Fic: A Gentle World (1/1, Criminal Minds, OI&E)
Title: A Gentle World
Series: Of Innocence and Empathy
Author: Frogg
Beta: None
Rating: FRT, preslash
Disclaimer: I don't own them. Damnit.
Word Count: 619
Author's Note: A Five things that... style series of drabble-ish shorts about how Morgan's relationship with Reid started, beginning with An Illogical World and ending with Illogical Knowledge.
The first time, it was a screaming nightmare that might as well have awakened the entire team.
Emily pulled Morgan aside the next day, making sure that Reid was really okay, and letting him know that she'd been about to go get Hotch when she'd heard Morgan's hurried footsteps pass her door. Then, unable to meet Morgan's eyes, she admitted to spending the night in JJ's room, going over the case file until they'd passed out.
Though Hotch hadn't mentioned anything, Morgan doubted Gideon had managed a good night's rest. The looks of pride and concern he'd gotten from the older man only served to confirm it.
~~~
The second time, a few nights later and in another city, wasn't anywhere near as dramatic, a quiet tap-scratch-tap at his hotel room door. The kind Reid used when he was scared and needed reassurance of a sort that Gideon and Hotch weren't quite qualified to offer.
Morgan opened the door to find Reid trembling, shining with sweat and clad only in twisted sweatpants, eyes wide and glazed with an odd mixture of sleep and terror. No hesitations, no questions, just a hand clamped on Reid's arm to drag him inside and into a gently efficient shower. Once dried and bundled into bed, he wrapped Reid in strong arms, holding him close and keeping him safe.
A line had been crossed - this wasn't new. Reid had spent the night in his bed, in his arms, several times before, but without the shower. With sweats they both used as pajamas. And never more than once a month, usually at least three months between. He knew how bad things had to be to send Reid to his room for the silent comfort of someone who didn't pressure or probe. He took those nights seriously, never mentioning them in the light of day, only rarely, in some quiet, secluded place making sure Reid knew, and understood, that he was welcome at any time.
Staunchly ignoring the salt-scent of tears, the dampness on his shoulder, Morgan sent up a prayer that he was ready for this, that the wounds he carried deep inside were healed enough not to break open and bleed even now.
~~~
The third time wasn't.
It should have been, but the real horrors of what they'd seen investigating a child kidnapping-turned-child prostitution case hadn't fully set in until they'd gotten home. Not for Reid.
Morgan knew Hotch and Gideon knew Reid was disturbed by it; they all were. But that didn't excuse the fact that Morgan hadn't been there for Reid when he was needed.
The circles under Reid's eyes, the haunted, longing glances sent his way screamed in betrayal.
Lunch was spent in damage control. The effort paid off in the tension that eased from Reid's shoulders, the look of shell-shocked gratitude sent his way from beneath wayward blond hair.
Morgan wasn't surprised at all when Reid crawled tentatively into his bed at just past one that night. That's what he'd given him a copy of his housekey and the alarm codes for, after all.
Still, it only counted as the third time.
~~~
The fourth time wasn't because of a case. Not directly.
Stuck in the field, they'd watched Hotch struggle with his famous compartmentalization, fight to keep up his front of professionalism, when Jack fell ill. Gideon gently, but firmly, took over running the operations when Jack's temperature spiked and the baby had to be hospitalized.
A shared glance was all it took to let Morgan know he'd have company.
Morgan was grateful for it. Maybe Reid's presence would keep him from having 'what if?' nightmares.
~~~
The fifth time, it wasn't Reid who needed comfort and support.
~~~the end~~~
Previous: An Illogical World
Next: Illogical Knowledge
Series: Of Innocence and Empathy
Author: Frogg
Beta: None
Rating: FRT, preslash
Disclaimer: I don't own them. Damnit.
Word Count: 619
Author's Note: A Five things that... style series of drabble-ish shorts about how Morgan's relationship with Reid started, beginning with An Illogical World and ending with Illogical Knowledge.
The first time, it was a screaming nightmare that might as well have awakened the entire team.
Emily pulled Morgan aside the next day, making sure that Reid was really okay, and letting him know that she'd been about to go get Hotch when she'd heard Morgan's hurried footsteps pass her door. Then, unable to meet Morgan's eyes, she admitted to spending the night in JJ's room, going over the case file until they'd passed out.
Though Hotch hadn't mentioned anything, Morgan doubted Gideon had managed a good night's rest. The looks of pride and concern he'd gotten from the older man only served to confirm it.
~~~
The second time, a few nights later and in another city, wasn't anywhere near as dramatic, a quiet tap-scratch-tap at his hotel room door. The kind Reid used when he was scared and needed reassurance of a sort that Gideon and Hotch weren't quite qualified to offer.
Morgan opened the door to find Reid trembling, shining with sweat and clad only in twisted sweatpants, eyes wide and glazed with an odd mixture of sleep and terror. No hesitations, no questions, just a hand clamped on Reid's arm to drag him inside and into a gently efficient shower. Once dried and bundled into bed, he wrapped Reid in strong arms, holding him close and keeping him safe.
A line had been crossed - this wasn't new. Reid had spent the night in his bed, in his arms, several times before, but without the shower. With sweats they both used as pajamas. And never more than once a month, usually at least three months between. He knew how bad things had to be to send Reid to his room for the silent comfort of someone who didn't pressure or probe. He took those nights seriously, never mentioning them in the light of day, only rarely, in some quiet, secluded place making sure Reid knew, and understood, that he was welcome at any time.
Staunchly ignoring the salt-scent of tears, the dampness on his shoulder, Morgan sent up a prayer that he was ready for this, that the wounds he carried deep inside were healed enough not to break open and bleed even now.
~~~
The third time wasn't.
It should have been, but the real horrors of what they'd seen investigating a child kidnapping-turned-child prostitution case hadn't fully set in until they'd gotten home. Not for Reid.
Morgan knew Hotch and Gideon knew Reid was disturbed by it; they all were. But that didn't excuse the fact that Morgan hadn't been there for Reid when he was needed.
The circles under Reid's eyes, the haunted, longing glances sent his way screamed in betrayal.
Lunch was spent in damage control. The effort paid off in the tension that eased from Reid's shoulders, the look of shell-shocked gratitude sent his way from beneath wayward blond hair.
Morgan wasn't surprised at all when Reid crawled tentatively into his bed at just past one that night. That's what he'd given him a copy of his housekey and the alarm codes for, after all.
Still, it only counted as the third time.
~~~
The fourth time wasn't because of a case. Not directly.
Stuck in the field, they'd watched Hotch struggle with his famous compartmentalization, fight to keep up his front of professionalism, when Jack fell ill. Gideon gently, but firmly, took over running the operations when Jack's temperature spiked and the baby had to be hospitalized.
A shared glance was all it took to let Morgan know he'd have company.
Morgan was grateful for it. Maybe Reid's presence would keep him from having 'what if?' nightmares.
~~~
The fifth time, it wasn't Reid who needed comfort and support.
~~~the end~~~
Previous: An Illogical World
Next: Illogical Knowledge