Archive of Our Own ^beta

 

 

 

 

The phone’s ringing, so his hand scrambles for it, the motion coming easy. It’s not the first, won’t be the last time a phone call wakes SSA Hotchner up in the middle of the night. 

 

 

He opens the phone, bright light beaming the time at him and he answers the call confused. It’s only midnight why was he being called, there was no time difference between Quantico and New Jersey if this was Strauss. 

 

 

“Agent Hotchner, we got a problem.” It takes him a moment to place the voice as Commissioner Gordon but there’s a sinking feeling when he does. Something’s wrong. 

 

 

Hotchner sits up, alert. “What’s going on?” 

 

 

“We figured out who killed our guy. He just attacked a diner an hour ago and took your agent.” 

 

 

Hotch scrambled for his clothes already concerned, running through the list of agents who were supposed to be due at the hotel. The only one he could think of not seeing was . . . Reid. 

 

 

“Who?” He asked, even as he dressed knowing he was right. 

 

 

“Spencer Reid, he also took a civilian and Harley’s baying at the doors I need you and your team down here soon as possible, it’s going to be a long night.” 

 

 

“Wait! Commissioner you said you know who took my agent. Who is he?” 

 

 

The silence is loud enough to tell him that he’s going to hate the answer. This is Gotham, there’s any number of people Gordon might hesitate to tell him outright. 

 

 

“I’m sorry Hotchner, it’s  Joker.” 

 

 

---

 

 

There’s hands on his shoulders, and the world is moving, a degree off from violent and Reid realizes he’s being shaken. He blinks, sitting up even as his drowsy mind tries to adjust to the darkness, only able to make out a shadowy figure standing at his bedside. they open their mouth, a raspy voice barely hearable coming out. 

 

 

“Joker’s out again.” 

 

 

Spencer doesn’t hesitate, even if he’s still waking up, scooting over the instant he hears that. The covers are soft and warm around him, and plenty fluffy. They rustle as feet get tangled and have to be pulled from the covers in an effort to get under them. Before long there’s a Tim shaped lump underneath the covers joining Spencer. 

 

 

Tim is cold in a way that suggests he’s been sleeping without covers. The only time he sleeps without covers is when he’s having night terrors because he kicks them all off but never wakes for several more hours. Spencer tries not to think about it and instead pulls the blanket around them in a big fluffy pile. 

 

 

He doesn’t say anything even as Tim visibly shakes under the covers, from more then cold. Tim seems to pause dark eyes meeting Spencer's and then he’s burrowing into the boy genius. His hair soft yet tickling the underside of Spencer’s chin as gangly limbs wrapped around the middle like a human sock monkey. 

 

 

Spencer almost asks if there’s anything he can do but, then he thinks. Tim came straight here. IF he wanted anything else he would have said it. This is what he wanted and Spencer doesn’t really mind. 

 

 

he pulls the covers up, the drowsiness starting to come back, just enough that Spencer heaves a big tired sigh, and leaves the covers just over Tim’s shoulders. Just so he can breathe, even if he’s buried like a hamster with his face shoved up against Spencer’s pajama shirt. 

 

 

The creak from the doorway doesn’t stir Tim. Spencer blinks from the yellow light in the hall that’s slowly seeping into the room from the door being cracked open. The silhouette in the glowing yellow outline of the doorway is telling who it is in a way that only a whip and cat eared cowl could.

 

 

There’s also just enough light, to glimpse the shadow of pigtails splashed across the hallway behind Selina. 

 

 

It makes Spencer smile softly even if Tim wouldn’t have known how to feel. It was obvious enough to him that Harley cared enough not to overcrowd him but desperately wanted to make sure he was okay. 

 

 

Selina smiles from her get up even if it’s hard to make out with the light making the dark of her outfit blend her into a big shadow. “I suppose since boy-wonders are safe I can go hunt the city.” She murmurs hand coiling around her whip. 

 

 

Spencer blinks then blushes, a bright red that sends heat down his spine when Selina winks, the idea that Tim’s actually safe in his arms a little embarrassing. 

 

 

Then again the way Tim only manages to somehow snuggle in more after that, says Tim thinks differently and you know what that’s good enough for Spencer. 

 

 

“ . .goodnight Selina.” Spencer whispers faintly smiling before adding, “And Miss Quinzel.” 

 

 

The shadow in the hall vanishes and Selina turns obviously watching Harley leaving, but she turns back to throw Spencer one last tender smile and nod before the door clicks shut and they’re left in darkness. 

 

 

It’s not a bad darkness, but comfortable, the way sitting under a shade tree was comfortable or walking in a shaded forest. 

 

 

Spencer closed his eyes, and dared to wrap his arms around Tim. Regardless of what happened outside this room, this was here. It was just them. 

 

 

Spencer and Tim, safe from Jokers and Schizophrenia and all things that hurt. 

 

 

---

 

 

 

The first thing he knows is space. The empty cloying sensation of nothing but empty space all around. The feeling you got in a big room that was filled with nothing but air and you. 

 

 

The second was pain. At first, not much just a steady burn, the kind that brought memories of leather straps, a beaten worn cabin-

 

 

The smell of something burning, cooking, fatty hanging in the air. His back hurts, from something and something hard digs into it. His wrists hurt, rubbed raw and he pulls even though it burns. 

 

 

A single hanging incandescent bulb swinging above him beaming right into tired bleary eyes. Reid blinks, flinching barely able to focus on the tall figure in front of him that leans down. 

 

 

“They’re gone.” He said gruff and as roughly cut as stone. 

