The next few days were incredibly tense. After Morgan had taken a break at Garcia's he had returned home, but it was clear it had not done much to recoup his energy. His seemingly endless supply of patience had finally reached its end. His frustrations and helplessness were overwhelming him, sinking him into a deep depression. He spent most of his days sat in his chair watching re-runs on TV. He barely moved. Not even to make coffees. In a strange flip of roles, Reid had taken on the position of caretaker and was making an inordinate amount of effort to show Morgan that he was getting better. He would make coffees, get him snacks, try to lighten the mood with jokes and even suggested going out for a walk somewhere. Unfortunately, that was met with a sullen and sarcastic "Great idea, in fact, why don't we just stand you at the front door with a target on your chest". That had shut Reid down instantly. He'd sat down on the couch and joined Morgan in his depression.
When Hotch had come in that evening the atmosphere was painfully heavy. Heavier than he had ever felt it and he didn't like it. He knew Morgan couldn't help it; his mental health was suffering. But seeing Reid making such an effort to please him and getting nothing in return was painful. It was like watching a child doing everything within their power just to get a pat on the back or a 'well done'. It didn't surprise him that this was Reid's behaviour. A lot of people in his position might have snapped at Morgan, after all, he was the one who had been repeatedly abused. But not Reid, his go-to move was to placate and pander to the person who was pushing him away in the sheer hope that he wouldn't be abandoned. Hotch figured that was probably how he spent his childhood. Doing anything within his power just to get some form of acknowledgement or recognition that he was actually there.
Hotch sat down on the couch between the two. Reid gave him a small smile. Morgan didn't acknowledge him at all.
"How are you feeling?" Hotch asked Reid.
"I'm okay." Reid's hands were trembling a little. Hotch nodded to them.
"Have you had a flashback?" He frowned.
Reid quickly glanced at Morgan, his eyes widening a little then he looked back to Hotch. He clearly didn't want to say.
"Just a small one." He said quietly.
Hotch could see Morgan's gaze drop from the TV and he took a breath in. The guilt was clear. He either hadn't known about it or hadn't reacted to it.
"It's okay." Reid waved away Hotch's concern. "I used the ball and it helped." He said with a small smile. There was a little bit of pride in there that warmed Hotch's heart. Perhaps it wasn't all bad news.
"That's good, Reid. I'm glad it's helping."
"Do you want a coffee?" Reid asked, standing up from the couch.
"It's okay, I'll sort it." Hotch said quickly, moving to stand up. A firm hand on his shoulder stopped his movement.
"Hotch, you've been at work all day. The least I can do is make you a drink."
Hotch nodded and settled back into the couch. The situation with the pair of them wasn't ideal, but it did seem to be bringing about some positive changes in Reid. He was regaining tiny pieces of independence. Whilst he knew it was a forced act largely for Morgan's benefit, doing regular day to day activities such as making coffee had to be helpful small steps towards a return to normality.
Reid stopped next to Morgan and looked at him sheepishly. "Do you want one, Morgan?"
Morgan shook his head. "No, thanks." Reid nodded and shuffled out of the room and into the kitchen.
Hotch eyed Morgan carefully. "What are you doing?" He said quietly.
Morgan's eyebrows furrowed and his shoulder shrugged. "Watching TV." Hotch rolled his eyes and sat forward.
"You know what I mean." He said firmly. Morgan pulled his gaze away from the screen and looked at Hotch. His eyes were slightly challenging but there was a clear insecurity there too. He looked about as lost as he had ever seen Morgan look. "Why are you being so cold with him? He doesn't deserve it, Morgan. I know this is hard bu-"
"You don't know anything, Hotch. You don't know the half of it." Morgan said flatly.
"Well then tell me. I know you're exhausted, but pushing him away isn't helping either of you."
"He seems fine. In fact, he seems better now I'm not mothering him all the time." Morgan said coldly.
Hotch could understand why Morgan might look at it that way, but he wasn't seeing what he was seeing.
"He's nervous of you, Morgan. He's just trying to impress you."
"Nervous of me? I'm not the one trying to throw myself off bridges or cutting myself up with knives." Hotch clenched his jaw. Morgan was obviously angry, but it was coming from a place of pure fear. He knew that. "Look Hotch, I spoke to the therapist and she said to give myself some space. If he has to stay here then I need to make sure I'm having some time for myself. I can't revolve my life around him. That's all I'm doing. I'm just giving myself a little distance."
"If he has to stay here?" Hotch repeated. "Would you rather him be somewhere else?"
Morgan sighed, his shoulders slumping and he closed his eyes.
"There's nowhere else he can stay. He's fine here. But I have to give myself some space. It's like she said, I've put him first for months now."
Reid then entered the room with two coffees. His face wore an emotionless mask. It was the expression of someone who had overheard something that had upset them but they weren't going to show it.
He placed Hotch's coffee down on the table and went to leave the living room.
"Where are you going?" Morgan asked quickly and harshly.
"I'm just going upstairs." Reid said quietly.
"I don't think so, Reid." Reid's mouth dropped open and tried to form words, but nothing came out.
Morgan pointed to the couch and Reid closed his eyes and sighed.
"He can go upstairs, Morgan." Hotch said in Reid's support.
"What? And slice himself to bits? I don't think so."
"I'm not going to do that, Morgan." Reid said in exasperation. His face was filled with shame.
"I don't know what you're going to do, do I?" Morgan snapped. "I didn't think you would do that to yourself, but boy was I wrong."
Hotch looked at Reid sympathetically. "Why don't you go in the library, Reid?" He felt that was a good compromise. If Reid was upstairs, Morgan wouldn't settle, but Reid obviously needed some alone time.
"Yeah, okay." Reid nodded and looked down.
"Leave the door open." Morgan ordered. Hotch saw Reid's shoulders slump as he left the room.
Hotch's lips tightened and he looked at Morgan with concern.
"What?" Morgan snapped irritably. Hotch held his hands up innocently. He really didn't want an argument. He sat back in his chair and turned his gaze to the TV.
They could hear Reid's phone suddenly start ringing from the other room and then he entered with a confused look on his face. His brows were furrowed and he looked between Hotch and Morgan.
"Something wrong?" Hotch asked curiously.
"It's the Washington Police Department." He held up the phone showing them the number.
"How do you know?" Morgan asked, lifting an eyebrow.
"I know the number."
Morgan nodded. Of course he did. He probably knew the numbers of Police Departments across the country.
"Do you want me to answer it?" Hotch asked, sensing Reid's reluctance.
"No, it's okay." He took a deep breath into his chest and flipped the phone open. "Spencer Reid."
"Put it on speaker." Hotch said. Reid followed his order.
"Dr. Reid. I'm Sergeant Paula Sheils, I'm calling from the Washington Metropolitan Police Department. There has been a reported break in to a property you are currently listed as renting. Can I please confirm that you are currently a tenant at Capital Plaza Apartments, Apartment 27?"
Reid swallowed as Hotch and Morgan frowned at him.
"Um, yes. That's my address. I'm not staying there at the moment."
"Are you still in the area?"
