Morgan froze when he rounded the corner in the hallway and saw Reid’s door wide open. What the hell? Instinct took over and he had his weapon open and in his hand before he’d even finished thinking about it. Cautiously he moved forward. When he reached the door he took a deep breath and spun, gun pointing inside, all his senses alert. Nothing.
He moved cautiously inside, his eyes scanning the room around him. No sign of a struggle here. Eyes scanning, Morgan’s brain went into overdrive. Maybe Reid had just left his door open? But no, that didn’t jive right with him. His best friend was scatter brained, yes. But, like the rest of them, he’d seen enough of the scum of the earth to know better than to do something as foolish as leave his door open. Morgan walked slowly, clearing the room for potential threats. Making his way further in, he checked each room as he went inside. Living room, kitchen, dining room. A sound suddenly reached his ears, a muffled cry that had him startling. That sounded like a kid. There was a kid here?
After clearing the bathroom and the closet, Morgan moved to the last room at the end of the hall. Reid’s room. Quiet, he inched forward, one hand going out to push against the partially open door. As soon as it swung wide open, he moved inside.
A man was lying on the floor. One look showed that he appeared to be unconscious.
First and foremost, he made sure the rest of the room was clear. Then he checked the man, found a pulse, but saw that he was out like a light. Since he was on his own, Morgan automatically pulled out his cuffs, cuffing the man’s wrists behind him. There was no obvious wound on him so who knew what had knocked him out or when he’d be awake.
As Morgan shifted, he pulled his cell out. Time to call this in. He dialed Hotch’s number and listened to it ring as he rose to his feet.
“Hotchner.”
“I’m at Reid’s house.” Morgan said. In short terms he told Hotch what he’d found. “Reid isn’t here, Hotch. But I’ve got this guy cuffed and waiting for transport.”
“We’ll be there in fifteen.”
Again Morgan heard the sound he’d heard earlier, almost like a baby’s cry, or a child’s. “What the hell?” he muttered.
“Morgan? What is it? Did you find Reid?”
Ignoring the voice in his ear, Morgan moved across the room. Where was that coming from? He heard it again. Trying to guess, he dropped down to the ground, looking to where he’d thought he’d heard it. Under the bed.
Pulling out his light, he shined it under the mattress. What he saw was the last thing he’d expected to see. “Hotch, we got a kid here.” He said. “Looks about a year or two old.”
“I’m not a kid.” A little lisping voice said. Shock had Morgan almost dropping his flashlight. The little figure moved, one hand coming up to his head, brushing back curly hair. “What happened, Mowgan?”
“Holy shit.” Morgan swore softly. He looked closer at the figure. “Reid?”
“Who did you think it was?”
Staring at the toddler, Morgan pulled the phone close again. “Hotch, I found Reid, but you aren’t going to believe this. Get everyone over here, now.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
He couldn’t believe it. There was no way that was Reid there. No fucking way. “Reid?” He asked again. He had to resist the urge to bring a hand up and rub at his eyes. No way this was real. He was just hallucinating, right? Right?
The little figure under the bed shifted, letting out a soft groan. In that instant, it didn’t matter if it was Reid or if it wasn’t, or even if his mind was playing tricks on him. This was a crime scene and that was a child underneath that bed. He reached under, taking the little boys hand and pulling him out, trying to be gentle as he listened to the child groan.
Once he had the kid out from under the bed and had lifted him to sit on the edge of the mattress, Morgan couldn’t believe his eyes. The small kid was swimming in what looked like Reid’s work clothes; cords, a button up shirt, and a sweater vest and tie. He had a curly mop of hair that was a few shades lighter than Reid’s brown color. Almost as if it had been blond when he was born and had darkened with the years. But it hung in wisps over his ears and down to his eyes, just like Reid’s hair currently did.
But those eyes, those were what did Morgan in. He knew those eyes. Could see that same intelligence sitting behind them as he always had. The guarded expression that had always sat there, as if Reid was trying to keep parts of himself locked away for fear they’d be judged. But, more than that, the innocence in them. At the moment they were clogged with confusion and pain, but they were the same. “Jesus, Reid.” He couldn’t believe it.
The little boy brought a hand up again, holding it to his head. “My head huwts.” He moaned softly. All of a sudden his hand froze. Morgan watched as Reid brought his hand down, holding it in front of his face. “What the…” Suddenly those owlish eyes grew wider until they seemed to take up his whole face. “No!” Reid shrieked, his little boy voice cracking a little. “No! He did it! No!”
“Woah, calm down kid, come on now.” Morgan rushed to grab Reid’s hands, trying to be gentle but trying to draw his attention too. “Did it? What did he do to you? What happened?”
“He…he…!”
“Reid!” Morgan snapped. His firm voice drew the shock out of Reid’s eyes a little. They locked on to him. “Reid, report. What happened?”
The command seemed to level things for Reid even more. His voice was just a little steadier when he spoke, though the lisp was there. Oddly enough, Morgan had to fight the urge to smile as he listened to Reid lisp his way through his explanation.
“When I woke up he was in my woom, looking at me. I twied to get my gun but he was fast. He hit me in my head, tied my hands. Stawted wanting at me, telling me he was finally going to have his baby. When I a’ked him what he meant, he told me I was his baby. He was going to use a machine to make me a baby. Then he’d waise me up as his. He tuwned it on but it es-es…it blew up. Then you wewe hewe.”
Well, what the hell was he going to do now? Looking over at the guy on the floor, Morgan sighed. “Well, looks like it hurt him more than you. It knocked him out cold. He didn’t even stir when I cuffed him.”
“He’s not dead, is he?”
“No, kid, he aint dead. I checked his pulse.”
“Good.” Reid crossed his arms, his bottom lip jutting out. Morgan almost laughed in surprise. Reid was pouting! “He needs to be alive to tuwn me back. Then I’ll kill him.”
Unable to resist a moment longer, Morgan brought a hand up and ruffled up Reid’s mop of soft curls. “You have got the cutest lisp here, pretty boy. I didn’t know you lisped.”
Scowling, Reid swatted his hand away. “I gwew out of it. My Mom got me a tutow.” His scowl turned back toward a pout again. “It’s mo’tly just ‘r’ and ‘s’. I can do the other ones ju’t fine.”
“Well, hate to say it, kiddo, but looks like you’re stuck with it again for a while.”
A voice interrupted them, calling out “Morgan! Reid!” Down the hallway.
If anything, Reid’s eyes seemed to grow wider. “Hotch!” he exclaimed in a whisper. “He can’t see me like this.” Yanking his arms into the shirt, Reid tried unsuccessfully to hold it around himself, attempting to keep his body shielded.
Morgan stood, calling out “Back here! It’s all clear.” At the same time he grabbed a blanket from the bed and wrapped it around Reid, scooping him up. He was just holstering his gun on the hip opposite from where he held Reid when the room filled with his co-workers and uniforms.
Taking one look at the uniforms and then at Morgan, Hotch lowered his gun. He looked to the guy on the ground. “Get him out of here.” He ordered. “The rest of us will stay here and take Morgan’s statement.”
In short order, the man had been dragged from the room and only the team was left standing there. It was Rossi who stepped forward, a corner of his mouth quirking. “What have you got there, Morgan? The guy bring his kid with him?”
Indignantly, Reid popped his head out from the blanket. “I’m not a kid!” He exclaimed furiously. “Evewyone ‘top calling me that!”
Seeing the shocked looks on his friends’ faces, Morgan gestured around the room. “Take a seat, guys. This may take a bit to explain.”