Sick Leave- Epilogue
Playing Santa
"............Thanks so much for all the positive feedback I've gotten on this story! I hope you all have enjoyed it! Please R&R-it IS the epilogue!"
Spencer Reid smiled as the nurse wheeled him out of his patent room. Today, the 27th, he was going to be able to go home.
"Now, I want someone to stay with you your first week back. I want to be sure that if your symptoms start acting up again, some one will be there to help you." the doctor said.
"No problem, doc. I will stay with him." Morgan volunteered with a smile. "There's no way in hell I'm leaving him until I am sure that he's okay."
"Good." the doctor smiled back. "Dr. Reid, you may return back to work in three weeks-no sooner, though. You have been very sick, and I do not want you to catch anything else or get yourself hurt with that job of yours while you're healing. Alright?"
"Yes, that is completely understandable." Reid agreed.
"Alright, if that is it, you are free to leave." the doctor concluded.
"Thank you." Reid said with a smile, glad to be getting away from the dreaded hospital.
"Take Dr Reid, Morgan." the doctor smiled.
"It's good to have you outta this place, kid. For the longest time, I didn't think you'd ever be back.'' Morgan admitted.
"Yeah, well it wasn't fun for me, either." Reid said. "I was bored, sick, and they wouldn't let me have coffee."
"Yeah, no coffee. How ever did you survive?" Morgan smirked. Reid glared at Morgan, but let it go. He was too happy to be leaving the hospital to care...........
The car ride home was quiet. Reid had fallen to sleep, and Morgan let him. The kid deserved it after all he had been through. "Hey kid, we're home." Morgan said as he gently shook Reid awake. Reid awkwardly got up, and with Morgan's help, he walked to the front door of his apartment. "I've got a key, don't worry about it." Morgan said when he saw Reid searching for his. Reid nodded ,still half-asleep, and let Morgan help him in the door. The doctor had told him not to use his crutches while he was healing, because of the strain it would put on the injection sights.
"Alright, where's your room?" Morgan asked.
"Uh........down the hall, right side door." Reid mumbled. "You can sleep there if you want, or you can sleep in the spare room down the hall to the left."
"I''ll take the guest room." Morgan answered as he helped his limping friend into his own room. Morgan let Reid gently fall onto his own bed. Once Reid took his shoes off, he collapsed onto his pillow- too tired to worry about changing or taking a shower. He could do that in the morning. "Night Reid." Morgan said, but Reid had already fallen to sleep. Morgan quietly closed Reid's door, and went to his own. It was decorated with a green and purple theme. The bed was queen-sized, and had a grassy green colored comforter on top of it. The walls were also green, but had a random purple stripes that faded and got deeper laced into it. Morgan placed his go-bag on top of the light-wood dresser. He flapped onto his bed, and turned on the TV............
3 Weeks Earlier...........
Spencer was at a loss of what to get his colleagues for Christmas. He debated about giving them something simple, like a framed picture of the team or a coffee mug, but decided against it. He couldn't afford to buy them much though, because his health insurance bill had increased 40% ever since his latest encounter with danger. Apparently the Anthrax incident, getting shot, and the Tobias incident were just enough to make his insurance providers think his bill was too low.
As Reid debated what to buy his friends, he had an idea. He picked up his phone, and dialed a number........
"Hello, Sean Hotchner?" Reid said.
"Yeah, this is him." Sean answered.
"This is Agent Reid- I am part of Hotch's team. I had a question."
"What? Did something happen to him?" Sean asked.
"No,no. I was just wondering.........as a child, did he ever want a toy or something for Christmas that he never got?" Reid said quickly.
"Uh.....that's a strange question, but yeah, I guess so."
"Great, could you tell me what that was..............?".
20 Minutes Later..........
"Hello, Robert. You are David Rossi's friend, correct?" Reid asked.
"Yes, why do you ask?" Robert answered.
"Was there ever a toy he wanted as a child that he never got?" Reid asked.
"What? What kind of question is that?" Robert laughed.
"Oh, I work with him, and I am trying to find something to get him...." Reid said nervously.
"In that case, I know just the thing........." Robert laughed..........
Another 20 Minutes Later.......
"Hello Mrs. Garcia?" Reid said.
"Yes, this is her. Who am I speaking to, may I ask?" she asked.
'This is Spencer Reid. I work with your daughter, and I had a bit of an unusual question......." Reid started.
"Oh, what would that be?"
''Was there ever a toy or anything that she wanted for Christmas, but never got?"
"That is an unusual question.........." she murmured.
''I am sorry, but I don't know what to get her for Christmas......." Reid said.
"I can relate. I've been having the hardest time this year! And one thing does come to mind........"
Once More, 20 Minutes Later
"Hello, Mrs. Jareau?"
