Author's note: After reading the fanfiction story, "More Than A Joke" by Andyyoudidthisforwhat, I felt like writing an alternate ending to it. If you haven't read, "More than A Joke" yet, copy the author's name in the writer search box, and you should find that story in his list of stories. You can call me a family fan if you must, but I thought it would have been better if JJ and Prentiss also heard what Reid said to Morgan about how accurately he felt what the three of them said was. This was how I imagined Prentiss and JJ reacting to Reid's confession to Morgan and then, all three of them ending up begging for Reid's forgiveness.
In the bullpen, Reid was writing his end of case report at his desk while hearing three voices saying the same things over and over again in his eidetic memory.
"Guys, Spence has still never even been on a date," said JJ's voice.
"I can't even imagine Reid going out with a girl. Or even worse, having sex! That would have to be the most awkward thing anybody could experience! God, you really are the ultimate virgin," said Prentiss's voice.
"He probably can't imagine it either since he's never had a girlfriend. What's up with that, kid? Nobody wants you?" said Morgan's voice.
After Morgan's voice, Reid heard all three of their voices laughing at him with Morgan's voice repeating, "Nobody wants you" over and over again. Reid finished writing his case paperwork and he just wanted to leave Quantico without any further uncomfortable talks with Morgan, Prentiss or JJ. Reid wanted to go home before he started crying right there in the bullpen. Prentiss wasn't in the bullpen at the time and JJ was still in her press liaison office. But, Morgan was still in the bullpen. JJ and Prentiss drafted Morgan into apologizing to Reid for all three of them. Reid packed up his go-bag to leave for the day. Morgan walked over to Reid's desk.
"Hey, you know that we were all just picking at you today, right, kid?" asked Morgan.
Reid didn't look up at Morgan.
"Yes, I know that," said Reid in a flat tone. "You didn't upset me."
"Don't lie to me," said Morgan. "You've barely said two words all day. You didn't even give a flow of statistics today..."
Prentiss and JJ were leaving JJ's press liaison office together. They saw Morgan and Reid at Reid's desk in the bullpen.
"Oh, wait!" whispered Prentiss. "Wait!"
"What?" asked JJ.
"I want to see how badly Reid makes Morgan beg for his forgiveness," laughed Prentiss. "I hope Morgan has to get down on his knees before Reid forgives him!"
"You are so bad!" smiled JJ.
Prentiss was ready for the entertainment. She and JJ smiled and watched Reid and Morgan without being seen.
"Kid," said Morgan. "You know that we didn't mean anything by it, right?"
"I expected to be picked on by you and Prentiss, but not JJ," said Reid.
JJ and Prentiss stopped smiling.
Reid continued, "I...I always thought that JJ was as beautiful a person on the inside as she is on the outside."
JJ gasped.
"Sure she is, kid," said Morgan.
"No," said Reid. "If she was, then JJ would have slapped your face because of your 'Nobody wants you' joke. Or, she would have told both you and Prentiss off to defend me. Or, she would have just said, 'Ignore them' and hugged me. But, JJ laughed at the virgin jokes just like you and Prentiss did. I guess she's not really the beautiful person that I thought she was."
"Oh, Spence," sadly whispered JJ. "You're right. I shouldn't have laughed at you. I should have defended you. I'm sorry."
JJ lowered her head while Prentiss put her hand on JJ's shoulder.
"We were just joking, man," said Morgan. "Nobody wanted to hurt your feelings. We didn't mean any of it. It was just a joke."
"It's not just a joke!" said Reid with his voice breaking. "It was all the truth! Everything you guys said was 100% accurate!"
JJ gasped.
"What...accurate?" whispered Prentiss.
"No, it wasn't," said Morgan. "Come on now, Pretty Boy. You know better!"
"I...I legitimately have never been on a date," admitted Reid. "The closest thing I've ever had to one is that game I went to with JJ, who sees me as merely a co-worker! I thought it was a date, but JJ just admitted today that it wasn't a date to her!"
"Oh, my God!" whispered JJ. "I did admit that! And, 'merely a co-worker?' Is that how Spence thinks I see him?"
"We've all hurt his feelings much worse than I thought," whispered Prentiss.
"And, Lila was my first kiss," tearfully continued Reid. "She's the only girl that I've ever kissed, and I've never heard from her again after we left Hollywood! I...I'm not like you, Morgan!"
