A/N: I had hoped to do these somewhat in order, but I write 'em as they come to me.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything, not even the DVD. Wish I did, but I just am not that rich. XP
Prompt 24: Family
"I'm here to see Dr. Reid."
"Friend or Family?" Still staring the file in her hands.
"Family."
A glance upward. "Are you sure about that?" Accusatory sarcasm, and it was really pissing him off.
"Pretty damn sure, yeah. You gonna let me see him?"
"I'm sorry, sir, but we're only allowing family to see Dr. Reid right now. His condition is too precarious, I don't want to overexcite him in any way."
"What are you talking about? I just told you, I am his family."
"Sir, I am not blind."
"You gonna deny me a visit based on my skin colour? That's racial prejudice."
"No, that's looking out for the patient's well-being. Now if you would please –"
"No, you're gonna listen to me. The only 'real' family that man has is a mother in a mental hospital in Nevada. I'm his family now, me and my other coworkers, and I'm not gonna take this bullshit lying down. He's been through a helluva ordeal and he needs all the support he can get right now, and who else you think he gonna get it from? We don't even know if his father's still alive, his mother's in no position to come see him, he is an only child, and I am this close to my breaking point. Now, are you gonna let me see him or not?"
One last tight-lipped glare, one last inner struggle to decide if wrong is right while the right is really the wrong. "Go on, then. But if the doctors catch you, I'm not going to be held responsible, you hear me?"
"Thank you." Curt, but sincere.
When, thirty minutes later, two men and three women stormed down the hallway demanding to see Dr. Reid, the nurse did not even bother asking if they were friends or family. She already knew what they would say. And she had to admit, they made a cute family.
End.