Reid was at his wit's end. He had to turn down a dinner invitation from Hotch because Jen was suspended from school for fighting and he wasn't letting her have any sort of fun. Jen kept claiming she was being provoked when by all other accounts she was the bully. He didn't know what to do. Their arguments were so loud the neighbors knocked on his door. Her therapist kept saying it was just a phase. Reid hadn't felt this combination of anger and sadness in years.

"Where's Aaron Hotchner?" was Reid's immediate response was when he saw the mother of the girl Jen fought on the soccer field.

"Emergency meeting," she said briskly.

She put down a stack of folders and offered her hand.

"Dr. Addison Rayburn. I'm sorry we got off to the wrong foot a few weeks ago."

Reid waved his hand. "I'm a germaphobic. I'm Dr. Spencer Reid. I'm sorry also."

"I didn't know you were an agent for the FBI."

Reid was in no mood for pleasantries. "Would it have made any difference as to what you said to me?"

Rayburn ignored the comment. "Why did you leave? You were one of the top agents at the time."

"My wife died suddenly. Does that add depth to your assessment for the reasons for my daughter's aggression?"

Rayburn stared at him. Reid ignored her and walked over to the podium to turn on the projector.

"I read up on you too Dr. Rayburn. You were one of top research psychologists in your field until you offered your skills to the FBI. Why did you leave Advanced Neurologic Innovations two years ago?"

"The hours were crazy and I was going through a messy divorce," she said defensively. "Does that give any psychological insight as to why my daughter was verbally aggressive?"

Reid looked up. "Not really. A child can learn to adapt to situations and form normal behaviors."

"Then how does that explain your daughter's actions?"

Reid had half a mind to order Rayburn to leave. But he knew that would not look good for his tenure review assessment.

"Do you have a USB drive you need to plug in?" Reid asked.

"So are you. Your daughter needs serious help," Rayburn said.

Reid had never met such a rude woman in his life.

"She is getting help. Now can we get back to the recruitment session?"

"Fine," she said huffily. "Yes I do have a flash drive…"

They exchanged one-word answers for the rest of the session.

…

"Hello Addison," Steph said as she got in the car.

"It is mom and always will be mom Stephanie," Rayburn said she pulled away from the school.

"Talia says I can call her whatever I want including mom."

"Talia is barely old enough to be your mother."

"I'm telling dad you badmouthed her again."

"Go ahead, see if I care," Rayburn said through gritted teeth.

"Maybe dad can use it when refiles to get full custody of me," she said.

Rayburn knew Steph was saying this to try to get a rise out of her. To get her to explode. Steph hated living with her because she was the stereotypical strict parent. Rayburn ignored her.

"I'm doing poorly in math again this term. I think I'd be doing much better if I lived with Dad as he has all the math brains you used to say."

"I'll hire you a tutor."

"But that will cost extra money."

"I'll dip into my savings if I have to."

"What happens when it runs out because of all the classes I keep flunking?"

"I made a lot of money at my former job and I am investing it wisely enough to afford you tutors straight through college."

"You sound really tense mom. Is the stress of raising me affecting your health?"

Steph was clearly either doing her homework or getting coached on the subject of pushing her buttons.

"I am as healthy as can be Steph."

Finally the drive ended. Steph leaped out of the car and unlocked the door with her key before Rayburn could even grab her purse.

…

"I HATE YOU!" Jen shouted before slamming her door shut.

Reid had just turned down Morgan's invitation to go down to New York. It wasn't easy but Reid was angry. She was being rude to the sitter Reid made her stay with during her suspension. He tried having a heart-to-heart about missing mom but she merely plugged her ears.

He couldn't take it anymore. He couldn't deal with it. It was too hard and it hurt so much. He dialed a number he hadn't dialed in years and rubbed his chip.