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Return from the Edge	By : hatochiisai Category: 1 through F > Criminal Minds Views: 3691 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds, nor do I make any financial profit off of writing and posting this work.

Chapter List
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Return from the Edge

Ahmose Inarus

Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds

SLASH WARNING!!! Hotch/Reid

Chapter 1

The plump blonde woman reached out when her phone rang and picked it up.

“Dr. Blair… Yes, Chief Strauss, thank you for returning my call.” She leaned back and listened. “He’s leaving this afternoon.” She said with a nod. “He’s completed his treatment, and I am extremely pleased with the progress he’s made… No ma’am. I wanted to put him on an anti-anxiety medication and some sleeping pills to help him sleep at night but he refused. And he surprised me. He actually slept relatively well and the only anxiety I’ve seen has been whenever his team left after a visit and he had to stay behind. And even that was minimal. He’s a very strong soul. I’m sure your doctor will agree upon evaluating him, he’s ready to return to work, but I recommend that he be EASED back into the field carefully… Yes ma’am… yes ma’am. He’s been a pleasure to work with. And he will continue to follow up with me. Yes Ma’am. Thank you. Good bye.”

Dr. Blair smiled and stood, leaving her office. She walked down the hall and finally stepped into the room of Dr. Spencer Reid, who had been an outpatient at the McBride Psychiatric Center for the past month. It was one week until Halloween. One week and two days until his first Anniversary with his lover, Aaron Hotchner.

Dr. Blair smiled, watching as her patient zipped up his bag, then turned to face her with a smile.

“I am SO proud of you.” She said, walking over and hugging him, tightly. Reid returned the smile and hug. “You look GREAT.”

“I feel great.” Reid said.

“Well, Dr. Tsai is pleased with your weight gain and I am just… THRILLED with your progress. Ready for your Bureau psych eval?”

“Ready as I’ll ever be.” The young agent said with a grin.

“Good. You’re to set it up immediately. I’ve already sent my report in to the Bureau.”

“Thank you, Dr. Blair.” Reid said, running a hand through his hair, which was thick and lustrous again, instead of the thin, stringy mess it had become as he suffered in Willow Ridge. He had gained back all the weight he had lost there as well, and his injuries had all healed completely. There were no more bandages, and he no longer wore the splint on his wrist, which he had fractured in a fall from a tree in a… less than reasonable attempt to escape the facility. He had even put on some healthy lean muscle as he took up jogging and swimming in the heated indoor pool.

But now, he was finally going home.

“BUTTERCREAM!!!” Reid jumped at the squeal of excitement, and then grunted as he was tackled around the middle.

“Hi Garcia.” He called over his shoulder. When she released him, he turned around and hugged her, grinning as she kissed his cheek.

“Hey, Spence.” JJ said, and the two embraced.

“Pretty Boy!”

“Hi Morgan. Rossi.”

“Reid.” Rossi greeted.

“It’s good to see you, Reid.”

“You too, Emily.” Reid responded. Then he looked past his team and stared at the Unit Chief in the doorway. The man smiled at him and Reid smiled back.

“Ready to get out of here?” The elder asked.

“Absolutely.” Reid said firmly and the team laughed in delight, leading Reid from the room. They left the McBride facility and clamored into cars.

“Do we have a case?” Reid asked immediately, and the team all laughed and groaned loudly.

“Okay, first off, no.” Hotch said, trying not to grin. “Second… YOU haven’t passed your Psych Eval yet.”

“I’m ready! I’ll take it as soon as I get there!” Reid announced eagerly. Everyone groaned and laughed again. Reid looked around, then pouted. “Whaaat?” He whined. The team burst out laughing again and teased him the entire way to the BAU. When they got there, Reid all but bounced into the elevator, and then all but skipped his way to the office of Erin Strauss.

“Good luck.” Hotch murmured, kissing Reid’s cheek, and then the man headed to the bullpen with the team. Reid smiled after them, then knocked on the door.

“Come in.” Strauss called, and Reid stepped in. “Agent Reid.” The woman greeted, standing. They shook hands over her desk and she gestured for him to sit. He did. Strauss took a seat behind her own desk, and smiled. “I spoke to Dr. Blair this morning. She is VERY confident that you are ready to return to work. However, regarding the field—“

“I know.” Reid told her. “Take it slow and ease myself back into active duty.”

“… It’s been nearly four months, Agent Reid.”

“… I know.” Reid nodded. “I look forward to coming back.”

