100 Themes - 20. Fortitude

100 Themes – Fortitude

Reid had always been the one to rely on someone, it was rare to see him standing on his own feet and well… arguing for himself, or standing up to someone else.

Everyone saw Reid as the ‘Little kid’ of the group; he had to be looked after, taken care of and stood up for. It was kind of something they had grown used to doing, keeping an eye on him seemed normal… after all he was only… what… 28? 29? Age was a touchy subject for him, he didn’t liked to be reminded that he was the youngest and therefore the most inexperienced out of all of them. It didn’t stick well with his low self –esteem issues. So after celebrating his 24th birthday they never celebrated it again, just in case he became a bit irritable for the rest of the day, it was hard to live with a irritable Reid, there was always a lack of statistics in that case.

It had started with Gideon, taking him under his wing and teaching all that he needed to know for both the field and the paperwork. Gideon, who had introduced him to the gun, though insisted that it wasn’t necessary for any member of the BAU to carry one, despite the one hanging on his own belt.

Then, Gideon left… left with a note.

Next it was Morgan, though that only lasted a short while. Morgan who kept asking if he wanted to go for a drink. Morgan who constantly bugged Reid to speak his mind. Morgan who taught Reid how to treasure each moment more that the last one because the past has gone by, the future is still so far away and the present was now that was why it was a present, a constant surprise held for him. Reid had argued that it was basically the future, Morgan couldn’t argue about that.

Before long, Morgan got bored of the job and handed it over to Hotch.

Now it’s Hotch, so far it was half a year. Maybe a few more days and hours but now it was Hotch. The Hotch that had held is hand so tightly to teach his the right position to shoot. Hotch who guided him through all of the nightmares he had since Gideon left. Hotch who would unreservedly hug him whenever he thought that his mind was going to break down.

Everyone naturally looked out for the little kid, never had they let him stand on his own feet. The always argued back to those who attacked him and never let him argue back. Little did they know that Reid actually had much more fortitude than any of them. Reid had spoken with more killers than Morgan, Prentiss and JJ. He had the ability to remember all that he read and saw. He hadn’t broken down yet, and lastly he was still young…

.:End:.