Ahh...here we are again at the ending to another story. I really hope you have enjoyed this tale! I want to thank EVERYONE who followed, commented, and added the story as a favorite. Your support really helped motivate me to write. I know that some of you may think that there is so much more I could cover when it comes to Reid's road to recovery, but I really feel that this is the best place to end it. Thanks again for sticking with me and take care!

Please forgive any mistakes!

Enjoy!

Morgan sat by Reid's bedside and watched the healing genius drift off to sleep. He hoped that he had gotten through to the boy, but he just wasn't sure. The older agent was extremely worried about Spencer's state of mind, and he really didn't want his best friend to try to attempt suicide again.

After he was sure Reid wasn't faking his slumber, Morgan left the room to go find the doctor and his team. He wanted to update everyone on the fact that he had finally gotten the genius to talk and what his coworker had revealed.

He didn't have to walk far because right outside the door were the rest of his friends. They all looked up at the dark agent as he silently closed the door behind him. He held up his finger to his lips and gestured to them to go back to the conference room so they could talk freely.

Wordlessly the team went back to the private room and sat down. Each agent fixed their stare on Morgan looking expectantly at him in eager anticipation of the news he was about to deliver.

"I got him to talk," was the first words that were spoken in the somber room.

Everyone stirred at the wonderful news but Hotch was the first to respond, "How? What did he say?"

Morgan sighed and began to explain, "Well, I started off by thanking him for saving my life. I couldn't get any response from him except for a few sniffles. So I plowed on and told him that I understood why he had been acting so close off lately. I told him I knew how he felt…"

"What do you mean? How could you possibly tell him you knew how it felt to be kidnapped by a crazy hunter from the bayou?" JJ asked, astonished that Morgan would even insinuate to Reid that he could empathize with the genius's experiences.

Morgan glanced at Hotch and noticed the stern man nod his head, clearly giving his consent for Morgan to share his suspicions with the team.

"I didn't mean that I understood all of that. When I said I knew how he felt, I was referring to his…his sexual assault," Morgan said quietly with sorrow flooding his voice.

"His what?" Garcia cried out, hoping what Derek had just revealed wasn't true.

"Look, while I was tied up John started taunting me that he was going to take Reid back to the bayou. He started fondling him and planting kisses all over his body. I just knew in that moment what Reid had been trying so hard to hide from us all…John had raped him out on that island. If you think about it, it all makes sense," Morgan shared with the stunned profilers.

No one said anything for a few minutes as each person reflected on their favorite genius's behavior after he had been found. Finally, when Morgan was sure they had come to terms with what they had learned he continued on with his story.

"Anyways, as I was saying I told Reid how I could understand what he was feeling, but I also told him how his quest to keep it all locked inside was going to destroy him. He still wouldn't respond to me and…well…you know my temper. I got really frustrated with his stubbornness and I kinda…I kinda got harsh with him. I pretty much accused him of giving up. Well, Reid didn't like that because all of a sudden he yelled at me and said that he wasn't giving up but letting go," Morgan said as he paused for everyone's reaction.

"Letting go of what?" Blake asked concerned with the ominous turn the story had taken.

"He said he was letting go of us. He said he wanted to live the rest of his life on his own. He said…," Derek's voice cracked, "He said that he didn't want to let his dirt and filth rub off on us."

"So he's suffering from typical PTSD due to his rape. He thinks that he is tainted from the assault and he sorting through feelings of worthlessness and weakness," Hotch said as he processed his agent's words.

"Yeah, I would say so," Derek agreed.

"So did he say anything else of significance?" Rossi asked.

"Well, I insinuated that pushing us away was making him weak, and he agreed with me. Then he said he would rather die than be weak. I immediately squashed that and told him that we were all here to help him get through this if he would just asked. He said he couldn't because we would be better off without him. I told him he was crazy, which got him upset. He told me he wasn't crazy but I told him his suicidal thoughts said otherwise. Then I told him that the doctor was considering admitting him to the psych ward. He really didn't like that. I ended the conversation by telling him that if he would just consider talking to someone, even me we might be able to avoid that outcome. He said he would think about it and then drifted off to sleep," Morgan explained as he ended his account.

Again, silence dominated the room as the team tried to sort through their thoughts. The good news was that Morgan had forced Reid to break his vow of silence, but the bad news was that the kid was possibly suicidal.