"Thank goodness!" whispered Prentiss while rolling her eyes.
Reid tearfully continued, "I'll never be like you! I'm not good looking or muscular like you are! I'm aware that I have terrible social skills! I have a hard time having a conversation with practically anyone, so it's even harder to talk to a girl that I find attractive! I...I'm weird... I'm annoying... I'm painfully awkward to be around! The...the probability of me ever being in a relationship is incredibly low!"
Morgan was silent. He, Prentiss and JJ realized that they all went way too far teasing Reid this time. Prentiss and JJ felt guilty.
"Oh, my God!" whispered Prentiss. "He doesn't think that he's good looking to women? That's not true! I never realized just how lonely Reid really is!"
"Oh, Spence," whispered JJ. "His mom is in Nevada. His dad walked out on the two of them when he was 8."
"And, his heart was broken after Gideon left all of us," whispered Prentiss. "He next to never goes out."
Reid tearfully continued, "I don't think I've ever had a girl be genuinely interested in me. Women run away from me faster than an unsub runs away from you! I'm not exactly a likable person, but I...I still wish that someone would love me or just be attracted to me. I want to know what that feels like like you, Prentiss and JJ do. I know the three of you didn't mean any harm this morning, but did any of you ever stop to think that nobody ever wanting me isn't bothersome?!"
Prentiss and JJ felt even more guilty from hearing Reid saying that.
"Oh, my God!" whispered JJ. "He doesn't think that he's lovable or even likable? Spence, that's not true! He has no friends outside of us and all we could do was tease him about his whole dating situation?"
JJ covered her face in both of her hands while hating herself. Morgan took Reid into his arms and Reid started crying hard on his shoulder. It broke JJ's heart seeing Reid crying like that. JJ started crying, too.
"And, Reid is a nerd," whispered Prentiss. "He probably grew up with a lot of bullies calling him ugly and teasing him. He's probably experienced a situation where a mean girl pretended to be attracted to him so that she and some bullies could have fun humiliating him in front of his whole class. Or maybe even his whole school! All three of us have reinforced years of him feeling rejected, disappointed, put down and bullied all of his life."
"What...what's the profile for somebody with such low self esteem?" asked JJ.
"He's already reached the step of putting himself down," answered Prentiss. "The next step is either self harm while he is alone, or running away from us, or committing suicide."
JJ covered her mouth with both of her hands while gasping because JJ lost her sister to suicide.
"And with his eidetic memory," whispered Prentiss. "He's probably been repeating that 'Nobody wants you' tease in his brain over and over and over again!"
"Let's go," whispered JJ.
"Go?" asked Prentiss. "Go where?"
"To apologize to him," answered JJ. "I don't know about you, Emily, but I don't want to one day find Spence in his apartment overdosed on dilaudid, or having put a gun to his mouth or...or slashing his wrists in the bathtub because we've all hurt his feelings from teasing him!"
"Slashing his wrists?" said Prentiss. "JJ, Paul Baleman electrocuted himself in the bathtub."
"I'm not talking about him. I'm talking about my older sister, Roz!" cried JJ. "My family was never the same after her suicide. We'll never be the same if Spence commits suicide! Spence is our family and I don't want to lose him!"
"I don't want to lose him, either," admitted Prentiss. "Let's fix this!"
"Listen to me, Reid," said Morgan. "I don't wanna hear you putting yourself down like that ever again. You don't have to be like me. You're perfectly fine just the way you are!"
Prentiss and JJ walked up to them.
"Morgan's right, Spencer," said Prentiss.
"What?..." said Reid.
"What are you guys doing here?" asked Morgan.
Reid got angry.
"Like, you don't know!" said Reid.
"What does that mean?" asked Morgan.
Reid let go of Morgan's hug.
"You just pretended to feel sorry for me so that these two could laugh at watching the virgin genius spilling his guts out and crying on the alpha male's shoulder!" accused Reid.
"What?" said Prentiss.
"Spence, no..." said JJ.
"Are you recording this now?!" asked Reid. "Did you guys get Garcia to hack the security camera feed so that the four of you could laugh at me saying, 'I'm weird, I'm annoying, I'm painfully awkward to be around' over and over again?! Well, congratulations on a job well done!"
"What?" said Morgan.
"Garcia?" said Prentiss.
JJ was shaking her head.
"No," cried JJ. "That's not it. That's not it at all!"