“Your team has missed you.”

“I know.” Reid smiled.

“When would you like to set up your Field Agent Psychiatric Evaluation?”

“Right away.”

“Alright. How soon?”

“I’ll go now!” Reid assured her. She blinked, then smiled.

“… I’ll call them and let them know you’re on your way.” Strauss said. “Be honest.”

“Yes ma’am.” Reid said, and left her office. He headed straight down to speak with the Bureau shrink.

“To Agent Reid!” Rossi announced, holding up his wine glass.

“To Reid!” The rest of the team chorused, and toasted their youngest teammate’s reinstatement as a Field Agent. Reid was smiling shyly, pressed into Hotch’s side. And the man had his arm around the boy.

“Sure hope you’ve recovered in regards to… other things.” The Unit Chief said, smirking. “I’ve been abstinent for four months!” The team watched Reid turn red and giggle.

“I’ll see what I can do.” The boy purred, turning and giving his lover a quick peck on the lips. Hotch grinned, and the team exchanged looks; they couldn’t remember the last time they had seen Hotch so happy. Hell, Reid looked equally happy.

Then, JJ’s phone went off. She looked down.

“… Well… you got your wish, Spence.”

“We have a case?!” The boy gasped, excitedly. The team groaned. “Where are we going?!”

“… Vegas.”

Reid’s excitement immediately faded.

The team sat around the round table in the briefing room and stared at the pictures on the screen. JJ stood and turned to address the team… the ENTIRE team. For the first time in months, they were finally whole. And it felt right.

“As we all know, Halloween is in a week.” JJ said.

“You got out just in time, kiddo.” Garcia said cheerfully, and Reid grinned.

“As you can all imagine, there are Halloween parties right and left. This is where our killer is hunting.”

“Oh, you gotta be kidding me.” Morgan groaned, loudly.

“Anyway…” JJ continued, “Jeremy Meyer and Mike Jacoby. 32 and 27. Both were found murdered in an alley outside of the buildings where the parties were taking place.”

“Any sign of sexual assault?” Prentiss asked.

“Assault, no. But they were stabbed in neck, chest and genitals.” JJ said, shaking her head. “And the killer is a woman.”

“Hm. Okay then.” Rossi said, flipping through crime scene photos.

“We have some security camera shots.” JJ said, and the team looked up at the screen again. They watched as a male and a female slipped out into the alley… the man was wearing an old suit that looked like it belonged in the 1800’s with a long cloak and top hat. The girl with him was dressed like… well… like she belonged in the movie “Moulin Rouge”.

Then there was another clip. A man in jeans, chaps, flannel shirt, leather vest, cowboy hat, boots and gun belt slipped outside with a woman wearing a long black form fitting dress and a long black bridal veil… she was carrying a bouquet of red roses.

“Did we ever get her face?” Hotch asked.

“No.” JJ said. “She’s wearing a mask.”

“So our killer is going to be in a costume, in a massive crowd of costumes?” Morgan sighed.

“Unfortunately, yes.” JJ said. “All we know is she’s a brunette.”

“And let me guess…” Rossi sighed. “We’re going to want to go to these parties to watch out for this girl.”

“Probably.” Hotch said, calmly.

“And to blend in, we’re gonna have to dress up in costumes?” Prentiss drawled.

“… Afraid so.” Hotch said.

“AWESOME!!!” Reid exploded to his feet, making everyone jump. “I gotta go to my storage unit before we go!!! Everyone get your costumes, wheels up in two hours!” And he was gone.

The team sat stock still, staring after him with eyes wide and mouths open.

“… So. What are YOU going as, Hotch?” Morgan asked with a grin. The team chuckled collectively. Hotch reached out and plucked Morgan’s shades from where they were hanging on his shirt, and put them on.

“I’ll switch out my red tie for a black one.” Hotch said, and the team stared at him in shades and a black suit with a white shirt.

“… Men In Black?” Morgan asked.

“Agent from The Matrix?” JJ asked.

“OOH!!!” Garcia blurted, and leapt to her feet. “Rossi, Hotch, Morgan, Emily, I’LL handle YOUR costumes. Rossi! SHAVE!!!” And she bustled off almost as fast as Reid had vanished.

“… Now I’m worried.” Rossi muttered, and slouched down in his seat.

“Morgan, catch her and tell her to put together a Go Bag.” Hotch sighed. “We’ll need her running the security and surveillance systems at the casinos wherever we are.”

