Hey everybody. Sorry, it's been a couple of days since an update. You know how life can be sometimes. So here is "the talk" chapter between Reid and Morgan. It is a LOT of dialogue and I apologize. I kind of like the way it turned out though. I wasn't sure until it just came out.
To all my reviewers: Thank you so much! I couldn't believe how many people responded after the last chapter. You guys are amazing. Also thanks for the feedback on where to take the series. I have a lot to think about and many paths to try. Here is the next installment. I hope you enjoy. Please feel free to review!
Chapter 6
Morgan raised a hesitant hand to the door before him; the door to Reid's apartment. He froze like that trying to figure out how to start the conversation that needed to take place. It was Friday night and the team had just returned that afternoon from LA. At last with a sigh, he brought the hand down to the door three quick times.
A moment passed as he heard shuffling on the other side. Finally the door swung in and a fatigued Reid stood before him. "Hey Morgan," he said nervously, "I figured you might stop by." He moved aside to let Morgan through.
Reid apartment was as it always was. It was mostly neat and clean with the exception of books scattered everywhere. What Morgan had never seen before was the large dry erase board that stood in the middle of the living room. It was filled from edge to edge with equations. He studied it, trying to understand what was written all over it, but all he could figure was that it was some sort of calculus or statistics or both. Reid followed his gaze to the board and quickly approached it. It a swift motion, he swung the board around then nervously looked at his friend.
Surprised by this, Morgan asked, "Afraid I'll steal your equation?" He chuckled jokingly, knowing he couldn't even begin to guess what it was.
Reid again appeared nervous and looked at his feet. He cleared his throat, "Actually... it's not that. It's um…classified."
"Classified?" Morgan asked quietly. Reid nodded.
Ok. Morgan inwardly thought. "So…I think we need to talk."
"Yeah…I know. Feel free to sit anywhere. I'm going to grab some coffee," he moved to the small kitchen that was likely never used. "Want anything?" he yelled.
"No. I'm good, thanks."
As he waited, he reviewed what he knew in his head. Reid had made an amazing sniper shot on an advanced weapon. He was working on some sort of classified equations in his living room. He has been increasingly tired over the last few months. Morgan also remembered that driving incident with Seaver in Miami and how she looked at him differently afterward.
Reid reappeared and sat the chair facing him. They both waited for the other to talk, the only sound from Reid sipping his coffee occasionally. With a sigh, Morgan began.
"Reid, what's going on?"
As if testing how much Morgan knew, Reid replied, "What do you want to know?"
"You pulled that trigger in LA." Morgan said factually. It wasn't a question.
Reid sat back in his chair, realizing that Morgan knew about it all.
"Yeah," he replied.
Again with short answers. Morgan tried not to sound frustrated.
"Reid…how? How were you able to do it? You couldn't even pass your firearms test."
Reid actually rolled his eyes, "Yeah…six years ago. Morgan a lot can change in that much time."
"Ok kid, I'm listening now. What's changed?" Morgan leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees.
"I've changed," he said. "I'm not a kid anymore. I've seen a lot and I'm not as helpless as everyone believes."
Morgan wasn't sure how to respond to this. He continued to look at Reid, who looked at his coffee.
Deciding to lighten the mood Morgan chuckled, "Seriously man, where did you learn to shoot like that?"
Reid looked up, a slight smile pulling at the corner of his mouth, but his reply was quiet, "CIA."
"What?" Morgan looked confused. "What do you mean 'CIA'?"
Reid settled in to tell the story, "About three years ago I was approached by AD Blackwell."
"You were approached by the assistant director of the FBI?" Morgan couldn't believe it. He had never even seen the guy in person.
"Yes. He told me that there was some interest in me from other agencies and asked if I would be willing to consult on other cases. He was very persuasive and felt that I could help save lives so I agreed so long as I could continue my job in the BAU."
Morgan was trying to let this all sink in, "Who are we talking about here?"
"DOD, NSA, CIA. I've even been approached by Interpol once and MI-5."
Morgan was floored, "So when do you do all this?"
