How Dare You [ReidxReader] - 2nd Edition

(4) A long Weekend

TW: mention of substance abuse, addiction, physical pain.
This chapter describes real symptoms of opioid withdrawal and its treatment. I, however, do not endorse doing any of this without professional help.

ɤɤɤɤ ɤɤɤɤ ɤɤɤɤ

You eat in silence.

Now that you're alone in your apartment, it is suddenly a lot quieter. You fired your gun like half an hour ago and Reid yelled at you for arresting his dealer. And now you're sitting at your table and eat dinner. You absolutely did not expect Reid of all people to be the first one to visit you here. Even though visit might not be the right word.

You know that withdrawal will set in soon and you want him to be as calm as possible when that happens. So, you don't ask him any questions. You just silently keep an eye on him, on his movements and on his breathing.

"Can I ask you something?" Reid suddenly looks at you.

Your head shoots up: "Sure."

"Where did you get the scars on your back from?"

You look back down at your plate without answering him. You knew he would bring it up at some point.

"Sorry, you don't have to answer." He backpaddles when you don't reply immediately.

"It's alright." You put the silverware down and take a sip of water. You don't blame anyone for asking that, it's just that you wish it wouldn't be the first personal thing about you they are interested it.

"I assume you read my file?"

Reid nods: "Yeah."

"And you saw the six months under cover job?"

He nods again: "I was wondering why there are no details about that job in your file. Was it kept strictly offline because it is top security?" He puts his silverware down as well and looks into your eyes, propping his head up in his hand.

You could lie. You could just say yes and that they were injuries you had gotten during the job. But something about this situation makes you want to tell him. Maybe it's his own vulnerability or the genuine interest for your person you see in his eyes.

"No."

"Oh." He furrows his eyebrows.

You clear your throat: "I was abducted."

Reid's hand sinks to the table and his mouth falls open. After a pause he asks you, pure disbelieve in his voice: "You were abducted and held captive for six month and there is nothing in your file about it?"

You sigh: "They never caught them, so it was swept under the rug. How can an Agency claim to protect the public when they cannot even protect their own?"

After that it's silent for a long time.

You eventually keep eating while Reid stares somewhere on the table. When your plate is empty you push it to the site and look at Reid until he says in a quiet voice: "Why are you not angry?"

You let out a laugh: "Oh, I am angry."

Reid looks into your eyes: "I am angry as well. We could not protect Prentiss. How are you so calm?"

"Because" You lean towards him, "I don't have any energy left to act otherwise."

After a pause you add: "And drugs."

"Why do you care so much about me taking drugs then?" His tone suddenly becomes more aggressive and defensive. "Don't you think it makes you hypocritical?"