"Yes, I am. W-What's happened?" He asked, his voice and hands now shaking.
"We received a call this morning from a neighbour who found your door ajar. They were concerned for your welfare so they called us. I'm afraid quite a lot of damage has been done. Are you able to come home? I'd rather not discuss some of the details over the phone."
Reid shot a look at Hotch. "Uh, yeah, I-I guess."
"We have officers there now, when will you be available?"
Reid's stomach flipped. He really didn't want to go to his apartment.
"This is Agent Hotchner with the FBI." Hotch cut in, trying to spare Reid the stress. "I am Dr. Reid's boss. Does he need to be present or can myself and a colleague come over on his behalf?"
"Oh." Sergeant Sheils sounded somewhat taken aback. "FBI? Well, you're welcome to come over, but we could really do with Dr. Reid as we don't know if anything has been stolen."
Hotch looked to Reid apologetically.
"Okay. We'll be there shortly." Hotch confirmed. Reid ended the call and dropped his head into his hands.
"This is him, isn't it." He said simply.
Hotch looked at him sympathetically. "Probably." Morgan was sat angrily wringing his hands. He hadn't said anything but his expression spoke volumes. These games were becoming tiresome.
"Come on, Reid. Let's go." Hotch stood.
Reid stood up with a sigh. Morgan seemed to make no move. "Morgan, are you okay?" Reid asked, somewhat sheepishly. Morgan's hands tightened in response.
"Yeah. Fine." He said, his voice clipped and he stood moodily. He truly was sick of this man terrorising his friend. "Let's go."
Reid stood outside his apartment, his face was pale and his heart was in his throat. The place was crawling with officers and CSIs.
His door had been forced open, damage to the door frame appeared to indicate that a crowbar may have been used. But that was about as much as he could surmise. His body wouldn't physically let him enter the apartment. A firm hand landed on his shoulder and he started.
"You okay?" Morgan asked coolly.
Reid just nodded uncomfortably. He had to do this. He couldn't keep leaving Morgan to deal with everything for him. He owed it to him to get better and start making an effort.
A voice came from behind him. "Dr. Reid?"
The three men turned and Reid gave a small wave.
"That's me." The woman extended her hand out for a shake and Reid awkwardly took it.
"I'm Sergeant Sheils. We spoke on the phone." She then shook Hotch and Morgan's hands.
"Agent Hotchner, Agent Morgan." Hotch introduced.
"I must say, I am a little relieved to have you here. This is uh, an unusual scene to say the least." She turned to Reid. "Dr. Reid, I need to ask you something sensitive." He swallowed thickly. "Do you have a stalker?"
That's not what Reid would have called him.
"Yes, he does." Hotch confirmed when Reid appeared lost for words. Reid winced. "Why do you ask?"
Her mouth dropped open to speak, then she stopped herself seemingly thinking better of her words. "It's probably best that I just show you."
She pushed the door to the apartment open. It was in complete disarray. Books were ripped and scattered everywhere, plates had been thrown and smashed around the room, the sofa had been slashed, even the coffee table was broken. But this wasn't what caught Reid's attention. He gasped. His walls were plastered with photographs of him. Reid stared in shock at the sheer number of pictures. He found his feet dragging him into the apartment before he even realised he was moving. He was completely enraptured by the photographs on the walls. He stared, taking them all in. Morgan's jaw clenched as he watched Reid approach the photos. As expected, Reid reached out and took a photo from the wall and examined it. His mouth dropped open.
"Th-this was after... Jason." He said, slightly breathless. His hand was shaking as he held the photograph of him and Morgan leaving the hospital. Morgan and Hotch exchanged nervous glances. "They've been following me the whole time." Hotch was now next to him.
"I'm so sorry, Reid."
Reid turned to look at him with wide eyes. "You knew."
Hotch dropped his gaze. "There were photos in the vehicle when it was found. Given what happened that day, we thought it best not to mention it."
Frustration flashed in Reid's eyes, then he appeared to think better of it. He bit his bottom lip and nodded. He couldn't exactly blame them. He'd not exactly displayed 'stable' behaviour that day.
"I understand." He said quietly.
"Agents, there's something I really need you to see... it's not pleasant." She looked pointedly to Reid.
Hotch turned to the Sergeant and nodded. He looked to Morgan who seemed to be in his own world staring at the radiator. "Derek?" He said firmly, putting a hand to his upper arm. He seemed to stir.
"Sorry. " He said in a breathy voice. He was clearly struggling with being back in the apartment too.
"This way agents." Sergeant Sheils said ominously and headed in the direction of the bedroom.
Reid moved to follow but Hotch put a hand to his chest to stop him. "Let us look first, Reid." A slight look of relief graced his features and he nodded in acceptance.
The last time Hotch had walked through that doorframe he'd found the sickening image of Reid, naked, beaten and abused in the middle of the bed. The memory made him nauseous. The image he walked in to today did nothing to make him feel any better. His hand came to his mouth and his eyes opened wide. He heard a gasp from beside him, Morgan clearly felt the same.
In the middle of the bed lay a mannequin with arms and legs detached and spread eagled towards each corner of the bed. Around the wrists and ankles of the mannequin were restraints fashioned around the corners of the bed. There were also straps lay across the thighs and chest. The mannequin wore a gag and blindfold. On its chest, written in red marker were the words 'FUCK TOY'. On the wall above the bed was another message:
'8/22/2011
TICK TOCK'.
Hotch and Morgan were both completely lost for words. They could only stare at the sight in front of them. They were in complete shock.
"Does this mean anything to you?" Sergeant Sheils asked cautiously. She knew it did.
Hotch swallowed and turned to the woman. "My team will be taking over the investigation from here." Hotch informed her. "This is linked to a case we are already working on."
"Reid!" Hotch turned to see Morgan pushing a wide-eyed Reid backwards. "You shouldn't be in here. Why did you come in here?" Morgan said desperately grabbing Reid into a hug, pushing his head down onto his shoulder to block his view.
He guided him backwards and away from the room. He could feel him shaking in his grasp. He pushed him away and put his hands to his shoulders. Reid's face was almost grey, his eyes were haunted. "Reid?" Morgan tried. The shaking seemed to move up his body and eventually reached his head. He seemed like he wasn't breathing, then suddenly he took in a huge gasping breath and pulled away from Morgan desperately looking for space. He fell down to his hands and knees and began heaving. Morgan dropped down to the floor next to him but this time he had no words of comfort. They were in the very room where he'd been so horrifically abused, looking at a mannequin that mimicked one of his worst experiences and was essentially threatening him with it again. Morgan could tell him it was okay. But it wasn't. Nothing about it was 'okay'.
He rubbed Reid's back comfortingly. Hotch was now on his other side.
"We need to get him out." Hotch said firmly.
As Reid continued dry heaving, Morgan got him under one arm and Hotch under the other and they pulled him up to his feet. He was like a rag doll, his legs seemed boneless as they dragged him out of the apartment and into the hallway outside. They dropped him down against the wall opposite his apartment.
"He's not going to stop. He's never going to stop." Reid gasped out, his body shaking intensely. "He won't stop until he gets what he wants."
