Discerning

A Criminal Minds Story

Dr. Spencer Reid was having a good day. As he headed up the few stairs to the upper level of the bullpen, he noted the joyful atmosphere around him. Agents and profilers chatted happily while they prepared their bags to go home as it was the end of the work day. One of the few where they would actually get to leave at a decent hour.

Reid hoped it stayed that way.

Because as of today, the BAU alpha team was officially back in action and ready to find and put away the evils of the world. The team had been on stand down since there last case three weeks ago. Their latest Unsub had put three of their own in the hospital, nearly decimating the entire team.

But today everybody was back.

Sure one was still wasn't cleared for duty and really should be at home still.

And another wasn't cleared for active duty yet.

But they were all there and ready to get back to work and that was something good. That made today a good day. Reid smiled slightly as he passed by Rossi's office. The older profiler was snoring peacefully at his desk, his injured leg propped up on the chair beside him. His crutches were leaning against the desk.

Reid figured it wasn't the most comfortable positions, but he was glad the old man was getting some sleep.

Rossi technically shouldn't be back for another week and two days, according to the medical reports, but he showed up two days ago claiming to be going mad. And as Reid attempted to tell him of the statistics of being house-ridden and the certain chemicals the body releases that cause the idea of going mad, Rossi didn't even quiet him.

Actually he ran right over to Reid grabbed his arms and yelled, "I've missed you too."

Reid didn't totally understand so he just smiled.

Leaving the snoring Rossi alone, Reid continued towards his actually destination. Reaching the closed office door he knocked three times and waited for the response. Hotch was a force to be avoided the last couple of weeks. He was extremely stressed after having to deal with Strauss and those above her, but today he had seemed to be in a better mood. A happier one.

"Come in, Reid," Reid smiled happily as he stepped inside his boss's office.

"How did you know?"

"You always knock three times," Hotch offered, Reid squished his eyebrows in contemplation, but nodded as he accepted the answer, "What do you need?"

"Well I've finished with my paperwork and its after five, so I –," Reid paused sheepishly, "Can I leave?"

Hotch didn't look up from his own stack of paperwork as he asked, "Hot date?"

"No, no… I just thought I'd I would get home early, read a few books…," Reid stammered, but at Hotch's knowing glare, he sighed, "Okay, I'm working on my physics magic. I think I can get more distance this time if I add just a little more of the…"

"You can go Reid," Hotch stopped him, Reid nodded and turned back towards the door, "Hey Reid. Get JJ to go home too, will you?"

Reid nodded and shut the door behind him. Back tracking, he passed Rossi's office again only to find that he was no longer there. Shrugging he continued towards JJ's office. He was only ten feet and few inches away when he heard the much missed sound of laughter emanating from his destination.

He neared the door cautiously as he peeked in to see all three of his female colleagues happily conversing with each other. It was a sight that he hadn't seen in a long time. Emily was sitting on the corner of JJ's desk, while Garcia occupied the lone chair across from it and JJ sat behind her 'organized chaos' of a workspace a bright smile lighting up her face.

Reid cleared his throat uneasily, taking a slight step back as the each stared accusingly at him. He felt like he had just entered into a top secret briefing that was need to know.

And he really didn't need to know.

Or want to.

"What's up, Reid?" Emily asked him. She had received several stitches from her grazed wound to head and was just cleared for work a week and four days ago. She told them that she felt perfectly fine, but Reid knew it still hurt. When she ran her fingers through her hair, she was especially careful around the tender area and she winced often. Reid figured it stung every once and a while.

But she looked better.

And she was okay.

For that Reid was thankful.

"You alright, Boy Genius…," Garcia's eyes twinkled at him from behind her aqua colored glasses. She looked and acted like herself today. Reid figured it was because she finally had her both her Gumdrop and Vanilla Cupcake back. Everything that had happened three weeks ago had taken a toll on their technical analyst, she had been on edge and highly stressed. Probably didn't help that she had temporarily been assigned to help another team full time.

