Okay so here we go! Chapters 7 & 8. I must apologize these two chapters are fairly short.
Thanks: cristina reid, sweeteetwo, jenny crum, ClearlyClouded, spency, Herky Illiniwek, reelingthoughts, ValeHeart, angel, Angie
CWC: 788
Chapter 7: Unacceptable behavior
~TWO WEEKS LATER~
Over the next couple of weeks the team; Morgan in particular, noticed a change within Reid. He's been showing up to work late, which was clearly unlike him, bags under his eyes as if he hadn't slept, and snapped at anyone and everyone. Hotch knew it was time to have a talk with him. Hotch stepped out of his office.
"Reid?"
Reid turned to Hotch and glared, "What?" he said harshly.
Hotch saw how Morgan and Greenway flinched. He fixed Reid with his stern face.
"My office. Now."
Reid sighed. He put his file down and followed Hotch into his office.
"What was that?" Greenway asked.
Morgan shrugged.
{~CM~}
"Have a seat, Reid."
Reid sat and Hotch starred at him and crossed his arms.
"Reid, what is going on with you?"
Reid plastered on a fake smile, "Nothing, I'm fine."
Hotch shook his head, "Reid, you are far from being fine. Your behavior these past couple of weeks is an indication of that."
Reid crossed his arms over his chest and stared at Hotch.
"Look, I'm not profiling you, Reid. I'm just going by what I've seen. I understand that all of this is probably still a bit new to you and you may be having a hard time adjusting, but this behavior is unacceptable."
Reid wanted to yell at Hotch. Tell him to mind his business. He also wanted to tell Hotch about what Gideon's been doing to him, but he held his tongue. He nodded his head.
"Good. You, my door is always open if you want to talk."
{~CM~}
Morgan and Greenway constantly watched Hotch's office.
"What do you think they're talking about?" Greenway asked.
Morgan shrugged just as JJ and Garcia walked by.
"Hey stud muffin," Garcia said addressing Morgan, "What's up?"
Morgan nodded toward Hotch's office. Both Garcia and JJ were confused.
"Reid's in Hotch's office," Greenway explained.
"How come?" JJ asked.
Morgan and Greenway shrugged.
{~CM~}
"I appreciate it Hotch, but like I said, I'm fine."
Hotch sighed. He wanted to help, to support their newest and youngest member. The old adage of you can't help someone not willing to receive it was coming back to bite him. Keeping an eye on the young profiler would be all he could do. Maybe one of the others could help Reid in a way he couldn't.
After a minute he nodded, "Still, I'd like you to take a couple of days off. Maybe this will allow you to clear your head and deal with whatever the problem is that you're not telling me."
Reid looked at him with wide eyes and was about to speak when Hotch cut him off shaking his head.
"I'm not firing you, Reid. I'm merely ordering you to just take a few personal days."
Reid sighed and nodded once more.
{~CM~}
"I'll bet anything it has to do with his behavior," Greenway said. "I mean this kid's been actually snapping at people."
Everyone looked up as Hotch's door opened and then quickly looked away and pretended to be busy. Reid walked over to his desk and gifted them with a small smile before gathering his things.
"Where're you going, Reid?" Garcia asked.
"Hotch is giving me a few days off. Give me some time to clear my head," Reid explained. He wants to know, I want to tell…, but how do you tell someone about this? He thought.
"Need a ride?" Morgan offered.
Reid shook his head, "No, thanks."
Morgan nodded and watched as Reid walked out of the bullpen. If anyone asked he'd never tell them how he was fixated on the genius' ass.
{~CM~}
Spencer climbed onto the bus and after paying took his seat close to the front. He leaned back in his seat and let out a low sigh. Thinking about his behavior this week, he realized that he might have been a little too harsh to some people. He knew though he couldn't risk a slip of the mouth. He'd love nothing more than to tell Hotch or even Morgan about what's been going on with him, but he couldn't. Gideon swore that if he told then he'd hurt his mother and possibly kill him. He shook his head slightly, he couldn't risk it.
Getting off at his stop, he walked the few blocks to his apartment. Upon entering, he tossed everything on the coffee table in the living room and plopped on the couch. He glanced toward his bedroom thinking it would do him good to take a nap, but the minute he glanced at his bedroom, he remembered what had transpired with Gideon just a few days before. He decided to sleep on the couch.
TBC...
spency:
hehe thanks. And don't worry Gideon will get his just desserts I promise you.
angel:
Yes, don't worry Morgan will find out eventually and Gideon will pay dearly
Angie:
Thanks