Disclaimer: Criminal Minds and all its characters belong to CBS. I own nothing. Feel free to read and review, but please don't copy.

AN- I had several requests for a second chapter with Rossi talking to Reid. I know it's taken a while but I finally got it written. I don't think it's as good as the original chapter but I did the best I could.

CM

"Is this seat taken?"

The minute tense of Reid's shoulders was the only indication he'd heard the request.

Rossi wasn't the least bit bothered by the boy's reaction or lack thereof. He'd expected it. Ignoring the slight, the older man slid into the chair opposite his unwilling companion. He glanced from the barely touched mug of coffee to the angry expression on Reid's face and then to the squinted eyes that were glued to a spot in the book he was using to shield himself before speaking. "Little early to be hitting the hard stuff, isn't it?"

Reid's sighed. "What are you doing here, Rossi?" he wearily asked. "Aren't you supposed to be hosting a party or something?"

"A cooking lesson actually" Dave corrected. "And I was. But I'm afraid I had to cut it short."

Reid's brow furrowed. "Let me guess. They sent you to find me and drag me to the team get together."

"No, I kicked them out." Rossi stated.

That made Reid look up. "You kicked them out?!" he gasped. "Why?"

Rossi offered his friend a sad smile. "Because I didn't appreciate the way two certain ladies were talking about a friend of mine."

Reid scowled.

"And because I wanted to check on you; make sure you were alright." Dave added.

Reid's scowl deepened. "Well, you've seen me and I'm fine so you can go home now."

Rossi shook his head. "Not yet" he replied. "Not until I say what I came to say."

Spencer set his book down. "Fine" he grumbled. "What is it you have to say?"

"I'm sorry" Dave sincerely apologized.

Reid cocked his head to one side and stared quizzically at his friend. "What are you sorry for?" he inquired. "You didn't do anything."

"And that's why I'm sorry kid. I didn't do a thing. I sat back and waited for Hotch to ensure everyone was faring alright after that staggering revelation." Dave explained. "I didn't do what my heart and mind were screaming at me to do; which was pull you, Morgan, and Garcia aside and talk with each of you about how you were dealing. I just assumed Aaron would handle it."

"Hotch did have discussions…with Morgan." Spencer replied. He dropped his gaze to the coffee mug in his hands and began slowly turning it.

Rossi remained silent giving the young man time to compose his thoughts.

After a few minutes, Reid let out a resigned sigh. "Why is it when Morgan stomps around angry and growls at everyone, people back off and give him space or attempt to talk with him about what's making him angry but when I do it, those same people put it down to me having a temper tantrum?" he softly questioned, keeping his attention on the spinning mug.

"I think a lot of that has to do with your age. You were so young when Jason brought you on the team; both in mind and body." Dave reasoned. "From what I've been told many of your actions and interactions with the team were more childlike. And Jason being your mentor didn't help. With the two of you being so close you looked and acted more like father and son than colleagues."

Reid shook his head. "But that was a long time ago. I'm not that scared young man anymore." He pointed out.

"I know." Rossi assured him. "But you know as well as I do how hard it is to change people's minds about you. The others know you're an adult. They've watched you grown into a confident young man. However, when they look at you a part of them still sees the scared youngster you were. And unfortunately that's the part that tends to win out."

"But"

"But that's no excuse." Dave finished. "I agree and I told them as much."

"You did?" Spencer asked, surprise coloring his voice.

"I did." Rossi responded. "I also told them that you had every right to be angry. And that the way we were treating you was unacceptable."

"We? But you and Morgan and Garcia didn't do anything" Reid protested, looking across the table at his friend.

"Yes we did." Dave countered. "None of us took up for you when JJ and Emily had at you. We didn't say a word when it was happening or after the fact. Hell, we didn't even think to talk to you about how you were feeling about the whole thing. We just left you swinging in the wind."

"I didn't expect you three to talk to me." Spencer told the older man.

"Yeah, well you should have." Dave tossed back. Catching the skeptical expression that flashed across Reid's face, the frustrated man ran a hand across his goatee. "Our BAU team is a family, Reid and family members take care of one another. You know that. You're always one of the first to come to one of us and ask what's wrong."

"I know what it's like to be upset and need someone to talk to. When I was little, I desperately wished for a sibling or a friend I could tell my troubles to." Spencer revealed. "Of course I wasn't that lucky. I was left to handle all the despair and hurt and anger and fear as best I could. The feeling that nobody cares is one of the worst feelings I've ever experienced. So I promised myself that if I ever made a friend, I'd never let them feel that way."

"And you haven't." Dave stated. "And I'd like to extend the same invitation to you. I know I'm a little late but I really would like to discuss your feelings about Emily's return with you."

Reid's gaze dropped to the mug he was toying with. "I, I don't know if I'm ready to." He stammered.

"Try for me kiddo" Dave urged. "Come on. I know you're seething about all the lying and JJ and Emily's blasé attitude towards you. Let it out Spencer. Go ahead and let it all out. I'm listening." The senior profiler watched the younger man wage an internal battle with himself. The boy was practically biting his lip bloody as he attempted to decide whether or not to talk. Knowing Reid was right on the brink, Dave gave him one last push. "Come on kid. What's going on in that big brain of yours? Are you angry with Emily for coming back?"