But today, today she was Garcia.

And Reid was glad that she was back too.

"Um, Hotch asked me to tell you to go home," Reid added directing his comment towards JJ.

"Okay, we were just about to leave," JJ smiled.

Today was JJ's first day back. She wouldn't be going into the field for another two weeks, but she would accompany the team and do what she normally does. But completely restricted to the station or wherever they were set up. Her chest still hurt her along with her ribs. Laughing was a bother and sometimes she felt out a breath just walking to and from. They had come the closest to losing her and Reid wasn't sure what the team would be like now if they had. For a moment, he really thought she would die. After all the statistics were not in her favor, and she probably shouldn't have survived.

But she did.

She beat the odds.

She's been doing that a lot lately.

"Yes we are," Garcia happily added as Prentiss hopped off of the desk.

"Hey Spence," JJ stopped the retreating agent, "We're going to get something to eat. Do you want to come?"

Spencer looked at the three women for a moment and nodded, "Good, will you go get Morgan too. Make him get out of his office."

Once again Reid was on another mission as he scampered down the stairs passed his desk and towards Morgan's office. It was only him and Emily in the bullpen now, which Reid found wasn't quite fair. Then again, he didn't really know what he would do if he had his own office. It wouldn't benefit him in anyway.

It sure wasn't helping Morgan.

Morgan had holed himself up into his office every day since the last case. He only came out for team meetings and when it was time to go. Other than that, no one heard from him unless they had made the trek to his office themselves. It was getting kind of ridiculous.

As he reached the door, Reid knocked three times, but this time he didn't wait for the response and just walked in, "Hey Kid, what's up?"

"We are all going out for dinner and I was sent to come get you," Reid told him in a voice he hope conveyed authority.

"No thanks, I still have work to do," Morgan replied as he returned to the file on his desk.

"Liar. You're feeling guilty."

Morgan looked up incredulously, "No offense Reid, but you don't know what I feel."

"I think I do. You're still feeling guilty about JJ."

Morgan's defiant expression faltered as he sighed, "It's just she shouldn't have…,"

"Shouldn't have saved your life," Reid nearly shouted, "Morgan, she is an agent and a member of this team. She did what she had to do and because of it you're still here. And so is she. You haven't even said a single hello to her since she got back. She doesn't deserve that. So get over your lowly, self-loathing attitude and come with us."

"I didn't mean," Morgan started, but didn't continue as he nodded his head and stood from his chair, "I'll be out in a minute."

"Good," Reid smiled triumphantly as he made his way back to the center of the BAU.

"Hey Reid, we're about to leave," He heard Emily call out from by the glass doors, Reid told them he'd be right there as he rushed over to his desk. Only to stop at the sight of the unfamiliar object that was currently resting on top of it. Reid audibly groaned in frustration as he grabbed his book out from underneath the object and his messenger back from his chair and hurried off towards his team, his family who had gathered by the elevators.

"Not funny guys," Reid told them with an annoyed breath.

"Oh, but it is Young One," Garcia chuckled happily.

"I really don't have one," Reid continued as they piled into the elevator.

"You can't keep denying it Pretty Boy," Morgan offered patting the younger man's back.

"But I really don't," Reid tried.

"Sure you don't," Rossi added lazily, as the doors started to close. Reid continued to protest as he took one last look at the object that was left on his desk. It's sparkly purple tail and mane shone against the lamplight along with its swirly rainbow horn that protruded from its plastic head.

And just before the elevator carrying the BAU elite descended, a desperate plea was heard,

"I really don't have a fascination with Unicorns."

The End.

I want to thank all of you who have stuck with this story. It really means a lot. Thank you for your reviews and for reading. I've really enjoyed writing it and I hope you enjoyed reading it. But if not, that's okay. So to all of the Criminal Minds lovers out there...

Thanks!

-HCB