"Reid, calm down." Morgan put an arm around his back and tried pulling his head towards his shoulder but Reid resisted it.
"He's going to make me disappear."
Morgan quirked an eyebrow at him, it seemed an odd wording. "Make you disappear?"
"I'll be his for the rest of my life. Oh god. Please don't let him. Please help me." Reid gripped on to Morgan's shirt, his knuckles turning white with the grip.
"Reid, that is not going to happen. Ever. We will never let that happen."
"You can't stop him. He's everywhere." Reid's eyes were wide and terrified. He began to hyperventilate.
"Reid, you need to take some breaths." Hotch ordered softly.
In his panic he started trying to get to his feet. Morgan held onto him tightly trying to keep him on the floor.
"Reid... Reid! Stay down, man."
"Get off!" Reid hit out at him, trying to release Morgan's grip on his clothing. "Get off!" His chest was expanding and contracting rapidly. He was twisting like a cornered animal, desperate to get away.
Eventually Morgan stood up with him. "Reid, calm down." Reid was pulling frantically away from Morgan's grip.
"Get off!" He kept repeating through his panicked breaths.
Hotch moved in to his other side and put a hand to his back. "Reid, you need to breathe."
Reid twisted again and sent a flailing elbow into Morgan's face. He hit him square in the nose. Morgan automatically let go of his grip as his hands went to his face. Reid ran as soon as he was released. He was straight down the stairs.
Hotch looked at Morgan in shock then instantly began chasing after Reid. Morgan checked his nose for any blood. He was surprised by how much force Reid was able to get behind the hit. Shaking off his shock he followed his two colleagues down the stairs, they didn't appear to be in the foyer of the building so he headed out of the door. Worry hit him instantly. The last thing Reid needed to be doing right now was going outside alone, completely unprotected.
He breathed a sigh of relief when he exited the building and instantly saw Hotch kneeling next to Reid across the road where he had clearly collapsed from panic. Morgan ran across the road to the pair. Reid was looking incredibly pale now and was clearly starting to become dizzy.
"Reid, I really need you to slow down your breathing." Hotch was starting to sound panicked now too. Reid's hand was clutching his chest tightly, he was obviously in a lot of pain. Sweat was pouring down his face. "Reid, breathe." Hotch practically begged him but he seemed unable to listen. His chest was almost wheezing from the harsh and rapid breathing.
"Can't!" Reid gasped out painfully, his eyes were wide as if he was about to die. A dizzy spell clearly hit him again as his eyes went unfocused and his head rolled forward. Morgan dropped in front of him and took his face by the chin and looked into his eyes.
"Come on. Breathe. You're gonna pass out if you're not careful!" Morgan said in frustration.
Reid nodded frantically but his breathing would not slow down. His body was in a total mess. His PTSD had complete control. It wasn't really surprising given what he had just seen. Reid gave Morgan a wide-eyed desperate look before his breathing ramped up again and his eyes rolled into the back of his head and he slumped. Morgan caught him before he fell forward.
"Shit." Morgan said under his breath. Hotch put two fingers to his throat. There was a strong pulse.
"We need to get him home. He shouldn't be out here like this."
"Ironic that he's so scared but straight away puts himself in danger." Morgan said with bite.
Hotch shot him a look. "That's the PTSD, Morgan. His body is in complete fight or flight."
"Yeah, well he needs to be more careful."
Morgan's patience clearly hadn't yet been restored. Hotch looked at him firmly. "Go and call the team, get them over here. The sooner they are here the sooner we find these sons of a bitches."
Morgan raised an eyebrow. "Why don't you call them? I've kinda got my hands full." He had his hands around Reid's shoulders and his forehead was resting on his chest.
"I'll see to Reid." Hotch gave him a stern look. It was the look that only Hotch could give. It was one that no one would disobey if they were wise. He obviously wanted Morgan out of Reid's way. Morgan was working his last nerve now. He understood Morgan was struggling, but it didn't mean he had to tolerate his attitude.
Had Morgan been feeling like himself, he'd have been mortified that Hotch didn't want him around Reid. But right now, Morgan was more than happy to get away from the situation. He still felt like he was running on fumes and the hit to the face hadn't helped.
Hotch got Reid under his arms and pulled him backwards towards a wall. It wasn't the first time he had dragged Reid, but he had to admit, he remembered him being heavier. He knelt down next to him holding his head by the chin. "Reid?" He patted his cheek slightly, trying to bring him round. "Reid?" He patted again and Reid began to stir. He moaned as his head rolled and his eyes started to flicker open. As his awareness came back his body tensed, his eyes shot open and he tried sitting forward. "Reid. You're okay! You're okay." Hotch firmly held him back by his shoulders. "You're okay." He said gently as Reid seemed to relax a little. He was looking around in confusion as if he didn't remember how he'd ended up where he was.
"Hotch... I -"
"Don't talk. Just close your eyes and breathe deeply for a few minutes. I've got you." He put a gentle hand to his forehead encouraging him to rest back into the wall behind him. He stroked through his hair a couple of times as the younger man followed his instruction. When he stopped, Reid grabbed his hand and held it tightly. Hotch nodded. "That's it, Reid. Just take some deep breaths and relax."
Morgan was now coming back across the road. "They're on their way." He said to Hotch. Then he looked to Reid. "He okay?"
"Yeah. You need to take him home."
"I'm staying here, Hotch."
"Morgan, you are still signed off from duty. You can't be involved in this investigation."
"Oh, come on, Hotch! You can't keep me out of this, man!"
"You're compromised, Morgan." Reid said, not opening his eyes. "You're a victim and a witness for the prosecution."
Morgan's jaw tightened. "I'm not a victim. I am perfectly capable of contributing to this investigation. The only victim here is you!"
Reid's eyes opened and he looked at Morgan curiously. He wasn't sure if there was an insult in there somewhere.
Hotch on the other hand, understood it perfectly.
"Enough. Take Reid home." Anger flashed in Morgan's features but it didn't phase Hotch. "Can you cope with that? Or do I need to send someone else over as well?"
Morgan growled a little. His anger was over boiling and it made Hotch very nervous.
"Can I cope with that?" Morgan mimicked in a contemptuous manner. He shook his head and scoffed at Hotch. He moved over to Reid and grabbed him under the arm. "Come on." He pulled him up to his feet and Reid winced as Morgan's fingers dug in a little too hard.
"Morgan, are you okay?" Reid asked cautiously, hands still shaking from his episode.
"I'm fine. Let's just get home." Morgan started walking off towards the car. Reid furrowed his brow and looked at Hotch. He just gave him a tight smile.
"Get some rest, Reid."
