Undercover Love

103º

"Slow down, you're doing fine
You can't be everything you want to be
Before your time
Although it's so romantic on the borderline tonight
Tonight,
Too bad but it's the life you lead
You're so ahead of yourself that you forgot what you need."

She knows Aaron has no taste for Billy Joel. Then again he hasn't the taste for much of anything that isn't The Beatles or something Jack likes. So he won't mind her singing the tune.

"Too bad but it's the life you lead
You're so ahead of yourself that you forgot what you need
Though you can see when you're wrong, you know
You can't always see when you're right. you're right."

The cold rags have done nothing to bring down his fever. It's held firm at a steady 103º.

The sweat had drenched his hair back and the rags made his skin feel clammy.

"He's not going anywhere, dear." A nurse, who'd been the glue keeping Emily together, smiles and rubs her shoulder. "Go home. Get some sleep. I will personally call you if anything happens."

Emily nods but doesn't move from her spot. She just starres at his hand that she's gripping tightly.

"Come on, honey." Emily stands and the nurse guides her out of the room.

The corridors colder than Aaron's room.

Isn't funny how not only people bring but places bring things out in us?

Schools get the most pained goodbyes from children.

Airports get the most loving kisses.

Stores get the most hand in hand reunions.

Hospitals-Hospitals get more prayers than a church. More heart wrenching sobs and tearful goodbyes than any other place. Hospital's see more death than the morgue. More widows. More widowers. More dead children. More orphans. Hospitals see it all. The good, the bad, and worse.

Emily hums softly to herself. The warm shower water drops down her face and she feels claustrophobic. A panic settles in her chest and she steps out of the way of the spray. She gasps for breath, whatever song she was humming forgotten.

Her breath doesn't even out instead it breaks with sobs.

Constantly everything reminds her of him. How did he make it though Haley? Why didn't he say anything?

Her hair lays wet and limp on her shoulder.

The soft carpet is just another reminder that there aren't any footsteps behind trailing behind her. No one there to spook her around the next corner. No one in this stupid apartment at all.

The red scratch on the hallway wall is a bitter reminder of chaotic game of tag that ended when Jack's red crayon, which was being used as a weapon to scare his father, crammed into the wall. Leaving, in it's wake, the signature red scratch.

There's no one to crawl into bed behind her. No one to hog the blankets. No one at all.

Morgan

"You suck."

Morgan whirls around and finds non other than Spencer Reid anxiously looking around the FBI gym.

"You wanna fight, pretty boy?" He'd seen Emily and Hotch's baby the other day. He hadn't been back to the hospital since. Where else is he supposed to go? You can idle in the halls. Take a lap around the morgue. If you're lucky you can see the new born babies crying through the window. If your name is on the VIP list they might actually let you back to see the kid you want. If that goes through you can stop by the adult ward, and if you can make it past any travesty that may be occurring, and hopefully you made it in time for visitors hours. If all else fails you can go down the cafeteria and pray that the coffee's still warm.

"Not really." Reid squishes invisible bugs with his toe. "I-uh.."

Morgan tucks the worn ball under his arm," did you take my paperwork?"

Reid looks down the polished ground. He'd played basketball before. That's what he wanted to do. Play not talk about the fact that he's doing other people's paperwork.

"Did you?" He's not mad, that much is clear, but the pitty is overwhelming.

"It doesn't matter." He stands tall, he's not going to tell him.

Morgan steps closer," Reid... just tell me you took it. It doesn't matter. It's just paperwork."

It's not just paperwork. It's so many other things. So much buried inside.

"I took it."

Morgan pulls him in and Reid let's out a surprised yelp. "Everything's going to be alright, kid."

Reid loosens up and everything he's suppressed comes tumbling out. He stays silent but tears roll out of his eyes.

Morgan keeps Reid held close.

"I am brave," Reid sobs," and I can handle this as fine everyone else can."

Morgan pats Reid's shoulder," of course. Of course you are." He rubs his back," you're just as strong as any of us. Stronger. You're so much stronger than us." Morgan can feel his shield crumbling," Reid you've been through so much. We know you're strong, kid."

Morgan can feel his neck wetting. "It's alright, kid."

Nurse Beck

Both her calls to Agent Prentiss had been left unheard. And judging from Agent Hotchner's current state he's gonna want her here too.

She sighs and calls again. This time she's greeted with an answer.

"Agent Prentiss!" She sighs, thank God.

"Hello?"

She shakes her head," it's nurse Beck. Agent Prentiss? His fever broke. His lungs are clearing up." She smiles into her phone," honey, he wants to see you."

After three hours of a fever of 103º it broke. Slowly, and Lord was it slow, his temperature is back down to a safe 100º.

"I'll be there and.." Emily pauses," do you think I can bring Jack?"

Nurse Beck smiles, Jack that's who he stammered on and on about," yes. I think that would be great."