Reid's Gift To Himself – Chapter 6
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. ***
January 1st
At the stroke of midnight, Reid set his alarm clock and went to bed. He was glad he didn't have to go to work on New Year's Day. Reid alternated deep inhalations and slow exhalations as he mantra'd himself to sleep repeating: I can do this … It will work … I can do this … It will work …
At 7:30 am, Reid hit the 10-minute snooze button on his alarm clock and smiled. He was surprised that he had slept peacefully for 7 ½ hours. Most nights, he only slept a few hours at a time. Every morning, Reid usually got up as soon as he woke up, but not today. This was the first day of the rest of his new life. There were changes that had been agreed upon, and therefore would be implemented starting today.
Reid's resolution plan included quite a few tricks to aide him. Trick #1: Do not jump right out of bed unless there's an emergency. So he lay there just watching the sunlight filter through his window. Trick #2: What would so-and-so be doing right now? Reid chose to think about JJ. He often saw her just relaxing and smiling at one thing, or another. She often looked so content and peaceful. Reid never asked her what she was thinking about. Now he was glad that he didn't know, because he would have analyzed the shit out of it. He smiled and just kept picturing those peaceful JJ moments in his mind's eye.
When the snooze alarm went off, Reid got out of bed. He grabbed his new notebook and pen from the nightstand, and headed to the kitchen for coffee. Once he got the coffee started, Reid sat down at the table and opened the notebook to the first page and wrote: January 1st - 7:30 am to 7:40 am – lay in bed watching the sunlight and remembering JJ moments. It was nice. I feel good. Reid closed his notebook. Then he took his notebook, pen, and coffee into the living room.
Trick #3: Place quick calls on the phone. Reid was no good at common social chitchat, but everyone else sure was. Reid realized that he could use that to his advantage working towards his resolution. It was definitely less embarrassing than trying to physically approach someone for nonsense conversations. It was easier to hide any pained expressions from their view. Reid just had to keep them on the phone talking about themselves for about 5 minutes, more or less. His team talked almost constantly to each other, and most of it was idle chitchat of which he never joined in, because he didn't know how. Reid was never ready with spontaneous personal thoughts to share. All he ever had ready on the tip of his tongue were facts and statistics.
Reid wanted to start with Morgan first, but it was way too early for Morgan to be up after a big night out and no work today. Reid thought about calling Hotch. He went home early last night. He had little Jack to be up early with on his day off. Ok. Take a few deep breathes and try to relax a little. Alright, just a few more deep breathes.
Hotch was concerned when he picked up his phone and saw Reid's name displayed. He knew that the team had stayed out late drinking and dancing. He hoped they hadn't been driving drunk. He did not want to hear that his team was injured, or in trouble. Hotch answered his phone, "Reid?"
"Good Morning, Hotch. I hope I'm not disturbing you too much." Reid replied, secretly grimacing and hoping that he really wasn't disturbing Hotch too much.
"Reid, is everything all right? Are you ok?" Hotch asked, sounding very concerned and distressed.
Reid was glad that Hotch didn't sound angry, but now he was sorry that Hotch was distressed. "Oh! No! I'm fine. Everything's OK. I didn't mean to cause you any worry. I'm sorry." Reid started sputtering, as he usually did when he was worried, or embarrassed.
"Reid, calm down. It's OK. It's just that you usually don't call me outside of work. I thought something bad might have happened. I'm glad you're OK." Hotch said. Then he chuckled and said, "And, by the way, Happy New Year's, Reid!"
"Thanks! Happy New Year's to you, too. In fact, that's the reason that I called you, to wish you a Happy New Year's." Reid replied. He felt a little more relaxed.
"Well, this is a first! You've never done this before, at least not with me." Hotch said, smiling into the phone. He was proud of Reid for taking such a big social step.
"I know. I've never done this with anyone other than my Mom. I don't really understand calling people without having something specific to discuss …" Reid faltered a little at the end. Thinking this wasn't going well anymore because he didn't have anything else ready to say to Hotch.