“What about our costumes?!” Morgan asked, looking panicked.

“Let her put them together. Gives us less to worry about.”

“This is GARCIA, Hotch. Making us COSTUMES!”

“And she only has an hour or two. I’m not too worried.” Hotch said, and left the room.

“… He should NOT be that calm.” Rossi drawled, and JJ grinned.

The team sat around on the plane, looking through their case files and glancing back at Reid from time to time. The young man was curled up tightly in the corner chair at the very back of the cabin, staring out the window. While he had started out excited and carefully guarding his hanging bag containing his costume from the team, he had gradually begun to look worried and agitated. Hotch had tried to talk to him, but the boy had just asked to be left alone. And so he was.

But finally, Hotch spoke up.

“Reid. I need to know what’s bugging you if you want to be allowed into the field.” He told the youth, skipping any preamble he had been thinking of. Reid looked up at him, then sighed and drooped.

“I’m going to have to go see my mom…” The boy said softly. “And… I’m going to have to tell her what happened to me.” The team shifted nervous looks around at each other. Hotch sighed and stood, walking over and sitting down next to the youth.

“What are you afraid to tell her?” He asked. “You don’t have to tell her everything, you know.”

“… I always have.” Reid whispered.

Hotch sighed again and took Reid’s hand, “I’ll go with you.”

“No.” Reid replied, shaking his head. “I don’t want her to find a way to blame you…” He gave Hotch a forced smile. “You’re supposed to protect me. She’ll be furious that you let them put me away in Willow Ridge. You had no choice, I know that, but she’ll never forgive you for it. I don’t think your presence would be wise.”

“I won’t let you go alone.” Hotch said, frowning.

“… I’ll go with him.” Rossi called from across the plane, and Hotch and Reid gave him a slightly surprised look. “I’ll be discrete.”

“Would that be okay with you?” Hotch asked Reid, and after a pause, the boy nodded.

“Yeah… yeah, I think that will be fine.” Reid said with a nod, and tilted his head to the side, resting it on Hotch’s shoulder. The man smiled and put his arm around the younger man, and relaxed.

“Hi. Agent Jareau.” JJ greeted Police Chief Rebecca Malone when they walked in. The woman grinned.

“Great to have you here.” She said. “We have a room all set up for your team.” She turned. “And I’m going to go out on a limb and say that this is them.”

“SSA’s Morgan, Rossi, Prentiss, and those two back there are SSA’s Hotchner and Dr. Reid.”

“… Looks like the kid is getting a scolding.”

“He’s being reminded to take it easy.” JJ grinned, and the team trooped into the room that had been set up for him. Hotch and Reid joined them a few minutes later.

“Okay.” Chief Malone said as the team walked in. “I’ve compiled a list of the Halloween parties going on around town over the next week.” She gestured to the list. “As you can see… there are a LOT.”

“Reid.” Hotch said. “This list is yours.”

“Mine?”

“Yes. You’re the Halloween Expert. And taking that into consideration with your intimate knowledge of the city, you’re the best one to figure out what parties the UnSub will be at.”

“… On one condition.” Reid said. Hotch blinked and looked at him.

“Oh?”

“I get to go with you guys.”

“Reid…” Hotch said, shaking his head. “You’re supposed to be EASED back into the field.”

“That’s my condition.” Reid said, folding his arms over his chest and smirking. “If you guys get to dress up in costumes and go to Halloween parties in MY childhood stomping grounds, I get to come too.”

“And if I say no?” Hotch demanded, facing Reid.

“… Then I’ll take advantage of our time here to spend time with my mom. Maybe even spend some time with dad.”

“Is that a threat?”

“It’s a bargain.” Reid said. “Remember… this is Vegas. And I grew up here.”

“… You’re a pain in the ass, kid.” Rossi chuckled.

“He’s a Vegas boy through and through.” Malone grinned, and gave Reid a little punch in the shoulder. “I think I like you.” Reid grinned right back.

Hotch and the team walked into the station after doing several interviews with potential witnesses from the last two murders. Reid and Garcia looked up and smiled at them.

“Hey. Perfect timing.” Reid said, standing. “I have a list of the parties I think she’ll hit. There are several every night this week. I’ve chosen the most likely three for each night. But you should know… I’d wager good money that the first on the list for each night is the one she’s going to hit.”

“And I agree with him completely.” Garcia chirped. Reid just smiled.

