CM: BigBang 2011
Chapter 10
Hotch looked up when Jo entered the waiting room. “Any news?” was the first thing she asked. Hotch and Dave shook their heads. It had already been over half an hour since Hotch had been shown to the waiting room, and he couldn´t help but think of the last time they´d occupied a waiting room.
Hotch called JJ. He knew she´d want to know because JJ considered Spencer the brother she didn´t have. After the initial shock she told him she was going to try to make it but she was caught up in a stressful situation at work and please, please, keep her informed.
Looking over his team, he couldn´t help but notice how they sought out support from each other. Garcia sat next to Morgan, her head resting on his shoulder as they held on tight to each other´s hands. Jo had taken a seat next to Dave and leaned against him, their arms touching from shoulder to elbow in more subtle support.
Two hours later, a doctor entered the room. He was a man in his early sixties, his dark eyes were sharp as he looked over the group. They all stood up and met him half way.
“I´m looking for Mr. Hotchner,” the man said as he read the name from the folder he was holding.
“I´m Agent Hotchner,” Hotch said.
“I´m Dr. Carlson,” the man introduced himself and held out a hand toward Hotch. “We should talk in private,” he said when Hotch shook his hand. Dr. Carlson turned around and headed out of the room.
Hotch quickly followed the doctor to a small office at the end of the corridor. As soon as the door closed behind them Dr. Carlson pointed to a chair and took a seat on the other side of his desk.
“Now, your young man,” the doctor said and opened a file, “Dr. Reid suffers from exhaustion and mild malnutrition. We were worried about TBI because he lost consciousness but a CT-scan showed now trauma to the brain.”
Hotch stared at the man “What does that mean?”
“It means we thought he might have suffered intracranial injury, but the images showed no damage or harm to the brain or skull. It seems he collapsed because he pushed his body too far. Dr. Reid admitted that he hasn´t been sleeping very well and had little appetite,” Dr. Carlson explained and glanced at Hotch before looking back at the file.
Hotch looked at his hands. “He´s been suffering from migraines. Is that related to his collapse?”
“I noticed Dr. Reid has seen numerous neurologists who haven´t found any causes for the migraines.” That was a surprise and Hotch looked with intent at the man on the other side of the desk. “We used his latest scan to compare to the one we did today just to be sure and found no discrepancies. I don´t believe it's related to anything other than stress.” Dr. Carlson met Hotch´s eyes to make sure he understood what he was saying.
Hotch nodded. “And what happens now?”
Dr. Carlson linked his fingers together on the table and smiled fatherly at Hotch. “I´m going to keep him overnight for observation, give him some fluids and nutrition. I can release him tomorrow if someone can stay with him for forty eight hours after he´s released.”
“That won´t be a problem,” Hotch replied.
“He needs to stay out of stressful situations for a week, sleep uninterrupted and eat regularly. That means no work for a week and at least two full meals a day, Agent Hotchner,” the doctor said smiling.
“Of course. I´ll make sure of that,” Hotch said determent.
“Is he a coffee drinker?” Hotch raised his eyebrows and nodded. “Try to minimize the drinking to two or three cups a day and no caffeinated drinks after seven pm,” Dr. Carlson said.
Hotch drew in a breath. “I´ll try.”
“That´s it,” Dr. Carlson said as he stood up and held out his hand.
“Can we see him?” Hotch said and rose, shaking the doctor´s hand.
“He´s resting at the moment. Maybe in the afternoon.”
“Thank you, Dr. Carlson.”
Hotch walked briskly toward the waiting room. The team stood around waiting for him and all turned toward him when he entered.
“How is he?” Garcia asked.
“He´s going to be okay,” was the first thing he said before repeating what the doctor had told him about Reid´s condition and visitation. “I know all of us are worried about Reid but there is little we can do here. We should head back to work and come back later today,” Hotch said. They knew he was right although they didn´t like it.
“Come on, baby girl,” Morgan said and took Garcia´s hand. He led her out of the room.
“I´ll see you at the office,” Jo said and followed the duo.
“You want a ride?” Dave asked.
“Yes, please,” Hotch said tiredly.
“So, what aren´t you telling us,” Dave said as he started the car.
“He´s going to be out for a week at least,” Hotch said, “and needs lots of rest and a decent diet.”
“We´ll hold the front,” Dave told him as he steered the car into traffic, “Just tell us what you need.”
“Someone needs to stay with him for two days after he´s out,” Hotch said and wondered how he was going to juggle being away from work for two days.
“Knowing Reid, he wouldn´t want to be a bother,” Dave said.
“I know,” Hotch sighed and laid his head against the head rest. “But he hates hospitals, so I doubt he´ll want to stay there if he can avoid it.”
“And I presume, you're nominating yourself to stay with him?” Dave asked with a smirk.
Hotch peered his eyes at Dave. “What are you trying to say, Dave?” he asked, irritated. He wasn´t in the mood for Dave´s riddle games.
“I´m not saying anything,” Dave said defensive. The car fell silent for a few moments. Dave sighed. “I´m sure everyone would be willing to stay with Reid.”
