Hey so here's the next part of Family Matters. I wanted you guys to know that the stuff about concussions is fairly true, and the stuff that Spencer goes on about happened to some one I know. It was actually even more serious than I made it out to be, but I didn't want to ramble about it too much.
Title: Family Matters 3?
Summary: Sequel to Familiar Strangers
Rating: PG
Notes: Yes I know that there wasn't going to be one. But well the bunny bit. This is the sequel to a crossover but there is barely any CSI mention. Much thanks to silentflux who edits my grammar and gracefully allows me to distract her from finals and bother her on vacation.
Hotch hurried to answer the doorbell, not wanting to keep the team waiting. Gideon shoved his way in first. "How's he doing?"
Aaron looks over his shoulder smiling fondly, "He's rambling about whooping cranes."
Morgan shouldered his way past saying, "So in other words, he's fine."
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Spencer offered to help Haley bring dinner out to the table, so when he ran into Gideon, he had to flounder a bit with the bowl of salad before Gideon's hands reached up and covered his own to stabilize it. With the imminent threat to the salad averted, Reid managed to look up through his fringe of hair. Gideon had yet to figure out how Reid always managed to look up at him, considering the fact that Reid had several inches on him. "Easy there. Feeling okay?"
"Yeah." A lock of hair fell forward landing on his nose. It started to twitch madly and it was clear that Reid desperately wanted to pull it behind his ear. Gideon, without even consciously processing his actions, reached up and brushed it back for him. His finger tips seemed to burn where he brushed against Spencer's skin. Reid flushed bright red before stammering nonsensically and rushing into the dining room and away from Jason. Jason cursed himself.
He knew about Reid's crush on him. He was an easy object of affection–available, smart and most importantly, Spencer subconsciously knew that Gideon would never act on the crush, that he was safe from being rejected too harshly or having the offer accepted. Gideon had been slowly trying to guide Reid away, except for that rather blatant birthday present. Gideon knew that nothing could come from the crush, but the fear from hearing about this morning's crash left him worried and emotionally vulnerable. Hotch came into the kitchen with Haley on his heels. "What happened with Reid?"
Gideon looked away quickly. "Nothing, just a small collision of bodies."
Haley was busy ignoring the two, pulling a lasagna out of the oven. Hotch didn't seem to buy the story but didn't want to make a big deal out of it, at least not at this point -- his eyes seemed to promise a later. Instead, like a peace offering, Hotch handed Gideon a bowl of fresh green beans before Aaron grabbed some potholders and the lasagna, ever the gentleman.
The team had gathered in a cluster with Morgan at the center holding Ben. JJ seemed the most interested, with Elle and Spencer hanging back, out of range to avoid being handed Ben. Aaron could just imagine Reid holding Ben at arms length with a look of controlled fear on his face. Morgan looked like he could imagine it too because he seemed to want to hand Ben off to Reid, but Haley deftly grabbed Ben, rescuing Reid whose relief was evident.
Once all the food was on the table, people started to arrange themselves around it. Spencer, still feeling shy from his brush with Gideon, sat catty corner to him, as far away as possible. Ben was sitting in a high chair, happily playing in some pureed peas.
All the food was passed around with thanks to Haley for the invite and work. Once everyone's food was dished, Hotch reached for Haley's hand and bowed his head for prayer. Everyone quickly followed suite while Reid who'd already speared a cherry tomato looked around confused and put down his fork to bow his head in mimicry.
"Thank you, Lord, our God, for your bounty and mercy. Thank you for the safety of our bodies and the bless this food that we are about to eat. Amen."
Reid glanced out of the corner of his eye, waiting for his cue. Haley broke into the awkwardness of the silence that followed the prayer. "So, we were just talking about that betting pool." Reid hastily popped the tomato into his mouth and started to chew. "The one you guys have on stumping Spencer. What are some of the weirder things you've tried?"
Eyes swung to Reid who started to chew even more emphatically. Elle spoke first, "I gave up on my money when he spent twenty minutes explaining the history of Ai ki do."
"Harley-Davison."
"Pearl divers in Indonesia."
"Billiards."
"Root Beer."
"Wow. Spencer was just telling me about the vegetables in the salad."
Everyone's gaze shifted back to Reid who was chewing away. "Is that the same tomato?" Morgan asked.
Reid swallowed hastily answering, "The average person chews their food 4.2 seconds before swallowing." Reid ate another forkful of salad and conversation moved on to Ben and the beaming parents, football and the current movie releases. Pretty much everything but work.
Reid was starting to relax from the lack of attention when Morgan turned to him. "So, Spencer, what do you think of J-lo's latest movie?"
Reid glanced up from his plate where he was strategically pulling his green beans apart. "Who?"
"J-lo? Jennifer Lopez?" Reid's face continued to be blank. "My God, I just stumped Reid." The was a pause. "Score!" Morgan was looking decidedly excited about his surprise income increase when he froze asking, "What if it's the concussion?"
Haley laughed, "it's only a mild concussion, surely it doesn't make much difference?"
Gideon's face was framed with frown lines and he looked about to speak when Reid broke in, "Even mild concussions are serious. I've had a couple before, and every time you have one, you are that much more likely to have another. If I get any more, I won't be allowed out in the field. As it is I can't ride on any roller coasters."
Haley looked shocked. "I had no idea. Hollywood makes them look like no big deal."
"Popular culture often perpetuates some ideas pervasively, and they probably don't know that it isn't wrong. In the real world, the effects of a mild concussion can last for months. Once in college I had a concussion, and almost two months after the injury I tore up my dorm room in a fit of rage and didn't even remember doing it. The whole thing was very disconcerting. That was at least a moderate concussion. This one doesn't feel nearly as bad."
Everyone looked like they wanted to say something, but didn't know what. Reid excused himself to the bathroom and the atmosphere managed to right itself before he got back. The overall mood of the evening was much darker.
The conversation continued for several more minutes, but it was clear that Reid was starting to wilt. Rather than wait for Reid to ask, everyone started to make their leave and well wishes to Spencer. Reid saw everyone out and Aaron, not liking his pale color, helped him back upstairs, and when Reid didn't even bother to protest about being put to bed like a child, Aaron knew he was tired.
Preview of part 4:
Reid struggled against his attacker. Flinging himself almost off the bed, he managed to free a hand and land a solid blow. That seemed to make the attacker back off and he quickly took advantage, gathering himself up and running for the door.