 

 

“Who’re they?” Reid manages to whispers, a pounding drum beating through his skull as a result, but he doesn’t regret talking. 

 

 

The figure never even blinks “It’s just me now.” 

 

 

The words don’t inspire confidence, only a dawning horror as the events all start tumbling back, like a landslide, the cornfield the gun leveled at him, being hit again and the last fading moments of being dragged through the field. The way the man talked to himself. 

 

 

“Who . . . who are you?” Reid asked, just to confirm his worst fears and what he’d seen and heard in the corn field. 

 

 

They Straightened and stared at Reid, face never moving, but a flash of pride and a dignified stance radiating enough self-satisfaction made the next words he spoke send chills down Reid’s spine. 

 

 

“I’m Raphael.” 

 

 

“Reid!” 

 

 

Reid jolts and for a horrible second, he thinks he’s back but then his mind adjusts. He chokes on his air, unable to get the panic to retract and his head reminds him that if he doesn’t stop hyperventilating he’s going to go into a full blown panic attack. 

 

 

“Reid!!” A voice whisper screams again and Reid recognizes what snapped him out of the flashback. It’s a familiar voice and just like that the panic is starting to take a back seat. 

 

 

“T-Tim?” He whispers, trying to turn to find the source of the voice. The back of his head explodes with sharp pain and he hears his own whine when he tries to move his head. 

 

 

The chair he’s in wiggles, and there must be two chairs, back to back, because the way Reid’s hands move when he feels Tim struggle, makes him think they’re tired together back to back like a bad spy movie. 

 

 

He’s starting to feel his body more and more, only now realizing that he’d not been able to move, to feel most of his limbs or joints or fingers just a few seconds ago. 

 

 

That meant either head trauma or drugs. Consider he was thinking too clear to be artificially impaired, he was guessing the sluggish response was the source of the pain in his head. That and Reid tended to drift, not suffer flashbacks when he was drugged. 

 

 

“S-Spence I can’t see, are ya okay?” Tim has spoken again, this time a little more hoarse, his voice cracked and dry. 

 

 

Reid wets his tongue before he answers, the shock starting to settle in as his brow furrows realizing just who he’s talking to “T-Tim?” 

 

 

“Tim . . thought ya-thought ya would have been left there. Guess I was wrong, hah” Tim laughs, voice cracking right there and he falls into a round of coughing that starts to make Spencer's own throat hurt just from the sound. 

 

 

“L-Left where? I . . don’t remember.” he admits it slowly, only now realizing that until the diner all he really remembers is the waitress, shakes, asking about the shelter. After that its all fuzzy, blurry and he can’t quite pinpoint what’s happening. 

 

 

“Diner.” Tim rasps a squeak from the chair echoing around the room. 

 

 

“Diner . . .” Reid’s head pain spikes but he ignores it flinching through trying to remember. 

 

 

Diner, diner . . . We got the shakes . . .I asked about his favorite part of the shelter and then . . .

 

 

blurry lights, the sound of glass crunching and the image of Tim comes swimming to the forefront out of the depths and Spencer freezes. The next thing he remembers is a pain at the back of his head. 

 

 

“They hit me . . .took me too” He breathes out confused “Why . . why did they want us” 

 

 

Something loudly, crashes into a wall, and the whistling begins. 

 

 

Reid looks around. The room is strangely brick, painted a dismal gray and large mostly empty save for a single light above that’s a bright white. There’s a few shelves, and boxes lined up in the distant corner but the source of the sound is coming from somewhere behind him. There must be a door behind him too, because Reid can’t spy anyone entering from his view. 

 

 

The whistling stops, just as it gets to them and the loud scraping of metal echoes in the room like metal dragged on metal almost. Tim’s silent, until he isnt. 

 

 

“Son of a bitch I knew it! I knew I shoulda gutted you at Arkham the last time I put you there!” The way Tim screams is guttural, something feral even though the words crack and break. 

 

 

It’s a vicious way of speaking one that cuts, a tone Spencer’s only heard very few times.There’s only one person Tim speaks about, or to that way. 

 

 

“Well well well! If it isn’t my boy! Long time no postcards, no letters! You couldn’t drop a line for good old Papa Joker!” 

 

 

Spencer’s blood turns cold as he squeezes his eyes shut. This wasn’t Tobias Hankel. Reid prayed that his team knew he was gone, were looking for him, found him before anything worse could happen. 

 

 

---

 

 

 

“What do you mean he’s gone!?”

 

 

 Penelope’s screech through the phone is echoing off the dim walls of the precinct and Derek flinches. They had to wake her up for this, and she wasn’t to the office yet. 

 

 

“Baby girl! I need you to calm down right now, I know time is of the essence but that time isn’t gonna do us any good if you crash, okay?” Derek tries to calm her, and he hears her breathing loudly on the other end. He can almost picture her, in a robe and pajamas hair thrown into a kamikaze bun hyperventilating in her car. 

 

 

“I-I just I need to know, is he going to be hurt?, I-I don’t want to watch him get hurt again Derek like-like Tobias Hankel did!” 

 

 

Derek senses movement from the corner of his mind and looks, to see Rossi entering the room, in a t-shirt and slacks, less formal than usual considering their wake up call. Rossi only nods as a greeting and Derek sighs turning back around. 

 

 

“We are going to do everything in our power not to let that happen Penelope. But I need you with us on this. If Anyone can narrow down where the Unsub might have him it’s you.” 

 

 

“But this isn’t an unsub! It’s the Joker, there is nothing logical to that man!” 

