All Things Spencer Reid

he’ll never forget this.

(credit)

MATTHEW GRAY GUBLER as DR. SPENCER REID

But the message might not have been meant for you, Reid. 

Me:

I keep thinking about Reid seeing Hotch, completely unblinking in the face of his own death and fighting tooth and nail to come out the other side alive. And Reid's own insecurities about being "a blinker" and the youngest member of the team. After Emily dies, they mention Reid is constantly at the gun range practicing exactly what Hotch taught him all those years ago. Until, by the time Hotch leaves, Reid is already on track to be the same type of man, for better or worse. Probably better, because I am fully confident that Reid wouldn't have survived prison if not for Hotch's influence on him. In fact by the time he's coming out of prison, he is no longer a blinker.

Honestly though it all solidified for me when Reid got the 100 on the gun requalification and wore an ankle holster that ended up saving his and JJ's life. That's a move that Aaron Hotchner taught him, from almost day one. I really wish that we could have seen Reid step into a more leadership role, and kind of fulfill this arc that I noticed. In another life, I would have loved to see post prison Reid and post witsec Hotch interact. I wonder if Hotch picked up on the change, if he saw the switch between the slightly naive, bookish kid doctor and the traumatized, protective, genius, unblinking federal agent. I wonder if he felt incredibly sad, or maybe incredibly proud, or maybe a bit of both.

Emily: “You call him”

Penelope: “Me? I called him LAST time. Why don’t you do it?”

JJ: Because last time I called him, he threatened to sue me for infliction of emotional distress and not telling me the moment it happened. You’re the oldest, you do it.”

Rossi: And get a lecture? I don’t think so. We’ll have Matt call Derek Morgan. Because of the kids then Savannah has a good reason to not let Derek kill him

*Dial tone*

Derek: what the hell did he do now?!

Matt: ... got shot again

Derek: ffs, stay there. I’m coming now.

——

Not even two months later

*Dial tone*

Derek, sighing: this time?

JJ, upset: kidnapped... again.

Derek: Christ, okay, I’m on my way.

——

*Dial tone*

Emily: Passed out in his apartment. In the hospital now. Diana’s flying out to see him too.

The fact that Garcia doesn’t blink, doesn’t consider how it might go wrong sharing a room with her male colleague because they would never hurt her. They just… wouldn’t and that’s just really weird to think about. I want a fic about JJ sitting up in the middle of the night and looking over at Hotch– fast asleep– and just… not for a moment did she think of what he might do. What he could do because he’s so much bigger than she is.

Or Emily walking to bed in just a t-shirt and shorts. Morgan sitting in his bed and he looks at her but not sexual, not in a way that makes her uncomfortable. He just grunts, “done with the bathroom, then?” And he’s standing and retrieving his own clothes. So casual. Safe. Then he comes out in only shorts and it’s a shared thing. 

Reid is the same and so is Rossi. Never once have they made the girls uncomfortable. Not Hotch and his habit of peering over shoulders. They just turn whatever’s in their hands towards him for better view. Or Morgan and his habit of just drinking out of other people’s mugs. Dave and the arm he wraps around shoulders or Reid and close he tends to stand or how long he looks.

Hotch uncomfortable— unable to explain why bc he really doesn’t know. His scars are agitated, chest stiff, and back tight.

“It’s just the aches,” Dave says because he’s convinced himself that’s the truth. “You’re getting old, Aaron.”

But it doesn’t set right with Morgan.

Reid anxiously shifting, “he’s—he’s not that old.”

He’s old enough for aches. Even the unexplained ones. They’re just protective and worried.

JJ almost stopping to say something to him the night before the incident. He’s been acting strange. Tired and chilled. He’s scaring Reid.

She doesn’t.