Chapter 1 -

"We're back." Prentiss said. She and JJ had just gone across the street to get coffee for everyone. They all knew from experience that the stuff served in the hospital cafeteria didn't taste all that great.

"Any news?" She asked.

"Not yet." Morgan sighed, as JJ handed him a cup.

The team had been sitting in the ER waiting room for almost three hours.

It had been a week since they last heard from him, and then he was found beaten and unconscious by the side of a country road. They barely got a chance to see him before doctors whisked him away, behind the swinging ER doors. What they did see, horrified them. He was covered in blood. They had no leads. The UNSUB was a totally random person, it seemed.

Just then, a man dressed in green scrubs emerged from behind those doors. Then he said,

"Family of Spencer Reid?"

The team jumped to their feet. They rushed up to the doctor. Gideon didn't even bother to point out that his name was Dr. Spencer Reid.

"How is he?" Hotch asked.

"He has a few broken bones, a lot of cuts, some which required stitches. He's badly malnourished, and dehydrated, as well. We have him on IV. We'll have to keep him a few days, but he should be fine. Physically. We are worried about something else, though. You see, when he woke up --"

"He's awake!?" Morgan interrupted.

"Can we see him?" Garcia wanted to know.

"There's something else I need to talk to you about." The doctor continued. "When Spencer woke up a few minutes ago, he was very confused. He didn't know what happened, or where he was. He didn't even remember what his name was. A trauma like what he's had can have this effect on people. Right now, I'm afraid he has severe amnesia. He probably won't remember any of you at first."

"But he will eventually?" Prentiss confirmed.

"I doubt that this will be permanent. But it will take time. You'll have to help him remember. If things go well, he should be back to normal in about a week, maybe two. "

Everyone was relieved to hear this.

"However in his current state, Spencer will need someone to be with him at all times. He'll need that sense of security. Plus, his mind is more like a child's right now. Like a 6 year old. He's going to be very confused." The doctor explained. "Do his parents live close?"

The team exchanged sad looks, shaking their heads. Even if they did, they wouldn't be the most dependable resources. Poor Reid.

"Well, someone will need to take care of him. I'm hoping we can let him go day after tomorrow."

"We'll figure something out. Thank you doctor." Hotch said.

"You're welcome. I'll go check on him, and if he's ready for visitors, I'll come and get you." And with that, he disappeared behind the doors once more.

The team looked at each other in silence.

"So," Morgan said after a second. "Who's going to take care of him?"

"I'll do it." Hotch said.

His team looked at him, a bit taken back the quick answer. He didn't seem like the type who would jump at the chance to stay home and baby-sit a 25 year old FBI agent who didn't know his own name.

"But we need you in the field. We need everyone in the field." JJ said.

"I'll watch him." Garcia offered. "I can keep him in my office, and he can keep busy reading the dictionary, or something."

"We can't risk letting him see any of the crime scene pictures, or hearing about the case. If his mind really is that delicate right now, seeing something like that will stress him out, almost like another mini trauma. It will slow down his recovery." Gideon replied.

"Why don't we just take turns. That way he can get used to all of us. I'll go one day, spend the night, Hotch can go the next day, and then Morgan…" JJ suggested.

"That sounds reasonable. What about when we go on assignments?" Hotch asked.

"Whoever stays behind can video conference with the rest of the team. " Gideon said.

"Alright it's agreed." Morgan said. "I'll stay with him the first night."

"I'll stay too. Reid's a handful when he's himself. I can't imagine him as a 6 year old." Garcia added.

The team shared a laugh, at the first light hearted moment since Reid's disappearance. They were exhausted, as it was actually 2 in the morning, and of course, extremely relieved.

The doctor came back a few minutes later.

"He's asleep right now." He informed them. "If you come back tomorrow morning, he'll be in a better state to talk."

"I'll stay here tonight. Someone should be there when he wakes up. Go home, get a goodnight's sleep, you guys." Hotch said. He turned before Morgan could object, and went to talk to the receptionist about having a cot sent to Reid's room. None of them could wait to have a peaceful rest, after being so worried.