 

 

“Hey you listen to me! That is all he is, you know how these guys work, you name them you make them gods in their own heads. He is just a man and we’re going to catch him.” 

 

 

There’s shouting and before Derek can hear the answer, he turns recognizing the voice of Harleen Quinzel, somewhere in the precinct raving mad by the sounds of it. 

 

 

“Hey I’m sorry but I gotta go, Listen just drive safe, and let us know when you get to the office. We’re going to find him, don’t give up on him. Joker’s never tangled with us before.” He says trying to keep her from panicking further and there’s the sound of more breathing before Penny shakily agrees. 

 

 

“Bye . . I love you guys.” Her voice is quiet but she’s no longer panicking as bad and Derek takes it as a mediocre win. 

 

 

The call clicks and Derek turns to see an exasperated Nightwing holding the arm of Harley Quinn who’s struggling, not enough to actually be a threat but more annoying. 

 

 

The look on his face isn’t one Derek envies. It makes him wonder briefly why Nightwing was chosen to work with their team but that vanishes as Harley tries to spit suddenly where Rossi stands. 

 

 

“Damn cops, standing around doing nothing!” She says voice barely more then a hiss “You better find that boy!” 

 

 

“I’m going to put her in Interrogation room one and see if I can’t talk her down” Nightwing sighs “ . . . In the meantime I’d look into the victim’s histories with Gotham and the Joker.” 

 

 

Nightwing’s eyes show more then he seems to be letting on, because he ducks his head and pulls a still angry Harley from the room who’s started loudly arguing with the Vigilante. 

 

 

Derek raises an eyebrow sharing a look with Rossi, who shrugs. Derek turns to the board, now cleared with just two photos pinned to the top. One of them he knows very well and the other is a man roughly the same age, thin like Reid and with light brunette hair just a few shades darker then Reids. Morgan knows from experience the hair looks a dyed color rather then natural. 

 

 

“If I didn’t know better I’d say these two are almost brothers Rossi. What exactly was Reid not telling us about Gotham.” 

 

 

“ . . . well we know it was something about his college years.” Rossi murmurs turning to face the same board, not a hint of anything but curiosity on his face. “I hate to say it but maybe this is who Reid was confused for. Harleen, seemed to know who he was.” 

 

 

Derek sighs staring at the photo, moving down to the name printed neatly below it. 

 

 

“Just who the hell is Timothy Drake.” He asked speaking to no one but himself really. Rossi sighs anyways and replies. 

 

 

“I think the better question is what was Reid hiding.” 

 

 

---

 

 

 

The team is working. Morgan and Prentiss head to the diner, teaming up with the infamous Red Hood while Rossi took Arkham Asylum alone. 

 

 

JJ was the one to pull the job of organizing the victimology while Hotchner interrogated Harleen Quinzel. 

 

 

The team did great, coming back sorting the information learning more about Reid and Timothy Drake then they thought possible. 

 

 

“Reid graduated High school at the age of 12, Reid’s father left them 2 years before hand and he attended Gotham University not long after receiving his diploma. It looks like he was home for summers in Las Vegas but while he was here he had a roommate in the form of a Gotham Prep Student by the name of One Timothy Drake.” 

 

 

Reid was in several police reports, behind a sealed juvenile file that indicated he spent a lot of time in Gotham getting kidnapped. Far more then he let on to Morgan that night at the hotel or earlier that day at the precinct. 

 

 

“Truth is I got mistaken a few times when I went to school here.” 

 

 

“Why? What was so special about you?”

 

 

“Only thing special about me was that I was smarter then all of Gotham prep. I just happened to be a near match for two extremely famous faces in Gotham.” 

 

 

“Am I allowed to know or do I need special clearance?” 

 

 

“Timothy Drake and the cat burglar Catwoman’s partner Stray.”

 

 

Reid was friends with Timothy Drake and had kept in contact all this time. All the phone calls that Derek remembered seeing Reid step out for, private calls that no one ever learned anything about no matter how many times he was asked who it was. 

 

 

“Timothy Jackson drake, born 1983, it looks like his parents were Archeologists and frequently left him home while on long trips with a nanny or sent him to boarding school. He was a b to a+ student most of the time up until-Oh-oh god . . .” 

 

 

Timothy Jackson Drake was a Joker victim. A year and a half before ever meeting Spencer. He was only 12 and the more the Team discovered the more something didn’t fit. More sealed files that were missing details. 

 

 

It didn’t take long for people start to fill in those Gaps. 

 

 

The first was Harley. Filling in the details of the report that never made it in. Harley letting it spill that Joker intended to brainwash a son out of little 12 year old Timothy Jackson. 

 

 

“I’m not his Mama!” She snaps but the anger has simmered and she moves back, lips quivering just a bit “I was never gonna be his Mama. That’s what Mistah-What Joker wanted.” 

 

 

The second was Red Hood. Gruff, impersonal or at least pretending to be, meeting agents Morgan and Prentiss while at the diner, since he wasn’t welcome on precinct grounds, per order of Gordon. 

 

 

Red Hood was the one to point out that Timothy Drake recently moved out, a detail that the team hadn’t gotten to yet. Not that Derek liked that. 

 

 

“That’s why . . . ” Morgan murmurs “Joker’s recreating the event. When did Timothy Drake actually move out?” 

 

 

Hood froze “ . . . almost 3 weeks ago” 

 

 

“Right before the first victim showed up in Arkham.” Morgan cursed “This was never a random Arkham serial killer this was planned. Timothy and Reid were a part of those plans.” 