Reid then followed Morgan unsteadily, his shoulders were slumped and he had the countenance of a kicked puppy. Hotch watched him as his quivering hands opened the door to the SUV and he slid into the passenger seat keeping his gaze low. He was obviously very much aware of the fact that Morgan had reached his breaking point. He felt guilty about it but was also clearly sad. Hotch was sure that Reid felt quite lost right now. Morgan had been an unbending support for him for months. For him to be pushing Reid away like this had to hurt. It made Hotch angry. But he knew he had no right. If he had been there night after night through nightmares, day after day through flashbacks and panic attacks, been made to watch as Reid was mercilessly attacked in front of him, chased him around bars after disappearances, been propositioned by him, had a suicide note written to him and then when he got him back, found him covered in his own blood after slicing his own arm over and over, he couldn't say he wouldn't be in exactly the same boat. In fact, he knew he would have cracked months ago. The threats from Maloney also played a huge part in Morgan's PTSD. As long as there was a threat against Reid, Morgan couldn't settle. Garcia had confirmed that the other night. Despite having a relaxing evening, Morgan's PTSD had hit hard come bedtime. It was his turn to experience nightmares and each and every one of them revolved around Reid and Maloney. He'd woken Garcia up calling Reid's name no less than three times.
The fact was, they both were a mess. Reid was a sinking ship and Morgan played the role of captain, valiantly allowing others to escape while he sank to the depths with him. It should never have been allowed to happen and he would never forgive himself for not providing the support that they both so clearly needed.
He pulled out his phone and hit speed dial #3. It rang for a few moments and then a voice answered.
"Hotch, we are on our way now."
"JJ, I need you with Reid. Morgan is... struggling and I think he needs some support."
"Oh, okay... Emily, can you drop me off at Morgan's first?" He heard Prentiss agree in the background. "No problem, Hotch. I'm on my way. Is everything okay?"
"Reid had a panic attack and passed out when he saw the state of his apartment. Understandably. He's scared. I just think he needs someone with him."
"And Morgan?"
"Running short on patience. He needs some space."
"Okay, understood." JJ said simply. "I'll be there in 20."
"Thanks, JJ."
Hotch ended the call and sighed. He wasn't going to make the same mistakes again. If someone from the team had to be with Reid and Morgan 24/7, it would happen. The days of Morgan pushing through this alone were over.
Morgan opened the door to find JJ stood on the doorstep. He rolled his eyes.
"Here to babysit, are we?" He said sulkily. JJ frowned a little as Morgan stepped back to let her in. She wasn't used to this Morgan.
"You okay?" She asked curiously.
"I'm just fine. Never better." He said dryly. He turned and walked towards the living room and gestured lazily across the hall. "He's in there." Then he disappeared.
Taking a breath to collect herself, she moved down the hallway and peered around a doorframe. She smiled a little. JJ found Reid in the library with his eyes closed and headphones on.
"Reid?" She said gently. He didn't respond. He obviously had fairly loud music on. "Spence?!" She said a little louder. At this he opened his eyes, upon seeing her he pulled the headphones off.
"Oh, hey." He said with a small smile.
"You enjoying some Beethoven?" She smiled knowingly, moving towards him.
His cheeks flushed a little. "Um, yeah."
At his reaction, her ears tuned in to the beats coming from the headphones.
"Wait, that's not Beethoven." She said curiously, grabbing at the headphones to have a listen. As she pulled it to her ear, Reid quickly tugged them away. JJ broke out into a bright smile. "Is that rap music?!"
Reid's cheeks flushed even more and he cleared his throat. "Dr. Dre." He said quietly, quickly turning off the music.
JJ looked at him, mouth slightly open. "Wow, you have been living with Morgan for way too long." She laughed.
"I find the rhythms therapeutic." He said with embarrassment.
JJ put a hand to his knee, seeing his embarrassment.
"Reid, you can listen to whatever you want."
"Please don't tell Morgan." He asked with pleading eyes. JJ just grinned back at him.
"Don't tell Morgan what?" Morgan was suddenly at the door with a look of dread on his face.
Reid looked to JJ quickly.
"Oh, nothing." She answered with a slight laugh. "We were just having some fun." Morgan didn't smile back.
"Sure. What's happened now?" He said darkly.
JJ's smile dropped and she looked at him defensively. "Nothing, Morgan. It was just a joke."
Morgan's jaw tightened and he nodded for a few moments thoughtfully looking at Reid. He glanced to his arm scowling slightly, then walked away. Reid shifted, pulling his arm towards him unconsciously trying to hide it. His reaction had JJ feeling angry.
She stood. "I'll be back right back, Spence." Reid nodded at her sheepishly. He shakily put his headphones back on and closed his eyes. JJ found Morgan in the kitchen.
"What the hell was that?" She asked angrily. Morgan furrowed his brows in apparent confusion.
"What the hell was what?"
"That attitude."
"What attitude?" He repeated back to her, clearly refusing to acknowledge her point.
She looked at him for a few moments then sighed, folding her arms.
"Do you really hate him as much as you're making out?" She asked simply.
Morgan looked at her in shock. His mouth dropping open. "What?"
"You heard me." She said forcefully.
"Hate him? I don't hate him!"
"Well, you could have fooled me. You looked at him like you couldn't stand him. And he doesn't deserve it." Morgan closed his eyes and dropped his head. "If you don't want him here anymore, say it. But don't treat him like crap." JJ said firmly.
Morgan thumped his fist into the counter. "Stop!" JJ looked at him in surprise. Morgan automatically regretted the move. He laid his hands out flat on the worktop in a calming gesture. "Just stop, okay."
"I would, Derek. But I won't see you treat him like that."
Morgan closed his eyes again and clenched his jaw. "Then have him live with you."
"What?" JJ was genuinely shocked. She knew he was struggling but she genuinely didn't think he would give up.
"Have him live with you!" Morgan snapped. "And you can deal with all of this! When something bad happens and we lose him, you can deal with it!" He pointed at her aggressively and then turned his back to her.
She stared at him for a few moments. It was all falling into place. She looked for the right words. "We're not going to lose him, Morgan."
He spun round. "Really, JJ?! Really? Do you really see this ending any other way? If Maloney doesn't get to him, then he's just as likely to do something to himself! One way or another we're gonna lose him." Morgan's voice broke slightly.
"So that's what this is about." JJ said sadly. "You think you're going to lose him so you're pushing him away."
"You can't talk. Where have you been?" He snapped back viciously. Seeing the hurt on JJ's face, he closed his eyes instantly regretting it. "I'm sorry." Morgan's hands clenched into fists on the worktop and he dropped his head down.
JJ shook her head then stared at the counter for a few moments. "No, you're right." She said quietly. Her expression was filled with shame. "I haven't been a good friend."
Morgan tried to interrupt lifting his head in placation but he was cut off.
"I haven't. I have been so worried about losing 'Spence'." She sighed. "I lost him the second I didn't accept that things were going to be different. That he was going to be different. And instead of accepting that and being a good friend, I avoided it. You have no idea how much I have envied you and your strength, Derek."
"I'm not strong, Jennifer. I'm terrified."
"And you're still here." She said, squeezing his shoulder. "Despite everything."
Silence overtook them. JJ moved towards Morgan as she saw his face crumple in upset. She put a hand to his arm in comfort. She knew a lot of this was his PTSD.
"I can't lose him. Not after everything." His voice cracked as his emotions took over.
