Title: Shattered Promises

Summary: Hotch confronts Reid about his drug problem, and strikes up a deal with him. Things seem to be getting better until Reid decides to go back on the deal and lie about it. Hotch will do anything to keep the youngest member of his team on the straight and narrow... even if it means dealing with him in a parental fashion.

WARNING: This story DOES contain the non-sexual spanking of an adult. If you don't like this, please don't bother reading or reviewing.

A/N: I'm big on fics that center around Reid and Hotch, so I thought I would try my hand at one. This story takes place somewhere between seasons two and three, dealing with Reid's drug habit. I'm trying to get it as accurate as possible, but I'm not perfect. Hope you guys like it! (Also thanks supergirl, again, for your words of advice, I really appreciate it)

Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds or any of the show's characters.

Addiction. Spencer Reid could tell you a lot of things about addiction. He could recite to you the definition of the word, could recall whole studies he'd read on the subject. He could even give you a full psychological profile of a person struggling with any particular addiction. But he could not, for the life of him, look his boss in the eye and talk about it as it pertained to him.

"H-Hotch," he stammered, avoiding eye contact with the older man at all costs. "Do we really have to do this...?"

He had been ready to go home, to fall into bed and sleep for several hours, when his boss had stopped him and confronted him about something he wished he could just put behind him.

"Yes," Aaron "Hotch" Hotchner replied firmly. "Part of my job as this team's leader is to make sure problems with my subordinates get solved..and I've ignored this one long enough. However..."

"So I'm just a problem for you to fix then?" Reid interrupted, slightly hurt by the older man's words.

"Let me finish," Hotch said gently. "However you are more to me than just a person under my charge. Spencer... you're family to all of us. And you know that. Which is why this needs to be dealt with. I do not want someone in my family hurting, and I will not allow someone in my family to make choices that could hurt their health or their career. Do you understand?"

Reid nodded slowly, relaxing a bit. Though he'd rather have been doing anything other than having this conversation, it was still nice to be cared for.

"What are you going to do?" He asked quietly before quickly adding, "I've been doing better since New Orleans, I promise I have..."

"I believe you," Hotch said, wanting to reassure the younger man. "But this is just the beginning, Reid... and I don't think you can do this on your own. So what I'm going to do is make you a deal."

"A deal...?"

"That's right. I'm going out on a limb here, Reid... I should report you. Drug abuse is absolutely unacceptable behavior. However, I'm not going to report you provided that you hold up your end of the bargain."

"Which would be..?" Reid inquired, starting to feel nervous.

"There's a Narcotics Anonymous group that I'd like you to join. I want you at a meeting twice a week as long as we're not away for a case. In addition I'm going to be subjecting you to random drug testing. I don't care whether you think that's fair or not, it's what's going to happen. Lastly, I need you to promise to call me if you're having a craving. I don't care what time of day it is. I don't care if we're on a case. If you have an urge, you pick up a phone and call me immediately. Are these conditions understood?"

Swallowing hard, Reid nodded. Meetings..? Tests...? This definitely wasn't going to be easy... but if it would keep his position on the team safe, he'd agree to anything.

"Alright then," Hotch squeezed his shoulder gently. "You can go ahead and go then."

Reid nodded once more and started to leave before turning back.

"Um, Hotch...?" He asked timidly. "What happens if I... don't do these things?"

"Let's hope we won't have to worry about that." Was the only reply he got before Hotch headed back to his office. Swallowing uneasily, Reid headed back for the elevators.

Yeah, He thought. Let's hope.

Reid put down the worn first edition in his hand, no longer able to concentrate on reading, and rubbed his eyes with shaking hands. Everything hurt. From his body, to his mind, to his heart. It had been two weeks since he'd made his "deal" with Hotch, and it had been a hellish two weeks for the young genius.

The NA meetings were harder than he could've imagined. He couldn't believe how many emotions his him at one time, couldn't believe how many people out there were suffering with such horrible addictions. It was hard for him to take.

If that weren't bad enough, Hotch's random drug tests were torture. Every time Hotch would take him aside at work or knock on his apartment door in the evening to subject him to them, he felt overwhelmingly ashamed of himself. The fact that his boss felt it necessary to take such extreme measures...well it just didn't feel good.

Reid sat back in his chair, feeling tears gathering in his eyes. The worst part of it all was that he still wanted it. Wanted it so badly it frightened him. And though he'd promised Hotch he'd call if he had a craving... it just felt too awkward for him. He'd sent him a text message once about how he was feeling, and Hotch had insisted on calling and talking to him. That had been a week before, and that had been the last time he'd said anything.

Reid blinked away his tears and looked at the clock. It was almost 6:30... almost time for his NA meeting. He wanted to weep at the thought, wanted so badly to skip the meeting, consequences be damned. And well... why not? Surely Hotch wouldn't be too angry with his missing just one meeting...

With a new resolve, Reid stood up and strode to his bedroom, purposefully changing into his pajamas and getting into bed. An early night would be good for him.

That was when his phone rang.

"Hello..." He answered quietly, knowing who it was without even having to look at the caller ID.

"It's me," Hotch replied. "Are you on your way to your meeting?"

If he hadn't been about to lie to him, Reid would've snapped at the older man for feeling the need to check up on him. But since he was, he answered politely.

"Uh, yes sir, about to leave the house now," He lied smoothly, guilt settling in his stomach.

"Good. I'll talk to you tomorrow, Spencer... I'm proud of you."

"Thanks..." Reid said quietly, swallowing hard. "Bye."

Hanging up, and laying down in bed, Reid couldn't help but feel a little nauseated. He'd just blatantly lied to his superior, as well as gone back on the deal the two had made. Whatever was going to happen now was entirely his doing.

Well skipping the meeting and going to bed was better than shooting up... wasn't it?

With a sigh, Reid rolled onto his side and closed his eyes. Whatever was going to happen, he could wait until tomorrow to worry about it.

Half an hour later, on the other side of town, Hotch shook his head in disappointment. He was sitting inside the NA meeting, hoping he'd look up and see Reid walk in at any moment, but knowing that wasn't going to happen. He thought he was going to surprise Reid, show him that he was there for him by attending a meeting with him.

But after thirty minutes it was apparent the young genius wasn't going to show... which meant he had lied to him.

Getting up as quietly as possible, Hotch left the building and headed home. Morning was going to come soon. And morning wasn't going to be pleasant for either of them.

TBC...

A/N: Alright, so I'm not sure if I'm happy with this or not... next part will most likely be longer and better. Thank you for reading! :)