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Time	By : cr8zymommy Category: 1 through F > Criminal Minds Views: 4585 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds nor the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story

Chapter List
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Morgan woke before Spencer did, still wrapped protectively around the young doctor. He took advantage of the moment to look down and study the sleeping face below him. He propped his head up on his hand and just looked at him. Some of Spencer’s marks had finally started to heal, thank God. They weren’t as bright on his skin as they had been. There were still lines on his face that showed his almost constant state of stress, but Morgan thought that maybe they weren’t as strong as they had been before.
He was surprised at how calm Spencer seemed to be about all of this. Morgan had been sure that the new strength Spencer had found before would have vanished with not only the attempt on Morgan’s life, but with the news that Vincent had escaped. And yet it seemed that Spencer had only grown stronger because of these. The kid was absolutely amazing. Looking at him, Morgan knew he couldn’t deny to himself what he felt for the man who had been his best friend for so long. He couldn’t ignore the love that filled him when he looked at Spencer’s sweet face, or into his wide eyes. He loved Spencer Reid. That was just a fact.
Oh, he knew that right now, nothing could come of it. Maybe never. There was a chance that the kid would never be comfortable being in a relationship with someone. Even if he eventually would be, it was going to be a long process to get him there. His healing wasn’t going to happen overnight. It would take time and effort, not just on his part, but on the part of those that cared for him as well. But Morgan was willing to do it. He was willing to be whatever it was that Spencer needed. Loving him didn’t mean that they had to be together; loving Spencer meant wanting the best for Spencer, even if it wasn’t Morgan that was best for him. No matter what it was Spencer would eventually want, Morgan swore right then and there that he would be there for him.
In his sleep, Spencer lost some of the stress that usually was written on him. The night had been a long one. Not as long as some, but long nonetheless. Six nightmares had woken the kid from his sleep, making him thrash around the hospital bed and whimper in his sleep until Morgan got him awake. Afterwards, the kid cried against Morgan’s chest, clinging to him like he was his only lifeline. Morgan would rub his back, hold him close, whispering soothingly to him. Anything to help calm him down. Then he stayed wrapped around him until Spencer fell asleep once more.
He’d expected the nightmares. Who hadn’t? With news that Vincent was free it was natural that Spencer’s nightmares would happen. Plus, the kid really did seem to sleep better when Clooney was there and they couldn’t bring the dog into the hospital. Thankfully they would be released this morning and they could go back to Morgan’s house. Spencer would relax more there.
It hurt to look down at the white bandage on Spencer’s arm. He hated seeing anything mar his pretty boy’s skin. What made it even worse was knowing that the shot had been meant for him. He didn’t doubt Spencer’s conclusion on that. With someone else, he might have. But he knew that Spencer know the guy who did it as well as Vincent, which lent credence to his words. On top of that was the fact that Spencer was the smartest guy he knew and if he said that the bullet would have hit Morgan’s heart if they hadn’t moved, then Morgan believed him. Spencer was the only guy he knew that could calculate something like that in a split second.
He hated that Spencer had been shot by protecting him. He hated that he hadn’t been able to keep him safe. They should have been safe! They’d just been walking the dog. A small shudder ran down him when he thought of how much worse it could have been. The bullet could have hit Spencer somewhere vital. He could have lost him. If Morgan ever got his hands on the guy that had done this….
“It wasn’t your fault.”
Spencer’s low murmur drew Morgan from his bloodthirsty thoughts. He looked at the face below him again, noticing that Spencer hadn’t opened his eyes, but he was definitely awake. “What, kid?”
“It wasn’t your fault I’m hurt. You couldn’t have protected me from something like this. You couldn’t have predicted it.”
“I’m supposed to be protecting you, Spencer. You shouldn’t have had to protect me.” The words came out before he even thought about them. Somehow, Spencer has a way of doing that to him. Of bringing out things that he typically wouldn’t say to anyone else. But he knows he can say them to Spencer.