Reid picked up his go-bag feeling completely betrayed and upset.
"You guys should have been actors instead of agents!" said Reid. "Bravo, Morgan, Prentiss and Jareau!"
"Jareau?" whispered JJ.
"It's perfectly obvious that I can't trust any of you anymore!" cried Reid. "You fake friends have fooled the loser genius for the last time!"
"Fake friends?" whispered Morgan.
"Loser genius?" whispered Prentiss.
"Last time?" whispered JJ.
"Tomorrow morning, I'm transferring to the Nevada field office!" said Reid.
"What?!" said Morgan.
Prentiss gasped.
"Spence, no!" cried JJ.
"Have yourselves a good laugh!" said Reid.
The three of them watched Reid leaving the bullpen through the glass doors toward the elevators while crying. Morgan angrily turned to Prentiss and JJ.
"Well, way to go, guys!" said Morgan. "You really screwed this up!"
"Us?!" said Prentiss. "This is your fault!"
"Guys," said JJ. "Apologize now, argue later! Spence, wait!"
"Reid!" said Prentiss.
Morgan, Prentiss and JJ followed Reid to the elevator. Reid had gotten into the elevator and the doors closed before any one of them could join him inside.
"The stairs!" said Prentiss.
Morgan, Prentiss and JJ ran down the stairway to catch Reid before he could drive away in his car. Reid exited the elevator in the parking garage tearfully running over to his car. Morgan quickly ran out of the stairway door first with Prentiss and JJ trailing behind him.
"Reid, stop!" yelled Morgan.
"Wait! Reid!" pleaded Prentiss.
"Spence, please!" cried JJ.
Morgan grabbed Reid before he could get into his car. Reid was crying while angrily struggling to free himself from Morgan's grip.
"Let me go!" yelled Reid. "Let me go!"
Prentiss and JJ caught up to Morgan and Reid.
"Spencer, stop!" yelled Morgan. "Listen to us, man! Just listen!"
"Spence, listen, please," said JJ. "This wasn't a trick."
"We were not trying to trick you, Reid," said Prentiss.
"Don't lie to me!" cried Reid. "You're capable of tricking me like that and you know it!"
"You're right," admitted Prentiss. "We are capable of tricking you like that! But, Spencer, look over there."
Prentiss pointed at Garcia's empty parking space.
"Garcia's car, Esther isn't even parked here now," said Prentiss.
"She's already gone home with Kevin," said JJ.
"Nobody was trying to trick you, Reid," said Morgan.
Reid stopped struggling from at least believing that Garcia wasn't in on a trick of theirs. Morgan let go of Reid.
"Spencer," said Prentiss. "Look at me. No one is laughing at you now!"
"Well then, why were you two watching us in hiding?" asked Reid.
"It started with us wanting to watch Morgan begging for your forgiveness," admitted JJ. "But, we've both changed our minds."
"We've both heard everything that you've told him," said Prentiss. "And now, we both want to apologize, too. I'm so sorry, Spencer. None of us meant to hurt your feelings."
"I'm sorry, too, Spence," said JJ. "You were right. I shouldn't have laughed at you. We didn't realize that we were opening up an old wound from years of you being teased and picked on."
"That's no excuse," said Reid coldly.
Reid tearfully lowered his head and folded his arms and he turned his back on the three of them. JJ silently cried from the rejected apology.
"Spencer," said Prentiss. "I'm going to tell you some things that you definitely need to hear. You're not a loser. And, you are a likable person. You really are! You're kind to everyone. You're humble. You're handsome."
"Handsome?!" chuckled Reid. "You don't have to lie to me, now!"
"I'm not lying," said Prentiss. "Speaking as a woman, you are truly handsome. Maybe nobody has ever told you that before, but it is true!"
"Kid," said Morgan. "Why did you think I've always called you, 'Pretty Boy?'"
"Oh, I don't know," scoffed Reid. "Why?! What's the punch line this time?!"
"Punch line?" said JJ.
"Reid," said Prentiss. "We're not the kids who have picked on you in school."
Reid turned around to face them.
"You're not?!" said Reid.
"'Guys, Spence has still never even been on a date!'" said Reid mimicking JJ while looking at her.
"'I can't even imagine Reid going out with a girl. Or even worse, having sex! Is it because of how you're like a computer? Are you incapable of liking someone?" said Reid mimicking Prentiss while looking at her.