"Whenever I can. I work a lot here and I also have a work room at the FBI in another area. When you guys think I go home, I usually go there to work for a while." As he spoke, he seemed to grow more tired. Morgan now understood the recent withdrawal in the young man. He was exhausted.
"What kind of work do you do?"
"Mostly a lot of statistical analysis, code breaking, tracking equations, and occasionally profiling. Sometimes I know what it's for and sometimes I don't. "
"Wow, you really are a genius, aren't you?" Morgan looked at his friend in a whole new light.
"I think we have already established that," Reid replied. He looked uncomfortable with the look Morgan was giving him.
Morgan knew he was getting somewhere now, "And the sniper shot?"
"Well, as you know there are certain qualifications and certifications that must be achieved and maintained within the FBI and this is true for other agencies as well. I have had training in many fields: offensive and defensive driving, self defense…and shooting."
"That explains a little bit of it Reid, but how did you get so good? I talked to the LA sniper. He said that would be a hard shot for a veteran. If you have just had some training in distance shooting, how did you get so good at it?" At last Morgan asked the question he truly came for.
Reid cracked a smile and his eyes lit up a bit, "Well, it's quite simple once a rudimentary training has been established. After the basics, it's only a matter of angle analysis and adduction of qualifying variables such as body shifts and wind resistance."
Morgan chuckled, "So…it's a math problem to you?"
"In simple terms, yes. Once you obtain an understanding for the physics behind the bullet, you can line up any shot."
"More physics magic?" Morgan laughed, remembering Reid's "physic magic" tricks he pulled back in the bullpen years ago.
Reid laughed, "I always have a few tricks up my sleeve."
Both men sat in companionable silence for several minutes. Morgan mulled over the information he had just gathered. He now understood many things: Reid's recent exhaustion, the sudden ability to take down an unsub single handedly and make a difficult sniper shot, the driving in Miami. Suddenly a thought crossed Morgan's mind.
"So Seaver knows?"
Reid nodded, "After the case in Miami, we talked and I told her. To be honest, the work I do is classified, but the fact that I do it is not."
"Then why didn't you tell us?" Morgan needed to know. He thought the team shared everything.
"I don't know. I guess the timing was never right. There was always a case or something going on in the team so I just figured you guys would figure it out in your own time. To be honest, I'm surprised Garcia doesn't know…She knows everything."
Both men chuckled, "Yes, she does." Morgan agreed.
Then he asked, "So are you going to tell everyone? It's not really a big deal Reid. It hasn't affected your work after this long."
Reid sighed, "Yeah, I think everyone needs to know, especially Hotch. I really don't know why I haven't told you guys."
Morgan stood as a sign that he was thinking about leaving, "Monday morning, you and me will sit everyone down and have a talk, ok?"
"Sounds good," Reid answered.
Morgan suddenly grew slightly serious and looked Reid in the eyes, "So are you ok? You know…after shooting that man."
Reid looked weary, but nodded, "I have had to shoot unsubs before Morgan. Does it weigh on my conscience?….yes. But I know I made the right decision. I know I saved that girl's life."
"I'm proud of you kid," Morgan said. It was true. Reid had grown so much as an agent and a person since he had joined the BAU.
Morgan started to walk back toward the door. "So what are you doing with the weekend off? Jetting off to fight an evil faceless bad guy in an underground lair on the other side of the world?" Morgan asked with a smile on his face.
Reid laughed, "Right Morgan, because I look like James Bond…I don't have too much going right now. I may try to catch up on some sleep."
Morgan couldn't resist, "How about I pick you up in the morning and we go to the shooting range. I really gotta see what you are capable of."
Reid could see the glee in his face, "Ok…but can I sleep in a little bit?"
"I'll see you at ten, pretty boy." Morgan responded.
"But Morgan…" Reid waited as Morgan looked back at him, "Don't be mad when I kick your ass."
Morgan just laughed as shook his head as he walked through the door.
Phew...that was a lot of talking right? Probably one more short chapter to wrap this one up. Working on how I may want to do the next one in this series. I hope you all are enjoying it! Please leave a review if you like it. :)
~ajoytowrite~