The eyes he loved so much blinked for a second before fully opening and focusing on him. It lifted Morgan’s heart to see that the shadows there weren’t as deep and dark as they had been. Somehow, Spencer was finding strength in the horror around them right now, drawing on it and becoming more like his old self. “You do protect me, Morgan. You have. This…it wasn’t your fault. I couldn’t let someone shoot you. I’d rather take a bullet in the arm any day of the week than see you be shot in front of me.”
“I’d rather be shot than see you be hurt again, pretty boy. I hate seeing you hurt.”
“I can take it.” There was nothing in Spencer’s tone but truth there. He wasn’t being condescending or boastful; just stating a fact. It hurt to hear it. “This, it’s nothing, Morgan. I’ve had worse. I can handle this. I couldn’t have handled if the bullet had hit you. I, I don’t know what I would have done then.”
Their conversation was cut short by the doctor walking into the room. She looked calmer than she’d been the day before; nowhere near as irritated. But her eyes did slide past Morgan to focus on Spencer. He tried to hold his grin in. The woman could be as irritated with him as she wanted. Morgan didn’t regret a single thing. He’d promised Spencer he would stay with him and he had. Nothing would have been able to make him break that promise.
“Well, Dr. Reid, it’s good to see you’re awake! How’re you feeling this morning?” she asked him kindly. She stopped almost a foot away from the bed, giving him personal space.
Spencer struggled to try and sit up. Realizing what his friend wanted, Morgan shifted and helped him upright, ending with Spencer’s back pressed against him again so that he was almost supporting the kid. His arms were around Spencer’s waist still, resting now in his lap with Spencer’s hands covering his. It still amazed Morgan how much Spencer seemed to be craving physical contact with him. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that all physical contact with me is gentle and reassuring and loving. It’s the first contact he’s had in years that he can count on not hurting him. That thought made Morgan sit up just a little straighter and smile.
Once he was settled, Spencer dipped his head down, avoiding eye contact with the doctor. She was a woman, yes, so it was easier for him to relax around her. But Morgan realized that the yelling match she’d been in with him yesterday probably hadn’t left Spencer with a good impression of her. The young man cleared his throat before telling her “I’m fine, thank you. May I go home now?”
“Well, I’d like to look at your arm, make sure no infection is trying to set in. Then we’d like to get you to eat something while we get you your prescriptions. After that, I’ll see about discharging you.”
Spencer’s eyes shot up to Morgan. He saw the panic there and knew what it was for. “He won’t take pain medication if you try to give it to him.” Morgan told Dr. Tawny. “But the breakfast…” Now Morgan tipped his head down to look at Spencer. “You need the nutrients, sugar. Your body was put through trauma; it needs to replenish its energy.”
“Can’t I eat at home? Or on the way home?” Spencer whispered to him. “Please? I don’t…I don’t want to stay here.” His voice turned even quieter. “Please, Morgan. I’d feel safer at home.”
How on earth could he resist him? Those last words were all Morgan needed to hear. He looked up at the doctor and told her “Get his discharge papers together. We’re leaving in the next half hour. I promise, I’ll feed him when I get home.” Then, without waiting to see what argument she would deliver, Morgan shifted and pulled out his cell phone, dialing Aaron’s number to let him know they were getting ready to go home. If that was what Spencer wanted, what he felt he needed, then Morgan was going to take care of it for him. No matter what the uppity doctor said.
After that, things seemed to move quickly. It helped that Morgan basically ignored the doctor or anyone else. All of his attention was focused on Spencer. They got his arm checked—no infection so far, thank God—and then they were taking care of his paperwork and two agents arrived to escort them home since the rest of the team was at the local police station, trying to help in the effort to catch Vincent.
