When Reid came to he groaned at the bright lights of the ER. He felt extremely thirsty as he slowly opened his eyes. JJ sitting next to him holding his hand. She was asleep as it seemed late. He slowly moved his head feeling extremely sluggish as flashing of what happened appearing in his minds eye. He saw his entire team was there all but Hotch dozing as he gasped out.
" Hotch.."
Aaron jerked his head up at the sound as the others jerked awake at the sudden noise. Hotch was on his feet and by the bed with the others in a flash.
" Damn it Spence you scared us" JJ's voice cutting off what ever Hotch was going to say. Spencer looked at her and flashed a very tired smile as he closed his eyes and squeezed her hand.
" Sorry…I saw Henry and Jack in the kid I couldn't let him die." He rasped as JJ choked back a sob and kissed his still cool hand as she understood.
" What happened…why am in the hospital? Did I pass out at the bridge?" he asked as he looked very confused and so very tired.
" You don't remember the police station and the ride back?" Rossi asked from the foot of the bed and Spencer looked like he was trying to remember.
" I smelt ozone" he said softly almost absentmindedly as he closed his eyes again and when he didn't open them again they sighed and went back to sitting.
Morgan rubbed a hand over his face as he looked towards Hotch and Rossi. " Look I am just going to say it…but what is going to happen when the Director's find out about this?" he looked rather worried.
" We are just going to have to see this is not something that I ever even imagined being part of." He said and looked back where Reid lay.
Days later the entire team walked into the New Orleans FBI office. They received a few looks but no one spoke to them as they were led to the elevators and taken up to the top floor. The elevator opened into a grand office that looked over the city. Reid was behind everyone, his eyes looking to his converse Chuck Taylors as they all were shown out. As soon as he was clear of the door his head snapped up and to the right to the man who sat in the dark corner nearest the elevator and froze.
No one else seemed to notice him as they walked in. The man was already looking at him. His dark eyes running down his body very slowly as Reid felt like he was being profiled. A shiver running down his spine as the man tilted his head and lowered it ever so slowly. His hands clasped right under his chin. His body relaxed, legs crossed at the knees. Elbows propped on the chair arms his body angled towards the directors desk. A well dressed man in his mid to late 60's if he were to guess. He clearly worked for the government, it was a look after all. This man however was powerful and he did not hide that fact to him.
" Dr. Reid"
The sudden call of his name making him jump, head turning towards who called it as it was the director of the CIA. Spencer flushed but he could not help but glanced back at the man in the very well designed and tailored charcoal gray suit before turning his attention fully back to the other man addressing him as he stepped forward.
" Sir?" His voice a bit off still after the power surge.
The entire team had turned to look back at him when Reid had not followed them all the way in and then they noticed the man that Reid was looking at with wide fear laden eyes before glancing at each other.
The three Directors all sitting at the desk. Moss, Flynt and Carbinoa. FBI, CIA and NSA respectively were looking to Reid with critical eyes. Moss speaking first.
" We were informed that two days ago Dr. Reid that you and your team were responsible for the death of a man by the name of Renki Jacobs, is this correct?" he asked and motioned for them all to sit. Reid however did not sit as he was gripping his bag tight, he always had his bag.
He nodded.
" Yes sir, Mr. Jacobs had kidnapped four year old Kevin Nixon from his own front yard" he stated. Hotch and the team speaking up in turn giving all of the info as the directors looked to them and took notes.
" And how did you come to figure out that it was Jacobs?" Carbinoa asked as he looked to him.
" He used the fake name of Joel Leaman" he explained what that meant exactly as the directors nodded.
" This is the first incident with your powers?" Moss asked and Reid frowned and rose a brow at the sudden change in questioning.
" I…Umm…"
" No" Hotch stated firmly as he looked to Reid who looked at him hurt flashing across his eyes but he lowered his eyes back to the floor and swallowed.
" I…do not use my powers on cases…but…I cant…" He frowned.
" I could not let that child die…" he said softly. And the room was silent for a moment. The man from the back corner speaking making everyone turned to him. Reid however did not as he eyes closed.
" It is because Dr. Reid is ungrounded…he will act more impulsively…more dangerously to do what he feels is the right thing to do." His deep southern gentleman accent smooth like butter as if he walked right out of Gone with the Wind, hell he almost looked like Clark Gable. The man stood and walked towards Spencer, Spencer turning to face him and had to crane his head back as the man was about 6'6 and looked down at him critically. He then moved around the team to the desk and looked out of the window for a moment before he looked back to them.
" Magic wielders…real wielders are rare…even rarer in the government…for obvious reasons." He said and Reid tensed. Moss frowned and looked to the BAU team.
