A/N: for everyone asking me to update/finish these stories, please read the note on my profile.
As Unit Chief, Hotch was acutely aware of difficulties his team members were experiencing. Hotch did what he could to handle those difficulties in a way he thought best. Sometimes, he pushed; other times he would allow the agent to keep distance from anything that might aggravate those difficulties.
After Georgia, it was no different.
Hotch was well aware that it wouldn't be good for Reid to keep him from his job any longer than necessary, so after three weeks, Reid was back in the field. On the jet on their way to their next case, they divided tasks.
Someone had to talk to the girl that was suspected of having sent a threatening letter. That was routine, but Hotch didn't miss the way Reid tensed.
Hotch hadn't specifically planned to send Reid, and thus it was no bother to send Morgan and Prentiss instead.
The next time Reid tensed at a specific moment, it was at the possibility of being paired with JJ in the field.
Hotch filed that away and send Morgan with JJ, instead.
After two cases, Gideon send Morgan, Prentiss and Reid to talk to a victim's wife. Was it really any wonder Reid missed his plane and chose to hang out with a friend in New Orleans?
They had two easy weeks after that case. They didn't have to fly out. Then, when the next case came, they had to interview a victim in a hospital. Hotch thought that would be a good way to start.
"Reid and I will go to the hospital to interview the latest victim." Reid tensed, but it was noticeably less than before. That was good. A hospital was about as none-threatening as it could get, and Hotch hoped that somehow, his presence would help. Reid had trusted him before – trusted him to get his location in Georgia, actually – and Hotch had noticed that whatever Gideon had said to Reid in New Orleans, it hadn't helped.
Soon after, Hotch and Reid interviewed a witness in the police station. When during that same case, another witness had to be interviewed – at a school, this time, a public location – Hotch met Reid's eyes for a moment. Reid gave a small nod, so insecure it was nearly indecisive. "Reid and I'll go and interview the witnesses. We interviewed the last one, so perhaps we notice some overlap."
Hotch didn't miss the way Reid's body lost just a little bit of tension.
The interview went well, although Reid behaved much like Gideon had during his first case after Boston: he didn't turn his back towards doorways and was focusing more on his surroundings than on the interview. That was alright, though; Hotch could handle the interview and would have done it on his own, were it not that he wanted Reid to get used to interviewing again