ago, and you telling me this, sort of just brought it back and frankly I want nothing to do with you," Reid explained and Morgan felt the words cut through him like a blade. Reid saw the hurt etched on Morgan's face and Reid looked away. Sometimes honesty was a killer.
"What did I do to you?" Morgan asked unable to think of anything he did that could hurt the kid. He didn't understand what he had done to Reid.
"Exactly, you don't even know!" Reid exclaimed quietly.
"Reid I am so lost right now. I was not born with a damn-near perfect memory of the past," Morgan said holding in his frustration. He wasn't going to ruin this conversation.
"Two years three months six days five hours and ten minutes ago, you practically did what I'm doing right now. Slowly hurting you," Reid said with an extreme calm and for a second there, Reid seemed like an unsub.
"Wait what?" Morgan asked involuntarily moving back slightly.
"You, I, and JJ were out for dinner. You accidentally flirted with me and JJ called you out on it. Do you remember what you said?" Reid questioned dangerously low. Morgan tried to think, but he couldn't remember it to save his life.
"No Reid I don't," Morgan whispered.
"You said, that if you were interested in men, I would be the last person you'd ever get with. Then you proceeded to say that between the two of us, it would be me who would even think about dating another man. Finally, you stated that liking another guy was the worst and most disgusting thing that any man could ever do," Reid said repeating every word Morgan had said perfectly.
Morgan remembered now. He was trying to keep his cover, but why did that bother Reid so much? Reid's not even interested in men.
"Reid why does that bother you so much? I can understand the first part, but the rest?" Morgan questioned.
"Well you see, we didn't go out for a small social visit, Morgan. I actually wanted to talk to you because I sort of liked this guy and well, JJ thought that I should tell you since you were my best friend. However I ended up feeling like shit about myself for a year a ten months. Then, I met Heather and I felt better," Reid explained. "So I'm sorry for being pissed at you for making me hate myself more than I already did back then for no absolute reason."
Morgan was shocked. No, he was more than shocked. His heart practically stopped. When did this happen? His head was swimming with thoughts.
"You're not…" Morgan said and Reid stared at him quizzically.
"What?" Reid asked.
"That's not true, Reid you've only dated women," Morgan said shaking his head furiously. He couldn't believe.
"You see Morgan, that's what I wanted to tell you two years ago, but then you helped me change my mind, so I kept that secret to myself and JJ," Reid finalized.
"Wait so you dated guys?" Morgan questioned still trying to wrap his head around the situation.
"Well mostly women since you made me feel bad about myself," Reid admitted.
"But what about the guy," Morgan questioned.
"I never saw him again. Truth is, I should have listened to JJ and just do what I want, but I actually looked up to you. If I even suspected that you were a little bent I'd probably would have even liked you," Reid admitted.
Morgan sat their dumbfounded.
"Now if I had to choose a guy. It would either be Ethan or Hotch," Reid admitted and Morgan's face twisted into disgust.
"What the fuck? Hotch? Are you being serious right now? I can understand Ethan, but Hotch?" Morgan asked. Morgan saw Hotch as Reid's father figure and the thought of father and son… Morgan internally winced.
Reid nodded.
"Hotch knows that I go both ways and when I spoke to him about it three months ago, he helped me feel better about myself and he secretly won a piece of my heart. So, don't judge because even though he isn't my best friend, he's been a more accepting friend than you have," Reid said flopping back.
"Spencer I'm sorry. I was just trying to stay concealed. I thought you guys were figuring me out," Morgan tried to explain getting closer to Reid, who was merely staring at the ceiling.
"Morgan, you were trying to justify to yourself that you didn't like other men," Reid said quietly. "You just hurt me in the process and that hurt eventually turned into anger."
Morgan felt his heart break at the revelation. He had hurt the one person he only wanted to help. He helped Reid lose some of his confidence. In a way, Morgan was just as bad as the bullies that had tormented Reid back in the day. He watched as Reid turned away from him. Somehow, Morgan saw it as Reid's final goodbye. After a couple of minutes of silence, Morgan realized that Reid had fell asleep.
Morgan quietly got up and placed the extra blanket over Reid. Morgan got into his bed and turned off the light and fell asleep. After ten minutes, Reid sat up in his bed. Maybe JJ was partially right, but he needed a drink and he was going to get one. If it became a habit, he would just find some help. Reid tossed on some converse and grabbed his cellphone and room key and quietly walked out of the room. He quickly made his way out of the hotel and down the street to the bar. He sat at the bar stool and got the first of many drinks….
