Fic: Three Signs, Chapter 6/7 -Escape (Criminal Minds, Spencer Reid/ Derek Morgan)
Title: Three Signs (Chapter 6/7 -Escape)
Author: FinnishSphinx
Rating: PG
Fandom: Criminal Minds
Pairings: Spencer Reid / Derek Morgan
Spoilers: None
Disclaimer: They are not mine, just using them
for amusement...
"They found him." Prentiss walked in and shut the door.
Hotch leaned over his desk. "Where was he?"
"Outside."
"What do you mean `outside`?"
"I mean outside, on the parking lot."
"The guy was here?"
"They found him in his car."
"And he was....?"
"Yes."
Hotch leaned back in his chair and weighted the situation.
"Morgan, where`s Reid?"
"He`s with Garcia." Morgan sighed. Reid hadn`t said a word after the phone call. On the other hand, Garcia couldn`t stop talking and had gone straight to her Mother Hen mode. "You want me to tell him?"
"No, it`s probably better if I do this myself."
"Will there be repercussions?"
"For Reid? No. But he`ll be put on two weeks mandatory leave. The department shrink will evaluate his state after that."
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Morgan didn`t see Reid until an hour later when Reid came back to the bullpen. Reid looked even more fragile than usually, and his eyes were obviously red from crying. "Hey, Pretty Boy. How are you holding on?"
Reid curled both his arms around himself. "As well as you would expect, I guess. Can I..."
"What?"
"Can I stay at your place tonight? I don`t think I can go to..."
"Of course, I was thinking you would stay with me. I wouldn`t have let you go back to your place after the break in, even if you wanted to."
"Good, that`s good...I`ll just need to go get some of my stuff."
"From your place? Not alone, I`m coming with you."
"Morgan, you don`t need to-"
"I`m coming with you, and that`s it. Wait here, I`ll just tell Hotch we are leaving."
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Morgan watched from the bedroom door, as Reid collected his things to couple of bags. The lock on the front door had been replaced, but the interior of the tiny apartment would need a thorough clean up before Reid could come back there. Reid gave another bag to Morgan and glanced around the apartment.
"Did you get everything you`ll need?"
"I think so. Let`s just leave."
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Morgan snapped awake and blinked. They had fallen asleep on the couch watching some late night reruns. He looked around, but couldn`t find Reid. He got up and followed a scent of fresh coffee to the kitchen. Reid was sitting by the table, leaning against it with a mug full of well sugared coffee in front of him.
"Couldn`t sleep?" Morgan took the seat next to Reid.
"I had a nightmare, and I decided to stay up."
"It`s almost two in the morning, you should try to get some rest."
"I can`t." Reid paused for a minute. "He was here."
"Who?"
"Mark, he was in my dream. That`s why I woke up."
"Reid, he`s dead. You know that." Morgan put his arm around Reid`s shoulder and pulled him against his chest.
"I know that. But when I close my eyes he is here. Or when I hear noises from the street. Or when neighbor slams his door. No matter how well I know he`s gone, he`s still here."
"It`s been less than 24 hours, it`ll go away."
"I guess... Please, don`t be mad at me."
Morgan was stunned, but tried to sound reassuring. "I`m not mad at you. Your reaction is completely normal."
"I didn`t mean that.. I mean... I`m leaving in the morning."
"Back to your place? No you don`t!"
"No, not there, I.. I booked myself on the morning flight to Vegas."
"To Vegas."
"Yeah. I`ll be off duty for two weeks and I... I think it`s better if I try to process all of this somewhere else. Besides, I haven`t seen my mom since last Christmas."
"I can understand that, but do you think it would really help you?" Morgan wasn`t really sure if he should let him leave. He wanted to keep Reid where he could keep an eye on him.
"I don`t know, but.. I need to go. Everywhere here... no matter how much I remind myself he`s gone..." Reid buried his face to the shoulder of Morgan`s shirt. "Everywhere I look, he`s there. I wasn`t this scared of him when he was alive." He sniffed and wiped away a single tear. "I`ve never before felt scared and guilty all at once."
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