Title: Down by the Boat Dock

Author: The Color Grey

Summary: Reid's in trouble. Morgan does the best friend thing.

Warning: This will be SLASH. You've been warned. If you're here to send flames, then GTFO. May or may not get graphic in the future, I haven't decided yet.

Disclaimer: Criminal Minds isn't mine, I'm just playing. I promise to dust them off and put them back on the shelf when I'm done.

A/N: Prepare for irregular updates and bad writing. This is un-Beta'd so all mistakes are my own. Hope you enjoy!

Down by the Boat Dock

"I am an ocean, I am the sea

There is a world inside of me

Lost in the abyss, drowned in the deep

No set of lungs could salvage me

Save yourself, save your breath

The tides too strong, you'll catch your death

So breathe for me, just breathe"

- Crucify Me, Bring Me The Horizon

Nico Bonham leveled the gun in the palm of his hand with Reid's head and in that moment, he knew he had really screwed up this time. Reid swallowed down his panic and wished desperately he had told someone, anyone where he had gone. The distant sound of a seagull rang through the air and Nico's mouth twitched. "Move," Nico demanded with a wave of his gun. Reid stepped back a few steps down the wooden boat dock, his eyes never leaving the gun pointed at his head.

As they approached the end of the dock, Nico gestured. "Sit." Reid swallowed hard, looking all around for any signs of life. "Sit!" Nico repeated, tugging his arm until Reid obeyed, plopping down at the end of the dock beside a pile of stuff he'd barely noticed before. Nico crouched down in front of him, pulling out a pair of handcuffs. Reid tried to back away, but ran into a buoy and a pile of rusted chains behind him. Nico held his gun in one hand and snapped a bracelet on one of Reid's thin wrists. Reid pulled his other hand as far away as possible to keep him from binding his wrists together, but Nico didn't even try to get to his other hand, unexpectedly latching the other end on a large concrete block with a metal ring in it.

Stunned, Reid pulled, but the ring hadn't rusted enough and held fast.

"Great, so now you've got me where you want me," he said, trying to force sarcasm into his words even as panic welled inside him.

Nico snorted, "Not quite."

Nico shifted around and then gave the concrete block a push towards to edge of the dock. Reid's eyes widened as he realized his plan was to push it over the edge into the water.

"No! You can't do this! I-I'm important to the government!" he stuttered. "They won't let you get away! They'll find you!"

Nico paused. "Oh, yeah? And where are they now? 'Cause I don't see anyone here to help you." Nico waved his armed hand around to gesture to the abandon boat dock. He pushed a bit further. "You're… all… alone."

"Stop it! Stop!" Reid pleaded. As the block neared the edge, teetering, he screamed as loud as he could. "Help! Someone help…"

Before he could get the last word out, he felt himself jerk over to the side. He hit the water before he could get a breath and sank beneath the surface, his heart racing with adrenaline. Once he righted himself he tried to swim towards the surface, but the block was too heavy. Despite his kicking, it dragged him down to the bottom. The water was shallow enough he could see the filtering sunlight above him. Not even eight feet separated him from life-giving air, but his lungs burned, already desperate for oxygen.

A wave of claustrophobia overwhelmed his—no one would find him. The chilling thought hit him all at once. Hotch, Morgan, JJ, Garcia… Prentiss… Rossi… His body would never be located. They'd never know what happened to him, never be able to put him to rest.

Then there was a splash above him—someone in the water looking… Looking for him.

He waved his free hand and felt the person grab it. They pulled but nothing happened—there wasn't enough leverage to pull Reid and the anchoring block from the water.

The shape came closer and Reid could make out a face: Morgan.

Knowing he couldn't see down by the murky bottom, Reid grabbed Morgan's hand and led it down to feel the cuffs and the block.

With a rush of bubbles, Morgan was gone, up and out of the water.

Reid watched him go, panicking all over again.

Morgan had come, but Morgan hadn't been able to save him.

No one could save him.

He felt lightheaded, the cold water stealing the last sensations from him as he began to black out. There was another splash above him and Morgan was back. He swam up to Reid and Reid looked at him mournfully, trying to forgive him with his eyes, thank him for caring and trying. Morgan grabbed him and moved close, bringing their mouths together. Forcing Reid's open, Morgan blew air into his lungs. Reid choked a little, swallowing some water, but the tiny bit of air helped.

Morgan surfaced again and was back down to Reid in a matter of seconds, bringing their mouths together for another air transfer. The second time was easier and by a third time, Reid's head had cleared up enough for him to realize that Morgan's hands at his wrist meant something.

He had a key.

It took interminable seconds, Morgan working without sight, but finally the cuff came loose and Morgan swam him up to the surface. Reid came up sputtering and coughing, gulping for air and Morgan held him up, treading water for both of them until they could swim around to the side of the dock with a ladder they could climb back up.

On top of the dock, Reid staggered, but Morgan was there to steady him. Reid looked up at him, fragile and shaken, unable to speak. Morgan met his gaze and in one fluid movement, took Reid and enveloped him in his arms. Reid melted against him, in both parts that his muscles felt like jelly and the safe feeling Morgan had surrounded him in.

Sirens squealed and black and white police cars screeched up to the dock area. Morgan pulled him close, crushing him to his chest in a possessive embrace born out of fear of loss. "It's over," he murmured softly. "It's all over."

Reid turned his face away from the dead body of Nico lying on the dock, and buried it into Morgan's chest. They stood dripping wet on the dock, knowing the police and their team would have questions yet in that moment not caring about anything but the connection between them— unbreakable.