"Of course I'm angry at Emily!" Reid ground out. "She abandons us and then saunters back into our lives and expects us to just take up where we left off just like my dad!" Spencer wrapped his arms around himself. "And, and when I can't do that, she has the nerve to lecture me about how I was only mourning one friend while she was mourning six!"

"That wasn't a nice thing to say." Rossi agreed.

"And it wasn't true either not really" Reid growled. "Yes, she probably missed us and she couldn't chance contacting any of us but that is entirely different from mourning. Mourning implies that the person is deceased; that you'll never see or hear from them again. Emily not only knew we were alive and well but she also had the expectation that sometime in the future she would be able to come home and see us again. Besides, she was able to see and hear about us on the internet and through the oh so helpful cheetobreath."

"Ah yes the ever helpful JJ" Rossi remarked.

"Yeah helpful" Spencer scoffed. "She was really helpful when she sat there all those nights lying to my face." He shook his head at Rossi. "I know okay! I know she had to keep the secret! That doesn't make it any easier to take!" Spencer quickly deflated. Tightening his self-hug, he closed his eyes. "Do you know JJ was the first woman to ever like me for me and not my brain besides my mother? She was the first lady I trusted; really trusted. She was like a best friend and a big sister all rolled into one. She was the one person I thought would never lie to me. Hotch, he's our boss. There are always things he keeps to himself. And not just about work. He's not all that forthcoming about his personal life either. He never talked with any of us during the whole Foyet situation no matter how many times one of us attempted to help him. Hotch keeping secrets is no surprise. Emily was always pretty closed mouth, too. We all knew she had something bad in her past that she wasn't ready to talk about. She didn't even tell us about Doyle until she absolutely had to. But JJ; she was different. She never kept things from me. And she most certainly didn't belittle me. She wouldn't let anyone else speak ill about me either."

"I take it you're more upset about her comments to you than you are about her lying about Emily." Rossi surmised.

Reid nodded. "Don't get me wrong. I'm still extremely angry about the lies but that at least she had a valid reason for that. Her personal attack on me is a different story. There was absolutely no reason for her to do that; none."

"I agree." Dave told him. "The question is can you get past it?"

"I, I don't know." Spencer honestly answered. "The lying I could come to terms with given time. Her comments on the other hand…"

Rossi sighed. He'd figured as much. He wasn't sure he would have been able to get past the profiling remark either. Still… "All we can ask is that you try son." he told Reid. "Look I know you are angry and hurt and you have every right to be. The rest of us are, too. And we all have the right to be angry and hurt for as long as we need to be. Don't let anyone tell you any different either."

"I won't." Reid promised. "Just don't expect my feelings to change overnight; not after that confrontation with JJ."

Thinking of that argument reminded Rossi of something else. "Can I ask you something, Reid?" he inquired.

Spencer warily eyed his friend. "I guess." He replied with a shrug.

"Did you mean what you said about the Dilaudid?" Dave questioned.

Spencer dropped his gaze to the table. "Yes" he answered. "I, I thought about it more times than I care to remember. I made it as far as my door a few times before stopping myself. I'd think about Emily and the way I treated her while I was using and how I knew she wouldn't want me to, to go down that road again. And then I'd either shut the door, pick up the phone, and call JJ or I'd head over to JJ and Will's."

Dave closed his eyes. That was what he'd been afraid of. Then again it would be worse if… "Are the cravings still there?" he queried.

Shoulders slumped Reid sunk lower in his chair. "There have been a few since Emily came back." he honestly responded.

'Great' Rossi thought. Keeping his expression neutral, he nodded. "I want you to promise me something kid." He said. "The next time you feel the urge you come talk to me. I don't care where we are or what's happening at the time. You come to me immediately. Got it?"

"Got it." Spencer replied, gracing the man with a slight smile.

Dave returned the boy's grin with one of his own. "Good, now what do you say we get outta here and go someplace nicer like my mansion?"

Spencer frowned. "I don't know." He hedged.

"The others are long gone by now." Rossi assured. "Come on, what do you say? We could have that cooking lesson. There's more than enough food for the two of us and I have it on good authority that there is a Dr. Who marathon starting tonight. What do you say, Reid? I teach you to cook an Italian meal and you teach me about the good doctor?"

Spencer smiled. "I think I'd like that."

"Well then get a move on, kid!" Dave exclaimed as he stood. He pulled out his wallet and tossed a few bills on the table. "Time's a wasting!"

Chuckling, Spencer followed his friend out of the café. Climbing into Rossi's car, he felt lighter than he had in months. Dave's simple act of reaching out to him had him over the moon. And the fact that Rossi not only understood but validated his feelings meant more to him than words could ever express. Reid fastened his seat belt and settled in for the ride to Rossi's mansion. One of his friends was in his corner and right this moment that's all that mattered.