"… and that's how we finally managed to catch the UnSub." – Gideon finished his recounting.

Dave laughed at the adventurous story as he tried to imagine the always strict and proper Aaron Hotchner chasing a dog around the garden to get back the evidence the animal had snatched.

"This must have been a sight to see!"

"Oh, believe me: it was. And I think Morgan has photos to prove it."

"I definitely want to see them."

"I'll do what I can." – Gideon promised, glancing at his watch. It was already nearing 7 PM, Spencer had been in the library for over four hours. – "Do you think we should try to find him?"

"I have brownies if that will help lure him out."

"Depends on what he's found. But it surely helps me!"

"Then let's get the Kid so that we can eat."

As it turned out, getting Reid out of the library was easier said than done. It took Rossi and Gideon over five minutes to just locate the boy in the far corner of the room, surrounded by numerous enormous books. He was sitting on the floor, his back against the wall and balancing a huge volume of The Workings of a Genius Mind on his stomach, with the young man himself… fast asleep!

"Spencer…" – Gideon whispered, trying to rouse the young man without scaring him. The soft approach didn't seem to have any effect whatsoever.

"Why has he brought so many books over here?" – Wondered Rossi, counting fourteen of them.

"He has probably read them all." – Answered the senior profiler who had by now pulled his charge into his arms and was trying to stand without having a long limb get caught on something.

"You're kidding."

"No. He can read real fast but it tries him out after a while. Would you mind helping me?"

Together, they carried the sleeping boy upstairs into the guest bedroom that had been named his and deposited him on the soft bed.

Rossi pulled the covers up to the slumbering young man's chin and Gideon brushed some hair out of his eyes.

"So, he reads fourteen books in four hours?" – The host whispered so as not to disturb the boy. – "I have never seen anyone do that."

"He can do many things you've never seen before."

"Just what kind of a genius is he?"

"Let's sit down in the living room and I'll tell you…"

BAU * BAU * BAU * BAU * BAU * BAU * BAU * BAU * BAU

Half an hour later, Rossi had heard the entire story of one Doctor Spencer Reid and he was completely stunned.

"Honestly, Jason… Did you know back then what you were signing up for? This boy is not ordinary, that's for sure."

"I… can't claim I did, no." – The senior profiler admitted reluctantly. – "But I wouldn't change it for the world now."

"I believe you, my friend. He's adorable. But I'm sure your life has been more difficult lately than before."

"I can't argue with that. Every day is a learning experience and life is full of surprises now. Sometimes, I have to teach him things we taught Stephen when he was three. Other times, he teaches me something I never thought I'd ever see. And we're getting better. For example he shook your hand without problems even though he never does that. I think he likes you very much."

"What's wrong with shaking hands? Is he autistic?"

"Not officially."

The ex-profiler narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

"And what about unofficially?" – Gideon just shrugged, unable or unwilling to answer the question. His friend sighed. – "You do know that he wouldn't be allowed to work as an agent, right?" – Again, just a shrug. – "How the hell didn't this come out during his mandatory psych evaluation?" – His friend pointedly avoided his eyes and Rossi was getting increasingly suspicious. – "Jason? How did he manage to evade the evaluation?"

"Hey, it's not my fault we're always busy and out of town when he's scheduled!"

"Not your fault. Right."

"By the time he'll manage to appear in front of the shrinks, he'll know what to do and say to pass the test." – Gideon said confidently.

"But you know they're not stupid, don't you? They're professionals, just like you and me." – His friend pointed out.

"Ah, well. We just have to be better then. And I told you already: he's never been diagnosed. Maybe he's not even autistic at all." – He ignored his oldest friend's snort and continued. – "It's just that you can't expect a genius to be 'normal', can you? Or haven't you heard about Einstein, Newton, Darwin or even Mozart? They all did wonderful things and Spencer is right there with them. His brain is unique, his thoughts all over the place… It distracts him from dull everyday activities. He just needs someone to herd him, help him learn basic social interactions so that he can navigate in the world."

