Notes: This is set after 4.03. Reid finds it hard to deal with Emily being out in the field because he is constantly reminded of the beating at Liberty Ranch. Obviously there's spoilers for 4.03, Minimal Loss.
The fear is irrational, and he's aware of that. It's also highly unprofessional. They work for the FBI, so of course they're going to be put in dangerous situations. But he can't help the constant anxiety he feels when they're out in the field. Every time he sees her step out to face an UnSub, gun at arms length, in his mind he sees her at the hands of Cyrus.
Emily is strong. God, she's probably strongest person he's ever met in his life. But for some reason, he can't seem to shake the thought from his mind: her being dragged by her hair across the floor. He sees it nearly every time he closes his eyes. He hears her words echoing through the hallways of Liberty Ranch.
"I can take it."
"Oh, you can take it?"
Every time he envisions it, every time he closes his eyes and lives it, he blames himself for what happened all those months ago. He supposes that maybe that's the reason he feels so unsettled when she's out in the field - he feels like if something happened to her, he'd blame himself for not being able to help her, just like he couldn't in Colorado.
Even though it's irrational.