Hotch cleared his throat and decided to fill Morgan and team in on the phone call he had just had with the new section chief, "While you were in with Reid, I decided to call Agent Cruz and update him on everything that had just happened. I told him about Reid being practically kidnapped again and how we are pretty sure that he had been assaulted by John Brookins. In light of all this new information, Agent Cruz rescinded Reid's suspension and officially put him on medical leave. He said could see how Reid's trauma affected his actions earlier this week and wished him a speedy recovery."

"That's excellent news! Knowing that his job isn't in jeopardy anymore should help push Reid out of his funk a little bit," Garcia chattered excitedly.

"That's what I'm hoping," Hotch replied.

Morgan, happy to hear the good news about his best buddies job, decided that it was time to get back to his friend's room, "I'm going to go back and wait for Reid to wake up. Maybe he'll be in the mood to talk a bit more. I'll also let him know the good news."

Hotch nodded and said, "While you're doing that we'll update the doctor on Reid's progress."

For the first time in the past few weeks Reid finally felt safe. He looked around the room that he was currently in and it finally dawned on him where he was…home. No, not his apartment, but his childhood home in Las Vegas. He was in the living room next to the plaid couch where he and his mother would always work on putting together puzzles using the coffee table as the base.

"Hello?" he called out to the seemingly empty house.

Internally he was wondering how he had gotten here. He had sold this place a long time ago when he decided to move to Virginia and join the FBI. It was a wonder that the new owners had left it exactly as he remembered.

"Is anyone here?"

"Back here, Spencer," he heard a familiar voice answer.

"Mom?"

"Of course my sweet boy. Who else would it be?" she called from down the hall.

"Mom, why aren't you at the hospital?" he asked.

"Because you need me. Now get down here and join your mother," she answered as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

He cautiously walked down the hall and pushed open the master bedroom doorway. His mother was propped up on the bed with her back against the headboard. She had a copy of "One Thousand and One Nights" open on her lap. She patted the bedside to indicate that she wanted him to join her.

He quickly went over to the empty side of the bed and scooted himself close to her like he did when he was a child. She put her free arm around his shoulders and drew his head into the crook of her neck.

"How did you know I needed you?" he asked quietly trying not to disrupt this peaceful moment.

"A mother knows…" was all she said.

The two sat in a comfortable silence for a few minutes during which she ran her fingers through his hair and gently kissed him on the forehead.

Spencer, comforted by his mother's touch, didn't even realize that he had tears dripping down his face.

Diana used her thumb to wipe away the salty discharge and made soft shushing noises with her mouth, "Spencer, tell me why you're so sad?"

"I can't mom…it's too…it's too embarrassing," he softly cried as his tears soaked into her nightgown.

"Nothing is too bad that you can't tell your mother. It's my job to listen. Now tell me what is going on in that big brain of yours," she gently chided.

"Mom, I…I've been having a really hard time lately. Too many things have been going wrong in my life lately. First there was Maeve…," he began but broke off cryptically.

"Now then, I already know about you and that pretty girl. I was so sad to hear about such tragedy. I had really hoped that you wouldn't have to live through anything so awful. A parent always wants to shield their children from such sorrows, but there's more Spencer. I can tell," she said encouraging him to talk.

"Well…we were on this case down in Louisiana lately and the unsub…uh bad guy…he…he kidnapped me," Reid confessed to his mom. "Mom, it was awful. He chained me up and forced me to do his bidding. I've never felt so humiliated. That is until..."

"Until what, honey?"

"Until he forced himself on me," he cried out as he admitted it for the first time to someone other than himself.

"Oh my sweet baby," she cooed as she hugged him close to her and started to rock him back and forth.

Spencer felt himself give in as he let out huge gut-wrenching sobs. He felt her hand on his back rubbing soothing circles in a manner only a mother could perfect. It took him ten minutes to let it all out and soon his sobs died away to quiet whimpers.

"Spencer," Diana said quietly.

"Hm?"

"You can't let that defeat you," she said as she laid his head on her lap after pushing the book away.

"How did you - " he started to say as she cut him off.

"I know you son. The only reason we're here now is because you've finally reached your breaking point. You've let this assault overwhelm you and bring you down. And if I didn't know any better I would say you're trying to cope with it on your own," she said.

