Paranoia - s.reid

To Be or Not To Be

After their last case, Liz and Spencer had decided to take more time off. The former had been with Diana and the kids while the latter took a trip to Texas to 'Talk to the doctor.'

"Spencer is where?" Liz practically yelled into the phone, bouncing an upset Alex on her hip. "I'm on my way with the kids." 

She put the phone down, turning to Cassie. "We're in a bit of a sticky situation, Ms. Campbell. If you don't mind staying with Diana for a while, I need to take the kids and head to the office."

Cassie smiled sympathetically. "Fine by me, Mrs. Reid."

"Thank you. Diana, Lyle! Get your stuff!"

------

"In Mexico." Emily explained to the team after Garcia had helped situate the children in Liz's office, returning to them.

JJ scoffed. "What the hell is he doing down there?"

Everyone looked to Liz, who was seconds away from bursting into tears as she sniffled. "He was just going to talk to a doctor. That's it. He's being held for drug possession with the intent to distribute. Cocaine and heroine, that's all Cruz told me over the phone on the way here. We need Lewis and Walker here ASAP." She panicked, Emily rubbing soothing circles on her back.

"Calm down, sweetheart."

Soon enough, Lewis and Walker arrived, hugging a tearful Liz. "Where are the kids?"

"They're in my office. Do you mind checking in on them while Em, Alvez, Rossi and I head to Mexico?"

With a nod, the four of them had managed to get onto the jet as fast as they could, Garcia patching everyone in on a call. "This has got to be Scratch. He's laying low, now we know why."

"Crossing the border as a fugitive is a huge risk. The reward is greater. He's been punishing the team. Now his target is Reid."

"Peter Lewis dropped off the map after attacking Tara's family. Maybe he's been hiding in Mexico this whole time."

The youngest agent finally piped up, her eyes continuously teary from the added stress of her husband. "We also have to consider this isn't related to him. Could be drug cartels, could have threatened him and used him as a mule."

"Agreed. This could simply be a case of bad luck. Reid was in the wrong place at the wrong time."

JJ had spoken. "Spence's mom is okay, Lizzy. The nurse you guys hired said everything is stable."

"He told me he'd be gone 3 days."

"Well, Houston is only a 5-hour drive from the border."

Liz let out a sardonic laugh. "Usually I can read him. He's my husband for god's sake, how did I not pick up on any of this?"

"He didn't want you to, and there's way you would have guessed he'd end up in Mexico." 

"Question is, why did he go down there? And why does he have narcotics?"

Garcia stammered throughout her answer. "He wouldn't do that. I'm not gonna share any secrets I'm not supposed to, but those drugs were planted on him."

Walker agreed. "But there's something bigger in play. That's why he crossed the border and kept it a secret. There's something he didn't want to share with any of you. So what would make him risk everything?"

Emily instantly opened her mouth, listing things off. "Lizzy, the kids, his mom."

"Yeah, but they're here except for Lizzy, and they're all safe. Oh, wait, Cruz just sent me the arresting report. Translating report. It says here that Reid was involved in a high-speed chase."