Pretty Boy

chapter 3

Morgan and Reid were in an SUV on their way to the dump site. Morgan was driving, and Reid was looking out the window. The Las Vegas light shinning on his face, both of them could feel the heat quickly building up in the car. Morgan turned on the A/C. 

Both of them spoke no words.

Reid was too fixated on trying to act normal (whatever that meant), while Morgan was attempting to come up with a way to address Reid's behavior.

"Reid?" Morgan gently asks.

"Yeah?" He replies.

"Are you okay? I mean, you've been acting off. I know something's wrong. Even if it isn't your new girlfriend I can tell something is up."

Reid didn't reply. He just frowned. Morgan looked at him, hopeful for a response. Just something.

Morgan turned his eyes back to the road, "Come on. You can talk to me. I'm your best friend, don't give me the silent treatment, man."

Reid turned his head to face his lap. His hair fell in front of his face and he started fidgeting with his hands. He spoke softly, "I'm not ready to talk about it yet," that was indeed true. He genuinely wasn't ready to tell Morgan about his feelings yet.

Morgan could see the shift in his behavior. He could tell that whatever was bothering his Pretty Boy must be something big. He went silent again, deciding to let him be for now.

Thankfully, this conversation sort of cleared the awkwardness in the air for Reid. He was finally able to think clearly about the case.

After reaching the dump site, they were able to find a break in what the unsub was doing to the victims. He was drilling holes into their feet and hands, which Reid was able to deduce was an old form of crucifixion. Both Morgan and Reid agreed that the unsub was most likely punishing them for being gay, potentially projecting his own internalized homophobia onto surrogates. 

They decided to wait for the coroner's report to see if there were any other signs of religious torture.

Morgan and Reid were heading back to the police station to discuss their findings with the rest of the team. Reid suddenly remembered he wanted to visit his mom.

"Morgan, could you drop me off at the Bennington Sanitarium? I need to visit my mom," Reid quickly asked.

"Sure, is everything okay?" Morgan was skeptical.

"Uh...Yeah, they're just changing her medication. I want to make sure that everything is okay," he lied.

Though still slightly unsure, Morgan was satisfied with that answer and complied, beginning his route toward the Bennington Sanitarium.

_

They reached the building. Reid swiftly exited the vehicle.

Morgan called out, "Tell me when you're done and I'll come pick you up, okay?"

Reid nodded. He made his way to the entrance. Opening the door, he could already recognize the familiar neutral smell he had grown a liking toward. The walls of the building as neutral a color as they could get.

He was greeted by the front desk attendee, Abby, who he recognized from past visits, "Dr. Reid! It's so good to see you. I heard you wanted to see Diana?"

"Yes, I do... How is she doing, by the way?"

"She's doing great! She's sitting right over there," Abby pointed across the room to an area with a couple of couches and a large bookshelf.

Reid thanked Abby and awkwardly made his way to his mom. Diana turned her head and saw him. She smiled.

"Spencer! I didn't know you were visiting today," Diana joyfully put her book down as she turned her attention to her son. Whom she dreadfully missed.

"I know. We're working on a case. I thought I'd come by," Reid sat down across from his mom.

"Well, I'm glad you did," Diana paused, "What's wrong, baby?"

Confused, Reid asked, "How do you know something's wrong?"

"A mother knows, darling. Now tell me. What's got my baby all worried for?"

Reid cleared his throat and fixed his hair before answering, "I'm dealing with conflicting feelings... regarding... Morgan. Derek Morgan," he took a breath before starting to ramble. "I've been dealing with feelings that imply that I may like him as more than a friend. Not to mention, he keeps calling me this stupid nickname and it's giving me all kinds of signals that I don't understand." He paused.

Diana's face softened as she continued listening.

Reid's eyes began watering. Diana could see that her son was in major distress. "I really like him mom, and I don't know what to do. I don't want to lose him over something so dumb as my feelings."

"Sweety," Diana leaned to grab her son's hands," your feelings are not dumb. What is this nickname that he calls you?"

Reid slightly blushed, looked down, and quietly responded, "Pretty Boy."

"Ah, I see. Well, it sounds to me like he might like you too."

"But he doesn't. I know he doesn't. I mean, he calls Garcia similar names all the time and not once has it been suggested that they have been in a relationship. Garcia has Kevin. Morgan has... whoever. He doesn't like me just because he calls me a stupid nickname."

"Honey, if you're so conflicted, why don't you just talk to him?"

"Because! I don't want to jeopardize our friendship over this. I can't lose him," Reid buried his head in his hands.

"Spencer, this is going to continue to eat at you unless you take action. Either by asking him or by moving on."

Reid didn't like the sound of either.

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