Reid's Gift To Himself – Chapter 4
A/N: This is for the CCOAC 17th Challenge – New Year's Resolution. PLEASE REVIEW … so I can improve this story before the deadline of 1/31/12. Thank you again, to those of you who review, and to those who are following my story.
*** Disclaimer: I own nothing related to Criminal Minds. This story is only for entertainment and for improving my writing skills. ***
December 24th
Rossi and Reid had been meeting secretly since December 15th. It wasn't surprising that the rest of the team never found out because they knew that Rossi usually did his own thing afterhours, as did Reid. Sure, sometimes they went for drinks with the party gang of Morgan, Garcia, Prentiss, and frequently even JJ joined them. It was only on big occasions or really, really, bad cases when Hotch, Rossi, and Reid attended.
The first night Reid went to Rossi's house was a little uncomfortable, as expected. It was 8:00 pm exactly when Reid knocked on Rossi's door. Rossi led Reid into the living room and offered him a drink. Reid usually didn't drink a lot, but he felt he needed a little something to help him relax. It was a very cold night, and Rossi's home was cozy, comfy, and beautiful. The warmth radiating from the fireplace added just the right touch.
As soon as they both had their drinks in-hand, they sat down on opposite couches and tried to relax in each other's company. Rossi suggested that tonight they just talk a little about themselves, nothing too deep, just enough to relate to each other better. It would make it easier for Rossi to work with Reid on such a personal matter. Rossi admitted to Reid that by now he knew everything that the team knew about Reid. The problem was that only Hotch really knew Rossi. Rossi did most of the talking, which was fine with Reid.
Rossi offered Reid something to eat because they were now on their second drinks. Rossi did not want Reid leaving drunk. He would never forgive himself if something happened to Reid on his drive home. Reid thoroughly enjoyed Rossi's gourmet home-cooked food. Eating together meant a lot to Rossi. It put his mind, and his nerves to rest. Not many people still believe in the power of breaking bread together, and the trust that it symbolizes. The further Rossi talked about himself as a person, his beliefs, and his convictions in life, Reid was amazed that with the type of work Rossi did, that Rossi really was a Real-live Old-World Italian-American, a man living out of his time.
When Reid talked about himself as a person, his beliefs, and his convictions in life, Rossi was amazed that with the type of work that Reid did, what Reid really was. He was not just a Genius with an IQ of 187 and an eidetic memory. He was much more than that. As Rossi continued listening closely to Reid, the eldest daughter of Rossi's oldest friend came to mind. She was the only person Rossi had met who had Asperger's Syndrome. Rossi had researched everything available at that time about Asperger's. They called themselves Aspies. They enjoyed their minds and cared very little about the so-called normal society's nonsense. She was so uniquely out of touch with the world, and yet completely self-sustained in her beliefs of honour, integrity, and her virtually unbreachable convictions in life. Rossi was convinced that Reid was an Aspie. Rossi wondered if Reid even knew that's what he was. Rossi chose not to mention it that first night, but he would soon speak with Reid about it. Rossi's research had revealed that the people who had Asperger's Syndrome overwhelmingly welcomed that diagnosis. It comforted them that they were in fact not crazy, or going crazy. Both scientifically, and physiologically, scientists and doctors had proven that the brain of an Aspie was different from all other brains. It was not a mental health issue. They were not people with Mental Retardation, nor were they Autistic. They were something else entirely. Aspies were unique, extremely so. Every Aspie was originally different from all other Aspies. It was very fascinating to read about them. Rossi was going to look up the latest research over the weekend. They were the something 'much more', just like Reid. Underneath all of Reid's spouted statistics, and total recall of immense knowledge, laid the heart of a True-Life Renaissance Man, another man living completely out of his time. An Aspie!
Neither Rossi nor Reid were aware, at that moment, that their conversation had sealed their new friendship and had begun an unbreakable bond between them. That first evening ended early with the new plan of meeting every Wednesday night for the next weeks, at least. Rossi promised that he would start talking seriously about his problem when they met at his house next week.
The second night they met at Rossi's house was during the week of Christmas. Reid showed up on time, and they had a glass of wine as they sat in Rossi's living room. Not even ten minutes had passed before Rossi said, "Ok, Reid. I'm just going to say this … I've met so many people in my lifetime. I've been married three times. I've worked with many groups of people. Yet in all this time, I've only ever truly felt 100% comfortable with five people, other than my family. My ex-wives are NOT counted amongs those five people. Until very recently, that number had been four people, and they had all died many years ago. It's not that I'm lonely for company. I still meet and date various beautiful women. I attend formal dinners and events with people that I know socially. I've reached the age when I had always thought I would have true die-hard friends to talk from the heart with, to console, and to be consoled. That's the kind of friend that I always was … when they were alive." Rossi finally took a break, closed his eyes, and a few deep breaths. He opened his eyes, and smiled gently and sadly at Reid.