"Where's Reid?" Hotch questioned as he saw Morgan walk into the lobby.
"He wasn't there when I woke up. I thought he may have gotten breakfast with JJ or you," Morgan frowned when he realized that JJ was sitting there slightly worried.
"He won't pick up his phone," JJ said nervously. She remembered what he told her about people breaking into the hotel rooms at night, but he was with Morgan nothing bad could have happened with him around.
Rossi came in and shut his phone.
"We have another body," Rossi admitted and Morgan's stomach dropped. Was this the bad feeling his gut was telling him?
"Wait was the victim a female?" Morgan asked.
"Yes, but they think this one was another person who was already dead," Rossi explained.
"Okay, Morgan you and Prentiss go to the dumpsite. Rossi you and I will talk to the police about our profile. JJ, look for Reid, but don't take any chances," Hotch ordered. They all nodded and split up. However Morgan wanted to look for Reid. He wanted everyone to look for Reid. Where the hell did the kid go? When did he leave?
"JJ will find him," Prentiss assured. Morgan sighed.
"I don't know, I have a bad feeling about all of this," Morgan admitted as he started driving. Prentiss looked out the window. Maybe she would see Reid.
Reid slowly opened his eyes. 'What the hell happened last night?' He wondered as he sat up. His head ached but he could tell it wasn't one of those strange headaches, but just one from a night of drinking. He squinted and looked around when he realized that he was not at the hotel or the bar, but in someone's living room.
"This is awkward," Reid said to himself.
"Ey there mate. You finally woke up," A man said with a feint Australian accent said as he walked into the room.
"Uh, hi?" Reid said waving awkwardly.
"Oh um, I'm Mitchell. You were trashed last night so I figured you might need some help," The man said kindly.
"Oh, thanks. What time is it?" Reid questioned.
"It's like Eleven now," Mitchell informed.
"I'm late for work," Reid mumbled as he automatically turned on his phone and saw the 46 missed calls from the team.
"Do you need a ride?" The man asked.
"Um yeah I do actually," Reid admitted.
"Where do you work?" The man questioned.
"I'm a mail sorter at the police department," Reid lied. He didn't know this guy and he wasn't about to say he was an FBI agent.
"Really?" The man asked.
"Yeah why? Did you need to send them some mail?" Reid asked.
"Actually yes. I have two pieces. One for my uncle who works there," The man informed.
"Oh cool, okay. I'll push it through since you helped me out," Reid stated standing up.
"Hold on, are you really going to show up to work smelling like a brewery?" Mitchell asked. Reid realized that the man was right. He couldn't show up to the team like that, he'd get suspended.
"Okay, take a shower and I will wash what you're wearing. It shouldn't take too long unless you'd rather stop at your place instead," Mitchell said unsure of which way would be better. Reid would prefer to wear his work clothes, but why would a mail sorter dress professionally when most simply don't. Reid didn't want to look like an FBI agent.
"I don't think I have much time to just go home," Reid lied. The hotel was rather close to the station.
"Okay, just leave the bathroom door unlocked. There's a cabinet that should have everything you need," The man said with a smile and Reid nodded in thanks.
Once his clothes were done being washed and dried, Reid was as ready as he was going to get for work. He grabbed his wallet and followed the man outside. Reid shivered automatically at the cold, but what made a chill go down his spine was the fact that the car was the one that was following him and Morgan yesterday. Reid easily kept his face calm. The man thought he was a mail sorter. He didn't have his badge or gun and he doesn't look like an FBI agent. All should go well.
"So why were you out there last night? Did something bad happen mate?" Mitchell questioned.
"Yeah, I sort of had a falling out with a good friend, but I think today would be a day that we try to work it out," Reid lied. He wasn't sure if this was the unsub, but if it was, then Reid didn't want to give the man an excuse to kill him.
"It's seemed that your friend had really hurt you. I don't think he or she is worth it," The man smiled.
"You're right, but we work together. I'd rather not have to avoid him every day," Reid explained and the man nodded in understanding. He got to the police station and Reid got out, thanked the man and entered the building as Mitchell drove away. Immediately he headed for the conference room. Ignoring the fact he was completely out of uniform.
"Spencer!" JJ said jumping up and giving him a tight hug, which he returned quickly.
"Reid?" Prentiss questioned looking up.
"Where the hell have you been?" Hotch said and the team quieted down.
