Evolution, a Spencer Reid/Criminal Minds Fanfic

Chapter 9. Plans Over Pizza

They used word-of-mouth only. Nothing was committed to e-mail or communicated via phone. There was not even the slightest breath about Reid circulating within the BAU, except among his immediate team. They would meet at Hotch’s place that evening for pizza, information, and guidelines on how to proceed without compromising Reid’s privacy, safety, or sanity in light of his unique situation. The only one Hotch worried about was Garcia, so he detailed J.J. to keep an eye on her and monitor any internet activity emanating from her personal laptop.

Garcia wouldn’t intentionally betray Reid, but creating webpages was like doodling for the tech-savant. She might let something slip. J.J. was glad the Unit Chief had taken the extra precaution when she found Garcia doing random, little Photoshop creations of tall, lanky amber-eyed men wearing colorful tights, the letter ‘R’ emblazoned on their chests, and concentric arcs of electric blue emanating from their heads to represent powers of the mind.

J.J. laughed when she saw the images.

“Penelope, what are you doing?”

“Just thinking of avatars for Reid.” She looked up at J.J.’s reprimanding expression in complete innocence. “Not for now. But someday he might want something like this.” A dreamy look dropped over Garcia’s bespectacled eyes. “We could call him ‘Dr. Read.’ Get it? ‘Read’ as in ‘read minds?’ J.J., this could be so cool.”

J.J. draped an understanding arm across the tech analyst’s shoulders. “Maybe someday, but for now I’m gonna have to ask you to delete that stuff. Hotch doesn’t want anything about Reid stashed where it could be hacked, stolen, viewed, or otherwise accessed in any way.”

Garcia sighed, but acknowledged the need for caution. J.J. patted her back and continued on to her own office.

Garcia took one last look at the intricate images she’d crafted and sighed again. Hotch was right. These shouldn’t be anywhere hack-able. She selected all. Her finger hovered over the delete key, but something glittered at her from the depths of her oversized, tiger-striped purse. She glanced over her shoulder at the heavy, secure door of the IT room and had a little, internal debate.

The side clad in fire-bright red won. The pale, angelic opposition faded in defeat.

Garcia reached into her purse and pulled out a flash drive; a bright blue, crystal-encrusted kitten. The color reminded her of the graphics she’d used to indicate Reid’s super-mind. Smiling, Penelope transferred the avatars. Once they were safely on the flash drive, she deleted the originals. She even removed the history trail attached to their creation. She tucked the sparkling kitten in a cubbyhole that was hers alone; that no other IT person would dare invade.

Reid might want to see these someday, she reasoned. And Hotch’s demands have been satisfied: there’s no way anyone can use the internet to hack Sparkle-Kitten.

Garcia didn’t think the chances of someone slipping into a very secure room in the center of a very secure organization were worth considering. She couldn’t envision any set of circumstances where unauthorized access might occur.

Hotch was an admirable leader. But sometimes he worried too much.

xxxxxxx

Reid rode over to Hotch’s place with Rossi. He wasn’t looking forward to being the center of attention and the focal point of the evening’s conversation, but he had to admit he was feeling a lot better than he had earlier in the day. It looked as though he wouldn’t be branded a monster after all. He still considered himself a freak, but as long as there were people like his teammates who were willing to claim ownership of him, he could live with it.

Hotch’s door stood ajar, pouring golden light out in a welcoming echo of the fire-edged clouds spanning the evening sky. Reid and Rossi entered to find their leader flat on his back on the living room floor, letting himself lose a wrestling match with four-year-old Jack. The battle continued as the rest of the team straggled in.

It was a good way to start what would be an unusual meeting; maybe even a tense one. Seeing their stern boss at play and so clearly head-over-heels in love with his son, reminded them of family and trust and care…all the qualities that remained when the horrors of their job burned off the non-essentials. As Hotch lost the struggle and went limp, allowing Jack to bounce in triumph on Daddy’s tummy, an assortment of pizzas were delivered.

After the edge was taken off their collective hunger, Jack was put to bed. Hotch broke out a case of beer and the meal continued at a more leisurely pace. They were all sneaking looks at Reid, trying not to discomfit him, but unable to hide rampant speculation concerning his abilities. Finally, Hotch sat back, beer in hand, and called the meeting to order.

“You all know Reid’s going through some…changes…and has been for some time.” Heads turned; brows raised. Hotch explained. “He’s been trying to ignore what’s happening to him and carry on in a normal way, but you can’t hide something that big. He was bound to slip. I’m glad he did.” The Unit Chief’s assertion was firm, brooking no argument. “I wouldn’t want any of you to think you have to hide who you are. Never doubt that your talents, as well as your troubles, can be shared. We all benefit from the one. We all contribute to bear the burden of the other. Clear?” Everyone knew Hotch was creating a safe place for Reid to let down the barriers he’d erected.

When nods and congenial smiles responded, Hotch turned to the youngest team member. He let himself grin in true good humor. There was no doubting his sincerity when he looked Reid in the eye and told him, “I’m happy for you. I can’t think of a better custodian for what is truly a remarkable gift.” For a moment Reid could only blink.

It was the most encouraging thing anyone had ever said to him. His responding smile wasn’t shy at all. And it was all the thanks Hotch needed.

xxxxxxx

By evening’s end a few conclusions had been reached. First, Reid was the only authority on his burgeoning abilities, but he was no expert. He could tell them what he felt and thought; he could define the areas of sensitivity he possessed, but he was as mystified as the rest when it came to definitive explanations of where his ESP came from, or where it would lead. They would all be learning this strange, new terrain together.

Second, everyone agreed that discretion was a necessity. Reid wanted privacy and security to explore his new world. It was incumbent on his teammates to provide it and protect it. When it was revealed that the young doctor had clued Hotch and Rossi in by a simple slip, the result of hearing something unspoken, Morgan suggested he take a page from the world of the hearing-impaired. He could try to respond only when he’d actually seen someone’s lips move. It wasn’t a perfect solution, but it opened the door for the others to think along the same lines: discovering survival strategies for Reid.

The third conclusion was the hardest for Reid. They were relying on him to be open and honest about himself. For someone trailing a lifetime of lonely self-reliance behind him, it was a daunting prospect.

“Lean on us when you need us. Tell us what’s going on with you regularly so we can help.” Hotch knew how hard that directive was. He’d been obliged to follow the advice himself after Foyet had blown his world apart, leaving him vulnerable and in dire need of aid he couldn’t identify or request. The team had pulled together for him then. He was confident they could do so for Reid now.

The night was winding down. There were still more questions than answers, but they were unified on Reid’s behalf. They would find ways to foster and defend him. It would take time.

J.J.’s and Hotch’s phones buzzed. A new case. Urgent. Immediate.

Time was up.