 

 

“I’ll call Hotch” Emily piped up looking around at the mess. She hoped wherever Reid was he was at least okay even as she pulled her phone out. 

 

 

“I’ll see what I can find on the streets. Lotta people liked Tim and Reid.” Red Hood offered and Morgan shot him a look who shot a glare back raising his hands dramatically “Timothy Drake and Spencer Reid were my friends too Gumshoe. Don’t get pissy because you didn’t know him half as well as you thought.” 

 

 

It’s the arrival of Red Robin that shakes everything up. 

 

 

---

 

 

 

The world swims and Reid tries to remember why. Why was the world spinning? 

 

 

His head pounds and he blinks, and for one blissful second he’s confused why he can’t move his arms. 

 

 

It all comes spiraling back, as footsteps echo. Click, click click. Like tap shoes, and everything is back by the last click. 

 

 

Reid waits with baited breath but jolts, when a face suddenly appears to his right. He tries to move back as much as possible but the belt holding him and Tim to the chairs doesn’t do much. 

 

 

“Haha! We’ll have to fix that jumpy attitude now wont we!” Joker snickered leaning back with the laugh “no boy of mine’s gonna be no sissy when the big bad bat comes around after all.” 

 

 

Reid tries to swallow the bad taste in his mouth from hearing that. Fear would do no good here. Joker wanted to scare him but barring that? He’d be thrilled if Reid was reverent of him. Worshiping him. 

 

 

View him like a father that Reid never had in the first place.

 

 

He was grasping at strings praying that was the right fantasy Joker was going for here. Reid and Tim, two sons for a deranged father. 

 

 

“Leave m’alone.” 

 

 

Reid froze the moment Tim could be heard. Why was Tim having such a hard time speaking? What happened when Reid blacked out. 

 

 

“Now now JJ, you shouldn’t be talking, you took a hard beating earlier when you didn’t listen to papa.” Joker’s smile never strayed from his face but grew more vicious. Like a hyena that had sighted blood. Or a piranha. 

 

 

Reid knew Tim wasn't going to stay quiet so he spoke instead. 

 

 

“C-Can I know?” Reid’s voice shook but he braved a smile, as wide as he could. It made his face hurt, and the pounding in his head wasn't helping his composure. 

 

 

Joker paused but whistled, starting to swing something-that was a metal crowbar- in his hands. He walked a semi circle around until he was directly in front of Reid. 

 

 

“Know what Quinn?” Joker hummed “Come on spit it out!” 

 

 

“I-I just want to know why n-now . . . why both of us” Reid mumbled bowing his head. Quinn. 

 

 

Quinn. He was a doctor. He was taking the place of Harley here, in a Filial way. Reid suddenly remembers the case, and the card left behind. It was one of the last things he looked at before heading to the hotel. 

 

 

It had been a king with two jesters on the other side. 

 

 

Isn’t it obvious! Your both so alike! My smart smart boys! I had to bring you back together I couldn’t let you drift so apart! After all I’m proud that little Tim here finally found a dig of his own, but the time apart is doing him soft. Who funds a shelter in this family!?” Joker laughed, and kept laughing to the point Reid was starting to feel sick. 

 

 

“Not your son.” Tim rasped from behind them suddenly and Reid’s stomach dropped. “M’Hers. Selina” 

 

 

Reid glanced quickly back at Joker. The smile had fallen and the apathetic look it left behind send shivers down his spin. Joker’s face held no emotion. It was like a light switch and Reid’s fear skyrocketed when Joker started to walk. 

 

 

“No no wait! He didn’t mean it! Please, please don’t hurt him!” Reid yelled even as the sound of the footsteps moved behind him, and stopped. 

 

 

There was a grunt, and a whimper from Tim, as the chairs rocked from a heavy hit. Reid squeezed his eyes shut, even though he could already see what had happened in his imagination. It wasn’t hard to put the pieces together. He put them together at Crime scenes all the time. 

 

 

The chair rocked again and Tim cried out. Reid flinched every single time. 

 

 

---

 

 

 

“So Reid stayed with someone else while on Campus after he turned 16 right? What are the chances he stayed with Timothy Drake?” Rossi murmured aloud, where he sat at the table. The team was scattered around the room, trying to brainstorm, figure out exactly how Reid figured into the proposed fantasy of Joker’s. 

 

 

“Pretty likely, I pulled files on miss Selina Kyle and groceries went up after Reid stopped staying at the dorm which supports your theory.” Garcia’s voice echoed from the intercom in the center of the table. 

 

 

“Is there anything special about Joker’s files during those years from Arkham?” Hotch spoke up frowning as he glanced over the history written on the board. 

 

 

“It took me a while because the records were sealed and let me tell you, whoever sealed them was incredible, like not just your ordinary guru whiz on the keys-” 

 

 

“Garcia, the information?” Hotch sighed as Penelope could be heard scrambling on the other end of the line. 

 

 

“Right, r-right! As far as I can tell, Joker barely made any attempts to escape during these years, not becoming active until after Reid graduated and joined the FBI academy.” 

 

 

“So he waited until Reid left Gotham . . . why?” Morgan frowned, but the sudden clap from behind, had every agent suddenly tensing, amped from their time in Gotham. 

 

 

“I think I can shed a little light on that!” A chipper voice cut in and when everyone turned, it was a girl, in obvious spandex. 

 

 

Blonde curls pulled into a no nonsense bun, with a few strays framing her face. Her mask was different from some of the others, dipping down almost like spikes. It was a solid red, and she had a cape lined with red and black on the outside. Her sleeves were a solid black as well as her legs while her armored torso remained a brilliant scarlet. a utility belt and single bandolier strap across her shoulder held the Red Robin sigil.