"Reid! You're doing great. Don't give up on our conversation, yet. It's my turn to come up with something to say … OK? … Can we keep talking?" Hotch asked, gently.
"Yeah, Hotch. Thanks a lot. But I've got to tell you … I used up my Happy New Year's greeting … now I don't know what else to say … to you … right now …" Reid rambled on.
"Reid, you're saying it. You're doing it. You call someone and say what you want to say to them. Then they say what they want to say to you. And if you have nothing else to say … then you tell them, "That's all I really called to say." Then it's their turn again. They'll either have something else to tell you, or ask you. If they don't, then they'll say something like, "OK, thanks for calling. Talk to you later." Then you say, "OK, goodbye." And that's the end of a social chitchat conversation, be it by phone or in person. So, tell me: Have I helped you, or confused you?" Hotch asked. He really was enjoying talking to Reid, socially and helpfully. No real analyzing, just relating from one person to another. He really hoped Reid was beginning to understand what was happening.
"Really? That's it? This is all it consists of? Those are the only rules to social chitchatting?" Reid asked. He was absolutely dumbfounded. Being a genius, he was not used to being dumbfounded. He didn't think that he had ever been dumbfounded before. Maybe he'd felt taken aback once or twice, but never ever had he been dumbfounded. Reid laughed out loud, heartily.
Listening to Reid laugh, made Hotch laugh just as loudly. "Yes, Reid. That's it completely. You probably couldn't figure it out because it's so very simple. Or, as you might say, "It's an uneducated and inelegant solution to a major problem of yours." Hotch grinned, as he waited for Reid's next comment.
"I was just thinking that myself! It's so … so … simple! As much as I've been surrounded by it throughout my life, I always thought I was missing something that people were doing. I thought it might be in the approach of the initiator, or in the expectation of the recipient. But it's not, is it?" Reid asked, still sounding amazed at this golden nugget of knowledge.
"No, Reid. It isn't anything except what I told you." Hotch replied. They continued talking about how easy it was talking together. They chatted for a while.
"Reid, would you believe that we've been chatting for 40 minutes. This is the longest social conversation I've ever had with you in over seven years. I've enjoyed it. Have you?" Hotch asked.
"I have enjoyed it, Hotch. Thank you so much for helping me. I'm not used to asking for help, and that wasn't even why I called you. Though I now see in action what you said. How one statement or question can lead to a random response or a random answer … which in turn can start up another volley of chitchat. I can't believe that I've actually sat here simply chitchatting for 40 minutes, well 45 minutes now. I've never sat and done nothing for this long. I haven't even been analyzing what you've said. I'll try not to because I like how this worked out. I do understand that chitchat conversations won't always last this long with someone, and that they shouldn't have to. It's like rolling something down a slanted surface. When the speed dies down, it will stop. And that's all the analyzing I'm going to do with this." Reid said, sounding very upbeat and feeling proud of himself.
"And on that note, I'm going to say, "Well, thanks for calling, Reid. I've enjoyed chatting with you. Haley and I are taking Jack out early this afternoon. We've got a few things we have to do before then. So you take care, and I hope to talk to you again soon."… Now, what do you say to me?" Hotch queried, like an etiquette coach.
"I say, "I've enjoyed chatting with you, too … I hope you and your family have a great day … um … Talk to you later, goodbye." Reid said, laughing and sounding like an old pro at this.
"Goodbye, Reid." Hotch laughed and then disconnected the call.
Reid closed his phone and sat there on the sofa shaking his head and grinning from ear to ear. He was still surprised that a simple phone call that he thought wouldn't even last 5 minutes, ended up lasting 50 minutes. That plus the 10 minutes that he had lain in bed this morning had fulfilled his Daily One Hour Resolution. Wow!
