Reid's Gift to Himself – Chapter 1

A/N: This is for the CCOAC 17th Challenge – New Year's Resolution. PLEASE REVIEW … so I can improve this story before the deadline of 1/31/12. Thank you again, to those of you who review, and to those who are following my story. I chose Dr. Spencer Reid and his New Year's Resolution was: "To spend at least 1 hour every day not analyzing, or theorizing, or critically thinking about anything!" I was assigned David Rossi as the second main character.

*** Disclaimer: I own nothing related to Criminal Minds. This story is only for entertainment and for improving my writing skills. ***

This story is mostly from Reid's perspective. Therefore, there will be a lot of Reid's internalized ramblings because the beauty of talking to yourself privately is that no one can laugh at you. It's a tiny look behind the façade of pretending to be normal. I'm a lot like Reid. I hope you like this story.

November 15th

Spencer was still thinking about masks and costumes. He wasn't thinking about Halloween and wearing such things, recalling the recent childish behavior of his team mates. Sometimes Reid was embarrassed by their antics. But they sure did look like they had enjoyed themselves. Oh, well. As they say, to each their own. Reid continued dwelling on his visualizations of everything he had ever learned about the historical function of masks and costumes. He spent the next two weeks considering whether or not he was ready to actually start thinking about what he might be ready to actually do.

November 29th

Reid decided that he had to decide by tomorrow. It had to be tomorrow because that would ensure that he would still have one full month to fully prepare his plan, and himself. Reid had mostly taught himself everything that he knew. So he was a big proponent of the Learn-Anything-In-30-Days approach. It always worked for him.

Garcia stopped at her local bookstore with one purpose in mind. After 15 minutes of searching through the self-help section she was almost ready to give up. She had found books that almost served her purpose, but they weren't right for what she had in mind. It was going to be difficult enough to get the team to agree without trying to make each of them read a whole book.

Garcia noticed one of the sales clerks restocking the shelves at the end of her aisle. She had already searched that end. But maybe he was adding new books that she hadn't seen. Garcia wandered back down the aisle and was about to ask the young man … when she saw it. How much clearer could the title and cover art be? The book cover was black with white lettering. On the front cover was one word that said it all: "RESOLUTIONS".

The paperback book was the right size. It was small enough to carry in your pocket or pocketbook. It was the right length, 30 pages of instructions and suggestions along with 30 blank pages. And you couldn't beat the price of $6.95 each. Garcia flipped through the book and was sure it would work. The instructions were very user-friendly without patronizing or insulting the reader's intelligence. The suggestions ranged widely. They were categorized by age-group, male/female, and introvert/extrovert. What a wonderful book for everybody in the world. Things like this always please Garcia. She likes seeing the good in people, and helping them find it in themselves.

Garcia grabbed up seven copies and put them in her basket. She noticed the young man chuckling at her. "This is what friends are for." She laughed. They chatted for a few minutes and then Garcia headed towards the register to check out. After paying a little over $50, Garcia headed home with her books. She was even more happy than usual. She had some wrapping and writing to do before going to bed extra early.

November 30th

At the stroke of midnight on the morning of November 30th Reid said out loud, "Yes!" He was home alone but he needed to vocalize his decision. It made it real versus just a thought. He was very pleased with himself. This was a humongous step for him to take. But Reid felt that he really, really had to do this for the sake of his sanity. He only had exactly 23 hours, 59 minutes, and 59 seconds to decide. 58 seconds … 57 seconds. … "Stop!" he said, needing one more vocalization.

The reason Reid had shouted out "Yes!" wasn't because he had decided. What this was about is that Reid had decided TO decide upon something very important. This countdown that he was now involved in was crucial. This couldn't be done any other way. What's crucial is crucial. He went to his bedroom and looked in the back of his top chest drawer. Reid was already smiling before he even laid his eyes on it. He took out the beautiful box and sat on the edge of his bed. His mother had given it to him when he was 13 years old. It always pleased him because it worked differently, just like he did.

He had to hurry up, he was losing precious seconds and minutes. Reid went straight into his kitchen and started a fresh pot of coffee. He was going to need every single drop. Sitting at the table, Reid pulled out his cell phone. He wanted it to be exact. No, he needed it to be exact. If he doesn't take this time now, he knows he'll lose future time wondering if it's wrong. First things first … new batteries! He quickly loaded brand new batteries and pressed reset to prepare it. He made himself a cup of coffee, and then rushed back to sit at the table. Because he was ready!

Reid took three deep breathes and then took a sip of his coffee and savored it. He repeated this routine twice: three deep breathes, sip and savor … three deep breathes, sip and savor. "Okay, last chance to back out. I can afford another 60 seconds. Nope. 40 seconds. Nope. 20 seconds. Really? 10 Seconds. Nope. Time's up! Thank the gods! Too many sub-decisions. Final answer: Nope, I'm not changing my mind. So, here we go." Reid took a celebratory sip and savor, just because.

"Okay. Pick up cell phone. Turn on screen. Open browser. Go to .. The time is exactly 12:35:40 am. Shoot! I've already lost 35 minutes and now 46 seconds." Reid quickly picked up his special count down timer that his mother had given him. He no longer had a full 24 hours left. He set the hours to 23. Then he set the minutes to 22. But he left the seconds at 0. Reid stared at the webpage until it read exactly 23:22:00 and clicked his timer on the stroke of zero seconds. "Yes! Done. Finally. "

Reid now had 23 hours, 20 minutes, and 10 seconds. "Fine! I'm making another decision RIGHT NOW! I'm putting my timer in my pocket. I'm not going to keep looking at it. I still love looking at it, watching the seconds pass by. But at the same time … I hate that I can't stop looking at it, even when I want to. At least that problem's solved. No … no it isn't. Every time I put my hand in my pocket I know I'll start watching it again. Alright. I don't want to tape anything onto it. That makes a right mess, trying to remove the left over gum from the tape. Nope. I'll cut one of my handkerchiefs in half. It will be too bulky if I don't." Reid went to his bedroom and grabbed a handkerchief. He returned to the kitchen and grabbed a scissors and the tape dispenser.

It was very late and Reid had work tomorrow. He can get through the day with only a few hours of sleep. He had no choice but to have stayed up until midnight. He had needed to know that there were only 24 hours left to go. If he had gone to sleep with more than 24 hours left, he would never have followed through. He knew that. He would have talked and thought himself away from the decision that he made.

Reid quickly got ready for bed. He placed his wrapped timer alongside his watch on the night stand. Reid folded back his quilt, sat on the edge of his bed, and turned the light out. Confident in the level of glow emanating from his nightlight, he lay down and pulled up the covers. And then he closed his eyes.

Thank you, gods and protectors. Thank you for allowing me to follow-thru in spite of myself. One die has been cast tonight. The other will be cast when my countdown timer goes off. Reid laid there thinking about how to make the best use of the time he had left. It wasn't long before he fell asleep.

A/N This is the end of chapter 1. I'd like to know if anyone likes my Reid-style of thinking. This story will proceed at two-week intervals from Nov 15th thru Jan 15th, or Jan 31st. My story is almost complete. I'm waiting for the 2nd character to be assigned to me. Garcia is just in the story being herself, as usual. I'd like a few comments before I post Chapter 2. This is only my second submission to Fanfiction. I really do need your review/opinion before I stray too far off the deep end of reader appreciation. Let me know. Thanks!