Criminal Minds fic
The care and feeding of a genius
It had happened gradually. Very gradually , but very steadily, almost out of necessity. In fact, in all probability, it had happened out of necessity.
Because, chances were that if Reid had not unknowingly acquired caregivers, he would have suffered death or serious injury at the hands of his own mind.
***
Within two months, Morgan had learnt the hard way to never let Reid near any road while he was talking.
Because whenever Reid was talking, he was most likely thinking aloud. And if anything was worth really thinking about, Reid got very excited. Animated. And completely unaware of anything outside his train of thought.
Morgan quickly came to accept that that’s what comes with being a genius. You don’t get those flashes of case-breaking inspiration for free. Even if it was highly unfair that Spencer was rewarded for his genius by almost killing himself.
It was mid afternoon in New York. He and Reid had been on their way to interview a relative of the deceased. Reid was talking aloud, his thoughts clearly too fast for his mouth to articulate at a satisfactory speed, and so he stumbled over his words, almost pushing them out of his mouth, his hands waving in his almost-frustration at not being able to talk at the same pace as he thought at, his eyes devouring the case file as he walked -
“Reid!”
Reid squawked in shock as he was quickly and painfully yanked back by a terror-tight grip on his shirt. He swung his head round and stared at Morgan in bewilderment.
As if he didn’t realise that he had almost walked into the steady stream of traffic.
Later, Hotch had asked him why Reid had obediently deferred to Morgan for the rest of the day, like a chastised child. Morgan had released a strained, still-scared chuckle and had simply asked Hotch whether their departmental budget would cover the cost of a child harness.
Confused at the time, but enlightened later by a madly blushing Reid, Hotch had delicately suggested that although Morgan’s embarrassingly public and parental rebuke was definitely needed, a child harness was perhaps a little unnecessary.
Morgan had fixed Hotch with a long gaze, and asked the older profiler whether he really thought that was true.
Nevertheless, he had conceded, and instead of a child harness, Morgan simply had to make do with gently but firmly gripping the back of Reid’s shirt whenever a road was anywhere in sight. A much gentler tug than the first one always brought Reid to a sudden stop at the side of the road, prompting him to actually look before crossing.
And yeah, it might be like dealing with a child sometimes, but he figured Reid was worth it.
True genius sees with the eyes of a child and thinks with the brain of a genii.
Puzant Thomajan