" Dr. Reid,how long have you had these powers for?" he asked and Reid looked confused.
" I have always had them…" he said as he shrugged slightly.
" I have never been without them for as long as I can remember" he said and he cold remember a long ways back.
" We will need to test you Dr. Reid…it is important to know what type of wielder you are…" Dr. Fielding stated and the directors agreed.
" Types?" Rossi asked and the older man glanced at him and nodded.
" There are several types…they range from being able to sense danger to" he motioned to Reid.
" Full elemental control".
Reid flushed.
" I don't have a specific field I use…I…just do things" he said as Reginald rose a brow slightly. The three directors looking at him for explanation.
" Many elementals have raw power that can be used to do everyday task, much like you see in movies such as Star wars or some teen age witch movie." He stated and frowned that it had to be described like that. Hotch listened quietly, all of the magic talk sending a slight chill through him, his attention however going to Reid who looked like he had just shivered. He felt a desire to get closer to the younger agent as he was his responsibility. The directors making a few notes.
" Dr. Reid…you are lucky that Agent Connel is a healer…going ungrounded…how do you rid yourself of the pent up energy?" he asked as Reid flushed and fidgeted with his bag strap looking at the older man.
" I…um…cast a circle when it gets bad" he stated softly as the other man frowned clearly displeased. Hotch frowned at how it sounded that Reid was suffering from this power.
" And what do you suggest Dr. Fielding?" All three directors looking at him. He however was looking at Reid then the team.
" I think Dr. Reid should be taken off the field until he finds a proper grounder" he said firmly as Reid's eyes widened.
" But…but I'm fine…really" Reid suddenly pleaded but Dr. Fielding shook his head.
" I am sorry but it is my job to make sure that any wielder under government employment is properly grounded and is safe to work with. You think you can control it Dr. Reid but your body can not" he said firmly.
"Being a wielder is not just some game…some rituals you do every so often to relieve the ever burning itch of not having a grounder. " The older man said as he placed his hands behind his back again and slowly walked around the young agent and his team.
" Finding a grounder is going to be the issue….they are not just floating around…some one has to be compatible."
" Compatible Dr. Fielding?" Director Moss asked and the older man turned to him.
" Yes…you see magic is very…shall we stay…unpredictable when it is built up like that. A grounder has to be the right source of conduit for the energy to flow. Ying Yang" he said and the directors seemed to understand.
" What can be done to help him?" This time it was Hotch who spoke out. Spencer looked at his boss and then back to the older doctor. Fielding gave a slight chuckle.
" Training…physical…mental…training."
There was a slight snort from Morgan as Spencer groaned softly.
" What if I found a grounder?" Spencer asked the man and Fielding turned to him.
" If and when you find them…you still have to have training…except this time you have a partner to suffer with you son"
He looked to his pocket watch. The southern gentleman's accent was not fake…and Spencer could tell. This man was not at all what he seemed and he found himself drawn to him.
" I cant just leave my team" he said but Flynt from the CIA spoke up.
" Your position will be suspended upon further notice. You will maintain the same salary but for training. He explained and Spencer nodded.
" Yes Sir" his voice soft. He felt terrified that people knew what he was. His team would hate him eventually for this.
"Can someone volunteer to be a grounder?" Hotch asked and Fielding slowly turned to him.
" A grounder is some one who channels magic and uses it to protect the Wielder while in action…a person has to be of magic to be a grounder…they are not just everyday humans" he explained.
" I however am curious as to how you have been working together for years…with not inkling of an idea" he said as they were profilers.
" We do not profile our own…your personal life is just that…personal until a crime is committed…is it illegal for him to be a wielder?" he asked as he was rather defensive of the youngest member of his team. Reginald smirked and shook his head.
" It is not…but everyday society…would never accept it…we all know this." He stated as he did not break eye contact for a long moment before turning back to the other directors. .
" Either way, he will need to come to the office…do pack for a long stay Dr. Reid as it will be a boot camp of sorts for you. He said as he looked back at the younger man. Spencer nodded silently.
"How would one test for it…you looked curious as to why the team could work with him but you didn't mean as profilers." Morgan spoke up this time and Fielding looked at him.
"Flynt….your team here is very good" he stated as the director nodded.
" That is why they are the A team" he stated confidently looking proud more than anything.
" Agent Morgan…that is your name?" he asked as he lo0ked at the seasoned agent.
" You and your team have worked around powerful magic for almost six years and you do not even flinch at it…you accept it as if you knew…you just didn't not want to say it out loud. Mental evaluations can be a bit cumbersome." He adjusted his sleeve slightly.
" We will be testing you all for compatibility actually…do pack accordingly. Child care will be provided" he said as he looked at Hotch and JJ.
