Thank you all for your wonderful reviews! I will try to stay as close as possible to the characters, I'm sorry if some of them seem a little off. This chapter is a long one because I might not be able to put up another one for quite a bit.

Don't worry, there will be some action starting soon. I'll try not to bore you too much!

I do NOT own Criminal Minds. No matter how badly I want to D:

"So you're the new guy?"

I couldn't believe it. It was the blonde I had run into earlier. I guess I should have figured that one out myself, given the fact that she knew Gideon and because she was headed to Hotch's office… but… I must have been too nervous about screwing up on my first day to actually allow myself to think normally. I felt even worse now, because my first impression had probably not gone very well with her. But she didn't seem to notice, and instead stuck out her hand, grinning that motherly grin of hers." I'm Jennifer Jareau, but my friends call me J.J."

"Um… Hi… Agent Jareau." I replied, unsure of how to address her without looking like a fool.
"Honestly, just call me J.J." She replied. I was a bit taken back by her response, I was completely set on the fact that she would think I had been rude, or at least a bit strange. Instead, she seemed to act like I hadn't acted funny at all, and I immediately knew that I liked her. And in a sense, she had already identified herself as a friend. My first couple minutes in the BAU and I already had made a friend. That was record timing for me, and was certainly not like my college experience. This made me perk up a bit, and become more excited about my new job.

"I'm Spencer Reid." I said, my muttering gone. We shook hands and she asked, "Would you like me to show you where your desk is?"

I complied, and we both walked over to a nicely sized desk with a very modern computer and plenty of drawers. I looked at my satchel, hoping that I would be able to fit all my things in the empty desk. J.J. followed my gaze and laughed in astonishment at the load.

"They told me you were a genius, but, wow!"

This woman just kept up the surprises. I could tell instantly that she wasn't mocking me, but was completely surprised at the bundle of knowledge I had crammed into the already bulging satchel. I smiled a bit, and shrugged. "I honestly didn't need to bring all of this with me… I just felt I should be prepared."

J.J. chuckled at this, and said, "Well, I never thought there was such a thing as over-preparing, but boy, you sure proved me wrong."

I smiled back before looking at the desk, trying to decide what I should actually use from my satchel.

Just then a laugh of disbelief interrupted my thoughts and a man behind me exclaimed, "You have got to be kidding me."

I turned around to face a muscularly built, handsome looking dark skinned agent. Just from his appearance I grasped that he was obviously a jock, and a sudden alarm blared in my head. 'No…' I thought desperately to myself. 'Not here, not now…' I was NOT going to re-live my college years, especially not after my first day at my new job had started going along so well.

"Who sent a kid in to be part of our team?" The man asked, as if perplexed by the sure notion of a nerd in the FBI. "Seriously, J.J., tell me this is a joke."

J.J. threw the man an angry look, and crossed her arms. "No, Morgan, it's not a joke. Gideon picked him out himself. Take it up with Gideon if you really feel that strongly about this."
Today seemed like a day of firsts for me. I had never, ever, had anyone stand up for me like that, so quickly and assuredly. Especially someone I had just met. But something inside me didn't feel so great about the fact that this person I had just met was sticking up for me. It just made me look even more like a kid. I knew from experience that no matter how much J.J. stood up for me, it would only deepen this man's immediate dislike in me. So, taking a deep mental breath, I stepped forward, in front of J.J. a little.

"My name's Spencer… Spencer Reid." I said, trying to keep my nerves under control. He was just a bully, and one that couldn't hurt me. At least not here. Not like they did at school… right? I shrugged my battling thoughts to the side. I couldn't be distracted by ghosts of my educational past. This was a new beginning, and supposed to be a better one.

"Yea, OK, pretty boy." Morgan retorted, still shaking his head. "Honestly, what good do you expect to do on the field? I mean, you're as scrawny as a bean pole!" He noticed Hotch walking past, and called out to him. "Hotch, man, tell me hiring this kid is a joke."