It was an hour after Morgan told Dr. Tawny that they were leaving that the two men walked into the kitchen of Morgan’s house, almost instantly being greeted by a bouncing and barking Clooney. It warmed Morgan’s heart to see Spencer smile down at the dog, his hand resting lightly on Clooney’s head for a moment. It was sweet to watch how Spencer seemed to almost sigh out some of his tension at the contact with the dog. Yes, Clooney was definitely going to be a big part of Spencer’s healing process. There was no denying that. He made Spencer feel just a little safer. When Spencer started counseling that was something the two should bring up with his counselor.
Morgan started a fresh pot of coffee before moving to the fridge. He knew Spencer needed to eat, but he also knew the kid wouldn’t be up to eating much. So he settled for bringing out a bowl of fresh fruit that Garcia had left there as a premade snack and a cup of yogurt. He set them down on the table and brought over a spoon.
The two were silent while Spencer sat down and ate what was put before him. The mood around them just seemed to call for silence. Once the yogurt was gone and a few pieces of fruit had been eaten, Morgan cleaned up and brought over a cup of coffee for each of them. He settled down into the chair next to Spencer and waited. It was obvious to him that the kid had something to say. Whatever it was, he planned on just waiting him out. Spencer would get to it eventually.
~~~POV Switch~~~
After chewing it over in his mind for a while, Spencer finally decided to speak up about what was on his mind. “Morgan.” Setting down his coffee cup, Spencer looked up into Morgan’s eyes. He gathered as much courage as he could. “We need to go to the station with the others.”
“What?” Surprise, Morgan furrowed his eyebrows. “What are you talking about?”
“WE shouldn’t be just sitting here, waiting for something to happen. If this was a normal case, the surviving victim would be at the station being questioned about the person we were looking for. We’d draw everything we could from them and then we’d try to build a geographical profile to narrow down the area he might go to. I know Master like no one else. I’m the only one with intimate knowledge of him. I…I can help figure out where he might go to hide or what his next move might be.”
It was easy to see that Morgan wasn’t pleased with this idea. He looked not just upset, but afraid. “Kid, I don’t know…”
“Yes, you do.” Spencer cut in. He didn’t know where this bravery was coming from, but he wasn’t going to question it. He knew what he had to do. As much as the boy inside of him screamed that what he was doing was wrong, so very wrong, he knew he had to do this. He had to help them catch Master or he would never be free from him. “You know they need the information I have. Not just that, either. I, well, I mean….” Trailing off, he ran a hand through his hair. “I need this too, Morgan. I need to do this. Can you understand that? I need to do something. I can’t just sit here and wait, afraid of what’s going to happen, waiting for him to come in the door and take me away.”
“I will never let him take you from me.” Morgan insisted fiercely.
Those words put a warm glow around Spencer’s heart. Yes, he truly loved this man. That love filled him up inside. “I know.” He said gently. Though his hand trembled, he reached out and laid it over Morgan’s on the table. “I need you to understand, Morgan. Please. I can’t just wait here. I can’t not help. I need to do something, anything, to help with this. How can I heal if I don’t start making myself grow up? I can’t live my whole life in fear. I just can’t do it. I want to help. I know I’m not perfect yet. I know I’m not even halfway toward being well again. But this, it’s a step I need to take. I need to prove to myself I can do this. Can’t you see that?”
The look in Morgan’s eyes told Spencer that he’d won. The hand under his turned, curling around his fingers. Morgan’s eyes slid closed for just a moment. “I guess you’d be just as safe in the police station, huh?” He said hoarsely. When his eyes opened, they were swirling with countless emotions. “If you need to leave at any time, I want you to tell me, ok? Don’t push yourself too far, Spencer. Promise me that.”
That he could grant, easily. “I promise.”
Nodding, Morgan rose from the table, leaving his cup there. “Then let’s get down there. I’ll call Hotch and let him know we’re coming.”