“Now… Garcia has a portable ID scanner. I think we should have it at the doors to the party and scan the ID of everyone that comes in. That will give us a suspect pool. We’ve already contacted Head of Security at our Target party for tonight, and he’s fully on board.”

“… Alright.” Hotch said with nod. “Good. Get it set up.”

“And you guys need to get in costume and wired. The first party starts in two hours.” Garcia announced.

“I’ll meet you guys there. Garcia and I will be holed up in front of the security cameras. We’ll be watching everything.” Reid said with a nod. “But I’ll be ready to move in if you need me.”

“… Alright.” Hotch said after a moment, and Reid grinned brightly.

“Okay! Everybody suit up!!!” Garcia cheered.

An hour and a half later, the police officers were laughing and cheering as the FBI Agents appeared in costume, courtesy of Garcia. They were dressed as the cast of “The Matrix”. Hotch was Neo, Emily was Trinity, Morgan was Morpheus, and Rossi, whom Garcia had forced to shave, was an Agent.

JJ’s hair was piled up on her head with dramatic curls. She had BRIGHT red lips, dramatic eyeliner and mascara, and was wearing a white dress. She made a fantastic Marilyn Monroe. And hidden under her dress, strapped to her thigh (which Morgan said was fucking hot) was her gun.

Garcia was in a long shiny silver toga lined with what looked like little computer chips. She also wore a crown of what at first looked like an Olive Branch, but on closer inspection, the green leaves were more computer chips cut into the shape of leaves. She wore bracelets of USB cables, and mini CDs as earrings.

When asked what she was, Garcia proudly announced that she was the Tech Goddess, and then said that Kevin Lynch had a matching costume as her Tech God.

The Agents and several uniform officers then headed to the Halloween party.

“Okay.” Morgan said from the back seat where he sat with Garcia and Prentiss. “Ten bucks that Reid is dressed as Mr. Spock.”

“I’m gonna go with Captain Kirk.” Emily challenged.

“I’m gonna say… Legolas.” Garcia chimed in.

“… What?” Morgan asked.

“He’s got the tall, slender build of a Tolkien elf. So fine… I’ll generalize. I’m gonna bet he’s an elf.”

Hotch and Rossi shot each other amused looks in the front of the vehicle. When they got to the large hotel/casino, the Head of Security greeted them.

“You must be Miss Garcia.” He said, greeting the Tech Goddess. “Our system is yours. And you must be Agent Hotchner.” He turned and shook hands with Hotch. “Good to have you. I’ve had all personnel sit in a briefing with your Agent Reid. They all know what you look like, and they’ll be ready to watch for subtle cues from you. We have local police standing by in some empty rooms upstairs.”

“We appreciate your willingness to co-operate with our investigation.” Rossi said.

The head of security shook his head, looking disgusted. “The higher ups refused to cancel the party. These events make a lot of money. They didn’t want to lose out on it just because there was a POSSIBILITY that a killer MIGHT come to it to hunt. We’re lucky I talked them into letting us do this.”

“It’s good that you did.” Prentiss said as they headed to the Security office. They walked in and stared. Reid was standing next to a Security officer, pointing at something on one of the screens. The officer nodded and picked up her radio.

“Awww…” Garcia cooed, and Reid turned and smiled at the team. “Maybe tomorrow I’ll go as Princess Leia.” And she threw her arms around Reid. “Just so I can say ‘Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi… you’re my only hope’.” And Reid grinned. “LOVE the robes, honey.” Garcia told him, stepping back and inspecting Reid’s detailed Jedi robes.

“You DO look pretty cute, Spence.” JJ said with a grin.

Reid just stared at her. “Oh… ah… so do YOU. Oh… sorry, I…” He quickly looked away and blushed when he realized that he had been staring. The team laughed and Garcia ruffled his hair.

“Okay. Reid, are you wearing your ballistics vest?” Hotch asked.

“Of course.” Reid said with a smile and nod.

“You have your firearm?”

“Right by my Lightsaber.” Reid announced, and Morgan let out a loud snort of laughter.

“Riiight.” Rossi drawled, amused.

“… You look funny without your beard.” Reid blurted. Rossi just stared, and Morgan and Prentiss burst out laughing.

“Reid…” Hotch chuckled. “Just… stay here and co-ordinate our movements, please.”

“Okay.” Reid said, and he and Garcia sat down side by side, Reid bouncing his leg. Every since he had left the Mc Bride Facility, he had been a little ball of energy and excitement.

“JJ, you’re going to run people’s IDs. Alert us whenever a potential suspect enters.”

