Disclaimer: I wish I did but I do NOT own Criminal Minds or it's characters

No, no, no, no. Eyes widening in realization, Reid shook his head furiously, "You can't!".

"Reid, you just told me that you were-", Morgan stopped and ran a hand roughly over his head, looking for the right word.

"Exactly!", Reid yelled, pushing himself up, "I told you.". Taking a step forward, he waited until they made eye contact before he continued, "Hotch wouldn't.. he.. he's different, Morgan. He wouldn't understand.".

"What? You think you're gonna keep this from him?", Morgan asked incredulously, "You don't think he's gonna find out? What are you gonna tell him you were doing tonight, Reid?". His voice grew louder and Reid couldn't help the flinch that his body responded to it with.

"He'll fire me, Morgan. Don't you get that?", Reid snapped, voice cracking in fear but rising just the same. "I have no other option! I can't afford to lose this job.".

He looked at his friend, searching for sympathy and understanding. Opening his mouth with plans to further his argument were halted when they heard shouting coming from outside the bathroom's door. Giving each other an acknowledging look to confirm the noise, they both quickly rushed to the door, throwing it open and looking for the source.

Standing in the hallway, the two looked around frantically trying to locate the disturbance. Seeing a few teenage girls huddled near the opposite wall, Reid noticed one had her hand to her chest and was trying to calm her breathing while her two friends looked to be consoling her. Reid reached out and tapped Morgan to get his attention and pointed towards the circle. Following after the older man as he made his way over to the group.

Reid watched as Morgan immediately took out his badge and showed it to the girls. "Do you need help? Were you the one who screamed?", the buff agent asked as he slid his identification back into his pocket.

Reid gave the girl a look of concern and studied her, looking for injuries.

The girl nodded, "Yeah. I mean, no I don't need help but yeah I screamed.", breathing heavily, the girl pointed down the hall and toward the hospital's entrance, "I was just sitting in the lobby and these two guys started fighting.".

Glancing over towards where she was pointing, Reid furrowed his brows. Quickly scanning the area he frowned, he didn't see Hotch. Focusing back on the girl he listened to her story, figuring Hotch was already probably taking care of the two she was talking about.

"It was out of nowhere! That's the scary part. This young guy walked in and this older serious looking guy in a suit came up to him and I couldn't hear what they were saying but next thing you know.. suit-guy threw a blow!", the girl looked from one agent to the other, bewildered.

Feeling his heart sink into his stomach, Reid looked to Morgan who gave him a mirroring looking of understanding and shock. "Where did they go?", Morgan asked hurriedly.

"O-Outside. They were thrown out.", the girl pointed towards the hospital's entrance.

Without waiting for further instruction, Reid took off, racing past Morgan and the girls. He was the first to arrive outside, followed by Morgan less than a second later. Surveying the parking lot, he scanned the outside of the building for any sign of either Hotch or Josh. Finding neither, he looked to Morgan who he saw taking off to the right. Looking past the agent and what he was headed towards, he hurriedly followed.

Coming to a stop, just as he made his way onto the hospital's neighboring sidewalk Reid stopped and stood at Morgan's side. Giving his boss a once over, he felt a sense of relief wash over him at the lack of injuries he found. He wanted to speak, ask Hotch if he was okay, but the look of anger and the identical tension radiating off the man's body told him that wasn't a good idea.

Sucking in his lips, he kept quiet as he heard Morgan asking the questions that fear prevented him from asking himself.

"I'm fine.", Hotch snarled, causing both of his subordinates to look at one another.

Reid nodded. Forcing the words to form and his mouth to allow them to come out, he took a careful step forward, "I'm sorry, Hotch. I'm so sorry.".

Morgan gave Reid a look of puzzlement, "Why would you be sorry?".

"I.. I told him to come here.", he confessed, crossing his arms protectively around himself and taking a fearful step back.

Looking up, he frowned at the, not unexpected, looks of disbelief and anger on each of their faces. "I'm sorry.", he quickly repeated, taking another step back.

Morgan stepped forward, clenching his fists, "How?", he growled, "Why?".

Lips trembling, Reid swallowed and looked to Hotch for understanding and maybe some help. The older man stepped forward and reached an arm out to stop Morgan from walking forward any further. "It doesn't matter.", the unit chief stated. Morgan shot him an incredulous look that he quickly replaced with understanding and Reid felt a pang of hope burst through him.

He really was sorry. He didn't know what he was thinking. He had already been caught hadn't he? What was the point? It's not like Hotch or Morgan were going to let him just leave with Josh, and even if he had somehow managed to sneak away, they were just going to come after him. How could he be so stupid?

"Let's get back inside.", Hotch instructed.

Sighing, Reid shook his head, "Hotch, I really don't need medical attention. I'm fine.".

He heard a scoff and turned his attention towards the darker skinned agent. "Reid you're bleeding.", Morgan, much to his dismay, announced.

Eyes widening, he shot Morgan a glare and quickly turned to Hotch to rectify the situation.

Tonight was just not his night.