Though Spencer could see that the team wasn’t happy with this turn of events, they all greeted him when he arrived with Morgan at the station. They were led through the main room quickly and taken to a conference style room where the team was set up. Once in there, Spencer breathed a little easier. There wasn’t as many people back here. And once JJ shut the door, it was definitely quieter, which he appreciated.
Looking at the room, Spencer tried to keep himself from shaking slightly at being the center of attention. Though he was feeling stronger inside, it was hard for him to be here in the room with them, the door shut, knowing that there was tons of people right outside. He couldn’t help that fear that told him he was surrounded by people who could hurt him.
Thinking like that won’t help you! His mind scolded him. You’re here for a reason. You know this is the right thing to do. Master is Master, but this is your opportunity to show him that you are not Boy anymore. You are never going to be Boy again. You can help them catch him and make sure that he’s put away for good. Do you want to go back to living in that basement?
Of course he didn’t! His mind latched onto that. See, you don’t. No matter how well ‘trained’ he had you before, you know it’s wrong. Even though a part of you still feels like you have to be with him, you know now that you don’t. The rules changed when he sent someone to kill Morgan. You know that’s what happened. He actually sent someone to kill Morgan. Hurting you, that’s one thing. But not Morgan. Not those you care for. So you’ll help them catch him and end this nightmare. Now, quit standing here shaking and do your job! Treat this like you would any other case. What’s the first thing you’d do on a normal case?
He looked to Morgan for a second, just to reassure himself that he was still with him, and then he turned his eyes to Aaron. “Do, uh, do you have a map? I, I can draw a geographical profile for you.”
Surprise and pride lit Aaron’s eyes for a brief second. He bent down and rustled around in the papers on the table, bringing out a folded map and a set of markers. Spencer appreciated the fact that Aaron brought them over and set them on the table instead of trying to hand them directly to him. Then his friend backed off, allowing him space to walk up.
So many things seemed to elude Spencer when he tried to do them. His brain had almost forgotten how to do some of the most basic functions. So he’d worried a little that this was something that would be gone, too. But when he opened up the map and picked up a marker, it was all right there in his mind. He stopped worrying for a split second and let the information he needed flood to the front of his mind.
Absently he started to move, marking off the places he needed to on his map. The rest of the room stopped being important to him, though a small part of his mind monitored everyone’s movement and kept track of any potential danger. It was easier to relax when Morgan moved to stand protectively beside him. Morgan would make sure no one startled him.
Slowly but surely Spencer worked on his profile while the others worked near him, debating their points and discussing what they could do. He didn’t listen to their conversation; didn’t need to hear the profile they built on Master. He already knew the profile for him. Instead he focused on trying to figure out where he would run to.
By the time he looked up again, he had an area marked off that he suspected Master would run to. Where in that area, he didn’t know, but he knew it would be within the circle he’d made. The cabin was in that circle. That was one of the first places Spencer was going to suggest they go look. There was a chance Master might not go there if he thought his boy had told, but Spencer felt that Master wouldn’t suspect him of telling. He would be too trusting in his ‘training’.
He looked up to tell them all what he’d figured out when he caught sight of JJ’s face. She stood off to the side of the room, holding her phone in her hand, her eyes wide with panic. No one else had noticed her yet.
Instinct took over and had him moving toward her, his movements slow and gentle so as not to startle her. “JJ?” he called out softly. But that soft call was enough to draw all attention to her. Every pair of eyes in the room was focused on her and all sound cut off. JJ stayed frozen, not noticing them. Spencer moved closer until he could reach his hand out to touch hers. “JJ?”
She blinked, her eyes clearing a little. Once they did, tears filled them. She looked at him with an expression of heartache and terror that had him bracing for the worst. But nothing could have prepared him for what she said. He had worried something had happened with Master; he hadn’t expected this.
“That was Will.” She whispered brokenly. “He went to pick up Henry from the babysitters and found the babysitter knocked out on the ground. Henry’s gone.”
Then, with a broken sob, she crumpled into Spencer’s arms.
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