 

 

It didn’t take much guessing to figure out who this was. 

 

 

---

 

 

Reid’s not sure how many hours have passed. Each time he blacks out he comes back fuzzy, and nothing in the room has changed. 

 

 

Tim hasn’t talked in a while. There’s a pained wheeze, a grunt that tells of more and more damage, and sometimes the bonds feel heavy on Reid’s wrists. Like there’s a weight on the other end as if Tim’s fallen asleep. 

 

 

Reid avoids how much it scares him. He’s not focusing on how bad Tim must be. Tim’s gotten quieter and quieter. Whether it’s reacting to the torture and apparent brainwashing Joker must be doing, or resistance to it, either way Reid isn’t brave enough to ask when Joker’s not in the room. 

 

 

There’s a creak from behind, and Reid’s whole body stiffens. The click of the heels, echoes throughout the room bouncing off walls getting closer closer closer. He hates it and takes a deep breath, holding it. 

 

 

“Quinn! Finally! Your turn for some fun my boy!” Joker’s voice is in front of him and Reid opens his eyes.

 

 

He can’t prepare for what Joker might do if he doesn’t look. 

 

 

Reid’s not paying attention the moment he casts his eyes to what Joker’s holding. Joker is still talking, saying something but Reid doesn’t hear it because his arms starting to itch and his heart begins to speed up. 

 

 

The light above them is just enough that the syringe glints from it, and Spencer doesn’t see what’s in it, he just sees the needle moving closer. 

 

 

“No, no no, please, don’t I can’t-” Reid’s rambling, all thought and reason gone. He can’t think-he can’t come up with anything other then to hold his breath as Joker’s breath fans in his face. Joker’s in front of him now, holding the syringe.

 

 

He whimpers, tears gathering in his eyes as the needle slips into his shoulder, burning as whatever is in it starts to hit his system. His eyes are skyward, blinking from the light as it suddenly breaks showering sparks across the room. 

 

 

Reid yelps but the room hasn’t gone pitch black. It’s filled with a red light now, that doesn’t make sense. There shouldn’t be a red light here in the room. 

 

 

The light suddenly blinks back to a familiar fluorescent white and Reid looks down. 

 

 

Wood flooring. Not concrete. He suddenly hears something sizzling and Reid’s heart leaps into his throat as he looks around. He’s still in the room, with Tim. He has to be. He can’t be back there. 

 

 

“Which are you boy?” A gruff voice echoes and Reid shakes his head “Which of the Seven Archangels are you pretending to be now? Nothing but a devils jester is all you are!” 

 

 

Something clicks, and Reid’s head immediately processes it as the click of a gun. Russian roulette. It’s all spinning back to him, dizzingly fast and his heart starts to pound as he flinches.

 

 

“P-Please your dead, I-I watched you-” Reid’s voice chokes twisting “I watched you die!!” 

 

 

“And now the sins of the father shall come back to haunt you.” Tobias Henkel steps out from the darkness, into the light in front of Reid. The blood is still dripping down his shirt, and Reid can only stare. He looks sad, upset. He’s not his father. 

 

 

“I watched you die.” He repeats desperately “I did it, I killed you, I-I’m the one who shot you . . . you died!” 

 

 

“Yet here we are.” Reid watch’s Tobias straighten, face switching expressions into a prideful one, a warrior like look. Raphael. 

 

 

Tobias falls backwards suddenly vanishing and Reid screams shaking in the chair. There was something wrong, his pulse was too fast, how was Tobias alive?? 

 

 

“Please! I can’t-” Reid’s voice tumbles to a stop mid sentence when a familiar figure steps out of the shadows. 

 

 

It’s Tim.

 

 

Tim, with a bright and colorful vest and white dress shirt, complete with a black bow tie. His face is paler then normal, with blush across his cheeks, and eyeliner. Tim smiles and skin splits, stitches appearing across the gaps where on each cheek the smile stretches wider then it should. 

 

 

Reid can feel his stomach twisting at the sight. It’s awful, horrible and this Tim is moving closer. 

 

 

“No, no please not you.” Spencer whispers eyes watering “Your braver then me, why did you give in?” 

 

 

“Papa fixed me!” Tim says, as if his stitched on smile makes everything better. 

 

 

“ . . . You were fine” Reid whimpered shaking his head. “Please Tim don’t leave me alone in this d-don’t go back.” 

 

 

Tim tilts his head leaning down, pressing something suddenly into Reid’s hands, with a platonic kiss to the cheek. 

 

 

“It’s your turn!” Tim chirps, moving out of the way. 

 

 

Reid stands there, knife in hand. It’s his mother, in front of him, on her knees. Her dress is ragged on the edges, dirty, and she’s been crying. Mascara stains her face where haunted blue eyes stare up at him. 

 

 

Reid can feel Tim’s breath on his shoulder, presence behind him, as Tim stretches his hands to hold Reid’s wrists. 

 

 

“It’ll be easy Spence.” He whispers. Reid can’t move. 

 

 

“W-What will be easy” Reid refuses to believe this is real. It can’t be. 

 

 

“To slit her throat. So easy, you just 1-2 and BAM!” Tim’s voice booms in Reid’s ears and he whimpers, as Tim’s grip tightens, guiding his hand back. Guiding it for a swing. “No more mom!” 

 

 

“I-I don’t want this” Reid whispers “I can’t want this I can’t!” 

 

 

“1, come on Reid count it with me! 2-” Tim’s hand guides Reid’s hand down in an effortless arc and there’s something warm on Reid’s face. It coats his mouth, as he freezes in place. 

