Chapter Text
Spencer was upset that Gideon left.
Everyone else was upset Spencer was the only one to get an explanation.
Reid wasn’t the best with touch and interaction, and he was a bit of a germaphobe. Gideon sort of knew, and Reid knew that he knew, but it was never disclosed.
After a year, Reid felt like it was important to tell the team, now that the only one who knew, or maybe just had a slight hunch, was gone. He had six teammates, and there was a week until christmas. He figured he would tell one person a day before he left. Then he could enjoy his Christmas with his mom in Las Vegas without that stress on his shoulders.
He started with Garcia, knowing she had a lot of secrets and she would keep his until he was ready. She was grateful she was trusted by Reid to be the first he told. “Really?” She asked. “You really trusted me enough to tell me first?”
“Um, uh, yeah,” He nodded and fidgeted with his fingers, looking away from her.
“You know that means a lot to me Reid. I won’t tell anyone ‘til you’re ready, Sherlock.”
“Thanks Garcia.”
He told JJ next, and she was basically the same. She was glad he trusted her and she said it didn’t change anything.
After he told JJ, he told Morgan. Morgan just smiled and shrugged. “I’m happy you told me kid, but it doesn’t really change anything in the end.”
Then he told Prentiss. She laughed and said, “I kind of knew, but hearing you say it makes me feel better about thinking it.”
When he told Rossi, he had about the same reaction as Prentiss. “Prentiss and I, well we kind of knew. We talked about it once but it’s good you told us.”
Finally there was Hotch. Hotch was the one to be told last, just for the reason that Reid was scared. He hadn’t picked up within the around 6 years he had known Reid, and Reid didn’t even know his opinion on it. He didn’t want Hotch to hate him for it, but if Reid didn’t tell him then eventually Rossi or someone other than Garcia would let him know.
“Hey, uh, Hotch? Can I talk to you about something?” Reid knocked on Hotch’s office door, fidgeting with his hands again.
“What are you still doing here, Reid?”
“I needed to talk to you. But I didn’t want to interrupt anything. You can go home if you want, it can wait until tomorrow but i just thought you would want to know-“
“Reid, sit down, you’re rambling.”
“Okay, sorry sir.”
Reid sat in the chair opposite from Hotch, on the outside of his desk. Hotch closed the file he was reading and looked up at Reid.
“What did you want to tell me Reid?”
“So I’ve already told everyone else, and I’m sure you probably know by now but um I wanted to tell you myself so-“
“Reid.”
“I’m sorry sir. It’s probably not that important but I wanted to tell you that, um... I have autism and that’s why I was so upset when- when Gideon left.”
“And I was the last person you told?”
“Um... y-yeah.”
“Why?”
“In all honesty, Hotch, I was... uh... scared.”
Morgan and Rossi were watching down in the bullpen through Hotch’s windows.
“What do you think they’re talking about in there, Rossi?” Morgan sipped his coffee and stared at Reid, who kept glancing back.
“Well, Reid told me he hadn’t told Hotch about it yet, and Reid seems nervous, so if I had to guess, I would say it’s that.”
Hotch looked out the window to see what Spencer was glancing at.
“Reid, you know you can tell me things like that, right?” Hotch glared at him.
Reid’s voice cracked. “Um yes sir, I-I’m sorry I just didn’t know how you would take it.”
“I’ve worked with you for years Reid, you’ve proven you can work here and I would never let something like that get in the way of this job. I care about you, Reid. You know that isn’t important to me. What’s important to me is that I know you trust me, and telling me this lets me know that, even if I wasn’t the first.”
“I actually didn’t know your opinion on it, I mean, autistic was an insult since forever, and people called me that a lot, even before it was diagnosed and it only got worse after it was.”
“Kids like to make fun of whoever they can, and some of them don’t learn the truth as adults. Luckily I did, and I want you to know that I care about you and the team.”
“Thank you, Hotch. I’m sorry I told you this late.”
“It’s okay, Spencer, now go home and get some rest. You need to stop running up the coffee budget. Enjoy your holiday.” Hotch smiled for once, and Reid smiled back.
“You too, Hotch.”
When Spencer got back down to bullpen Rossi had left and Morgan started walking to the elevator with Reid.
“So, how did it go, pretty boy?” Morgan suddenly asked when the doors closed.
“What?”
“Reid, we both know why you were talking with Hotch in private, by yourself, in his office.”
“Actually, Morgan, it went great.” Spencer looked up Morgan from the ground. He stuck his hands in his pockets and smiled. Morgan nodded and almost gave him a pat on the back, but refrained.
“Sorry. Old habit.”
“It’s okay, Morgan. I’ve known you a long time.”
“Enjoy your Christmas with your mom. I’m sure she’ll be glad to see you, kid.”
“You too, Morgan. I’ll see you soon.”
When the elevator doors opened, they headed out of the main exit in different directions to their cars.