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thefroggTitle: A World Off Balance
Series: Of Innocence and Empathy
Author: Frogg
Beta: Nilandia
Rating: FRT-13, non-explicit slash
Disclaimer: I don't own them. Damnit.
Challenge: 50episodes – Criminal Minds, Morgan/Reid
Table: 2
Prompt: 6. Balance
Word Count: 389
Author's Note: A prologue to the Of Innocence and Empathy series. The second of three missing scenes from the end of Revelations (or rather, a continuation of To Rescue Innocence, from a different point of view).
"Easy, I got you," Morgan murmured, letting Reid sort himself out.
Panting, Reid leaned heavily, holding his injured leg off the ground. "S-sorry," he gasped out, relaxing a little as Morgan pulled him closer.
"It's okay, we'll do this at your pace, all right?" Relieved that the locals had gone back to their vehicles, that he could afford the care Reid so badly needed, Morgan nuzzled Reid's hair, pressing a kiss to his sweat-slick temple. "It's just me here." Cold fury burned at Reid's attempts to appear smaller; Morgan locked it away.
A discreet cough made them both stiffen and look around warily to find Hotch watching a ways back in the woods.
"There's an ambulance waiting," Hotch said softly as he drew near, a curious mix of hatred and understanding on his face at the way Reid cringed, hiding in the shelter of Morgan's arms.
"No," Reid said immediately, shaking his head and shrinking back against Morgan. "No, please, it's not-not that bad, I--"
"Reid." Morgan ran a soothing hand over Reid's back; Reid turned, burying his face in Morgan's neck. "Hotch, there's nothing that can't wait 'til we get to the hospital. Broken foot maybe, cuts and bruises."
"Please no, please no, please no," Reid chanted almost silently into Morgan's throat, finally giving up on words and mouthing at salt-sweet skin.
Hotch was silent, taking in the way Reid clung to Morgan, the tremors ripping through his body, weighing physical health against mental. Then, one hand covering his earpiece, he spoke. "Gideon, leave one of the vehicles and tell the ambulance to follow. I'll drive us to the hospital."
Reid sagged in relief, almost overbalancing Morgan.
"Thanks, man," Morgan said. It was againt protocol, but this was beyond protocol. This was Reid.
Hotch nodded and came closer. "You're not going to be able to put weight on that foot." He reached out with his left hand, waited for Reid to take it and slide one arm over his shoulder. "You ever try a three-legged race?"
Morgan snorted, arranging himself under Reid's left arm, wrapping his right around the younger man's waist. "This is the five-legged version."
"Th-thanks..." Reid managed.
Hotch nodded curtly, exchanging a look with Morgan over Reid's bowed head, and pointed his flashlight at the ground ahead of them. "Let's get out of here."
~~~the end~~~
Series: Of Innocence and Empathy
Author: Frogg
Beta: Nilandia
Rating: FRT-13, non-explicit slash
Disclaimer: I don't own them. Damnit.
Challenge: 50episodes – Criminal Minds, Morgan/Reid
Table: 2
Prompt: 6. Balance
Word Count: 389
Author's Note: A prologue to the Of Innocence and Empathy series. The second of three missing scenes from the end of Revelations (or rather, a continuation of To Rescue Innocence, from a different point of view).
"Easy, I got you," Morgan murmured, letting Reid sort himself out.
Panting, Reid leaned heavily, holding his injured leg off the ground. "S-sorry," he gasped out, relaxing a little as Morgan pulled him closer.
"It's okay, we'll do this at your pace, all right?" Relieved that the locals had gone back to their vehicles, that he could afford the care Reid so badly needed, Morgan nuzzled Reid's hair, pressing a kiss to his sweat-slick temple. "It's just me here." Cold fury burned at Reid's attempts to appear smaller; Morgan locked it away.
A discreet cough made them both stiffen and look around warily to find Hotch watching a ways back in the woods.
"There's an ambulance waiting," Hotch said softly as he drew near, a curious mix of hatred and understanding on his face at the way Reid cringed, hiding in the shelter of Morgan's arms.
"No," Reid said immediately, shaking his head and shrinking back against Morgan. "No, please, it's not-not that bad, I--"
"Reid." Morgan ran a soothing hand over Reid's back; Reid turned, burying his face in Morgan's neck. "Hotch, there's nothing that can't wait 'til we get to the hospital. Broken foot maybe, cuts and bruises."
"Please no, please no, please no," Reid chanted almost silently into Morgan's throat, finally giving up on words and mouthing at salt-sweet skin.
Hotch was silent, taking in the way Reid clung to Morgan, the tremors ripping through his body, weighing physical health against mental. Then, one hand covering his earpiece, he spoke. "Gideon, leave one of the vehicles and tell the ambulance to follow. I'll drive us to the hospital."
Reid sagged in relief, almost overbalancing Morgan.
"Thanks, man," Morgan said. It was againt protocol, but this was beyond protocol. This was Reid.
Hotch nodded and came closer. "You're not going to be able to put weight on that foot." He reached out with his left hand, waited for Reid to take it and slide one arm over his shoulder. "You ever try a three-legged race?"
Morgan snorted, arranging himself under Reid's left arm, wrapping his right around the younger man's waist. "This is the five-legged version."
"Th-thanks..." Reid managed.
Hotch nodded curtly, exchanging a look with Morgan over Reid's bowed head, and pointed his flashlight at the ground ahead of them. "Let's get out of here."
Previous: To Rescue Innocence Next: Trusting Logic
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Date: 2007-05-17 03:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-17 10:05 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-18 04:54 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-22 03:16 pm (UTC)I find it fascinating that you are able to convey so much in such brief vignettes. I am much more inclined to filling in the gaps. I'm planning a Morgan-centric fic this summer (I'm in the middle of a CSI:NY piece) and I'm expecting it to be HUGE.
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Date: 2007-05-22 03:35 pm (UTC)I usually write, or try to write, long pieces. Unfortunately, what ends up happening is that I'll post the first three chapters, have a bunch of disconnected scenes in the middle/end, and get kidnapped by a different fandom. That I've finished 13 in this series, and 3 in another, in two months!!! is a more-than-minor miracle for me. And, as I don't watch other tv shows and my free time for other fandoms has changed to virtually nil in the last few weeks, OI&E is still going strong and likely will for some time to come.
Plus, all the feedback for all the little finished pieces is awesome.
As for telling a lot in a little story...I'm what my friends call an extreme minimalist writer. Which is one of the reasons why I very much prefer to have a beta reader for any particular piece, just so I don't post something and have the readers go "What the heck is going on?!" So if I post something and it's *not* pretty clear what's going on (at least in that story - there's some foreshadowing and such in various pieces I try to leave for the readers to figure out), please tell me so I can revise.
I'm trying to sit down and write at least one chapter every couple of days. And it seems to be working!::crosses her fingers::
Very glad you're enjoying!