JJ's felt tears stinging her eyes. "Morgan, the only way you are going to lose him is by doing what you are doing now." A tear ran down Morgan's cheek. "You're hurting him. He won't show it because he's Reid and he won't tell you. But I can see it."
"I don't want to." Morgan said, cringing. "The last thing I want to do is hurt him."
"Then don't." She said it like it was the simplest thing in the world. Morgan sat down on a stool and put his head in his hands.
"I'm so scared for him, JJ. I don't see how this is ever going to end." His hands clenched into fists on his forehead. "He must be terrified and I just don't know what to do to help him anymore. It just keeps getting worse and worse."
JJ rubbed his back soothingly. "Derek, you can't fix everything. I know you like to think you can. But this, this isn't something you can fix."
Morgan shook his head and breathed out. "Maloney, he's relentless. If I could just figure out who his inside men are-"
"Stop." JJ said. "You're doing it again. Stop trying to fix things. All Reid needs from you, is you. Nothing else." JJ continued to rub his back. "Don't mess it up now. Don't make the same mistakes I have. Especially not for the sake of that bastard. That's exactly what he wants."
Morgan rubbed at his eyes. "God, you're right." Morgan whispered, his face scrunching up in frustration with himself. "You're so right." He shook his head.
JJ wrapped an arm around him and squeezed him comfortingly.
"You've been so strong for him, Derek. I know you must be exhausted. I can't imagine what you've been through with him." She truly felt for Morgan. They all did. They all knew he had shouldered so much weight over the last few months that it was beginning to crush him. "It's okay to need a break. Just don't punish him for it. I know some of the things he's done have been, well, not good." Morgan scoffed softly at that. There was no malice in it now. "But I know that he wouldn't have done any of them if he wasn't... really unwell." At that moment it hit her. She had never actually accepted that fact before this very moment. It had been too hard to contemplate. She sighed. "Don't be angry with him. He can't help it."
"I've really messed things up, haven't I?" Morgan said sadly.
"I'm sure Reid is thinking exactly the same thing." She smiled. One thing she knew about Spencer Reid was that he was always quick to take the blame on himself. That was one thing that would never change.
"Is he okay?" He asked, his face laden with guilt.
"Why don't you go and see for yourself?" She took a step back essentially clearing the way for Morgan to head towards the library. He looked at her for a few moments, his gaze nervous. Then he nodded in acceptance, he went to leave the room but stopped at her side.
"Thank you, JJ." He placed a small kiss on her cheek and she smiled, her bright blue eyes sparkling with tears.
Morgan found himself stood at the door of the library. He took Reid in for a short while. He looked every bit as unwell as he knew he was. He was thin, pale and dishevelled. Dark circles under his eyes showed how little sleep he'd had recently and the bandage on his arm was a visual reminder of exactly how much pain he was going through. Guilt swept over Morgan as he looked at the rather pathetic image in front of him. How could he ever be angry with him? He was just doing his best to push from one day to the next. And seemingly every day there was yet another hurdle for him to leap over. Or drag himself over, was probably a more fitting term. As scared as Morgan felt, in that moment he realised how truly strong the young man sat in front of him was. He'd had his slip ups, who wouldn't? But the fact that he was still sat there, despite everything, truly was a miracle. And Morgan knew, regardless of the support he'd given him, it was that inimitable inner strength that had kept him alive. His friend truly was deceiving. His outer appearance giving the impression of someone who would be blown over by a gentle breeze, but at his core was steel. But Morgan knew that even steel could bend and break. And he had done nothing over the last couple of days to stop that. In fact, he felt like he'd assisted in the bending.
As Morgan brought himself out of his thoughts, he saw that Reid's eyes were now open and he was looking at him cautiously. He hated to see the insecurity in his eyes. It was not a look he was used to receiving from him. Those eyes were normally filled with such trust. It hit Morgan just how easy it was to pull apart months of hard work.
Reid's shaking hands went to turn off his music and removed his headphones.
"Is- is everything okay?" Even his voice was unsure. It hit Morgan in the gut.
Morgan was lost for words for a few moments. "Stand up." He choked out, moving into the room.
Reid blinked a couple of times and his mouth dropped open to speak but nothing came out. Then he stood obediently, clearly unsure of what was about to happen.
Morgan approached him, took him by the shoulder and pulled him close, wrapping his arms around his shoulders. He could feel the tension in Reid's body as he did. "I'm sorry, kid. I'm so sorry."
Morgan felt a large breath escape Reid's body as he almost instantly relaxed in relief, wrapping his arms tightly around Morgan's waist. It was like the hug was all he had been waiting for.
Reid squeezed him so tightly Morgan felt like he might burst. The desperation in his grip only served to make him feel more guilty and a tear escaped his eye. "God, I'm so sorry."
"It's okay." Reid said gently. "I understand." And he genuinely did. It was hard enough for him to understand why he did the things he did. And he was the one doing them. For someone on the outside looking in, it must be disturbing.
Morgan pulled back from the hug and took Reid by the shoulders. "I love you. We'll get through this. Okay?"
Reid's eyes welled up with tears. His mind going back to his apartment and the threat in his bedroom. He shakily nodded. He was so relieved that Morgan wasn't still angry with him. He didn't know what he would do without his protection and support. Morgan grabbed him gently by the face and kissed his forehead. "I'm so sorry, kid." He said softly and pulled Reid back into a hug, pushing his face into his shoulder. As expected, Reid cried. All the fear and devastation from seeing what he saw in his apartment was released and Morgan just held him, like he should have done at the scene. He stroked his head and cried with him.
"Woah." Prentiss stood in pure shock taking in the number of photos plastered in Reid's walls. Many were ones they had seen before.
"This is an obscene level of stalking." Sergeant Sheils said shaking her head. "I've never seen anything like it."
"Neither have we." Rossi said dryly.
Prentiss looked around now. "God, they've destroyed the place. All his books." She said sadly, looking at all of the pages that had been ripped out from what were no doubt once important possessions. "Even his chess board." She said angrily, looking at what was clearly a vintage chess board that had been broken into bits. All the playing pieces had seemingly been stomped on and broken.
"It's all mind games." Rossi said. "He's saying 'look how much I can take from you'."
"This is all about control and submission. What's the best way of making someone submit?" Hotch said thinking back to when he met Maloney with Morgan.
"Make someone feel completely powerless." Rossi repeated Hotch's words from the interview.
"He's taking away everything that's important to him." Prentiss said in realisation.
"And trying to destroy his identity." Rossi added, picking up one of the many books that had been torn to pieces.
"He's saying 'there's nothing you can do about it'." Hotch said sombrely. "And reminding him of what he wants him to be." Rossi looked at him curiously. Hotch nodded towards the bedroom.
Rossi and Prentiss headed into the bedroom and their mouths dropped open on entry.
"Oh my." Prentiss gasped.
"Did he see this?" Rossi asked cautiously. Hotch nodded with a scowl. "That's not good." He said with a sigh.
Hotch pointed to the words on the wall. "His arraignment date."
"Now he's threatening with a countdown." Rossi shook his head. "This is definitely not good."