"And it will be you teaching him if I understand correctly?"

"What's wrong with that?" – Gideon asked defensively.

"Nothing. If you ever need help, just say so. I have all the time of the world right now."

"Thanks, Dave." – Then, after a moment of contemplation, he continued. – "Sometimes it's not easy, you know? I was indeed thinking about retiring before he joined, now I obviously can't for a while. A long while. I wouldn't do that to him when it was me tearing him out of his comfort zone and bringing him into a whole new environment."

"And the others on the team? What do they think?" – Gideon had told him about how he had found the kid at Caltech and how he'd finally convinced him to join the FBI but he hadn't mentioned the reactions of the team members yet.

Gideon smiled.

"They were quite stunned at first."

"I don't blame them. A 20-year-old genius kid with autistic tendencies on an elite FBI team… You have to admit, it's highly unusual."

"More like unheard of." – The senior profiler nodded. – "But everyone's been great; they've all adopted him. Morgan treats him like an annoying little brother who exasperates you but you're actually proud of him anyway."

"Oh, yeah. So I heard." – Chuckled Rossi, referring to the rant he'd listened to from the genius. – "Although I'm not sure it's a good thing to call someone 'weird' and 'geeky'."

"Normally, I'd agree but Spencer doesn't seem to mind. He hero worships Morgan enough to happily take anything from him."

"Just tell me Morgan doesn't use this to take advantage of the kid."

"No, believe me: I'm paying attention. But he's never tried anything but to support and help him. Those little shoves into the right direction and some jokes to lighten the mood are beneficial."

"Good, because I'm afraid I'm becoming quite protective here. And Aaron? Somehow I can't imagine him having patience for a kid."

"Oh, he's the biggest surprise of all: he just loves Spencer." – Smiled Gideon. – "In the beginning, he insisted I take care of everything and he wouldn't even have to notice we have a kid with us. That was his condition for agreeing in the first place. But then soon after Spencer joined, he became so attached, he's even worse now when it comes to defending the boy than I am!"

"That's hard to imagine."

"And yet it's true." – Gideon then proceeded to tell his friend about an occasion when one member of the local police had made the grave mistake of calling their youngest member a 'retard' and had ended up thrown against the nearest wall with a very angry and dangerous-looking Aaron Hotchner an inch from his face, breathing heavily and threatening to break his neck. – "He resigned the next day and disappeared. I'd never seen Aaron so angry before."

Rossi whistled admiringly.

"Why would someone be so dumb as to call the Kid that?"

Gideon fidgeted uncomfortably.

"Because the man couldn't accept that Reid wasn't interested in him. That way."

"Oh… OH!" – Gasped Rossi as he finally understood. – "The hell! The Kid was only 20!"

The senior profiler smiled.

"Don't worry, he actually never even realized what was going on. The man tried to get his attention in any way possible and everyone knew what he wanted but Spencer remained absolutely clueless. He never knew where all those cookies and cups of coffee came from, or why he was invited to a movie theater, restaurant or carnival every second. He just said no and continued with his work, too engrossed in the notes of the UnSub's killing method to care. The man got angry, called him names, including 'retard', and Aaron jumped to his rescue."

"Who'd have thought… When I knew him, Aaron only cared about his career and nothing else. He was the most ambitious young agent I've ever worked with."

"Things change."

"Indeed. Aaron's over thirty and not the director of FBI yet, even though I'd have bet he would be. And you have a whole team now. And a kid. And you look very tired. Would you like to turn in? We can continue tomorrow."

"Sure. But are you sure you don't mind us staying? I could probably carry him out to the car…"

Rossi waved his hand dismissingly.

"Nonsense! Of course I don't mind! I'm glad to have you here. Besides, he'll want to continue in the library tomorrow." – He said with a chuckle. – "There are a few more books."

