Chapter Text
The Valley Quail is most commonly found in California. State bird since 1931, Spencer was used to seeing them early mornings on his way to class or, on occasion, coming home from a night spent at the University Library. He didn't think he'd miss them when he got to Virginia, but somehow, on the first walk to Quantico, Gideon by his side, he wished he could hear their song.
A dash of red flew through the sky and Gideon let a rare smile shine. "Northern Cardinal," He said, silent for the rest of their walk. Spencer held his messenger bag tighter, feeling the worn leather from the countless times he had done the same thing. It had been raining all night and Spencer could feel the cold seeping into bones from the holes he had yet to duct tape shut on his converse. Sneaking a glance down he wondered if he should've bought new shoes before his first day, then shook his head. He didn't even know what the unit chief would say when he saw him- a scrawny guy, a child, really, who couldn't afford real shoes and didn't even have his license. There was still a chance that he would be laughed out of the office before he could even say his name.
"Doctor Reid?" Gideon said, drawing Spencer out of his head. "Let's go."
Spencer nodded, pressing his lips together and walking in front of the older man into the building, barely refraining from running to the elevator. Gideon pressed the sixth button and Spencer was too aware of his own avoidance of leaning against the rail or pressing the button.
"Remember what I said?"
"Agent Gideon-"
"Yeah, I know. You can't forget." He smiled a bit. "I'm going to introduce you and then you can introduce yourself as Doctor. Do not say Spencer Reid or just Spencer. Say 'Hello, it's nice to meet you. I'm Doctor Reid,' and if he wants to shake your hand you can decline, but I have a feeling Aaron will be in a bit of shock."
Spencer just nodded, repeating Gideon's words in his head. The elevator dinged and the doors slid open, revealing a large expanse of space. Not many walls, mostly all open floor with desks clustered in the middle. The ceilings were so tall Spencer felt somehow shorter than he already did standing next to Gideon. He walked behind the man, suddenly much more aware of his taped shoes, the hole in the elbow of his jacket, the fact that he should've gotten a haircut months ago and was in desperate need of one now.
"Go wait in my office, I'll be back with Aaron in a few," Gideon ordered and Spencer nodded, hunching his shoulders and hurrying over to where Gideon had motioned. He could figure out which one was Jason's.
Spencer's eyes darted around the office, trying to take in everything he could before he figured he'd be kicked out. Spencer wasn't sure why Gideon was so certain they'd let him on the team. Of course, it was all he wanted. He wanted to be on this team more than anything and the sooner he could get in the better. He was willing to wait until he was legal, maybe until he was old enough to at least legally drive, but he didn't want to. What would he do with that time? Earn a few more doctorates, he supposed. Maybe take a break and earn a bachelor's or two.
"After Anderson announced he and the wife were expecting I knew he was going to step back when the baby came," He heard Gideon's voice from down the hall and strained to hear the conversation.
"Of course, I've been looking at applications since he went on paternity leave. He'll be back in a few weeks and I assume he'll hand in his paperwork within the day. Why is this of your interest, Jason?"
"As soon as he announced the pregnancy, I talked to John. He had someone he wanted me to look at, potentially bring in in a few years."
"A few years? Jason, we can't work with only three profilers for a few years! I don't see how anyone could warrant the Director's attention and hold it for so long."
"I know," Gideon said, opening the door and walking in. Spencer scanned the man he was with. He was tall, about an inch taller than Gideon. He had a slight scowl on his face and dark hair that matched his eyes. He didn't seem to notice he was being watched by Spencer. "I know, that's why I brought him in now. Aaron, this is our newest recruit."
Spencer stood, giving 'Aaron' a small smile. "Hello, it's nice to meet you. I'm Doctor Reid," He recited verbatim.
Aaron furrowed his brow, looking from the child to his coworker, not hiding his confusion.
"Is this a joke?" He finally said, and Spencer scoffed.
"It'd be a fairly bad one," He muttered.
"How old are you?" He asked, avoiding Gideon now, out of anger or spite.
"Fifteen," Spencer said, making eye contact with the man despite his discomfort with the gesture. "I'll be sixteen in October." It was March.
"Jesus Christ, Jason," He groaned, rubbing his eyes. Spencer felt vindicated in ending the eye contact for now. "Do your parents know you're here?"
"Actually my mother is institutionalized in Las Vegas." He said, ripping at a loose thread on his bag, twisting his watch. He felt Aaron watching the motion but he made no move to stop his fidgeting.
"And your father?"
Spencer scowled now, and Aaron thought he suddenly looked much older. "William left when I was a kid. I'm in California foster care, they made some exceptions for me when I was accepted into CalTech and moved me from Las Vegas foster care to California."
"And do they know you're here?"
Spencer grinned like he had been waiting for that question.
