Disclaimer: Criminal Minds and all its characters belong to CBS. I own nothing. Feel free to read and review, but please don't copy.
Previously on Criminal Minds- Just as Morgan regained control, the Jeep hit a patch of black ice. The vehicle swerved wildly before taking out a guardrail and roaring into the woods!
CM
Morgan groaned as he slowly came to. Wondering why his head felt like a punching bag, he forced his eyes open and stared blearily at the busted windshield in front of him. The groggy profiler frowned. What was going on? Had he been in a wreck? He searched through his memory for any clue as to the reason for his current circumstances. It took a minute for the moments before the crash to filter through his sluggish brain but flashes of the tire bursting and sliding on the black ice finally broke through. Moaning as the exertion increased the pounding in his head, Derek closed his eyes. And that's when he heard it; a muffled sobbing coming from somewhere behind him. A sudden flash of him settling Reid in his booster seat had him struggling to open his eyes. Once that Herculean feat was accomplished, Morgan looked towards the rearview mirror. Seeing nothing, he croaked, "S-Spencer? Spencer, are you o-okay?"
Spencer sniffed. "Y-y-yeah" he fibbed, fiddling with the straps on his booster seat.
Morgan frowned. "Spencer" he lowly growled. "I need the truth. How bad is it?"
Reid wrapped his arms around himself. "My, my head huwts." He honestly answered. "And my left awm."
Derek sighed. He'd figured as much. "Anything else?" he inquired.
Spencer nodded even though his friend couldn't see it. "My Ewot's gone." He informed the older man.
The corners of Morgan's lips twitched up. Leave it to Reid to be worried about a stuffed toy. Biting back the remark that was just dying to come out, he instead said, "Don't worry, kiddo. We'll find it."
Reid allowed a small smile to grace his lips. If Derek said they'd find his security animal, then they'd find it. There was just one very important thing he needed to know first. "Is Em'ly otay?"
Morgan rolled his head to the right and looked at his unconscious co-pilot. Blood streamed down her face from a large gash above her right eye. More blood dotted her cheeks from various cuts and scratches more than likely from flying glass. He couldn't see any other injuries but that didn't mean there weren't any. Internal injuries were a real possibility. After all, the tree they'd rammed was on her side. Worry drove him to reach a shaky hand out and place it on the pulse point in her neck. Feeling the erratic but strong heartbeat, Derek let out a relieved breath.
"Mowgan?" a tiny voice called, reminding the profiler that he wasn't the only one worried about their friend and sister.
"Emily's still unconscious but her pulse is good." Derek told the boy. Hearing shuffling coming from the back, he swiftly added, "Stay where you are, Pretty Boy."
"But Em'ly needs…"
"Help, I know," Morgan finished. "And we'll get her help. But I don't want you moving. You could be hurt worse than you think and moving around will make it worse."
"I'm not…"
"You don't know that, kiddo." Derek interrupted. "Now just stay put. I'm gonna get my cell and call Rossi to come get us."
Spencer shook his head, groaning as the motion ramped up his headache. "Tall nine one one fiwst. We'we tlosew to town fan we awe to the tabin." He explained.
"Got it" Morgan replied. He yanked his cell out of its cradle, flipped it open, and held it up. He cursed when the screen remained dark. "Crap! I forgot to charge it!" The injured man glanced over at his fallen companion. Spotting the strap of her purse, he smiled. Their problem was solved. Derek reached down and pushed the button of his seat belt. It didn't budge. Growling, he tried again. The seat belt remained securely fastened. "Shit!"
"Mowgan, what's wong?" Spencer asked.
"My seat belt's stuck. I can't get to Prentiss' pocketbook to get her phone." Morgan answered.
"I'll get it." Reid volunteered. Ignoring his big brother's protests, the youngster made a fist with his good hand and punched the button on his seat belt. Once freed, he slid off the seat and gingerly climbed over the middle console to the front of the vehicle. Leaning over, he wrapped his fingers around the pocketbook strap and slowly pulled it into his lap. After unzipping the top, Spencer quickly started pulling items out. Gum, tissue, and a comb were set in one of the cup holders as he sifted through the purse. The little boy pulled a long, cylindrical package out before swiftly tossing it back in. "EWWWW!" he shouted, making a face as he furiously wiped his hand on his pants.