"'Pretty Boy, are you still a virgin? He's never even had a girlfriend! What's up with that, kid? Nobody wants you?'" said Reid mimicking Morgan while looking at him.
"Yes, you are," said Reid coldly. "All three of you are!"
Reid tearfully turned his back on the three of them again. All three of them realized that he was right.
"You're right, man," said Morgan. "We are. We all pushed a sex subject that was uncomfortable to you."
"We all jumped to our own conclusions," said Prentiss.
"And then we all laughed at you," admitted JJ. "We were all insensitive."
"We were stupid," said Prentiss.
"We were jerks," said Morgan.
"We were thoughtless..." said JJ.
"Who's arguing with you guys?!" angrily asked Reid.
"Spence," said JJ. "You are really a likable person. You really need to believe that."
"Yeah, kid," said Morgan. "We all like you."
"We really do, Spencer," said Prentiss.
Reid didn't really move or speak. They all knew he needed much more encouragement than that.
"Spencer," said Prentiss. "You said that this girl, Lila was your first kiss. Do you really think that she would have kissed you if she didn't like you or if she wasn't attracted to you?"
"She's right, Reid," said Morgan. "Lila saw something special in you. If she could see it, then other women can see it, too. Hell, these two women are seeing it right now!"
"He's right, Spence," said JJ. "I've always seen something special in you."
"I see something special in you, too, Spencer," said Prentiss. "Innocence. Spencer, you could have had your first time with Lila. You could have had your first time with JJ. You could have your first time with the next girl you meet and like. But, you're better off still being a virgin. You wanted to know what guys being attracted to me is like? Well, growing up, guys being attracted to me was a curse. I was a 15 year old teenager in high school the first time that I had sex. I was in love with my boyfriend. I believed him when he said that he loved me, too and that no matter what, we would be together forever. So one night, I gave up my virginity and I had sex with him in the back seat of his parent's car. And...I got pregnant because of it."
Reid turned around looking at Prentiss along with Morgan and JJ.
"What?" said Morgan.
"Emily," said JJ. "You never told me that."
"It's still not comfortable for me to talk about it," admitted Prentiss. "But, we've all made Reid uncomfortable teasing him about his virginity. He deserves to know! When I told my boyfriend that I was pregnant, he dumped me immediately. He broke my heart. And, without him, I didn't want to bring his baby into the world. I couldn't tell my mom. So, my best friend helped me...have an abortion."
Prentiss tearfully lowered her head.
Prentiss continued, "He stayed with me through it. It wasn't my proudest moment. My best friend's parents were Catholic. They hated me for involving him in my abortion."
Prentiss started crying. JJ put her hand on Prentiss's shoulder.
"They...they said that I was a sinner and a whore and that I was going straight to hell the day that I die!" continued Prentiss. "And afterwards, I was never really the same. Ever since then, whenever a guy tries asking me for sex, I mainly say, 'no' because it reminds me of what happened to me the first time that I said, 'yes." You're not a loser, Spencer. I am."
"No," said JJ. "You're not a loser, Emily. You were in love with him! And, his empty promises to you made you a one-night stand to him! That's what most guys do! They would say anything to us to make us have sex with them. And then, they would leave us after we do have sex with them!"
JJ hugged Prentiss.
"Thank you," said Prentiss. "My boyfriend made me lose my trust and my innocence. I know that you already have trust issues, Spencer, but don't ever let anybody take away your innocence."
"Least of all, the three of us!" said JJ. "Spence, I'm sorry. I didn't know that you thought I only saw you as a 'mere co-worker.'"
JJ put her finger on Reid's chin and lifted his head so that she could look into his tearful hazel eyes.
"Spence," said JJ. "I see you as so much more than that. I wouldn't have gone out to that game with just a 'mere co-worker.' Spence, I went out to that game with my best friend! You were happy watching me enjoying the game. Very few men care so much about making women feel happy."
"She's right," said Prentiss while looking at Morgan. "Most men just think that they are God's gift to women!"
"But, you're not most men," said JJ. "Your caring and sweet heart is God's real gift to women."
"And, trust me," said Prentiss. "That's a good thing."
"A damn good thing," said Morgan.
"Spence," said JJ. "I see you as family. Your mother raised you to be so kind to women. Well, the way that you've always treated me, she would be so proud of you!"