Lying on the exam room table, Reid held his hand behind his back to make sure the gown he was given remained closed. He had told the doctor his injuries were a result of rough sex and after he was looked over and cleaned up he was informed that the doctor would be back.

He still hadn't told Hotch what he told Morgan, he opted to remain mum on the situation. He gave him a similar story of rough activities and he could tell the dark haired agent assumed, while piecing the information together, that it was Josh who did it. He had wanted to argue and tell him otherwise but to tell him otherwise would mean to tell him the truth and he just couldn't do that yet.

He heard a knock and slowly sat up with a wince. Without permission, the door opened and the man who had just been occupying his thoughts walked through.

Gluing his eyes to the floor, he waited for whatever awkward conversation was bound to be initiated.

"I know", Hotch spoke.

Reid kept his eyes on the ground, "Know what?". That I was raped, that it wasn't consensual? That I'm selling my body? That I'm disgusting?.

"What you're doing.", he stared at Reid intently, waiting for him to lift his head, barely concealing his own rage under false professionalism, "Josh informed me.".

Oh look, all three. Go Hotch!. "Oh.", slowly lifting his head, he looked into the eyes of his superior. Humiliation and shame hit him like a ton of bricks. He quickly averted his gaze back to the floor and it's safety.

"You know I'm obligated to report this.", Hotch informed him, quietly clenching his fists.

Anger fled through Reid's bloodstream but the defeat was weighing him down. He nodded slowly.

"As of this moment you're on leave. Effective immediately.".

The drive home was ridden in silence. After dropping Morgan off back home, Reid switched from the backseat into the front passenger seat at Hotch's request. Morgan had wanted to stay and go home with Reid, watch over him, but Hotch assured him he had it covered. Reid didn't want to read too much into that and hoped it was just said for Morgan's benefit.

As the car pulled up to his apartment and the vehicle came to a complete stop, Reid unfastened his seat belt and hopped out. Walking towards his complex, he heard the SUV door behind him shut and turned around, "What are you doing?".

"What does it look like?", Hotch walked past him and stood at the front of the building. Reid groaned.

"No offense, Hotch, but I really didn't invite you up.", walking to stand near his boss he folded his arms.

"None taken. I wasn't really seeking permission.", the older agent deadpanned.

Reid wrinkled his nose, "What? You can't just invite yourself up to someone's apartment!". Reminding himself that he was yelling at the man who had the power to take away his job completely, if he hadn't already, he calmed himself down. "Look, Hotch. I'm fine. I don't need you to look over me. I'm sorry about tonight and it'll never happen again.", he promised.

"No, it won't. Now open the door..".

Sighing in frustration, Reid turned and did as he was told.

Leading the older man up to his apartment, he suddenly felt nervous. Shaking the feeling away, he unlocked his apartment door and stepped inside, holding the door open for his boss.

"It's kind of a mess.", he said, his tone apologetic.

Hotch looked around the unit, "No worse than what Jack's capable of.".

Reid frowned, "Did you just compare me to a three year old?".

"Two year old actually.", Hotch made his way over to the couch and took a seat.

Reid scowled and hurriedly went around the room trying to straighten up.

A smirk appeared on Hotch's face as he watched the youth scramble around.

Fifteen minutes and a cleaner apartment later, Reid sat down on the couch next to Hotch, exhausted. "So how long do you plan on staying here?", he asked, turning his head to meet the eyes of the other profiler.

"For now.. until the morning. Until I have to get back to work.", Hotch leaned back, "Got an extra pillow and blanket?".

Reid pushed himself up but stayed planted on the couch, "About what you said earlier..".

"Blanket and pillow, Reid.".

Reid nodded, "Right.". Standing up he walked down the hall, grabbed a spare blanket and pillow and brought them back, gently placing them where he had sat on the couch. "Well, uh, if you need anything I'll be in there.", he pointed towards his room.

He waited for a nod of confirmation and then took off down the hall. Shutting his door, he leaned against it and let his head fall back onto the wood. That ache in his core started back up and his eyes immediately fell to the phone on his dresser. Locking the door behind him, he got to the phone and speedily dialed the familiar number.

"Well look who finally decided to call.", the voice sneered.

"I couldn't get to a phone till now.", he tiredly explained. "Do you still have the stuff on you?", chewing his lower lip he waited for the expected response.

"Yeah. Not that you deserve it.".

Reid took a seat on his bed and ran a hand frustratedly through his hair, "I need it.".

Josh laughed, "After this fucked up night, I wouldn't doubt it.".

"Could you drop it off or something, I'll meet you out front.", licking his bottom lip nervously he waited impatiently for the response.

"Was already on my way the moment I saw your number.", Josh chuckled, "I'm a couple blocks away. Don't come down. I'll come up.".

Reid's heart started to race as he pictured Hotch asleep on his couch, "No no. Don't come up. I'll come down. My uh.. I mean.. I have someone up here.". Sucking in his lips, he waited for the angry response.

"It's not either of those fuckfaces you were with is it?".

Reid's upper lip curled in disgust, "Can we not talk about them?".

"Can they not follow you everywhere you fucking go?", Josh sighed, "I'm here. Come out before I come up.".

