Why did the second Theme have to be Love already?

Theme Two: Love

"Someone once said that love is giving someone the ability to destroy you, but trusting them not to."

Reid recalled hearing those words, but for once, he wasn't sure where. He could remember vague details about anything; listen to a long statement that someone spoke to him and repeat every last word that had been said. It was a very useful skill when needing to pay close attention to anything a serial killer would say that might seem minute at the time but end up being the very clue to catching him or her.

But right now, those very words were replaying in his mind and he couldn't place where he had heard them. It was a man's voice, and it sounded very familiar…

"Do you trust me, Reid?"

Whoever it was addressed him by his last name. The only people that called him by his first name were his parents and some of his friends at the BAU. But not all of them did.

The females normally called him Spence or Spencer (Garcia being the exception, as she had tacked on the name Junior G-Man), but most of the males called him Reid. Was it one of them?

"Why can't I remember…?" Reid clasped his hands to his head in confusion. He was the one of the very few people left in the BAU office after getting back from a long case. It was getting late and soon enough he would have to leave.

But why of all times were these particular words coming to mind? He wasn't even sure how long ago he had heard them. They had to mean something of importance if they wouldn't leave his head. It might have just been more troubling that for once, Reid actually couldn't remember something.

"Something must have been going on around the time those words were being told to me…" Reid thought aloud. "What is it…?"

"Reid? Why are you still here?"

Reid glanced over at Hotch, who was standing outside his office. He was looking at the genius with a questionable look on his face.

"Hotch…" Reid stood up. "I-I was actually just leaving…" he began to grab his bag and throw it over his shoulder, not paying attention to Hotch walking down the stairs and approaching him. Hotch placed a hand on Reid's shoulder.

"Reid, are you alright?" Hotch asked, sounding concerned.

Reid stared at him, surprised by Hotch's sudden approach. He wasn't normally this forward. "Um, I think I'm alright…"

"Is there something on your mind?"

Reid glanced around, not wanting to face Hotch directly. Now, because of his behavior, there was no denying it. Reid finally nodded.

"Would you like to talk?" Hotch pointed to his office.

Reid looked around, noticing a few people still left in the bullpen. "Sure." He took Hotch up on his offer and followed him up to his office. Hotch closed the door behind him.

Reid took a seat in one of the two chairs across from Hotch's desk while Hotch took the other. The younger man didn't question why his boss had decided to sit next to him instead of at his own desk.

"Well?" Hotch inquired.

"Um," Reid scratched his chin, not sure how to explain his odd predicament. "I'm actually having trouble remembering something."

Hotch stared at him quizzically. "You? Having trouble remembering something?" he repeated, making sure he had heard Reid correctly.

"Something…someone said to me."

"Are you missing details of what was said, or…"

"I remember all of what was said, I just don't remember who said it to me."

"Well, what was it that they said?"

Reid took a deep breath before reciting back the phrase. "Someone once said that love is giving someone the ability to destroy you, but trusting them not to."

Hotch's eyes widened. He blinked a few times, and Reid observed every move carefully. Hotch knew something.

"Hotch?"

Hotch closed his eyes and leaned forward, startling Reid. When he was only inches away from the younger man's face, he reopened his eyes.

"Do you trust me, Reid?"

Reid gasped, coming to the realization that it had been Hotch that told him that very phrase, considering that the line 'Do you trust me, Reid?' had been the next thing that was said.

"Why don't…I remember…you telling me that?" Reid tilted his head in confusion.

"Because I said it to you a few weeks ago, when we got back from the case in San Francisco. I was driving you home, but you fell asleep in my car. I went ahead and brought you to my house." Hotch explained. "Remember waking up there that next morning?"

Reid nodded. "O-of course." He stumbled on his words, clearly recalling his surprise when he woke up in Hotch's bed while Hotch slept on the couch. He had the involuntary reaction of sniffing the blanket, taking in Hotch's scent.

"Well, when I carried you in the house to my bed, I said that to you. You must have woken up for a moment, but then returned to sleep immediately after."

Reid still didn't understand something. "W-why exactly did you say that to me?"

Hotch smiled before leaning closer to Reid once more. Reid held his breath, not entirely sure what Hotch was doing. It made his blood rush to his head, thinking of what he could be doing. Hotch then paused, his mouth mere centimeters away from Reid's ear.

"I trust you, Reid."

I actually heard that phrase on an episode of Criminal Minds recently, so I thought it would be perfect to use here. It's now one of my favorite quotes.

~Midori