“Sure.” The woman said with a nod.

“Alright. Take us around and show us security measures we should be aware of.” Hotch said, and the team left with the Head of Security.

An hour later, the Halloween Bash was in full swing, and Garcia was whining about wanting a drink from the punchbowl and a snack. Reid just giggled at her more than… entertaining complaints.

But they were also highly entertained by watching their team… each and every member of their team had been approached, hit on and propositioned several times. Rossi was looking particularly smug, while Hotch just looked exasperated. At one point, Reid thought Hotch was going to blow his cover and flash his badge to get one inebriated woman off of him.

It was around one thirty AM that Reid and Garcia saw it… A woman and a man stumbling down a service corridor, making out as they went… and the woman was brunette… she was the right body type… This time, she was dressed as a fairy.

Reid frowned and picked up a radio. “We have a possible in the south service hall.” He called into it. “I’m on my way.”

“No you’re not.” Hotch radioed back. “Stay.”

“I can get there faster than you can!”

“STAY.”

“But—“

“Spencer… don’t make me ground you to the station.”

“… You suck.” Reid pouted, and dropped into a chair. He watched as Hotch and Prentiss made their way to the corridor.

“… False alarm.” Hotch’s voice called, as the couple scurried back the way they had come. “Just a couple of horny kids.”

But only half an hour later, the Head of Security walked in.

“Agent Reid. Agent Garcia.” The two turned and looked at him. “We have a problem. I think you should come see this.” Reid looked at Garcia, then stood.

“Keep watching.” Reid told her, and followed the head of security out. He guided him through some back halls and to the area of the hotel where they had conference rooms. At the end of the hall were two bathrooms. The Head of Security opened the door to the men’s room. Reid stared.

The body of a man dressed up like a ninja lay there, his dead eyes staring up at the ceiling. Blood was everywhere… and he had been stabbed in the neck, chest and genitals.

“… Cameras?” Reid asked.

“This is a blind spot.”

“So did she know, or did she get lucky?” Reid murmured to himself. Then he called into his radio. “Garcia, get CSI here right now. And send the team to me. And Garcia… check cameras for a man dressed as a ninja leaving the party with a brunette woman.

“As you command, Master Jedi!” Garcia chirped.

Reid smiled in mild amusement, then slowly circled the body, inspecting it from every angle.

It was 4 am by the time the team returned to their hotel.

“I’m impressed with the costumes Garcia got for you and the others on such short notice.” Reid commented as he and Hotch began to undress.

“Don’t remind me.” Hotch snorted. “Makes me wonder if she had them already.”

“… She IS Garcia.”

“Exactly. I prefer not to think about it too much.” Hotch grinned, and headed off to shower while Reid carefully removed the layers of his costume and lovingly replaced them in the hanging bag. When Hotch got out of the shower, he just stood and stared as he watched Reid playing with his Lightsaber, glowing and humming and making a dramatic SKISH!!! whenever he struck the chair. The boy awkwardly spun the thing in his hands and—THUNK!

“OW!” Reid yelped, and Hotch grinned, watching Reid rubbing his head.

“Why don’t you go shower before you hurt yourself.” Hotch suggested, and Reid whirled… and as he did, the Lightsaber knocked a lamp off of the table. Hotch raised an eyebrow as it shattered.

“Oh!” Reid gasped, and stared down at the lamp. “Oh, crap…” Looking thoroughly embarrassed, he turned off the Lightsaber and put it away, then scuttled to the bathroom without meeting eyes with his lover. Hotch just chuckled to himself as he went to clean up the broken lamp. He would have to pay for it, but it was worth it. Spencer was back where he belonged; on a case with the team. Even if he was playing Jedi and destroying hotel property… His joy and excitement at being back on the job seemed to have him channeling Jack and his endless playful energy.

Hotch couldn’t help but grin and shake his head. A few minutes later Reid emerged from the bathroom in his pajamas, towel drying his hair. Hotch walked over and hugged Reid close. Reid blinked, then grinned and cuddled close.

“God, it’s good to have you back.” Hotch murmured, and kissed Reid’s forehead.

“I’ve missed this.” Reid sighed. “Staying on a rock hard hotel mattress with you.” Hotch chuckled at that, and guided Reid over to the bed. Reid tossed his towel aside after giving his hair one more good tousle with it, and slid into bed. Hotch pulled him close, and the boy was asleep almost immediately. Hotch was more than happy to join him.
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