As soon as Rossi opened his eyes, Reid said, "Wow! That's almost how I've always felt. If I would ever have had even one true friend, that's the kind of friend I would have been, too. The team always feels sorry for me because they think that I'm lonely. But I'm not. I'm just alone. I wouldn't mind having a true friend … but … I … I don't know how … um …" Reid just sort of ran out of words, and steam. Then he tilted his head and said, "Wait a minute. You said you recently found one true friend, so you're not alone anymore, right?" Reid asked, confused.
"Reid, I was talking about you. That is, if you would like to be my one true friend. Or as the kids say, my BFF?" Rossi smiled and waited for Reid to understand what he had just said.
Reid's eyes popped open almost as wide as his mouth fell open. "Really, Rossi? You think of me as your one true friend? How? Since when? I mean …" Reid started babbling on.
Rossi cut him short, and said, "Yes. Definitely. I don't really know. Since we talked last week. See, we're becoming a little alike already. I answered your four questions in order, just like you do to people." Rossi and Reid both laughed. Rossi continued, "Believe me, I'm almost as surprised as you are. I'm not mistaken. Deep inside both of us, is the same soul. We look and act completely differently. We didn't know before because we've never spoken to each other from our hearts as opposed to our outward personas. But when we talked last week, I saw myself in you. It's been years, many years since I've felt I had true friends to keep me company through life. I feel that with you. Don't get me wrong, I'm not talking about sex, gayness, or physical love. I'm talking about best friendship. Do anything for the othership. Do you understand me?"
"Rossi, there is no such word as othership. But I do understand you. I've thought a lot about what we talked about last week. I would never have known who you really are inside. I'm so glad we talked. I'm so glad you want to be my friend … and that you want me to be yours. Without either of us having to pretend to be something we really are not." Reid finished, grinning.
Rossi raised his glass, and Reid raised his. "A Toast! To Othership!" Rossi exclaimed.
"To Othership!" Reid said, as he clinked his glass to Rossi's.
"You know Reid, I love when the Fates smile upon me. I never expected to find a true friend again. That wasn't even what I wanted you to help me with." Rossi said.
"But, you wrote on page one about wanting some friends in your day-to-day life, not just memories of those who have passed away." Reid questioned, a little confused.
"That's exactly right, Reid. I'm not foolish enough to think that you and I can hang out every day, and do everything together. There's too wide of an age gap between us, but that doesn't stop you and I from still being BFF's. We will always be able to talk heart-to-heart, man-to-man to each other. We'll be able to never ever feel that we are alone in this world. Nor will we ever feel that we are 'only being tolerated occasionally' by others. We can have great in depth discussions about anything and everything whenever we feel the need to do so. We can always completely drop our facades with each other. That kind of Othership is what keeps your soul from ever feeling alone in this wide universe. That's how I've been feeling for the past week. I'm not alone anymore, and neither are you! Have you felt any different this past week?" Rossi asked.
"Yes! I have thought a lot about it, wishing we were friends. I wasn't sure if we would ever have any more serious conversations, but I was hoping. Thank you, Rossi. Yes! We are now officially BFF's!" Reid giggled as he raised his glass and Rossi clinked it with his glass.
Rossi put his glass down and said, "So, as I was trying to explain … I want to be more involved with the team. I want to try and have fun with them, like they do with each other. Again, I'm not saying that this old man wants to run around like he's a young kid or anything. I just want to be friendlier with the team, socially. I want them not to stiffen up when I talk to them. I know I can be very intimidating, even when I'm not trying to be. So to sum up my resolution in one sentence, per the instructions in Garcia's book: 'I want the team to have more fun around me, and not stiffen up so much.' How's that sound? Do you think you can help me figure out how to do this?" Rossi asked.
Reid looked at Rossi, and said, "Well, Rossi … I'm not really good at chit chat. Um … er … Maybe I should tell you what my personal resolution is. Maybe you can help me too? Uh … " Reid again faltered. He felt fine about it because he was only talking to his best friend, who fully accepted him as he was. This was a very interesting experience for Reid.