Reid wasn't anticipating all future social chitchat conversations to last in the range of 50 minutes. He now understood why chitchat conversations lasted anywhere from as little as 30 seconds up to an hour, or more. Reid felt wonderful as he picked up his notebook and pen. He made his brief notations regarding his 50 minute phone call with Hotch. He wrote down word for word exactly how Hotch had explained the structure of social chitchat. Reid finished writing his resolution notes and then went and got dressed.
Reid decided that he wasn't going to place anymore calls today. Though he anticipated that they would work out well enough, he felt he should save everything else for tomorrow. That would be the real challenge: being outside and around people. Therefore, Reid planned to fully pay attention to Rossi today, and take notes. He didn't really need notes because of his eidetic memory, but he realized he could use his notebook as a prop. Carrying around his notebook would give him something to do with his hands other than to fidget or wedge them into his pockets. It would help him focus on the actual chitchat at hand and not let his embarrassment take over.
Rossi was very happy when he woke up this morning. He was very hungover, but still very happy. He'd had so much fun last night celebrating with his young teammates. Ever since the morning of his Christmas Brunch, his younger teammates almost couldn't leave him alone for a minute. His work days used to consist of only hard work. When a case wasn't being actively discussed, Rossi was alone in his office all day. The younger teammates never interrupted him. They bugged Hotch all day any time they had a question, or a problem. They would even interrupt Hotch just to chat, or to tell a quick joke.
Rossi knew all the pressures that Hotch was under at work and at home. He knew how serious a man Hotch was, just like him. Rossi even thought that Hotch's standard facial expressions put his to shame … talk about a stone face! It didn't matter to the team one bit. They were all over Hotch every day. Rossi was a proud man. He was raised not to show his weakness, to anyone. That was also why he had three ex-wives, no current girlfriend, and no friends … until very recently.
Every time Rossi thought about his new best friendship with Reid, he had to laugh. Who would ever have imagined they could be real friends. Reid was so young, chronologically and emotionally. He wasn't immature, that wasn't it. Basically, Reid had been ostracized his whole life. He had never been sincerely invited into other peoples lives, always left outside the world of friendship ... looking in with his nose pressed up against the windowpane.
When Rossi had first been introduced to Reid, he immediately did not to like him. It wasn't a conscious decision on Rossi's part, it was an automatic reaction to the young genius. Rossi was used to putting people in their place, and they usually had enough sense to stay there. The other young teammates understood from the start 'don't fuck with Rossi because he doesn't take any shit!' Reid was the only one who didn't get it. Reid didn't seem to understand any of the blatantly rude expressions, reactions, and comments that Rossi sent his way. Too much time had gone by before Rossi finally realized that his constant behavior towards the young genius was what had turned the other teammates dead set against Rossi. Even after Rossi became less cruel to Reid, it was too late. No matter how many times Rossi tried to interact with the young team, they rebuffed him … just short of being complete disrespectful of his seniority. By then, poor Reid had given up trying to make Rossi like him. Rossi had done a lot of things in his life that he wasn't very proud of, but he had never been ashamed of himself or any of his actions … until after he had been mistreating Reid. Though Reid was in his twenties, he was still an innocent, pure of heart, pure of mind. Reid deserved better from the world.
Hotch had remained silent on the issue during the first two weeks of Rossi's return to the BAU. He'd known Rossi for years, knew him to be a hard but honest man. Hotch also knew how very different this new younger team seemed to Rossi. Add onto that someone as uniquely different as Reid, and it automatically spelt disaster. No one thought Hotch had noticed the line that his team had drawn leaving Rossi the lone man on one side. Rossi himself hadn't even noticed it yet. Hotch knew it would be way too late before Rossi figured it out.
Hotch thought that Reid had been holding up pretty well against Rossi's cruel ways, but he was wrong. Over the years Reid had learned to pretend he didn't care and would shut himself off from the world that always hurt him. It had only been since joining the BAU that Reid finally began to blossom into himself. He was still nervous and inexperienced being around people, but he was beginning to feel he'd found a real family with his team. Reid was thought of as their little baby brother and the team swore they would move hell and earth to love and protect him, from everything and everyone.