 

 

His mother doesn’t move where she fell, blood pooling from her neck. 

 

 

“No . . .no no no no” Reid backs up, terrified. “No no no, I should have stopped you, why didn’t I stop you . . . .” 

 

 

“Because you didn’t want to!” 

 

 

Joker’s voice is somewhere, echoing and Reid spins. The room is dark, no longer lit up no longer wooden flooring and sizzling pork wafting through the air. 

 

 

His hand shakes, the wooden handle of the knife still being gripped by sweaty fingers. The realization hits and he looks at the knife in his right hand, seeing the blood dripping slowly onto the floor. 

 

 

“Didn’t it feel good?” Joker’s- no- Tim’s voice hisses in Spencer’s ears. He wants to move but his gaze is still on the knife, watching the blood.

 

 

                                                    drip

drip

                                                                               drip

 

Spencer doesn’t answer. He feels nauseated not because his mother just died in front of him, because he didn’t even bring himself to try and stop. Something is wrong with him. Something has to be wrong with him, he’s broken. Flawed, turned into something he isn’t.

 

 

Joker was winning, Spencer was cracking like a mirror chipping into too many reflections of himself. 

 

 

His hand shook, fingers spasming and the knife fell with a clatter, as his feet managed to finally move, backwards. 

 

 

Reid turned and threw up , the force so much that he ended up on his knees, then his side, shaking until exhaustion took him. The world was no more then a tired, horrible blur by the time he realized he was moving, that someone’s arms wrapped around him. 

 

 

---

 

 

 

“Another?” Emily whispers it to herself mostly but it doesn’t stop Derek from shooting her a look as she shrugs not bothered by it at all. 

 

 

What they aren’t expecting is for the girl to give a painfully familiar smile. They’ve seen that Smile every time Reid didn’t want to tell them something.

 

 

“Red Robin, the one not afraid to beat you up physically or verbally. or even emotionally.”” Her smile only grows until it’s bloomed into a calmer one, edged with a sharpness that could cut bone. 

 

 

“I would prefer if you didn’t unnerve my team, Red Robin.” Hotch didn’t hesitate to speak and Derek shot him a look. He was way too calm looking, and somewhere in there a tinge awkward. 

 

 

She grins in response and the tension Derek didn’t realize was there, is lifted as she rested a hand on her now cocked hip. 

 

 

“Well hey, this is Joker we’re dealing with. Unnerved isn’t even the start of it.” She snorts stalking past, despite Rossi’s tensing shoulders, and snatching a marker and leaning back to read the boards. “This isn’t a bad history,” She adds motioning candidly with said marker. 

 

 

“Glad you think so.” JJ murmurs scooting back to give her room. “It’s all we got.” 

 

 

“Yeah well . . . your missing some key information” She says, and her voice has gone from energetic loud, to something quieter. Derek hasn’t seen much of her but even he could tell it was out of character. 

 

 

“Is there something you could fill in for us?” Rossi beats him to it, throwing Derek a knowing look confirming they were both on the same page. 

 

 

She turns blinking, as her gaze turns sly and she winks at Rossi. Derek can’t help the snort that escapes his mouth. 

 

 

“They said you were the best profiler of your age, and they weren’t wrong.” She said chuckling before she turns back to the board, marker hesitating before she begins to write. 

 

 

Derek, sees the way Emily’s eyes widen and Rossi freezes so he gets up, stretching to see what the Vigilante has written. 

 

 

Timothy Drake becomes Stray. 

 

 

Timothy drake is stray?” Hotch repeats and Derek can’t tell if he’s upset or questioning how to tell the department. 

 

 

Then it hits him. 

 

 

“It wasn’t about Tim moving out.” Derek said moving over to the board trying not to crowd the Bat in the room. “Joker walked into that diner and killed everyone in sight not because he was hiding. He wasn’t proud of Tim.” 

 

 

“Joker spent years assuming Tim would end up like him in the end that the one month was enough to break Tim, but as soon as Tim was cleared to be on his own Tim proved him wrong.” 

 

 

“The therapy actually worked.” JJ breathed, a little in disbelief just at the words she’d said face scrunching up “In Gotham how often does that happen?” 

 

 

 “More then you’d think” RR chirps, a little bitterly. “Born and raised here, all jokes aside, Gotham looks out for it’s own.” 

 

 

“Joker took his first vic because he spouted off to the whole Asylum his influence over Tim was gone and the kid was building a life without Joker.” Red Robin was writing rapidly and Derek sat back down frowning. 

 

 

“So we have Joker wanting to gain back the son he thought was still his all these years. Where does Reid fit? Joker didn’t show back up in a big way until after Reid graduated.” Hotch questioned out loud and the team all went quiet. 

 

 

“Catwoman stopped a lot of rouges from interrupting his schooling so that could happen” A new voice echoes from the doorway and Red Robin seemed to freeze in place where she was in the middle of writing. There was a beat of silence before she sighed. 

 

 

A woman in a very familiar black outfit stood there. most of it was spandex, with a utility belt and a bullwhip hooked on one hip. the hood she was wearing came up with cat ears on top and goggles as well. Derek only knew one person with goggles and a whip. 

 

 

“Selina Kyle.” She stated quietly, the goggles suddenly coming off to reveal smudged mascara framing two jade eyes and a pale face with red lips. “I’m Tim Drake’s adoptive mother” 

 

 

There was another round of silence before the Vigilante in the room snorted. 

