Gideon had never gotten close to people that weren't victims that easily. After losing his son Stephen when he was a year old it made him shut off. Oh he had friends: Rossi, Hotch, and Morgan (to an extent), but he refused to let anyone get so close as to be able to hurt him. Losing Stephen had almost killed him, effectively split up his marriage, and almost sent him down a hole he couldn't get out of. So it had shocked and scared him when he started becoming close to Spencer Reid. Reid was a kid that had been abandoned by his father at a young age and no one knew where he was. When Reid first got there it had been hard for him to acknowledge the young man's presence without feeling his heart constrict.
That had all changed though when he heard Morgan yelling at an agent for basically bullying Reid. He'd felt compelled to help and asked Garcia to track Reid's phone where it placed him at the local library. Reid had been curled up in a back corner, tucked into a comfy chair, eyes closed, and a book on his lap. Looking closely he could see the almost unnoticeable tears occasionally slipping down his face. Sighing he'd slowly approached and sat down across from Reid, reguarding the young man nervously. Gently he reached out and touched Reid's shoulder squeezing comfortingly. Reid's eyes had shot open and he'd jerked back before calming down when he saw Gideon. The conversation that followed was the first time he'd ever been a Dad to anyone since the day he'd said goodbye to his baby.
"Gi...Gideon, what are you doing here?" Reid questioned massaging his eyes and trying to discreetly wiping the tears off.
"I was looking for you. I overheard what happened at work today and I wanted to make sure you were ok. You want to talk about it?" Gideon questioned.
Reid looked at him and shook his head, "I'm fine." Reid stated off handedly.
"I don't think we'd be sitting here if you were fine. Talking about it will help." Gideon insisted and Reid was quiet for a moment.
"Really it's not a big deal, I'm fine. I need to check this book out though and head home." Reid decided and stood walking past Gideon and leaving.
Gideon watched as Reid walked out of the library and then looked back to where Reid had been sitting. Proped beside the side of the chair was Reid's book bag. Bending over he had picked it up and headed after him.
It hadn't been hard to find Reid; he was sitting on a bench head bent in his hands. Gideon had sat down beside him and placed a hand on his back rubbing reassuringly. Reid had looked over to make sure it was Gideon. Seeing Gideon there he sat up and looked away so he couldn't see his face.
"You left your bag." Gideon stated placing the strap into Reid's hand.
"Thank-you." Reid murmured and Gideon sighed internally.
"You don't have to be ashamed of crying in front of me." Gideon assured feeling his paternal side awakening.
"I...I'm fine. It was just a long day at work and I guess I'm emotionally spent." Reid avoided and continued to look away from Gideon.
"I have no doubt that you're emotionally spent, but I think it has more to do with the fact of what's been happening at work." Gideon acknowledged. Reid stayed quiet and Gideon placed his hand against Reid's back.
"Let me help you. If I had known what was going on before now I would have put a stop to it. No one has the right to target you and make you feel uncomfortable at your job. I will make it stop, but I have to know what's happening." Gideon persisted.
"I can handle it. I'm not a kid." Reid insisted and stood to leave when Gideon reached out and grabbed his wrist.
"Please. You don't have to be a child to be protected. I want to help you, but I can't if you don't tell me what's happening. Please, let me help you, Spencer." Gideon pleaded and Reid froze turning towards him and sinking onto the bench. Gideon cautiously slipped an arm around Reid's shoulders as they started to shake.
"Easy, easy, it's ok." Gideon soothed. As Reid continued to cry he'd wrapped the boy into his arms and held him close. That night was the first time he had allowed himself to cry, not matter how brief, and his spirits lifted.