Shutting the phone off, he quickly placed it back on the dresser and unlocked his door, silently creeping out and heading for the front door. A small smile crossed his lips when he saw that Hotch had his eyes closed and looked to be asleep. Feeling relief that finally one thing was going his way, he reached out and turned the knob, opening his front door.

"What are you doing, Reid?".

Fuck. "I thought I heard something, sorry if I woke you.", quickly shutting the door he turned around to face the owner of the voice. Burying his annoyance, he forced a small smile.

"What did it sound like?", Hotch asked, standing from the couch and making his way over to the door.

"I'm not sure.", he answered, swiftly fabricating his lie, "That's why I came out to check. You didn't hear anything?". Pursing his lips he gave the man a concentrated questioning look. The slight lift of an eyebrow, that could have been quickly missed if he blinked, was the only sign of interest he got in response before Hotch spoke.

"No. Are you sure you did?", the dark haired agent went to open the door and Reid threw his own hand out, catching him by the wrist.

"I probably didn't.", he assured, shaking his head in an attempt to prevent the action. His heart thudded at the fear of the possibility of the door being opened and Josh walking up. Looking into dark eyes, a feeling of uncertainty took over as he saw the intense look in them. For a minute, Reid was sure he had been caught, sure that Hotch knew he was lying. With apologies on the tip of his tongue, he looked down and sudden realization dawned on him, causing him to frown. Staring at the hand wrapped around Hotch's wrist he slowly loosened his grip and let it fall away.

Turning his head away he gazed at the floor.

Silence engulfed the two and Reid felt like it was slowly consuming and suffocating him until he felt a hand lift his chin up. Letting his gaze be led, he licked his lips nervously and looked up into the intense eyes. He'd never really had this close of contact with his boss before and he normally was opposed to such personal touches but he didn't pull away and found that he didn't even want to.

His blood was itching and he was craving the dilaudid and he knew if he didn't get back to his room quick and call Josh that the chances of him coming up were looking greater and greater but suddenly none of that mattered as his boss leaned forward and pressed his lips to his own.

The kiss was soft, gentle, almost caring. Never one to let his brain rest, Reid's mind was lined with explanations for it. He tried to pick one thought and focus on it but as Hotch deepened the kiss he found it fading. Without much control over his own actions, Reid began to kiss back and was disappointed when he was lightly pushed back.

Frown forming on his face, he looked up at Hotch in confusion. The stoic agent was pinching the bridge of his nose and he looked to be frustrated. Wrapped up in his own mind's crisis Reid opted to stay silent and wait for the man to speak.

A knock on the door prevented that.

Fearfully glaring at the door, he ignored whatever look he was sure the older profiler was shooting him and with a deep and accepting breath, slowly opened it.

"What part of come down or I'll come up didn't you understand?", Josh leaned against the now opened doorway looking at the younger male before noticing the man beside him, "Oh, fuck.", he groaned.

Seeing Hotch's fists clench, Reid immediately stepped between the two, blocking the access that either of them had to each other and narrowed his eyes at Josh, "I told you I would come down.", he hissed.

Josh lifted an eyebrow in amusement and pushed past him, walking into the apartment and knocking the kid into the older agent behind him. "Yeah, well you took too long. I have better shit to do than sit in my car and wait for your junkie ass to collect.".

Giving the older brunette a look of betrayal, he spun around with wide eyes, "Hotch, I can explain..".

Reid tried to identify the look he was receiving but didn't have much time to before Hotch turned his attention towards the other male. A clear look of anger and disgust painted his face.

Josh chuckled, "Go ahead, Spencer. Explain. I'm sure your boss would love to know about all your extracurricular activities. I've already told him a few things but it's always much better coming from the source. That way he can get the full picture of what his agent is up to.". Pulling a pack of smokes out his shirt pocket, the young man placed one of the white sticks between his bottom and top busted lip, courtesy of Hotch, and fished a lighter out of his pocket.

Spencer stepped forward and yanked the cancer stick out of the man's mouth, tossing it to the floor and glaring at him. "Get out.", he snarled.

With a smirk, Josh reached into his pocket and pulled out the clear glass vial, "I thought you wanted this.". Waving the object in front of the younger thinner male, he grinned and turned to Hotch, "You can see how bad he wants it can't you? How bad he's dying to get it into his veins. What he's willing to do for it. What he has done for it.".

Hotch reluctantly tore his gaze away from the vile man and looked on as Reid trembled in what looked like anticipation.

Desperately trying to hold himself together, Reid resisted the urge to reach out and snatch the liquid away. He did want it. He was dying to get it into his veins and he was willing to do anything for it. With his eyes glued on the vial he licked his lips and gave Josh a pleading look.

Nodding his consent and taking pity on the kid, Josh shoved the drug into the boy's chest.

Reid quickly fumbled to take a hold of it and almost yelled in protest when he found himself being grabbed and the vial being yanked out of his hands by Hotch.

"Don't-", he started before a look by the older agent swiftly cut him off.

Clutching the vial in his hand, Hotch studied the label and scowled, "Dilaudid?". Furrowing his brows, he looked to his subordinate for an explanation.