"What is it?" Morgan questioned.
"It was a, a fem'nine hygiene pwodut." Spencer muttered, sticking out his tongue.
Morgan smirked. "What's a matter, kid? Afraid you're gonna get cooties?" he teased.
"Ha ha" Reid dryly said, rolling his eyes. He stuck his hand in the purse again and carefully shifted the items around before triumphantly pulling out the cell phone. "I found it!" Grinning from ear to ear, the mini profiler opened the phone and frowned. "Fewe's only one baw." He lamented.
Derek sighed. He'd been afraid of that. More determined than ever to get free, he glanced frantically around for anything he could use to cut himself free. Finding nothing, he cursed. "She doesn't happen to have a knife in that purse of hers, does she?" he asked.
"No" Spencer answered, leaning against his best friend. "Fewe's nofing shawp in fewe."
"Figures" Morgan grumbled.
Nodding, Reid settled back against Morgan's side and closed his eyes. They popped back open as he remembered something important. "The tit!" he hollered. "Fewe's a potet(pocket) knife in the 'mewgency tit!" The little boy threw his uninjured hand over his mouth at the last word.
Morgan sniggered. Boy was he gonna have fun teasing the kid about that later. But for now; "Think you can get to it?"
"Uh huh" Spencer answered. The youngster carefully backed himself off the console and onto the floorboard. After climbing onto the back seat, he scrambled over the bench seat and into the back. It took a little doing but he finally found the duffle that housed the BAU's emergency kit. He unzipped the bag, picked out the first aid kit and the space blankets. He rolled the blankets up and over the back of the seat before crawling over himself with the medical kit. After handing off the red supply bag to his big brother, Reid dropped to the floor to get the blankets. While picking one up, his fingers brushed something soft and fluffy. Grinning, the little boy snatched up his toy only to drop it as something sharp poked him. Leaning down, he picked up his stuffed animal again, more carefully this time. A look of horror crossed his face as he took in the piece of metal stuck through the Ewok's neck. Spencer immediately burst into tears at the sight.
"Spencer? What's wrong, kiddo?" Derek questioned as he sawed harder on the belt trapping him.
Reid scrambled onto the console and buried his face in Morgan's side. "My Ewot! It's bwoten(broken)!" he cried.
The older profiler cocked his head to one side and gazed quizzically down at the sobbing boy. "Don't cry, man. You've got another one at Rossi's place. Remember?" he said.
Spencer cried harder. "I-it's not the, the s-s-s-same!" he wailed. "Gaw-Gawcia gave me fis o-o-o-one!"
Derek's expression softened. He took the mangled animal and gave it a once over. "Hey, it's not so bad. I bet JJ and Pen can fix him up in no time." He said.
"W-w-weally?" Reid stammered.
"Really" Morgan agreed, smiling down at the tot. Feeling a shiver run through Spencer, he reached back and picked up one of the space blankets. He wrapped it around the boy before grabbing the other one and carefully draping it over Prentiss before sighing. The next part was not going to be fun. Taking a deep breath, Derek slowly let it out and then dove right in. "Alright Pretty Boy, I'm gonna get out and walk back towards the road till I get a signal. I need you…"
"No! Don't leave!" Spencer shouted, the child part of him coming to the surface. "I'm, I'm tawed(scared)!"
"I know kiddo. I know." Morgan whispered, wrapping an arm around the trembling boy's shoulders. "But I'm not gonna go far. I promise. I just need to get close enough to the road to hopefully get a signal." Seeing the tears begin again, he ran his free hand over his bald head. "Come on man. It'll be okay. I'll only be a minute. I'd take you with me but I need you to watch out for Prentiss while I'm gone. You can do that, can't you?"
"Wha-what do I do?" Reid questioned, glancing over at the unconscious woman.
"Just keep an eye on her" Morgan instructed. "And if she comes to, try to keep her calm and still. Think you can do that?"
Spencer squared his shoulders and nodded. "I tan do fat." He agreed, determination shining in his eyes.
"Good man" Derek praised. He gave his little brother a one armed hug and then reluctantly released him. "Be right back, Short Stuff" he vowed. Borrowed cell phone in hand, Morgan shoved open the driver's side door and stumbled out of the truck to get help.