"Yes, this is her."
"I am Spencer Reid, and I work with your daughter. I have an odd question......."
"What is it?"
"Was there ever a toy or anything that your daughter wanted for Christmas, but didn't get?"
"Christmas shopping?" Mrs. Jarea asked with a smile.
"Yeah." Reid blushed. He was glad she couldn't see him.
"I think I can help you............"
20 Minutes Later
"Hello, Mrs. Prentiss?"
"Yes, Dr. Reid?" she asked. "I have caller ID.........." she said before he could ask.
"Oh, that's good. I have a question about your daughter......."
"Hmm?"
"Was there anything your daughter wanted for Christmas that she never got?" he asked.
"Uh, yes actually. There is one thing........"
Only TEN Minutes Later
"Hello!" a cheery voice answered.
"Hello, Mrs. Morgan. This is Spencer Reid, I work with your son.............''
"Oh yes, I know who you are." she said.
"I have a question. Was there anything your son wanted for Christmas that he didn't get?"
"Stumped on shopping ideas this year?" she asked.
"Yes." Reid admitted.
"Hmm........I think there was something.........."
Present Day
Derek Morgan woke up early the next morning. Once he was dressed and done checking to make sure Reid hadn't died in his sleep, he went to Reid's small kitchen. There was a stove, a sink, a microwave, refrigerator, and a coffee. Inside the cupboards lay a small stack of plates, bowls, and cups. He opened another cupboard, and found two pans. He took them down, and headed to the fridge.
"Damn it." Morgan muttered. All that laid inside were a few take-out boxes, some odd sauces, a bruised apple, and a stick a butter. Resignedly, Morgan put the pans back, and searched the cupboards again. He found Chex Mix, crutons, and a pack of Rice-O-Roni. Morgan gave up, and decided to wait until Reid woke up. He wanted to go get something from the grocery store, but he didn't know what Reid liked, and didn't want to leave him alone in case something happened. Morgan left the kitchen, and went back to the living room. He turned on the TV, and waited until Reid woke up.
At 9 AM, Reid woke up. He didn't want to sleep the whole day away,but he was still exhausted. Reluctantly, he woke up and took a shower. Next, he got dressed. He put on a purple shirt and his black dress pants. Once he brushed his unruly hair, he descended down the hallway and into the living room.
"Good to see you up, Sleeping Beauty." Morgan smirked.
"Good morning to you,too." Reid mumbled.
"Now I know why you're so skinny. There's no food in this place!" Morgan joked.
"Well, I never have time to go shopping, and everything I do buy goes bad before I can eat it. Over half the time we're away on a case." Reid defended.
"I know, I know." Morgan muttered. "Hey, let's go get something to eat. How about that pancake place down the street?" Reid nodded, and limped to get his shoes. When he leaned down to get it, he lost his balance. He yelped as his leg collapsed, and he fell to the ground. Unfortunately, Morgan had left the room to go to the bathroom, so Morgan couldn't catch him. Reid gasped as he grabbed his leg. It hurt like hell, and he was pretty sure he had twisted it.
"Whoa kid, are you okay?" Morgan asked as he dropped to the floor near Reid. "What happened.?"
"I went to get my shoes, but I lost my balance." Reid answered.
"Damn it kid." Morgan muttered. "Here, let my help you up." Awkwardly, Morgan grabbed Reid's arms,and pulled him up.
"OW!" Reid exclaimed.
"Sorry,sorry." Morgan murmured. Once Reid was up, he grabbed him by the waist, and walked him over to the couch. "You okay kid?" Morgan asked. Reid nodded as he rubbed his leg. "Do you want to stay home?"
"No, that's okay. I'm pretty sure I can handle it. Just don't make me bend, and I will be fine." Reid said.
"Are you sure?'' Morgan asked.
"Yeah, ready?" Reid asked as he stood up. Morgan put his hand around Reid's waist again, and helped him limp out the door.........
Once they were at the pancake house, Morgan helped Reid slide into his seat. Morgan slid into the seat next to him. "So how did you do it?" Morgan asked.
"Do what?" Reid asked.
"Get us all that stuff we wanted as kids." Morgan explained.
Reid smiled. "Magic." Morgan shook his head.
"Yeah, magic." he said as he rolled his eyes.
"Hello, what would you like to order?" the waitress asked. Morgan and Reid out in their orders, and patiently waited. Once the food came, Morgan dug in, and Reid ate his food properly.
"Merry belated Christmas, Reid." Morgan said as he held up his glass.
Reid held his up, and they clinched glasses. "Merry Christmas, Morgan." With that, Morgan and Reid made small talk as they laughed and smiled in each other's company.
"So, what's the kitty's name...........?"
"..................HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERBODY!!!!!! I hope you all enjoyed this story!!!"