Reid started smiling through his tears.
"Really?" asked Reid.
"Really," tearfully answered JJ. "I'm so sorry, Spence. I don't want to lose my best friend. Please don't leave us."
"I'm sorry, too, Reid," said Morgan. "Don't go, man."
"I'm sorry, too, Spencer," said Prentiss. "If you stay, I'll never tease you like that again!"
"Yes, you will," said Reid. "Prentiss, you and Morgan tease each other on a daily basis. Teasing is a part of who you are. And, old habits are hard to break."
"Fair enough," said Morgan. "Then if you do forgive us and we ever start teasing you and hurting your feelings again, you can just tell us to zip it!"
"And, if that doesn't work," said Prentiss. "Just remind us of today, handsome."
"Or," said JJ. "You can just...ignore us!"
"Don't move to Nevada, Reid," said Morgan. "Please stay here with us?"
"Please, give us another chance?" begged Prentiss.
"Yeah, Spence," said JJ. "I don't know how to do this job without you!"
JJ got down on her knees begging for Reid's forgiveness.
"Please forgive us," cried JJ. "Don't run away from us, please?"
Morgan and Prentiss got down on their knees as well.
"Don't leave us, man," begged Morgan.
"You're family and we don't want to lose you," begged Prentiss. "Please forgive us?"
"Kid," said Morgan. "Please stay?"
"Please?" tearfully begged JJ.
"Okay," smiled Reid. "I forgive you guys."
"And, you won't leave Quantico?" asked Prentiss.
"No," answered Reid. "I won't leave."
JJ and Prentiss breathed a huge sigh of relief.
"Thanks, Reid," smiled Morgan.
They all got up on their feet. JJ happily hugged Reid tightly.
"Thank you, Spence," whispered JJ.
Reid looked over at Prentiss.
"And, Emily," said Reid. "You're not a loser or a whore. You were young and naive and you just made a mistake. Your boyfriend was the real loser. He ran away from being a father like my father ran away from mom and me when I was 8. And, he didn't love you like you loved him. You don't deserve to have your heart broken. A beautiful woman like you deserves to be loved back by somebody special."
Prentiss gasped.
"Awww," warmly smiled JJ.
Prentiss's heart soared. She started crying again.
"What's wrong, Emily?" asked Reid.
"You...you've just made me hate myself!" cried Prentiss.
"Because of what your boyfriend did to you when you were 15?" asked Reid.
"No," answered Prentiss. "Because I called you a computer who was incapable of liking women! And, because I laughed at you while saying that it would be the most awkward experience for a girl to have sex with you! Spencer, you're not a computer, you're a sweetheart! You...you've just made me wish that my first time was with someone just like you! Whoever does have sex with you will be a very lucky girl!"
"Yeah," tearfully agreed JJ. "She will be. Why can't more guys be wonderful like you?"
Prentiss tearfully hugged Reid tightly.
"I...I love you!" admitted Prentiss. "Thank you, handsome."
"Emily," said Reid. "You don't have to call me, 'handsome' anymore."
"We're family," said Prentiss. "She always calls you, 'Spence,' and he always calls you, 'Pretty Boy!' I'm calling you, 'handsome' from now on!"
"Get used to the new nickname, kid," smiled Morgan. "You're stuck with it, now!"
JJ silently laughed.
"Isn't he...lovable?" asked Prentiss.
"Yeah," whispered JJ.
JJ and Prentiss both lovingly smiled at Reid.
"What?" asked Reid.
Prentiss tearfully leaned her head on Reid's right shoulder while hugging him. JJ tearfully leaned her head on Reid's left shoulder while hugging him. They both closed their eyes.
"What?..." said Reid. "Emily? JJ?..."
"Shhh," said Prentiss.
"Don't speak," said JJ.
"Just close your eyes," suggested Prentiss.
"You wanted to know what it feels like for women to love you?" asked Morgan.
"Well, yeah, but..." said Reid.
"Then close your eyes and enjoy this moment, Reid!" smiled Morgan.
Reid hugged JJ with his left arm and he hugged Prentiss with his right arm and he closed his eyes. Reid could feel the warm family love that JJ and Prentiss were giving him. He never felt loved like this before. Reid started crying happy tears.
"I...I'll never try leaving you guys ever again," cried Reid.
Prentiss and JJ cried happily.
"Good," said Morgan. "This is where you belong."