"Oh, Dave, if you let him, he'll move in there permanently."

"He's welcome to do that."

BAU * BAU * BAU * BAU * BAU * BAU * BAU * BAU * BAU

It was nearly noon when Spencer finally emerged from the guest bedroom, still in the clothes he'd been wearing the day before, with his hair quite disheveled and looking for all the world like he was sleepwalking.

"I've made tomato soup and lasagna. Go, wash up so that we can eat." – Rossi said gently, trying to wake the half-asleep boy.

"Hmmmm."

The ex-profiler grabbed the young agent's arm just in time to prevent him from walking headfirst into the closed bathroom door.

"Open it first, Kid."

"Hmmmm."

Gideon observed the scene with amusement.

"His IQ drops off when he's tired." – He explained.

His friend gave him an indignant glare while he pushed the oblivious boy into the bathroom with the instruction that he had five minutes to make himself presentable for dinner.

After four and a half minutes, Reid emerged looking only slightly better but he at least managed at the second try to sit onto the chair instead of next to it on the floor. As soon as he was firmly seated, he dropped his head onto his folded arms and groaned.

"I'm tired…"

"If you don't promise me not to read that much and fast anymore, you're banned from the library, Kiddo." – Gideon warned, pushing a full plate toward the boy. – "You're making yourself sick."

That threat finally woke the boy.

"But, Gideon! That's David Rossi's library! It's filled with treasures and I'll probably never get the opportunity to go in there again! I can't miss anything!"

"Kid, I told you already: you're always welcome here. You don't have to kill yourself trying to read two thousand books this week."

"Two thousand and seventy-five."

"Heh?"

"There are two thousand and seventy-five books in your library."

Rossi gave his friend a look that said 'help me out here!', and Gideon took pity on him after a few seconds, so he spoke again.

"Okay, listen: from these two thousand and whatever hundred books-"

"Two thousand and seventy-five."

"- you get to read twenty more while we're here."

"WHAT?!"

"Twenty, son. No more than that."

The boy looked as if he had been told that Christmas would fall out this year.

"But, Gideon! That's unfair!"

The senior profiler wasn't about to give up, no matter how the boy pleaded or argued.

"Spencer, you remember our agreement, don't you? You only get to speed-read for a longer period of time when it's really important for some reason and after that, you have to rest a day or two. Otherwise, you'll pass out."

"Okay. I can keep to that."

"AND getting access to Dave's house isn't considered enough reason."

The youngest profiler crossed his arms defiantly.

"You're cruel."

Rossi shook his head.

"Don't you want to take a walk with us outside? We could do so many things."

"Really?"

"Sure."

"Okay then. But I do get to read twenty books, right?"

"Yes." – Gideon confirmed, rolling his eyes.

"Good." – Spencer smiled, seemingly satisfied with the notion of spending time with his hero as well. – "Then I'll begin with the ones you wrote, Agent Rossi. The last time I read them, I was about four years old, so I'm not sure I remember everything correctly."

The ex-profiler choked on his food at that.

"Gee, Kid. Don't worry about making me feel old."

Spencer looked at him funnily, obviously missing the sarcasm.

"But I'm not worried." – He frowned. – "Should I be?" – Rossi just shook his head while Gideon suppressed a chuckle. Spencer shrugged, deciding he wouldn't understand these men anyway and took a bite instead. – "This lasagna is amazing."

"Thank you, Kid. So, how about after dinner we drink some coffee, relax a bit and then I show you the grounds? Sounds good?"

"Sounds amazing! I'll just quickly go grab a book!" – With that, he jumped up and prepared to leave when Gideon called after him.

"You haven't finished your food yet."

"Oh, yes." – Spencer quickly ran back to the table and faster than Rossi had ever seen anyone eat, stuffed the remaining lasagna into his mouth. – "Thank you! See you soon!"

And he was gone.

"How was it again with you having your hands full? I can't seem to remember…"

"Dave: shut up."