"I may have been out last night, but that's not the point—"
"Reid you are late—"
"I'm always punctual. I was late today, but that's not the point—"
"I could have you suspended Agent Reid, now is that what you want?" Hotch finally threatened. He wouldn't tolerate misbehavior and although Reid is invaluable, the kid's safety came first.
"The guy that followed me and Morgan, I was at his house. He let me sleep there and drove me here. I told him I was the mail sorter. Here are the letters asked me to send. His first name is Mitchell and apparently his uncle works here," Reid said.
"Reid that was a dangerous thing you did. If he was the unsub he could have killed you," Rossi exclaimed walking closer to Reid.
"He doesn't know I'm working on the case," Reid said trying to defend himself from their protective nature.
"How do you know that Reid? How many people take in a strange man?" Morgan asked wondering what the hell was wrong with the kid.
"Maybe he thought I was cute, I don't know," Reid snapped. JJ couldn't help but giggle at that comment.
"Reid, you can't go off and work the case by yourself," Hotch said in a stern voice.
"I don't know if you've noticed Hotch, but I didn't exactly choose to run into the guy who followed Morgan and me. Besides most of the information on that board was from me cutting up bodies risking my own life to find evidence which will be finalized and sent in within the next hour. Seeing that there's another body with no clues I guess my job will be to cut her open too, right?" Reid snapped and the team's eyes widened. Reid has never shown any type of discontent towards the team, let alone if he did, he never vocalized it.
"Agent Reid everyone has put in work on this case," Hotch said sternly.
"Of course everyone has, but if profiling the crime scene doesn't help then you guys need to focus elsewhere. What we need isn't in the dumpsite or the graves. The unsub was just playing us and that's what I've learned on my night out. If we keep chasing the murders he's going to be gone by the end of the week.
"He's smart, arrogant, almost a genius, but he's getting revenge, but the women are not his real victims. The murders isn't an outlet and he picked his dumpsites making up a pattern. It's like he's writing a story. One that we can't figure out based on profiling. He doesn't give a damn about those girls and that's not his true target," Reid explained.
"But since I had just given off the impression that I don't think everyone has worked well on this case, I'll take the suspension," Reid said before walking out the room ignoring their calls for him to come back.
Reid grabbed one of the officers and asked them to take him back to the hotel. He was glad that they didn't hesitate. Then again he basically did all the medical evidence when no one else dared to. Of course they would help him.
Reid couldn't believe he had suspended himself. He wasn't even upset with Hotch or the team, but he did feel like he could have done something better with his life. Maybe it just took him this long to realize that. Then again, he always feels that way when he gets around Ethan.
He got to the hotel and trailed up to his room. Reid called the airport and bought a last minute ticket to Virginia. Leaving his badge and gun in Morgan's bag, Reid grabbed his go bag and walked out. He turned in his key and as he was about to leave the hotel. The one person he did not want to see showed up. Reid inwardly grimaced. Morgan.
"Reid, you're making a mistake," Morgan said as Reid tried to walk outside.
"No Morgan I'm not. I'm not a good person to work with right now. You guys just do your job, I'll be back in a week or so when this attitude I have dissipates," Reid said quickly.
"Is this about you getting in trouble with Hotch or you trying to get away from working with me," Morgan asked angrily.
"Morgan, if was trying to get away from you, I would have quit," Reid said walking towards an open taxi, but Morgan grabbed his wrist.
"Let me go," Reid demanded. Instead, Morgan had another idea.
"No," Morgan said automatically cuffing Reid.
"What?" Reid questioned in confusion. "Are you serious? Let me go," Reid said trying to get free, but Morgan simply dragged Reid to the black SUV and began driving the kid back to the station.
"This is ridiculous Morgan," Reid mumbled wishing he had some type of wire. He could easily break out of the cuffs.
"What's ridiculous is you letting this case go. You're the only one who seems to understand this unsub. Reid you have so much potential. Don't throw it away because of Hotch flipping out," Morgan pleaded.
Reid was about to respond when a truck smashed into Reid's side. Morgan couldn't get control of the wheel as the SUV slid in the slightly iced road. Next thing Morgan knew, the SUV flipped.
Semi consciously Morgan glanced at Reid, who was unconscious and bleeding.
"Stop," Morgan mumbled as he realized that someone had cut Reid's seat belt and was slowly taking Reid out. Morgan frowned when the only thing he saw next to him was another note, but it didn't matter as Morgan fell into darkness.