"I've always handled things on my own," he responded.

She sighed, "I know and that's my fault. I couldn't be there for you when you were growing up. So you got it into your head that being independent and closed off makes you strong. But you're wrong. It's times like these you need to be surrounded by people who care about you. It's time like these you need to learn to live again, and you can't do that by yourself."

"I have you," he said.

"Now sweetie, you know that this isn't real. I'm far away from you right now and I can't give you the help that you need. You have to accept what has already been offered to you," she admonished.

"But I can't…," he sniveled.

"Why?"

"I can't let them see me so vulnerable. And I can't share what really happened during my kidnapping with them," he answered.

"And why not?"

"Because it's too personal and shameful. I'm dirty now. I've been tainted with that man's touch. I'm scarred forever with his mark," Reid admitted.

"Now baby, if those people are really your friends none of that is going to scare them away from you. They are good people, and I know that after you let your guard down and allow them in you'll be pleasantly surprised by their response."

"I just don't know if I can," he said.

"Well, I'm afraid if you don't you might be joining me soon," she said mysteriously.

"What do you mean?" he asked with worry laced in his voice.

"If you try to keep everything hidden away you are going to destroy yourself. You will drive yourself into a deeper depression than the one you're already experiencing. You'll leave your friends no choice but to put you in a place where doctors can watch over you to ensure your safety," she explained.

He rubbed his eyes and said, "But I don't want that."

"Well, than you know what you have to do," Diana said as her hand traced lines up and down his arm. "Trust your friends Spencer. They won't let you down. Now, I'm afraid that it's time for me to go."

"What? No, mom. Stay here! I don't know if I can do this without you," he cried as he realized the room around him was fading.

"Even though I'm 2,419 miles away, I'm always with you. Now do what you're mother says and start getting better. I'm expecting a letter from by the end of the week," she demanded before she completely disappeared.

"Mom!" Reid cried out as he woke up from the comforting dream.

Derek, who had been stationed by Reid's side for a few hours now jump in surprise at the loud cry that issued forth from the rosebud lips.

"Mom?" his friend questioned as his eyes looked around in confusion.

"Reid, it's just me, Morgan. You're mom isn't here," Derek said soothingly as he scooted his chair closer to the hospital bed.

Reid laid there for a moment trying to get his bearings and then glanced over and made eye contact with his friend, "I…I was hoping that she would be."

Morgan, not knowing how to respond just nodded his head.

"I was having a dream about her," the boy said unsure as to why he was sharing his dream.

"Was it a good dream?" Morgan asked glad that his friend was willing to talk about something so personal.

Reid licked his lips and croaked out, "Yeah."

Morgan held up a Styrofoam cup of water that had a straw and a lid to his friend's parched lips. Reid eyed the cup in the dark hand and hesitantly took a sip out of the proffered straw.

"Thank you," he whispered after Morgan took away the soothing liquid.

"No problem. Anytime," was all he said. Morgan sat back in the chair and continued to keep his gaze focused on Reid. He didn't want to start the conversation this time because he knew that Reid needed to feel in control. So he sat there waiting for the stubborn profiler to open up on his own.

"She…um…she was comforting me," the brown eyed boy started. "We…we were back at home in Vegas and she knew that something was wrong. When I was a kid and she was lucid, my mom was always able to tell when things were wrong with me. It was just like back then," he said with a far-off look in his eyes.

Morgan chose to remain silent, not wanting to scare Reid out of talking.

"She made me tell her what happened. Then she got on me for trying to handle it all by myself," Reid said with a hint of a smile. He knew that Morgan would appreciate his mom's efforts to get her son to open up.

"She's right you know," was all the older agent said.

"You mean I'm right," Reid corrected.

"Come again," Morgan said.

"Well, technically since it was a dream it was my subconscious talking and not my mom," Reid explained.

Morgan smiled. It was good to see a hint of the old Reid breaking through the sorrowful shell that was now his friend.

"So….," Morgan prompted.

"So…I think…I think that maybe I should try talking about it," Reid said sheepishly as his face grew to a deep red at the thought of sharing his most vulnerable moments.

"Should I go get a doctor?" Morgan asked, "I'm sure he can hook you up with an experienced therapist that can help."