"So, he wants WITSEC by that date or what? He's going to do this to Reid? That's not even possible. He's in the detention centre." Prentiss said, looking down at the mannequin on the bed in disgust.
"Unless he has some reason to think he's going to make bail." Rossi looked at Hotch knowingly.
"He's just taunting him. Using his knowledge of what Jason did to him to get into his head." Hotch said angrily.
"He's one sick son of a bitch." Prentiss said with revulsion.
"Same writing again." Rossi added, looking at the writing on the wall and the mannequin.
"There's no way one person did all this." Hotch said. "It would have taken hours and they needed to be quick."
"I think it's pretty clear that we are looking at multiple unsubs." Hotch said.
Sergeant Sheils entered the room and they all looked towards her. "I'm afraid the place is clean of prints. These guys clearly know what they are doing. I'm not hopeful for any DNA."
"We didn't expect to find anything." Hotch said forlornly. This was becoming more and more frustrating. They kept waiting for them to slip up but it seemed like that was never going to happen.
"Did any of the neighbours see anything?" Prentiss asked curiously.
"No. No one saw or even heard anything. I spoke to a lady from number 29 who made the call. She found his door ajar this morning. She said she'd seen the tenant a couple of weeks ago and he wasn't well. She didn't think he was supposed to be home so she was worried when she saw the door open. Then she saw the mess when she knocked on the door."
"Did you talk to the other neighbours?" Rossi asked.
"Yes, everyone on this floor. It's been no help I'm afraid."
"Great." Prentiss said dryly.
One of the CSIs now approached. "Sergeant?" She turned to look at the man. "We found a hair in the living room. The colour doesn't appear to match the tenant, looking at the photos."
Sheils looked hopefully at the team. Hotch stepped towards the pair.
"Show me." He said firmly. The CSI held up a bag displaying a short, curly blonde hair. "That's definitely not Reid's." He looked to Rossi and Prentiss with a hope filled gaze. "We need to get a rush on the DNA sample." He instructed.
"Yes, Sir." The man nodded.
"Great work, Matt." Sheils smiled.
For the first time, in a long while, the team had felt the pangs of hope in their chests. Rossi put a hand to Hotch's shoulder and squeezed. It was a small gesture but it communicated what they were all feeling.
Finally, some good news.
That night brought another round of nightmares for Reid, but also Morgan. Hotch found himself in Reid's room three times and once in Morgan's. Hotch had given strict instructions for Morgan to remain in his room and take a break from taking care of Reid for the night. He was relieved to see Morgan back to himself when he got home, but he knew that if he pushed himself again, he could end up right back in that same scenario. Morgan needed the rest and Hotch was going to make sure he got it. The downside was the exhaustion he felt when he woke up on Reid's bed in the morning.
Reid had practically begged him not to leave after a particularly distressing nightmare. Thankfully, Reid had managed to sleep once he knew Hotch was at his side and protectively holding his hand.
After Hotch had left for work, Morgan and Reid were in the living room having a coffee. Both of them looked completely worn out. Morgan's head was titled back in his chair and his eyes were closed. He'd not had a lot of sleep, especially after the nightmare. His mind was replaying the images from the day before, but instead of a mannequin it was Reid, and Maloney, Alan, Ellis and Bill were torturing him. He was screaming out for help but once again, Morgan couldn't do a thing to help. He'd woken up screaming to find Hotch at the end of the bed checking in on him.
He opened his eyes and looked at Reid. He appeared to be deep in thought, staring into his coffee.
"You alright, kid?"
Reid dragged his gaze away from his mug and nodded. "I'm uh, going to get rid of my apartment." He said thoughtfully.
"You don't have to worry about that right now, Reid." Morgan said reassuringly.
"I don't want it anymore."
"Well that's understandable. I didn't think it was a good idea to go back there anyway. Garcia said she would help you find somewhere new. She'll find you somewhere great. But let's not worry about that now."
Reid nodded and sighed. "They destroyed all my books." He said sadly.
Morgan looked at him sympathetically. "I know, kid."
"A lot of them were my Mom's. I've had them since she went into the sanitarium."
"Oh, Reid. I'm sorry, man."
"It's like my life doesn't even exist anymore."
"That's how he wants you to feel, Reid. He wants to get into your head." Morgan sat forward.
"Well it's working. He's taking everything. I feel like there's nothing of me left." He sighed again. "He's taken my home, all my stuff, my security, my privacy. What else is he going to take?" He huffed.
Morgan had no answer to that. He knew what Maloney wanted to take. He wanted to possess Reid completely to the point where Reid didn't even remember who he was. He wanted a living, breathing sex doll under his complete control. And Morgan would die before he saw that happen.
Pulling his mind away from any negative thoughts, Reid stood up. "I'm going for a shower."
Morgan looked at him and gave him a small smile. "Okay, Reid. There's fresh towels in the cupboard upstairs."
"Thanks." Reid said gently, heading out of the room and up the stairs.
Morgan rested his head back again thoughtfully. He really wished there was more he could do to make Reid feel more secure. But Maloney was playing the game well and if Morgan was honest, right now he was winning.
Reid opened the cupboard in the upstairs hall. He reached in to grab a fresh towel. As he leaned over, something he hadn't seen before caught his eye. There was a box with Morgan's writing on it, it said 'PERSONAL STUFF' on the top. The lid was slightly askew and out of the side of it there appeared to be the corner of a photo sticking out. Curiosity getting the better of him, Reid pulled a little on the photo. He expected it to be some family member or perhaps a woman he had once dated. His brows furrowed as a familiar sweater and tie came into view. It was his sweater and tie. His mouth dropped open as he pulled the rest of the photo out. It was a surveillance picture of him. The like taken by whoever was assisting Maloney.
"What?" Reid questioned under his breath. He couldn't imagine why a picture like that would be in a box labelled as 'personal' to Morgan. It seemed very odd. On the back of the photo was some writing ' FOR YOU. ENJOY'. The writing did not match the writing on the other pictures or at the crime scenes.
His curiosity was fully piqued now. He lifted the lid off the box and what met his eyes made him feel sick. He felt the blood drain from his face and the earth tilt underneath him. Inside were multiple photos of him clearly taken by Maloney's 'photographer'. He felt a wave of nausea as he lifted those photos to discover printed screenshots from the video Jason had recorded. One showed him strapped to the bed and blindfolded, much like the mannequin had been. Another was of him being forced to give oral sex and the other was him on his side partially strapped down while Jason raped him. Jason's hand was across his face. Underneath those was a DVD labelled ' FUCK TOY'. Reid's hands shook and he felt vomit coming up into his throat. He dropped the box to the floor, his hands going limp. The contents spilled out all over. The final nail in the coffin was a bottle of lube rolling to his feet. He stared in complete shock at the items. He couldn't move. On top of a pile of photos that had fallen out was an envelope addressed to Morgan. Reid's stomach was heaving as his shaking hands reached down to pick it up. He opened up the envelope, finding a letter. His eyes were going blurred with anxiety and he struggled to read it. He heard footsteps coming up the stairs and in a panic his eyes picked up the words " To Derek" and " From your friend, John."
