Jurys Out.

Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal minds.

'To him who is in fear everything rustles,' ~ Sophocles.

Derek had called Hotch and told him he would be stopping in to see Reid at the hospital before coming in to work. There was silence on the other end of the phone and Derek could imagine Hotch giving him one of those looks that frustrated Morgan beyond belief. Morgan felt like screaming at the man. Hotch had been acting very peculiar ever since the accident. ; if he had something to say, just go ahead and say it. Hotch merely said that it was fine and they hung up.

It had been nearly two weeks since Reid had ran in front of an oncoming car at the airport. Morgan had been there as well as Ethan, Reid's friend. It had been terrifying, Morgan had performed CPR on Reid until the paramedics came and were able to get a steady pulse. Ethan had been nearly inconsolable at the hospital. This was a side of the man Morgan had never seen. Gone was the cool wisecracking smartass; he'd been replaced by a scared panicked man. Fortunately by the time the rest of the team had showed up. The doctor had some relatively good news to tell them.

Reid had suffered a minor head injury, 3 broken ribs, a cracked leg bone and right wrist. He was badly injured but would eventually recover. When the team was finally able to see him they all asked Reid the same thing, what happened?. He would only look away and say he couldn't remember. They knew he was lying.

Ethan and Morgan had both told police it had been an accident. Reid must have not seen the car coming when he ran in front of it. The drivers were not charged. The thing that remained a mystery to Morgan was why Reid did it in the first place. Ethan guessed the reason but he was not going to share what he knew with Morgan; he didn't trust him. He felt like he had to protect Spencer now more than ever.

XXXXX

When Morgan arrived at the hospital he wasn't surprised to find Ethan sitting by Reid's bed, it seemed like he was always there. He helped Spencer eat his meals, took him to the bathroom, and just generally kept him company. Morgan almost had a grudging respect for the man. It began to dawn on him that Ethan perhaps really did love his friend. Morgan still did not trust him. It seemed like he too was hiding something and it drove him crazy.

Reid was sitting up in bed sipping on a cup of hospital coffee. He smiled when he saw Morgan.

"Hey kid, just thought I'd stop by and see how you're doing" Morgan said, he acknowledged Ethan with a nod.

"Better I guess, since I'm aware of how bad this coffee is," he said as he put down the cup.

"Why don't I go downstairs and get you something good, Derek do you want anything?" Ethan offered.

Morgan was surprised by his courtesy and was even more amazed Ethan was actually giving him and Reid a moment alone.

"No thanks, I'm good" he said.

"Be back in a flash," Ethan left.

"So pretty boy, you're looking better. What's the scoop on you getting out of here?"

"My ribs are healing , I still have to wear this cast on my wrist and this fiberglass boot on my leg, but if all my tests look good I might be going home in a day or so,"

"Great, are you going to be alright alone?"

"I won't be alone, Ethan is staying with me. He even quit his part time job. I didn't want him to do that" Reid rushed to add.

"Yeah, so have you had any luck in recalling what happened that night at the airport?"

Morgan thought he could almost see a shadow pass over his friends face. Reid looked away and began to fiddle with his bed sheet.

"No, I don't think…, I was just careless I guess" Reid looked past him and his face brightened.

Morgan turned to see Ethan returning with a tray of coffee. He handed Morgan a cup.

"I got you one to go, in case you changed your mind," Ethan said.

Morgan knew he was being dismissed, Ethan's eyes bored into his telling him to leave.

"Ok kid I'll talk to you later, thanks for the coffee,"

For Morgan this wasn't over. He was going to find out what was going on with Spencer: for such a brilliant man, he was a transparent liar, though Rossi often said they should all be grateful that Reid was on their side.

XXXXX

Reid, true to his word did go home in the next couple of days. He was adept at using the crutches but dealing with pain posed a problem as he went without pain killers.

Ethan became very good at anticipating Reid's every need to the point of it being embarrassing.

"Aren't you sick of me yet," Reid groused.

"Not completely," Ethan told him.

"You really don't need to bathe me you know,"

"Well that's for me really," Ethan joked. Reid threw a book at him.

Their relationship took a strange turn backward. Ethan started sleeping on the couch; mostly because he feared his tossing and turning would disturb Spencer. There was no mention of their previous sexual encounters. Reid acted as if it had never happened. Though that was par for the course for Reid and for now Ethan was fine with it.