"No! No…I don't want to talk to some stranger. I'd rather talk to…you," Reid confessed as he drew the blanket up to his chin as if to protect himself.

"Are you sure pretty boy?" Morgan asked as he let the nickname accidently slip out.

"Um…no, but I'd rather try with you first," he said shakily.

"Okay. I'm here to listen whenever you're ready," he encouraged.

"He took me by surprise. I had woken up early that morning and decided that I was going to buy us all coffee to help us get through the long day ahead. I went to Maybell's diner and pick up the six cups. It…it happened all of a sudden. I was walking by a gap in between the two buildings when I felt something wrap around my neck. It got tighter and tighter and eventually I passed out."

"JJ and Blake found the empty coffee cups there later on," Morgan supplied as filler so Reid could gather his thoughts before he continued.

"I woke up on his boat all tied up. When he docked it I tried to talk to him, but he refused to answer. I got defiant with him and he choked me with the snare until I passed out. I woke up later in a metal trapper's cage with the metal collar around my neck and manacles attached to my wrists," Reid explained as he closed his eyes to envision the situation he was reliving.

"You must have been pretty scared," Morgan said.

Reid ignored his friend's statement and continued on, "After I realized that I was alone I decided to yell for help. John came crashing in and started yelling at me. He told me that I was there to work and entertain him. He explained that he took me because of the story I was telling JJ the previous night at the grocery store. Morgan…he took me because of my words. He took me because I was talking too much like I always do."

Morgan, hearing the distress in his friend's voice started to piece together some of Reid's recent actions, "Is that why you wouldn't talk a whole lot after we found you?"

Reid shook his head up and down, "Kinda…I figured that my words were what got me into trouble in the first place, so I should use them sparingly from now on."

"Ahh…Reid…I'm sure deep down you know that it becoming mute wasn't going to solve your problems and make the memories go away," Morgan said.

"Yeah, I do know that...but anyways, he let me out of the cage and forced me to make dinner. I did. And then we sat by the fire and I had to finish my story. Afterwards, I thought he was going to put me back in the cage but he forced me down on the ground and attached my collar to a chain in the floor. He proceeded to whip me with his belt because I had tried to take a knife from the kitchen earlier. I have scars on my back now from how hard he hit me," Reid admitted for the first time.

"Geez man, I wish you would have said something," Morgan complained knowing that Reid wasn't going to respond to him.

"He made me sleep there on the floor chained like a dog for the rest of the night. The next morning he chained me up outside and gave me a list of chores to complete while he was gone. That's when I had the encounter with the alligator. It came out during the sudden rainstorm and long story short, I tried to get away from it and it bit my leg," Reid continued.

"John came back later and saved me from the gator. After I told my story that night I had an opportunity to escape to the boat and I took it. John caught me though and was furious. He took me over to a tree stump and made me think he was going to chop off my head. Thankfully he didn't, but that's when he got out his soldering iron and branded my stomach," Reid explained as he clutched his stomach where he was forever marked with the vile word "Slave."

"That night I had to sleep chained to the dock. The next day started off as nothing special. He left me chained up inside the house and told me to clean it, which I did. But that night…that night…he uh…," Reid, who had been doing so well at maintaining his composure suddenly started sobbing, "That night everything got much worse."

Morgan, knowing that Reid was getting to the heart of the story, remained silent and allowed the genius time to compose himself. Instinctively he reached his hand out to grab Reid's in a soothing manner but thought better of it. The older agent was then surprised when Spencer's hand found his and clutched it in a tight grip.

"That night he told me he was pleased with me and decided to let me sleep on the bed," Reid sputtered out in a nervous fashion. "I quickly realized what was going to happen and I started to struggle. I kicked him and tried to run for the boat again, but he quickly subdued me. Before I could even comprehend it, I was attached to the bed by my collar."

"He…he then chained my feet down to prevent me from kicking him. Then he…he…tried to kiss me. But I bit him."

"Good for you kid. I bet he didn't try that again," Morgan said proud of how hard his friend fought.

Reid gulped and nodded his head, "No, he didn't. Instead he wrapped duct tape around my head to keep me silent and avoid my bite. He told me not to touch the tape or he would break any finger that came into contact with the gag. He then…he…," Reid stopped his story and broke down into a mess of tears and proceeded to squeezed Morgan's hand with his vicelike grip.