Morgan stopped at the top of the stairs when he saw Reid looking at him white as a sheet with wide frightened eyes.
He looked at the box on the floor and the photos scattered around and quirked his eyebrow. "Reid? You alright?"
"St-stay away from me." Reid stammered, moving backwards, jumping as his back hit the door of the cupboard.
"What?" Confusion and worry flooded Morgan's features. "God, what's happened?" He automatically moved towards his friend and Reid dodged away from him completely terrified. He quickly grabbed his upper arm trying to calm him down and get him to explain. Morgan looked down as he stood on the photos.
"Don't touch me. Just get away from me!" Reid spat desperately, tears flooding his eyes.
"Reid, it's me! You're safe, man." He was convinced he was in some form of flashback. He looked terror-stricken.
"Get the fuck away from me, Morgan!" Reid forcefully shoved him back causing Morgan to trip over the box on the floor. Morgan was in complete shock as a petrified Reid flew down the stairs. He heard the front door open and then slam as Reid clearly escaped the house.
Reid's chest was pounding, he felt like he couldn't breathe. His feet were moving him down the pathway but his head was flashing with images of Morgan hugging him, taking care of him, being kind to him and then taking himself off to his room to enjoy the images of him with Jason. He grabbed onto the wall at the end of Morgan's path, his knees gave way. His vision was fading in and out as the panic and distress overtook him. He didn't know what to do. Morgan would be out of the front door after him any second. He had to get away. He dragged himself up to his feet and stumbled his way down the street. He needed to call someone. He felt his back pocket and found his phone. He pulled it out and his fingers felt around for it as it fell to the floor. He cursed himself. His brain was telling him to pick it up but his body wouldn't follow. His breathing picked up as he lost it and he couldn't do anything to find it. His fingers grasped around the floor as his chest heaved in a complete panic. His fingers suddenly reached the phone and he grasped it in a desperate hand. Morgan would be next to him any second. The person he trusted most in the world had been the inside man the whole time. He felt sick. His heart pounded harder and sweat ran down from the roots of his hair. His shaking hands pressed on speed dial #1, he could barely breathe. He pulled himself up to his feet and dragged himself down the road as far as he could get before the blissful voice answered.
" Reid?" a slightly surprised voice came down the phone. He hadn't seen that name flash up on his phone in months.
"Hotch" Reid's choked up voice just about managed to squeeze out the words. "It's... it's Morgan."
"Reid. Are you okay?" All he could hear was panicked breathing. " Reid?! What's happened?" More panicked breathing hit his ear. " Take some deep breaths."
Reid had collapsed against a wall two doors down from Morgan's house. It wasn't far enough away to protect him. He was in a complete panic. His whole life over the last few months had been a lie. Every single moment of comfort had clearly been a calculated way of keeping close to him.
" REID?!" Hotch's voice was filled with concern.
"It's Morgan. He's working with Maloney." Reid's shaking voice choked out.
"What?! Reid you're not making any sense. I'm coming over."
"Bring the team. You have to arrest him. Please arrest him. Hotch there's pictures and a letter and he has the video. God.." His breathing picked up again.
" Okay, okay, Reid. We're on our way. Just keep taking deep breaths, okay?"
Morgan was clambering back up to his feet as he heard the door go. The last thing he wanted was Reid out on the streets by himself. His foot slipped on a photo and he looked down, finally taking in what was on the floor. He saw numerous pictures of Reid. He furrowed his brows as he took them in. His mouth dropped open as he saw the pictures from the video.
"What the fuck?" He said under his breath. He dropped to his knees and flicked through the photos, his eyes widening. When he came across the ones with Jason and Reid, he threw them aside in disgust. His heart was racing now. Then he saw the bottle of lube. Taking in the box he instantly recognised it. It was a box he kept underneath his desk at work with keepsakes from cases that meant a lot to him.
His mind was whirling, images of Reid's petrified face kept flashing into his mind. He looked down the stairs and saw in his panic Reid had dropped the piece of paper he had been looking at. He moved to pick it up. His mouth dropped open as he read it.
"To Derek,
Here's a gift to say thank you for your loyalty. I hope you enjoy watching it as much as I do.
From your friend,
John."
"What the hell?" His face contorted into a snarl as he looked at the DVD labelled ' FUCK TOY'. He didn't need to play it to know what was on it. Morgan's heart was in his throat. Reid thought he was working with Maloney. Someone had set this up. Tears of sheer panic filled Morgan's eyes and then he was down the stairs and out the door. He looked up and down the street desperate to locate Reid. He went down the path then spotted him on the floor two doors away.
"Reid!" He rushed to his side. He was on the phone to someone; his breathing was ragged and heavy. "Oh god, I don't know where that stuff has come from."
Reid was practically crawling away from him. His eyes watering and terrified.
"Stay away from me." He gasped.
"Reid, please. I would never-"
"It was in a box with your writing on it!"
"Reid! I've been set up, man! Do you really think I would do that to you? After everything?!" His voice was desperate and pleading.
"Just stay away from me."
"Reid, please just come back in the house. It's not safe out here."
Reid laughed manically. "It's not safe in there!"
Hotch's voice was calling out down the phone. Reid pulled the phone up to his ear again. "Hotch, please hurry! He's right here."
" Reid, get back in the house now."
"I can't. He's here." He said desperately.
"Get in the house and lock yourself in a bathroom. We will be there in 15 minutes. Can you do that?"
"I-I don't know, Hotch. I'm scared." The words and the look directed towards him broke Morgan's heart.
"Put me on speaker, Reid." Reid nodded and followed his instruction. Tears were pouring down his face now, his teeth were chattering in fear. " Morgan, can you hear me?"
Hearing Hotch's voice was a relief. "Yeah, man. I don't know what the hell is going on but I've been set up!"
"Reid is going to go in the house and lock himself in a bathroom and you are going to let him. You will stay on the doorstep until we arrive. Is that understood?"
Morgan's stomach dropped. Hotch was treating him like he was dangerous.
"Hotch, man, you don't actually believe this do you?!"
" Morgan, you are to stay on the doorstep. Is that understood?" Hotch repeated more firmly. He wasn't going to discuss this until he could see for himself what was going on.
Morgan stared at the phone in horror.
"Y-yeah. Understood." He said helplessly. Giving one final desperate look at Reid, he moved into the road to clear the way for him to head back towards the house. He held his hands up in surrender. He felt devastated and completely betrayed. "Go." He said sadly.
Reid froze for a few moments, as if he was expecting Morgan to lunge at him any second.
"Go!" Morgan said in frustration.
Reid glanced at him skittishly and then rushed back towards the house practically running through the door and inside, slamming it behind him. Morgan ran his hands over his head. He was devastated. He had no idea how that box had made its way from the office to his home. And much less idea how it had been filled with the disgusting images. This was clearly a set up by Maloney. Yet another attempt to isolate Reid and make him feel completely alone. And as usual, with Reid's mind in its irrational state, it was working.