"Nope. And they didn't notice I've been gone for months. Probably since Anderson announced he was expecting. From what Gideon tells me I figure he won't be able to tear himself away from the job entirely, probably just stick to paperwork and desk duty from now on. The Director has approved me to go to cases, given that I'm allowed onto the team, but he said I can't carry until I'm 18."
"Gideon, you have to be kidding me. I don't have time for this right now, I need to find Anderson's replacement."
"That's why I found him for you!" Gideon said, gesturing to the child in front of them. "Doctor Spencer Reid has two doctorates, three bachelors, can read 15,000 words per minute, and speaks five languages."
"20,000." He said, suddenly smug.
"What?" Aaron asked, looking entirely tired.
"He said I can read 15,000 words per minute. That's not true. I can read 20,000. And I speak six languages if you count sign language as speaking. I know both American and British signing."
"Do you want me to give you a pat on the back?" Aaron asked, then shook his head. He should be taking his anger out on Gideon, not some fifteen-year-old genius who got dragged into this. "I'm sorry," He added hastily. "I cannot in good conscience let a child join this team. Or any team, for that matter. Gideon, I cannot believe you would try to bring some 5'8" child into the Bureau, and that the director would let you!"
"Hey! I'm 5'9" and the Director was already in contact with me before Gideon came out to California. I understand your caution in this situation, if something bad happens to me then it would likely fall on you, being the Unit Cheif. It's a political position-"
"It is, but I'm hardly concerned about politics as much as I am about putting your life at risk. Individuals aren't even allowed to join the Academy until they're 23, and you're eight years away from that!"
Spencer watched Aaron's face, eyes darting all over his stature until the silence grew uncomfortable. He didn't turn when he spoke to Gideon, keeping his eyes on the Cheif.
"Agent Hotchner and I are going to go talk in his office, Gideon. I'll join you when I'm done." He said, walking past the older man and into the hallway, waiting for Aaron to join him.
Hotchner gave Gideon an exasperated glare before following the boy out into the hallway and leading him to his office. They could both feel the stares of agents in the building, curiously watching him and the child.
Spencer cautiously sat down after Aaron did so first. His office was much too professional. No photos on the desk, books that could only pertain to cases. Aaron Hotchner did not have family, at least not a family he wanted to show off.
"Why?" Spencer asked, and Aaron had the gall to laugh.
"'Why?' Because you are a child, Spencer. And children do not work for the FBI. You should be with your foster family, not across the country in a Federal building trying to get a job!"
"I'm not trying," Spencer said, not looking up from his bag. Normally it'd be a sign of nerves, but with Spencer, it felt much more like nonchalance. "The Director has approved my position. I don't have a foster family. I've lived on campus for the past three years. Now that I've finished my second doctorate I'm moving on. The only reason I was put into foster care is that my mother was forced into Bennington before I could legally place her in care. They only have me in there so they can get money. They know well enough that I won't be placed in some faux family and act like a fifteen-year-old."
"You are a fifteen-year-old!" Aaron threw his hands up in the air and watched Spencer flinch so slightly. He wondered if he would've noticed it if not for being a profiler. "I'm sorry," He added quietly.
"I won't go back," Spencer said, clenching his jaw. "I am as capable as three agents! I'm not going back to California to be placed in some family where I'm just a paycheck. I want to work here. I did long before John contacted me, and before Gideon came to meet me. This is my endgame. And if it's not now then I'll spend the next three years doing whatever I can so I'll be ready when I'm 18. And if not then I'll wait another five years until I'm 23. But either way, I'm joining this team."
Aaron was grateful when his phone rang until he picked it up and the Director's voice greeted him.
Spencer tried to listen in but couldn't hear John's low voice, only hearing Aaron's hushed responses. He looked utterly distraught when he hung up, as much as he could with the permanent scowl on his face.
"If, if, I allow you on my team you will not be active as the other agents. You'll come with us on cases but you won't stay in the precinct. You will not go out in the field, you will not carry a gun but you will still have to learn how to shoot and pass a qualifications exam. You will be more of a traveling consultant than a regular agent, at least until you're not a minor. I will have veto power over the cases you join us on."
"But-"
"This is non-negotional, Doctor." He definitely used the honorific to relax Spencer, and it worked. "You, as I have stated, are a child. These cases are the worst of the worst, things I would never subject a grown man to see, and you are begging to see it. You follow my rules, with no complaints, and you will have this position. If I feel it grows too much on your, still developing, psyche then it's over. No fighting it, no going to Gideon or John. It's done. Do you understand me?"
Spencer looked up, holding eye contact with Aaron. "Yes sir."
Aaron sighed, breaking eye contact and shaking his head before he stood up, reaching out a hand. "Then welcome to the team,"
Spencer took a deep breath, swallowing hard before reaching out a shaky hand to grasp Aaron's. "I'm glad to be here."
We worry about what a child will become tomorrow, yet we forget that he is someone today.
-Stacia Tauschner