 

 

“Let’s be honest here, your his mom Selina.” Red Robin murmured stepping around the table “You sure you wanted them to know? You could have come in anonymously.” 

 

 

The girl reached out for a hug surprising the agents, Derek especially who didn’t think any of the vigilantes would associate with the thief. Selina took it, the embrace tight enough that he could see there was some sort of genuine care between the two. 

 

 

“They need all the facts. To find both my boys.” She murmured quietly eyes shutting for just a moment before she let go, and Stephanie stepped back. Her gaze settled across everyone else. “I’m the one who took in Reid after Diana landed in the hospital. I couldn’t convince him to send her to a facility but I gave him a warm place to stay that wasn’t a dorm while he went to school.” 

 

 

“ . . .So that’s why Reid was so close with Tim.” Garcia’s voice spoke up softly suddenly from the intercom. “They grew up together like brothers.” 

 

 

“Got it in one.” Selina smiled, but it didn’t land right. She sighed and it dropped a second later. “Reid and Tim are brothers. If Joker took both of them it’s because he changed his plans.”

 

 

Rossi suddenly stood “That’s it . . . What’s the one thing that’s always shutting down the schools in Gotham?” 

 

 

“Rouge attacks . . .” Robin’s voice echoed, her own eyes widening as she suddenly seemed to pick up on what Rossi was saying “But that’s . . . that’s crazy.” 

 

 

“He wanted Reid to finish school.” Rossi nods “He sees something in Reid something tied to his own past, or one of the many he’s fabricated. Hell he might have made up a new one to connect to Reid. He sees Reid as Tim’s brother, that’s why he took both of them.” 

 

 

“It’s a package deal, Joker needs both of them, he’s going to recreate what he tried to do with Tim. Both as a way to undo all Tim’s progress and gain a new son as well.” Derek narrowed his eyes. 

 

 

Selina looked on the edge of a breakdown and JJ quickly offered her a chair, even as the feline antihero shook her head. “There’s no Harley to stop him this time . . .” 

 

 

“Then let’s go through the locations. Last time Joker pulled this stunt it was amusement mile.” Robin began to write on the board again writing location after location. 

 

 

“He won’t go back there.” Derek shook his head “It would only serve as a reminder of Harley and the failure he had with Tim. Someplace else, something important to the two of them maybe. Joker’s all about symbolism sometimes isn’t he?” 

 

 

“Symbolism . . ” Emily frowned. “ . . . The card left at the first victims cell . . . it was a modified poker card with a King on one side and 2 Jester on the other.” 

 

 

“Joker doesn’t use Kings . . . He views them as batman” Selina shook her head “Why would he leave that . . .” 

 

 

“Because he wanted to rewrite the symbolism.” Rossi murmured “He’s the king and the boys have become the Jesters.” 

 

 

“This was highly premeditated.” Derek leaned over the table, glancing down at all the photos. “From luring us here, to taking them . . . wherever he’s got them it’s someplace just as planned. Something with meaning to Reid and Timothy of them.” 

 

 

Selina suddenly choked on her air taking a step back “ . . . Joker escaped from Arkham the year Reid Graduated with his Bachelors . . I never paid it any mind I just thought it was a normal escape . . .” 

 

 

“I bet if we look back on the history we’ll find other escapes line up with one of the boys achievements.” Hotch muttered “Garcia do you have anything yet that’s a match?” 

 

 

“I do! sending it to your PDA’s now, the dorms that the two shared got partially destroyed after a Joker bombing two years ago, but one of the buildings is still standing” She blurted, the clicking of keys evident as Robin suddenly stalked over to the window. 

 

 

“Selina Kyle.” 

 

 

There was an unmistakable air of tension as Derek and the rest of the team froze where Hotch was facing the woman. 

 

 

“ . . .There’s a lot of things about this case that I can’t agree with but knowing that you were there for Reid . . . If you stay here there’s something we can work out. Something where no one gets unmasked and the bureau will still accept the paper work.” 

 

 

“Your asking me to help fabricate your case for your boss so you don’t have to include me?” 

 

 

“I’m asking you to be Selina Kyle. Catwoman never showed up here. Timothy Drake wasn’t stray” Hotch’s words were heavy but Derek frowned. 

 

 

“Hotch are you really sure?” He asked taking a step back “No offense but I can’t even list all the robbery your involved in on both hands.” 

 

 

“ . . .I care more about my son then my career.” Selina stood hands shaking but her gaze steady. “if it takes sacrificing my career as Catwoman for the rest of my life . . .I will, just get them back.” 

 

 

 

---

 

 

 

Hissing. Ringing. 

 

 

It’s a live wire inside his ears that his hands reach up to claw at desperate to stop the static. 

 

 

his hands don't move. 

 

 

Spencer’s senses are slowly coming back in full swing rapidly and chaotically. Hearing jolting from static to pops then onto the dull sound of a fan. Touch registers the waft of air that comes from the fan. 

 

 

Spencer’s own heartbeat drums in his ears like a waking alarm and he squints to understand why everything is so bright when he tries to open his eyes. 

 

 

He’s still in the room. 

 

 

He’s not tied. He is? He’ . . . Spencer’s hands are no longer bound but there’s a heavy weight around his wrists. 

 

 

He stares down and there’s hand cuffs. Handcuffs and the remains of a leather belt broken into a usuable restraint tying the handcuffs to the chair. 

 

 

He squeezes his eyes shut, head shooting back to face the ceiling trying not to panic at the image. 

 

 

It’s not Raphael, not Henkel can’t be can’t. He thinks trying to convince himself. 