Morgan moved back towards the house and sat on the doorstep putting his head in his hands. He could only hope when the team arrived, they would be able to talk some sense into him. He couldn't believe that Reid would think him capable of something like this. After everything he had done for him, how could Reid believe that he would spend his time taking care of him and then sneak off into privacy to fantasise about him being raped? The thought was sickening. It angered him that Reid could ever believe that of him.
Morgan sat in a deep depression until the SUV pulled up outside the house. Four frowning faces exited the vehicle in a hurry.
Morgan looked at Hotch with a pained expression.
"What's happened?"
"I've been set up. Someone is making it look like I've been working with Maloney!"
Rossi looked at him in confusion. "And how would someone do that?"
Morgan stood. "Someone's put a box full of pictures and-" Morgan cut himself off. "It would just be easier to show you."
"Where's Reid?" JJ asked in concern.
"Inside. I don't know." Morgan shrugged. "I did as Hotch told me to do."
Rossi put a hand to his shoulder. "Come on, Derek. Show us what's going on." Morgan nodded, angry tears finally escaping his eyes.
He opened the front door and Reid's voice came from the locked bathroom at the top of the stairs.
"Hotch?! Hotch, is that you?!" He sounded petrified.
"Yeah Reid, we're here. Morgan is coming in to show us what's been found."
He didn't answer.
"Up here." Morgan led them up the stairs to the contents scattered all over the floor. The team knelt down putting on gloves.
"Have you touched these?"
"Yeah, some of them." Morgan said, rubbing a hand down his face.
"God." Prentiss closed her eyes at the images from the video. "That's horrific." She passed them to Rossi who grimaced and looked away.
"There's a letter too." Morgan said with a deep frown, shaking his head.
Hotch opened the letter and furrowed his brows as he read it.
"And you've never seen any of this before?" Hotch asked.
"Hotch! Of course not! It's nothing to do with me!"
JJ picked up the lid of the box and flipped it over. "Erm, Morgan, this is your writing." She said skeptically.
"I know!" Morgan snapped defensively. "That's a box I normally have at work! It's a box of keepsakes from cases I have worked on." The team looked at him for a few moments, concern in their expressions. "Please tell me you believe me." Morgan begged.
Hotch and Rossi exchanged an uncomfortable glance.
"It doesn't look good, Morgan." Rossi said gently.
Morgan's devastated expression landed on his older colleague. "You're not telling me you believe this, are you?"
Prentiss bent down and picked up the bottle of lube. A look of disgust on her face.
"This is sick." She said dryly.
"And you really think that is something I would do?" He asked desperately, gesturing to the lube. "That I take care of him and then masturbate about his torture when he's not looking? What the hell do you think I am?!"
"Morgan-" Hotch tried.
"I can't believe this." Morgan was now pacing up and down the hallway.
JJ watched him with her hand over her mouth. They were all in complete shock. None of them could believe this was true, but they certainly didn't have an explanation for how the stuff had made its way into the house. Especially with the security system they had in place.
"Let's go downstairs, Morgan. We need to talk to Reid."
"What? And you think if I'm here when he comes out I'm going to attack him? Rape him?" Morgan snarled.
"Morgan!" Hotch said firmly, gesturing down the stairs.
Morgan shook his head and punched the wall hard then headed downstairs. Hotch nodded to Rossi and followed him down.
Rossi moved to the bathroom door and knocked gently. "Reid? Are you in there?"
"Is he gone?" Came a small voice from behind the door.
"Yeah, he's downstairs, kiddo. You can open up."
They heard the lock click but the door didn't open. JJ looked to Rossi and gently turned the door handle.
"Reid?" She said gently. As she pushed the door open she found Reid sat on the floor with his knees to his chest, his arms wrapped tightly around them. He was rocking back and forth and tears were streaming down his face. He looked broken. "Oh, Spence." She said sadly, automatically sitting down next to him.
"Why would he do this to me, JJ?" Reid sobbed. "I trusted him. He's my best friend." His voice broke. JJ looked helplessly to Rossi.
Rossi knelt down in front of him and put a hand to his shoulder. "We don't know that he's involved, Reid."
"Where did that box come from then?!" Reid cried out. "No one has even been in here!"
"I know, kid. I know. We'll figure it out." Rossi said gently. Clearly not willing to give an opinion one way or the other.
"Come on, Reid. This is Morgan we are talking about." Prentiss said disbelievingly. She clearly didn't think that Morgan had any involvement in this. She didn't know how it had come about but she was not willing to believe that he was actively involved in a trafficking ring.
"Then explain it to me, Emily! Explain how it got there!" Reid said in frustration.
She frowned and shook her head. "I can't. But I refuse to believe Morgan is capable of this. And frankly, I'm shocked you would believe it too." She said harshly. Rossi shot her a look. "What?" She said in frustration. "After everything he's done for him, this is how he repays him? I'm almost ashamed of you, Reid."
He looked at her through unsure eyes. Doubt was clearly creeping in. After all of the betrayals he had experienced, his emotions didn't even give him chance to consider another possibility. The fear overtook and he reacted. Now he was starting to question himself.
"Emily. Go downstairs, now." Rossi ordered. She shook her head in anger and left the room, heading downstairs.
Reid looked to JJ. "I don't know what to think." He sounded like a child. So unsure and scared.
"We will get to the bottom of it, Reid." Rossi said reassuringly. "I promise you."
Hotch and Morgan were sat in the living room when Prentiss entered. Her expression was angry.
"You okay?" Hotch asked.
"Yeah, I'm just annoyed that this guy keeps getting into Reid's head and he keeps letting him do it. Every single time."
Morgan out his head in his hands and nodded. "Well he's got what he wanted. Reid won't want anything to do with me after this." Morgan said sadly.
Hotch intervened. "Morgan, I need you to tell me exactly what you touched in the box."
"I looked through a few of the photos. The screenshots from the tape. There were a couple of Reid in a tie and cardigan that were on the top, I'm pretty sure I touched them. I didn't touch the DVD. I didn't touch the um... lube either." His face crinkled in disgust.
"Okay, we need to get CSIs in to catalogue the evidence. We treat this as a crime scene until we know any different." Hotch paused for a moment before reluctantly pulling his handcuffs from his belt. Morgan watched the manoeuvre and closed his eyes with a sigh. "I'm sorry. I need to bring you in."
Stood up in acceptance. "Things just keep getting better and better don't they."
"I'm sorry. We will get to the bottom of this." Hotch said firmly.
"Just get it over with." He turned round and presented his wrists behind his back to allow Hotch to cuff him. Hotch sighed and shot an unhappy look to Prentiss. She just shook her head and looked away. Neither of them were happy about this. Hotch cuffed him as gently as he could.
"Okay, come on." Hotch said, guiding him out of the living room by the arm.
Reid was stood on the stairs looking completely guilt-ridden. Now he had calmed down and his anxiety had settled somewhat, he'd had the opportunity to think a little clearer about things. Morgan met his gaze and they stared at each other for a few moments, then he shook his head in disappointment and turned to Hotch. "Let's go."
Reid moved forward a little but Rossi grabbed his arm to stop him. Reid just watched as Hotch and Prentiss guided him out of the door. As the door shut, he broke down once again.