I had stiffened when Morgan had called me pretty boy, it gave me chills to think I had already got another stupid nickname, and a pretty embarrassing as well. Looking back, I realize if I had just ignored Morgan's jibes, he would have eventually stopped and we would have started to become the close friends we are today. But I didn't know him well at the time, and to me he just seemed like another bully with a bone to pick. Why was it always me?

Because of this, and the fact that I still was pretty closed off to anyone who said anything that embarrassed me or hurt intentionally, I felt immediate dislike for Morgan, my observation and beginners profiling skills refusing to tell myself that he was actually a nice guy, and just over-reacting for the joke of it, and not completely at my expense. I should have also been prepared for the fact that other agents wouldn't think too kindly of a man who got into the BAU purely out of abundance of intellect. Especially since intellect isn't measured by appearances. You see a muscular guy on the street with dark shades, a dark jacket and business pants; one of the first thoughts that would come to your mind would be FBI. I was the exact opposite, scrawny, sweater-vest wearing and young. It was sure to leave some disbelieving my claim as an agent.

But like I said, I hadn't really prepared for that. I was too worried about making a good impression to realize why it would be so much harder for me to.
And it only made me angry.

"Look, Agent… Morgan." I snapped, surprised at my sudden confidence and lack of stuttering. I have eventually found I work best under pressure, and when the guy I'm confronting isn't about to beat me up for wearing glasses.

"I've had enough of people like you from where I grew up in and went to school. I don't need any of this now." I turned to Hotch, who hadn't even answered Morgan's question yet. "So I'm supposed to review files or something? I can get started right now."

Morgan blinked a few times, before frowning slightly. I must have hurt his feelings when I said people like him. He obviously didn't know what I meant, and might be interpreting it differently then I originally intended. Look at me now mom, the great Spencer Reid, the genius who hurts bullies feelings. I didn't really feel too guilty at that moment though, and when an apologetic J.J. dropped a stack of folders on my desk, I readily jumped right into them. I felt a twinge of satisfaction as the three agents watched in astonishment as I furiously skimmed the pages, processing the pages faster than you can say "genius".

But as the day grew later, and the pile diminished almost completely, I began to have second opinions on the confrontation with Morgan. What if he had been merely joking? I hadn't given him enough time to finish his little routine, and maybe it would have ended up that he was just clowning around. I pushed these thoughts aside, desperately just trying to forget. I didn't ask for any of this…

A voice behind me almost made me jump out of my skin. I was pulled from my thoughts and my work instantly, and whirled around in my chair to face Gideon. After I calmed down I asked him, feeling really foolish, "What did you say?"

Gideon shook his head, and said, "Man Spencer, you really get in the zone." I didn't bother asking him what that meant.

"I was just wondering if you were ok."
My brain went into auto-defense mode. "I'm fine."

He studied me closely, and I tried my best to hide my internal thoughts. I must have been pretty good at it, because Gideon gave up and said, "Morgan's a good guy. Just give it time."
I shrugged nonchalantly, but my mind was screaming, 'That's just what I need to do. Give the bully time to find a good way to smash my head in for kicks.'

Suddenly Hotch came down from his office and interrupted our conversation. "Guys, we've got a case. Reid, I know it's your first day, but we'll need you to come with us." And with that he headed off to the bullpen, Morgan in tow. Gideon sighed, and started to follow Hotch into the room. Before we went in, he whispered to me, "You better prepare yourself for this."
I nodded, I knew how gruesome killings could be, but I was not going to look weak, not now. I readied myself as I entered the room and took a seat in one of the chairs facing the projection screen. But as I found out, none of my education could have prepared me for this. Not something so real, and happening at this moment.

J.J. walked into the room as everyone entered, and as the first picture popped onto the screen, I fought to keep in my nausea.

It was a middle aged man, brutally beat up and tortured, barely recognizable as human. There was burn marks all over his decaying skin, and his eyes beheld a look of pure horror and agony. Those eyes would stay with me for years to come.
And by the identification of the body, J.J. announced that this man was a cop.

I hope I made this seem believable! Reviews are appreciated :D