Chapter One: Breaking Point
"There are wounds that never show on the body that are deeper and more hurtful than anything that bleeds." -Laurell K. Hamilton
Maybe the breaking point for Spencer Reid was his addiction. Maybe it was Gideon leaving. Maybe it was any of his numerous brushes with death. Or maybe, just maybe, it was so much earlier.
Earlier than Tobias Hankel.
Earlier than Elle Greenaway.
The day started as usual as they come for the BAU. Before the sun even rose Reid ambled toward his desk, falling into his chair with a yawn. His hands were stuffed comfortably in his sweater jacket as he scanned the office.
Hotch was in his office, flipping through some pages in a folder with a flat expression.
Reid frowned ever so as his gaze flickered to the clock. His jaw went slack for a moment in surprise and he double-checked the time with his watch. Was it really that early?
Shaking off his stunned expression, the doctor rubbed at his bleary eyes and focused his gaze on a stack of paperwork in front of him. Another yawn forced his mouth open and he wiped at the tears that tugged at his eyes. Then, returning back to his work, he opened the previous case's file.
"You're here early," Spencer nearly jumped out of his skin when Prentiss whispered in his year. Whipping around just in time to see Emily lean back with amusement and Morgan smirking at his desk.
Instead of saying something, Reid just shook his head and placed the paperwork on his desk. Glancing at the window, he ran a hand through his hair, startled. Judging on the location of the sun, it had been at least two hours since he began working.
"How long have you been here, Pretty Boy?" Morgan asked, leaning back in his chair with a satisfied smirk. "You look exhausted."
Reid felt his eye twitch at that, but didn't say anything about Morgan's comment. The doctor gave a submissive wave. "An hour or so," he answered, fighting another oncoming yawn.
The two agents flashed Reid a bewildered look but didn't say anything about it. Emily's gave traveled up to Hotch's office and she frowned thoughtfully.
"How long has he been here?" Prentiss mused.
"Since yesterday?" Morgan offered with a grin. Reid scoffed and shook his head, ready to remind his coworker that Hotch had in fact left before Morgan the previous day. Before he could speak though, the agent looked at Spencer, giving him an 'I was joking look'.
Backing up and sitting down on the edge of a desk, Prentiss turned back to the two males. "Why do you two get here so early?" she huffed in exasperation.
By this time, Reid began to turn back to his work. "To work?" he provided hopefully. "Maybe you could try it sometime." While his words sounded terse, his tone was teasing.
"Ouch, kid, that hurts," Morgan tsked and got to his feet. Peering over Reid's shoulder at the papers, he squinted in disbelief. "Oh no."
"What?" Prentiss smirked, trying to read Morgan's facial expression but not getting up.
Reid seemed just as confused, looking up at Morgan with uncertainty. There was a pause as the agent shook his head in stupor.
"You're actually doing work?" he finally huffed.
Spencer shut the folder and forced himself to look up at the agents. "What else would I be doing?"
Morgan threw his hands up into the air slightly, taking a step away from the doctor's desk. "Pretending to work?" he offered like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "You, Pretty Boy, really need to learn how to blow off work."
"Why would I 'blow off work'?" Reid asked incredulously. Morgan just shook his head, turning as the doors opened to reveal JJ and Garcia holding coffee.
"My heroes," Prentiss sighed in relief, pushing off the counter and heading over to the two girls. As JJ handed the woman a coffee, Emily placed her hand on her heart. "What would I do without you two?"
Garcia laughed, shaking her head. "Be coffeeless?" She answered, heading over to Reid, who was still looking baffled over Morgan's suggestion. "Coffee, Einstein?" The doctor shook his surprise off and accepted the drink with a thanks.
Waiting where he was, Morgan looked over at Garcia, who began sipping at her remaining drink. "Baby girl? Really?" he asked, looking almost offended.
"What?" the technical analyst answered with a questioning look.
"What about me?" The agent glanced around, but everyone was holding one coffee. Garcia smiled and shrugged, taking a long drink from her drink before sighing loudly. "That's cold." Morgan shook his head, looking away with mock hurt.
As the four with hot coffee began to prepare for the day, Morgan caught Penelope grinning. He remained confused, lower lip pouting slightly as he shook his head.
"Who do ya love?" Garcia asked suddenly. Reid returned to his work, relieved he wasn't the center of attention anymore.
Morgan flashed the woman a puzzled look before she picked up a coffee on Emily's desk that had been hidden by papers. The agent grinned widely. "It's always been you, Baby Girl."
"Obviously," Garcia replied, passing the cup to the male who took a sip and sighed in pleasure.
"Good stuff…" the agent hummed before Hotch stepped out of his office. JJ glanced up at him, and the Chief gave a nod.
Clasping her hands together after tossing a now empty coffee cup into the trash, JJ turned to the team. "Don't get too comfortable, it's time for a new case,"
As Morgan mumbled something about there always being a new case, Reid pulled himself from his chair, snapping his folder shut. Prentiss flashed the younger agent a look but said nothing.
"What's the matter with you?" Of course Morgan didn't have the decency to keep quiet.
"Sorry…" Reid murmured, looking embarrassed. "That was louder than I planned." A ripple of amusement washed over the group as they headed to the round table.
A few minutes later, the team was gathered together in the conference room. Rossi was looking half asleep as he blinked blearily at JJ. Hotch waited for the blond female to start with a classic Hotch face.
"Long night?" Morgan whispered to Rossi with a suggestive eyebrow raise. The older agent glanced over at the male and scoffed. Even Reid let himself look over at the interaction, seeing as JJ hadn't started yet.
Rossi rolled his eyes, rubbing his forehead with a sigh. "If you count arguing with your publisher about writing faster one of those long nights, then yes." he flashed Morgan a smile who raised his hands to signify surrender.
"To each their own, I guess,"
"If we may begin now…" JJ began, waiting for the room to quiet down. "We have fou-" she was interrupted by a knocking at the door. The blond huffed in mock annoyance, ceasing her talking. She caught Hotch send her an apologetic look but offered him a small smile.
As silence sat in the conference room for a moment, Reid finally stood up. "I'll get it," he offered, heading over to the door. A small bout of laughter rang out in the group, even Hotch couldn't help but smile briefly at the doctor's sarcasm.
Opening the door, Reid instantly paled. His mouth went dry and his veins ran cold with anger. There, standing in the doorway, was William Reid.
"The sun loved me again when it saw that the stars would not abandon me." -Jenim Dibie
A/N: Thanks for reading if you've reached here! How is it so far? Reviews are greatly appreciated, even if they are one word long. More reviews inspire me to write sooner! This book takes place in about the middle of season six. However, JJ will not leave, and there most likely won't be any Ian Doyle nonsense.