Hotch rubbed his temple. He needed coffee, desperately. He could feel a headache lingering in his right temple. “Do you have another solution?” Hotch asked.
“Well, we could alternate twelve hours shifts,” Dave suggested and Hotch made sure to show no reaction as Dave glanced at him. “Or you could work from Reid´s apartment. We can ask to be grounded while Reid recovers, Garcia can do her magic and link you to the database and we can bring you the files you need.”
That option suited Hotch better. He wanted to make sure everything got done right on both fronts. Hotch looked at Dave. “Let´s see what Reid wants to do. I´ll talk to Strauss, explain the situation and clear it with her.”
Dave huffed. “Let me deal with Strauss, you just concentrate on the kid.” Dave parked the car and shut off the engine.
Staring at one of his oldest friends, Hotch wasn´t sure which irked him more, Dave calling Reid a kid or taking the control out of his hands. Before he could say anything Dave had exited the car and was waiting for him few steps away. Hotch got out of the car and followed him to the elevator.
For the rest of the day, Hotch forced himself to concentrate on the quarterly report Strauss wanted from him. He promptly pushed aside the imagery of Spencer laying pale on the gurney and ignored the heavy feeling that had settled in his chest. He tried to justify his worry by telling himself he´d be just as worried if it had been any other member of his team.
He´d never been really good at lying to himself.
***
Hotch´s last task before leaving was getting Reid´s go bag from the trunk of Reid´s car. Spencer´s messenger bag lay on top of his desk, forgotten. He didn´t feel very comfortable going through it, but he needed the car keys to get into Reid´s trunk. There hadn´t been much in the bag other than a couple of files, a notepad with the front page almost covered in some scribbling, some change, pens and paper clips, and Reid´s keys. The clock was a little after six when he finally made it to the hospital.
Spencer had gotten a private room. His room was dimly lit; a small lamp was on for the nurses to see and the curtains were drawn. Aaron was surprised to find Jo sitting in a chair by the bed. When he entered he noticed she looked away and quickly brushed her cheek with her fingers.
Spencer lay curled on his side with the sheets around his waist. His eyes were closed and his breathing deep. Bags hung from IV-stands with tubes running into Spencer´s arm and a heart monitor silently recorded every beat. A small red light on Reid´s finger indicated they were monitoring his O2 saturation. He took a seat in the chair next to Jo´s.
“He´s sleeping,” Jo said quietly. “Anna said they gave him a light sedative so he would rest.”
“Anna was here?” Aaron asked, surprised.
“Yeah, she told me everything before I told her to get some rest. She had an early morning,” Jo whispered and looked down. “This is my fault,” she broke the silence that had set over them. Aaron looked at her and Jo hesitantly met his gaze, her eyes glazed with tears. “We had a huge argument, but I never expect he´d react like this,” she told him and looked over at Spencer.
“You can´t control how other people deal with things,” Hotch told her.
“This wouldn´t have happened if I´d just kept my big mouth shut,” Jo said and didn´t try to hide her tears this time as she looked down into her lap.
Aaron looked at her, he knew there wasn´t anything he could say to ease her guilt.
“I called him on Saturday but he hung up on me,” Jo continued, “I thought he was still mad at me and figured I´d give him until today to cool off.” She drew in a long breath. “I should have gone over and talked to him in person.”
Aaron smiled. “If he was still mad at you, he would have slammed the door in your face. He can hold a grudge for a long time, if he wants to.”
Jo looked at him, a ghost of a smile appearing on her face. “You mean he´ll still be mad at me after all of this?”
Aaron met her gaze, amused. “Possibly.”
Jo giggled as quietly as she could. Aaron couldn´t help but join in. The both looked up when Spencer drew in a deep breath and turned his head on the pillow before letting out a long sigh and settling back into sleep.
Jo turned to Aaron. “Are you staying?” she asked.
Aaron looked at Spencer. He wanted to stay. “Just for a little while.”
Jo nodded. “I´m going to head home,” she said and stood up. She put her hand on Spencer´s arm for a few seconds before turning around and leaving. “See you tomorrow.”
“Good night,” he said. The door closed behind Jo.
Spencer´s body straightening on the bed and he mumbled something.
“What?” Hotch said and moved to sit in the chair Jo had occupied.
Spencer turned his head toward him and blinked his eyes a few times. Aaron saw they were glazed from the sedative. “H´tsh?” Spencer said almost too low for him to hear.
“Yes?” Hotch said and leaned in to hear what the other man said.
“I´m tire…,” Spencer mumbled and closed his eyes.
Before he realized what he was doing, Aaron raised his hand and cupped the man´s jaw. “You should sleep,” he said gently.
“’kay.” Spencer sighed and relaxed.
The skin felt smooth under his fingers and Aaron pulled his hand away like he´d gotten burned. He sat back and stared at Spencer´s face. It didn´t matter how much he wanted to keep Spencer safe. It didn´t matter how much he cared about Spencer Reid. He could never have him because he would slowly taint Spencer and Spencer would never be the same.
Standing up, Aaron pulled the sheets higher over Spencer´s body. He glanced at him one more time. He would still do anything to keep him safe. Hotch turned around and walked out of the room.
***
Ch: 11