Morgan quickly got up on the bed and started hugging his best friend. He didn't even think twice about the close contact until Reid stiffened up under his touch, "Oh…I'm sorry man. I just wanted to help."

Morgan made to jump off the bed but Reid whispered, "No, it's okay."

Derek was more than happy to stay positioned on the bed with his best friend, it showed definite progression when it came to Reid's slowly healing psyche, "You know you can take a break if you need to. We don't have to go over all of this right now."

Reid shook his head and said, "No, if I don't get this out now I never will."

"Okay, but don't try to be brave just because I'm here. Take your time and allow the emotions to flow," Morgan coaxed.

Reid took a deep breath and continued his tale, "He then exposed my body. I was so desperate for help that I went to remove the duct tape forgetting his earlier threat. John grabbed my index fingers and snapped them both backwards. After that he assaulted me for what seemed like hours. Eventually I passed out and didn't wake up till the morning. I tried to take the gag off again but apparently John thought I still needed it, so he broke my middle and ring finger on my left hand. He then got back on top of me and…and assaulted me again."

Morgan sat there as the silence enveloped the two profilers. Reid had finally opened up to him and it was much worse than Derek could have ever imagined. No wonder Reid had been so upset to hear that the team gave up the search that night. If they could have found him maybe his best friend would have never been raped. He hugged his best friend tighter to relay his sympathy and unknowingly started rocking Reid like his mother had done in his dream.

Spencer was allowing quiet tears to streak down his face as he allowed himself to feel safe in his friend's burly arms. He clutched Morgan tightly whispered a soft, "Thank you."

Morgan rested his chin on Reid's head and said, "For what?"

"For this."

"That's what friends are for Reid. I just wish we could have found you sooner. We tried so hard," Morgan in a tear choked voice as remorse flowed through his body.

"Don't…don't cry. I know that you guys did your best. I just didn't want to admit it," Reid said, not wanting his friend to feel so guilty.

"I'll always regret letting Hotch send us back to the hotel room that night," Morgan admitted.

"And I'll always regret going out to get everyone coffee," Reid added. "So what happens now?"

"What do you mean?"

"I got it all out like you guys wanted. But what happens to me now?"

"Well, I do have some good news for you," Morgan said allowing some happiness back into his voice.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. Hotch talked to Agent Cruz and he cancelled your suspension. You are officially on medical leave, and your job will be waiting for you when you get better," Morgan shared excitedly.

"You're kidding?"

"Nope, not at all."

A smile broke out on Reid's face at the news.

"I can't tell you how good it is to hear that," Reid stated as he finally released his iron grip on Morgan's arm.

"Well, I'm just happy that I was the one who got to break the good news to you. Now I think it's time for you to get some more sleep," Morgan ordered.

"Nah, I'm fine and there is so much more to tell," the boy said with a sleepy tilt to his voice.

"Liar. I know your eyes are drooping. Just sit back and relax. I'll get up and let you have the bed to yourself," Morgan murmured as he made to move off the bed, "Anyways, we have all the time in the world to discuss everything else."

"You sure?" the kid mumbled.

"Yeah kid, I'm sure. Now close those big brown eyes. I'll watch over you while you sleep. We'll work everything else out later," the big man said as he settled back into the chair by the bed. Derek allowed his eyes to flit over his healing friend once again and felt his heart warm at the thought that Reid was finally learning to trust again. He knew that the genius had finally broken down the wall that shielded him from his friends and allowed the healing process to start.

The boy, oblivious to his friend's musings, just sighed in agreement and turned on his side pulling the blanket under his chin. He closed his eyes and relished in the secure feeling that he was experiencing for the first time since this whole ordeal started.

I hoped you enjoyed it!

So, I have two stories stewing in my brain.

1. Set in season seven right after the "True Genius" episode. Our genius is taken by a man that is running an illicit kink website online. The man was attracted to Reid after listening to him lecture on the different paraphelias. Let's just say Reid's going to get to experience quite a few of the things he discussed with his audience.

2. Also set in season seven. Reid has finally found a woman that he loves. He gets engaged and starts to plan a new life with her. Unfortunately, he wakes up one morning to a set of nurses that have come to take him away and commit him to the local sanitarium. What does his girlfriend have to do with this turn of events and how will the team get him released?

So are you interested in either? Let me know :)

Take care!