He had not yet brought up the subject of Gideon. He wanted to wait until Reid was fully recovered. If he were being completely honest with himself, he was afraid to bring it up. Spencer had seemed so much like his old self lately and they were getting along so well he was afraid of ruining it.

One afternoon Spencer informed him that Hotch and Rossi were coming by.

"Are you up to it?" Ethan asked.

Spencer shrugged, "I guess,"

Ethan was unsure on whether he was up for it. The two men were always cordial but at the same time they displayed a certain wariness around him. It felt like he could feel their eyes boring into his skull, profiling his every word and gesture.

Garcia and JJ had already come by earlier with a huge tin of Garcia's baked treats. He liked the women; they were friendlier and more accepting of him.

Prentiss had come another time alone. She was sweet and she and Spencer seemed to have a special rapport. He could tell nothing much got past that woman.

That evening Hotch and Rossi arrived at the apartment. Ethan noted the look they gave one another when they saw pillows and blankets piled on a nearby chair.

Ethan sat back as the three men discussed work and what cases Spencer had missed. Ethan noticed Hotch seemed rather vague when Reid talked about coming back to work. Rossi changed the subject and asked if anyone was hungry.

"Rossi thinks every social occasion requires food," stated Hotch.

Rossi raised his eyebrows "but it does." he said.

Eventually they ended up ordering Chinese food. Reid looked happy and relaxed; this made Ethan happy.

Ethan began collecting their empty plates, as he was putting them in the sink Hotch came into the kitchen and asked if he could make some coffee.

Ethan told him he'd put on a pot. Hotch remained standing beside him. He began to speak to him in a low voice.

"So how is Reid really doing?" he asked.

"Good, getting better every day, of course he's kind of a master on the crutches"

Hotch huffed a laugh, "Unfortunately that's true." He paused for a moment,

"I wanted to ask you… has Reid been doing anything unusual since he's been home or even before that, before the accident?"

Ethan stopped what he was doing. "What do you mean?"

Before Hotch could answer, Rossi joined them.

"Ah great, coffee, but I think we should get going, Reid's starting to yawn and talk about cold fusion, that's a sure sign he wants us to go,"

The two profilers returned to the living room. Ethan was relieved he wasn't forced to lie, but apparently he wasn't the only one who noticed something was wrong with Reid. He just wasn't sure they knew how wrong.

Hotch had caught the look of dismay on Ethan's face even if it was only there for a micro second. Ethan knew something. He recalled the conversation he had with Artie the night cleaner weeks ago. He told Hotch that he had seen Reid in the round table room arguing and reacting to someone who wasn't there. Hotch had asked him if he was sure. Artie was not a fanciful man. He said that Reid was screaming and yelling at an empty space for nearly twenty minutes before he collapsed on the couch.

XXXXX

Hotch and Rossi left before eleven o clock. Ethan came in from the kitchen drying his hands with a dish towel. He smiled at Reid.

"Feel like watching a movie or anything? He asked.

Spencer shook his head" No, I'm exhausted. I think I'll just go to bed,"

"Here, let me help you." Ethan moved to his friend's side and helped him stand.

Reid was about to object since he was pretty good at getting around by himself, but tonight he was tired. He leaned heavily on his friend and let him guide him to his bedroom.

Ethan deposited him carefully on the bed, Reid began to undress. He was slow because of his injuries. Ethan kneeled down to help him off with his pants. He noticed how Spencer grimaced.

"Still having a lot of pain? he asked." Do you want me to get you something?"

"You know I can't "

"I just meant like Advil, stuff like that ,"

Reid shook his head and slowly laid his head down on the pillows.

"Ethan, do you think you can stay with me a while, until I go to sleep?"

Spencer's voice had changed, he now sounded weary and sad.

"Sure, no problem" Ethan walked around the bed and carefully laid down beside Reid,"

"Ethan, I don't think Hotch wants me to come back," Reid said in a quiet voice.

"Of course he does. He just wants you to be fully recovered," he replied assuredly.

Reid yawned. "Well, maybe you're right" He turned and looked at his friend.

"I have to tell you something, Gideon was at the airport. He tried to shoot you. He might be scared off for now because I was hurt, but if he is on some sort of psychotic break he could try again."

Ethan reached over and turned off the bedside lamp. He needed the room to be dark. He did not want his friend to see the tears in his eyes.

TBC

AN: confrontations take place in the next chapter. Please read and review.