Disclaimer: You know the drill

A/N: Continued thanks to all who take the time to review.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Reid, Morgan, Emily, JJ and Garcia had been at Talbot Middle School since mid morning. Principal Senoff had given them the better part of a day with the students to do what they thought appropriate to the kids in handling an attacker, be it a bully or a mugger.

All five had spoken to the student body in turn. Reid talked about bullying, the victim and the bully himself. He even shared some of his own experiences which surprised most of the students. They found it hard to believe an FBI agent had been the target of bullies. "If I want you to remember one thing, it would be that, at some point the bullying ends. Tell someone, talk to your parents and if they won't listen, try someone else or talk to me. Miss Garcia will be providing information so you can reach any of us. Try to get out of the situation but if you can't, as in my case, and you have to grin and bear it, don't become the person the bully is trying to turn you into. Someday, though it seems hard to believe now, school will be over and that person will be gone from your life and if you don't let him turn you into a victim, you'll come out okay." He sadly thought of Darcy Kullman.

Morgan talked about self defense and some of the techniques they would be dealing with. Emily and JJ spoke to particular concerns of the girls. Garcia developed some interactive games the kids could play, incorporating what they learned from the agents. She also developed a web site the students could visit and they could contact any of them with concerns.

They broke for lunch which the team ate in the school cafeteria. Principal Senoff had offered to have them join the staff for lunch in the teachers' lounge but the team said they'd prefer to eat with the kids. Students approached with questions, mostly about the FBI and what it was like being agents.

"Reid, this was a really good idea," JJ said after they'd finished their meal and were making their way to the gym, all dressed in FBI sweat suits. "We should do things like this more, get out around kids. I think it's a great thing," to which the rest of the team agreed.

Morgan was to lead the self defense training with the other three agents roaming the gym, helping as needed. Morgan asked the students to break off into pairs and find a place on the numerous mats that covered the floor of the gym.

When they had all separated into pairs, Bethany told Evan she would try not to be too hard on him which Manny and Jared, next to them, found very amusing. One boy, it seemed, had no partner. He stood alone and looked around the gym. A few of the students snickered. He turned and seemed about to leave when Reid said, "No, don't go, I'll be your partner."

Julian Fitzgibbon's jaw dropped at Reid's offer to be his partner. Reid motioned for the boy to join him on the mat. A collective whisper could be heard among the other students and a few giggles from the girls. Jared whispered to Evan, "I hope your brother creams him." Once Julian had joined Reid on the mat, the profiler nodded for Morgan to begin the exercise.

Morgan began by explaining that these were self defense techniques, to be used for self defense and not for attempting to inflict injury on one another. Morgan then demonstrated a leg sweep on Emily. The students tried to copy his movements. Groans and laughter erupted from the kids as they attempted the feat. Julian performed a leg sweep on Reid and managed to bring him down. "That's very good; you've got good body mechanics Julian." The boy just stared at Reid.

Morgan continued showing the students various moves. Evan had some difficulty getting out of Bethany's headlock as he was reluctant to pull her hair, a requirement of the technique. Bethany, had no such qualms, as she performed the movement perfectly as evidenced by Evan's sharp intake of breath, followed by his release of her head when she pulled with all her strength on his brown locks. This brought laughter from Manny and Jared to their left and Shauna and Judy to their right.

Julian, it appeared was in the same predicament as Evan. He seemed reluctant to pull on Reid's hair. "It's okay to pull my hair Julian, it's part of the technique," Reid assured the boy but Julian looked back at Reid, fear showing in his green eyes. "What's the matter Julian, are you afraid," Reid asked. "I won't retaliate, I promise."

"It won't be like at home," Reid said suddenly and Julian's head snapped up, the fear back in his eyes, but this time, it was not the fear of being physically injured. It was the fear that someone had seen through his mask.

"W-what are you talking about?" The boy asked, tentatively.

"Well, you couldn't do that at home could you? Your father doesn't live with you, right?" Reid asked the boy as he sat down cross legged on the mat and patted it for the boy to sit down as well.

Julian looked around the room but then sat and nodded, "My parents are divorced."

Reid nodded, "Mine too."

"You've got an older brother, right; probably more than one." Reid told the boy.

The boy looked stunned, then lowered his head, "Three," he responded.

The other students were starting to whisper and point. What were Julian and Evan's brother doing, sitting cross legged on the mat and talking? Morgan said to a group, "Hey, hey, you guys concentrate on what you're doing. Don't worry about them, okay."

"Your Mom, she doesn't have any control over them does she?" Reid carried on. "She can't discipline them because they won't listen to her. They're bigger than she is and pretty physical, aren't they? She's afraid of them."

The boy continued to look amazed, "H-how did you…?"

"So, not to feel totally powerless," Reid continued, "Your Mom takes her frustrations out on the only person in the house smaller that she is, you. And you can't do anything about it at home, can you? You're trapped. But here, here you can show you're big and tough. Here there are kids smaller than you." The boy kept his head down and nodded.

"You try to feel big by making somebody else feel small. It doesn't last for long though, does it, and soon you're feeling miserable again."

Julian looked up at Reid, silent tears streaming down his face. Reid stood, pulling the boy to his feet. "Come on, let's get out of here." He put his arm around the teen and led him from the gym.

The other students whispered and pointed as the two left the gym. "Alright kids," Emily said, "Concentrate on your techniques and your partner. There's nothing to see."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Alright," Evan said jumping into Reid's SUV, "Dish. What was going on with you and Julian?"

"That's between me and Julian," and DCFS Reid thought but did not mention this to his brother.

"Oh come on, Spencer," his brother begged, "Everybody expects me to get the lowdown."

"Well, everybody will be disappointed."

"Spencer, this is Julian we're talking about, he's a creep."

Maybe, Spencer thought, but he had made arrangements to keep in touch with Julian to see if that changed.

"You're not gonna tell me are you." Reid shook his head. "What am I supposed to tell everybody?"

"To mind their own business," Reid suggested as he started his vehicle and drove off.