November 2005, L.D.S.K.
He opened the door and she caught a glance at his face and was across the room fast then she thought possible.
"What the fuck happened, Spencer?"
"An unsub and Hotch."
"Hotch?" Her voice cracks as she said the older man's name, she knew things were bad for Spencer sometimes, but from everything she'd heard Hotch sounded like a good guy. He'd sounded like someone who had Reid's back. "Hotch did this?" Her hands were ghosting over the bruises on his face.
"No, the Unsub hit me on the face with an M4. Hotch just kicked me a little." Her eyes were filling with tears. Reid, realizing she doesn't understand, takes her far into his hands. "Not like that."
"Well, then tell me how he kicked you."
"He kicked me so I could get his gun out of his ankle holster and keep the Unsub from killing us and all of the hostages." Despite his answer, she feels relieved. She leans her head against his chest, careful not to push too much against him.
"Oh god, I didn't want another person on that fucking team giving you a hard time." His hands sneak around her, squeezing her closer.
"Hey, don't worry about me Ella, they've got my back whether they like me or not."
"I know, I just want them to realize how amazing you are. I'm sure that when they get to know you better they'll get to love you at least half as much as I do."