I hope you enjoy!
Chapter Thirty-Two:
"I'm not surprised it happened this weekend," Ormes said. "Even I was in a betting pool for the Lakers."
"Are you angry?" Reid asked anxiously.
"No Dr. Reid," Ormes said assuredly. "While it is frowned upon, as long as consent was established in the relationship, there will be no consequences."
"Are you up for discussing it?" Juno asked.
"Yes," Reid said. "It felt incredible? Gwen let me lead in every way imaginable. I never felt more in control of a situation, I forgot intimacy can be enjoyable. The second time, I let her lead and she was gentle and careful about how she touched me. It was delightful."
"Dr. Reid, do you realize what you just said?" Juno said. "You still tense when being touched now, but you had intercourse, the most intimate form of touch, and you enjoyed yourself. That is incredible."
"We would never advocate sex as a form of therapy," Ormes said. "But what you did with Gwen shows you are capable of so much more."
"It didn't feel like abuse," he said thoughtfully. "I was in control. Gwen liked what I did. I felt like a consenting adult. Any idea where Iris got the condoms?"
"We don't stock them, so presumably, a visitor," Ormes said. "You need to use this experience to your advantage now. Whenever you feel Uris creeping into your mind, threatening you, use your experience with Gwen to fight it. You are in control Dr. Reid don't ever doubt it."
"I've been afraid to ask," Reid said. "But when is my discharge planning meeting going to be held?"
"In two weeks, from today," Juno said. "As we've discussed, nothing is set in stone yet. You're improving in leaps and bounds now, but we still need to make sure you're comfortable in the outside world. As we've also discussed, it is nothing to stress about."
"I feel like a kid waiting for my report card," he said.
"I know," Ormes said. "But progress is not linear, even as it has felt like it has for a couple months. Stay positive, Dr. Reid and focus on you."
"Okay," he said.
…
Reid entered the boxing ring with Sanchez.
"You don't have to do this if you're not ready," Sanchez said.
"I am," Reid said.
"Okay," he said. "Three, two, one."
Reid hit him square in the jaw. Sanchez hit back but Reid ducked and hit him again. Sanchez managed to hit him in the ribs, Reid bounced against the ropes and hit Sanchez hard in the center of his chest. They hit each other's gloves. Sanchez aimed for his head, but Reid knocked his arm away and hit him in the jaw again.
"Time," Sanchez breathlessly. "You have a spark in you that wasn't there Friday. What happened?"
"I had sex with my girlfriend," he said as he blushed.
"You know Dr. Reid, no shrink who values their license would recommend intercourse as a form of therapeutic trauma treatment, but every person is also different. You've been held back by your fear of touch. Now you finally felt an intimate touch that didn't lead to pain. I think it set some of your anxiety free and I am proud of you."
Reid couldn't help but smile.
"Are you up for another round?" Sanchez asked.
"I think I am," Reid said.
…
Reid lost the coin toss and ended up playing Dance, Dance, Revolution with Iris. At first, he felt like an idiot waving his arms around and hopping to a beat. But oddly, he started getting into it and matching some of Iris's moves.
"A good f**k really did do you wonders," Iris said.
"Where'd you get the condoms anyway?" he asked.
"Another patient," she said. "You aren't the only one getting action around here. She used to be a high school nurse, so she is big on practicing safe, consensual sex."
"Thanks," he said as he focused on his moves.
"Have the shrinks emphasized how big a deal it is that you managed to f**k without having a breakdown. It's huge!"
"I'm scared Iris," he said. "What if I regress? Will I really feel comfortable in the real world? Without you?"
"I'm touched," she said. "Ignore the sarcasm, I really am. I think you're going to be fine. You know why? You have things to live for outside these walls. Friends, godchildren, a girlfriend!"
"What about you?" he asked.
"I'm fine staying through the holidays," she said. "I'll miss you, but I think you'll be an outpatient for at least a couple months, so we'll still see each other."
"Is there anything on the outside for you, Iris?" he asked as he slowed his moves.
"My father is remarried with a new family. I have couple cousins I like who have visited, I may end up staying with in New York City. But honestly I like the idea of decorating another tree in this place."
"I can be your family, Iris," Reid said. "You're welcome to go wherever I go."
She stopped and stared at him.
"Do you really mean that?" she asked.
"I've thought about what kind of job you could get in the FBI," he said as he stopped. "I even asked my boss to ask around about a position for you. The office of Missing and Exploited Children would like to train you to comb through social media to see what kids are genuine runaways and which ones may have been abducted."
"Are you saying you actually found me a job for when I leave this place?"
"Iris, you saved my life. I know you think we're even, but you have been as instrumental as any therapist to my progress. I needed someone in my life without a filter, to push me, and to be my friend when I needed it. I'll do anything to make you happy Iris."
"Can I hug you?" she said as she started to cry.
Reid hugged her. They held on tightly as Iris cried.
"I don't have much on the outside compared to you," she said as she let go.
"Now you do," he said. "You have my family."