By the end of Rossi's second week, Hotch had had enough. He needed Rossi on his team, but Hotch need and wanted Reid more. His team was falling apart watching Reid silently withdrawing away from them. Morgan was beginning to outwardly disrespect Rossi, just like Rossi had been treating Reid. JJ and Prentiss were caught evil-eying Rossi a couple of times. Garcia coming and complaining to Hotch was the final straw. If the situation was bad enough to make Garcia, of all people, break down and cry … then it had gone way too far.
Hotch hadn't been there when it happened, he had left early yesterday afternoon. Garcia told Hotch how the team had been working hard when suddenly Reid fell over in his chair. The outrageous laughter between Morgan, Prentiss, and a little bit of Reid's had drawn her and JJ out of the kitchen to see what was so funny.
They were standing in the bullpen as Morgan explained how he had been teasing Reid, and Reid reached over too far and fell out of his chair. All five of them were standing around laughing as Reid was just sitting on the floor beside his fallen chair, laughing and trying to pout at the same time, which only made everything even funnier. When suddenly Rossi slammed his door open, marched to the railing and shouted down, "What the hell is going on down there?" He didn't give anyone time to answer, he marched down the stairs, stormed over to Reid, stood over him and shouted at him, "Where do you think you are? Get the fuck off the floor, sit down, and get back to work." Then he turned and shouted at the rest of them, "All of you!" Then he marched back up to his office and slammed his door closed.
Garcia told Hotch that it took her, JJ and, Prentiss to restrain Morgan from going up there and kicking Rossi's ass. They had to physically drag Morgan to Garcia's office to calm him down. When she looked back at Reid sitting at his desk with his head down, she saw Reid wipe away his tears. Garcia knew better than to dare tell Morgan. She didn't even tell JJ and Prentiss because they were both ready to rip out Rossi's heart and his eyeballs. Garcia left JJ and Prentiss in her office calming Morgan down. She went back to Reid's desk and asked if he was alright. He wouldn't even look at her. Reid just kept his head down, and nodded quickly, but he wouldn't say a word. As Garcia walked away, her heart broke again when she heard Reid sniffling.
Reid never said another word for the rest of the day. He would just nod or just give them the information they needed. But he wouldn't speak, nor look anyone in the eye. He left immediately as soon as he finished his work. Reid didn't even say goodbye to anyone. Morgan tried to go after him, but Reid just shook his head and left.
That was what had brought Hotch to Rossi's office the next day. Hotch closed the blinds and sat down. He didn't bother telling Rossi that he knew what had happened. Rossi knew someone on the team had ratted him out. Rossi was adamantly going to stand his ground against what ever so-called chastising he thought Hotch was going to give him. Rossi was surprised when Hotch just sat there and began telling a long tragic story that started twenty-five years ago in Las Vegas. Hotch never named Reid by name. He didn't have to. Rossi paid close attention to everything Hotch said as he spoke of crisis followed by drama, then followed by crisis followed by drama, then over and over repeatedly.
By the time Hotch told Rossi what had happened yesterday, as part of the story, Rossi felt so ashamed of himself. He wouldn't let his eyes water, but tears did fall in Rossi's heart. It was Rossi who now hung his head and had nothing to say, knowing that nothing could ever justify how badly he had been treating young Reid. Hotch quietly got up, opened the blinds, and left Rossi's office without saying another word, just closing the door behind him.
Today was January 1st. The start of another brand new year. Time to make amends. Starting today, and every day, Rossi was going to give every ounce of help, hope, and encouragement to Reid. He finally got out of bed and got dressed. It was 9:00 am and he only had 2 hours to prepare for Reid, whom he knew would be ringing his bell at 11:00 am sharp.
A/N: I sort of got carried away in this chapter. It was supposed to be about humourous practice sessions with Rossi and Reid, but I felt I needed to put in some more back story right about now. I hope you liked it. Let me know. Next chapter will be up by or before this weekend. I'm running out of time … the January 31st deadline is right round the corner. Help Me!