"Just do what I did, Reid. Put it in one sentence, as best as you can." Rossi said, encouragingly.
"Ok." Reid said, "So, to sum up my resolution in one sentence, per the instructions in Garcia's book: 'To spend at least 1 hour every day not analyzing, or theorizing, or critically thinking about anything!' I've been planning and detailing how to go about it since November." Reid said, as he watched for Rossi's reaction.
"I think we can really help each other with our resolutions. Believe it or not, I spend the majority of my day keeping YOUR resolution." Rossi said, as they both laughed and finished their drinks.
They chatted for about another hour. They both felt good knowing that they each would always have a friend to help them, privately. Rossi asked Reid what he was doing for Christmas, if he was going to Las Vegas to see his mother. Reid explained quickly how he and his mother didn't celebrated Christmas, and he was just going to stay home, alone. Reid wasn't looking forward to the usual end of year badgering he always got from the team. He hoped this year that they would just let him be. He'd rather stay home because he never felt truly comfortable with them. He loved them, and did believe that they cared for him, but he never felt he fitted in well. He couldn't just relax like they did.
Rossi took this new info in and thought for a few moments. He asked, "Reid, last week and tonight, have you felt truly comfortable here in my home?"
"That's what so surprised me. I feel very comfortable here. I can't even explain it, I just do." Reid said.
"See Kid, you're helping me already. When I get to work tomorrow, I'm going to invite the team here for a Christmas Eve brunch/lunch/party, whatever they want … for as many hours as they want. Do you think they'll come?" Rossi asked, hopefully.
"Christmas Eve is only two days away. Is that enough time to plan and prepare everything? They consume a whole lot of food and liquor when they get together. Is there enough time?" Reid started worrying for Rossi's sake.
"Reid, I have almost as much money as God. Everything, even the toothpicks, is just one phone call away. I'm a top client of a fabulous caterer. There's no such thing as 'last minute' when I call them. Do you think the team will come? Eating and drinking might help them be less stiff around me. I am an excellent host. I learned everything from my mother, her mother, and even her mother. I love to entertain. It relaxes me, and I'm thinking that if I'm relaxed, and they eat and drink, then they will relax. Do you think they'd all come?" Rossi asked again.
"To tell you the truth, Rossi, I think they'd drop EVERYTHING, and everyone, just to have the chance to even enter your home. I won't name names, or anything, but … they do discuss you a lot. Not Hotch, of course, he knows you better than the rest of the team. Sometimes they speculate about your home and your cars, and your money, and your high-society entourage. It's never mean, what they say. It's more like the public's fascination with the Rich and Glamorous. Even Morgan, if you can believe it. If you invite them tomorrow, I'm sure they will all come. I know I will." Reid finished, feeling very positive.
It was really getting late but the roads were clear and dry, and Reid had only had one glass of mild wine. That was the only reason Rossi let him drive home that night.
The Christmas Eve brunch/lunch/party was a smash! It started at 10:00 am and everybody stayed at Rossi's house until 9:30 pm. Rossi's caterers did everything, but everything had an elegant, yet very casual appearance. Rossi did not want any servers there. He thought that would seem a bit stiff and uppity to his team. So, everything was laid out buffet-style, elegantly, yet casual. There were wonderful stations of exquisite munchables in the kitchen, the dining room and the grand family room, along with bottled waters, beers, wines, and liquors … all high quality, of course!
Once the team had all arrived, Rossi had gathered them together. He gave them a tour of his extensive home. As he showed them around room after room of his personal keepsakes and artworks, Rossi shared his deep appreciation of his beloved treasures. He explained the comfort that he got from them. It wasn't their value that mattered to Rossi. It was the old-world artistry that he appreciated, and thoroughly respected.
That night, each of the team (including Hotch) felt a lot closer to understanding the man they knew as Rossi. They were surprised how much they learned about him after spending just one day in his home. The man they spent time with today, was the same man that they worked with almost every day. How many times had they all heard the phrase 'don't judge a book by it's cover', and yet that is exactly what they had done. Not just to Rossi, but to each other and everyone that they knew.
Personal resolutions were very much on each teammate's mind as they each went to sleep, on the night of Christmas Eve.
A/N – Sorry about that, I said this chapter would be December 31st, but I couldn't completely skip over Christmas Eve. Garcia would never have allowed that. Next chapter is definitely the 31st. Please send reviews (long or short) and tell me something. You are the readers. Your opinions count a lot.