 

 

“OH goodie your up!”

 

 

He jumps and remembers where he is. Details are fuzzy but Joker’s leer and Tim- oh god he shot-

 

 

Reid tries not to throw up, swallowing the bile at the back of his throat making it burn. 

 

 

“You seem quiet! Thinking with that big PHD BRAIN of yours I suppose!” Joker’s eyes are dilated and wide, he’s been in-taking something , probably a form of gas knowing Him. His face is oddly . . human. 

 

 

He looks like a normal man, underneath the white and the green and red lips. It’s almost worst that he doesn’t look horrible under it all. A horrible irony. 

 

 

it occurs to him that he has no idea what to ask so he just asks what the first thing to come to mind is. 

 

 

“W-Where’s Tim.” 

 

 

“Your brother is learning his lesson.” Joker’s tone is unnervingly calm like he’s describing doing the dishes or taking out the trash. 

 

 

The fuzziness in his head becomes even more apparent and when he thinks back trying to remember what happened to Tim he stares at the floor. 

 

 

His mother wasn’t there. There wasn’t a blood stain. 

 

 

“W-What happened to my mom t-to- I shot her, I shot her-” 

 

 

Reid’s heart rate increases and shame flushes through him but he ignores it. He’ll get out of this, he’ll find Tim, his mom. He didn’t shoot her, he couldn’t have. 

 

 

Find a way out. No matter what it meant. 

 

 

“Of course Quinn!” Joker’s laugh echoes around the room and Reid tries not to recoil before rough hands suddenly pinch his jaws and his head is forced to look where the hands direct him to. 

 

 

Joker’s breath smells like what Reid imagines a corpse’s does. He tries not to gag but Joker leans forward and he does. 

 

 

“I’ll have to thank ole straw-bags for the fun! Certainly bringing you up to shape isn’t it” 

 

 

Drugs. Reid is trying to think but it’s so loud, the pain the fear and he shivers. 

 

 

The hands let go and he goes limp trying to regulate his breathing. 

 

 

those nails scrape into Reid's scalp like he’s trying to soothe a child and churning acid begins to form a pit where his stomach should be.

 

 

“Just you wait boyo, I’ve got your inauguration alll ready . . Now get your rest” 

 

 

Reid doesn’t register the needle until he feels it leave and by then it’s too much, too late and he slumps, feeling whatever this is, hit his system instantaneously.

 

 

He’s dizzily going through statistics of what it could be as Joker’s presence seems to leave. 

 

 

Joker’s shoes click. A heavy sound that Reid can feel etching, worming it’s way into his memory. Into his future nightmares.

 

 

The door clicks. There’s a scrape and a click. Locked. 

 

 

That’s the last thing he remembers after he goes limp again. 

 

 

---

 

 

“Penelope Garcia?” 

 

 

“I'm here what do you need?” 

 

 

Red Robin’s curls bounce as her head lifts in what looks like a short prayer muttered under her breath and then her eyes fly open. Robin’s expression turns a grim serious that Derek remembers on Gideon's face. 

 

 

“I need you to do me a favor and try to hack into Timothy drakes phone. When you get a message back explain who you are and tell them Red Robin sends her regards. Oracle will help you.” Is all Red Robin states and the blond smirks when there's a sputter over the line. She hands it back to Derek who shakes his head.

 

 

Derek tries not to smile until he remembers why Garcia will need Oracle and then it’s tucked away, far away. 

 

 

“Alright.” Hotch faces his team Red Robin unprofessionally leaning casually to the side of the SUV. “We go in in teams and locate Reid and Timothy the moment we find either of them radio in. This might be Gotham but we still have a duty to uphold.” 

 

 

“I’ll be hacked into the feeds before we get out.’ Robin declares with a mock salute being given before she folds the staff back. “You guys find any bio-weapons alert me and I’ll handle them.” 

 

 

“Shouldn’t we wait for the FBI Chemical unit to handle that?” JJ speaks up and Derek throws her a look. He knows she doesn’t get it like he does, like Spencer- He sighs. Like Spencer does. 

 

 

Red snorts pulling out a grapple and stepping to the side back behind all of them, within clear shot range of the roof. “If I did that we’d have half of it stolen and back on the streets. Sweet of you to care but not going to work in Gotham.” 

 

 

The grapple launches and Robin is gone a minute later. 

 

 

“Let’s go” Hotch orders and then they’re on the way in. 

 

 

---

 

 

Reid comes to with the sound of chains.

 

 

rattling and a large scraping sound like someone is pulling something. 

 

 

His heart rate spikes against his will forcing blood to rush in his ears and he blinks. 

 

 

He’s met with blurry iron grating from an angle that can only be laying down on his side. He blinks again and the figure that’s moving in the back gets clearer. 

 

 

“My boy! Your with the living! Now do I have a surprise for you!” 

 

 

Reid feels the panic in his limbs and he moves, thoughts jumbling trying to tell him something but everything is swimming like he’s underwater. Nothing is clear so he moves out of instinct. 

 

 

He doesn’t get very far, just barely able to sit up, balanced on his palms like he’s fainted. The black pumps and disgusting purple dress pants are directly in front of him and then it’s Joker’s face in his. 

 

 

Reid flinches back but he doesn’t make a noise, head clearing with the adrenaline, just enough that he swallows the fear. Playing along as far as he could. That’s what he needed to do. Right? 

 

 

“Your brother will be here any minute!” Joker declares standing up with open arms theatrically smiling. It’s wider then it should be. 

 

 

Reid looks around choosing to ignore it. 

 

 

There in what looks like an old class room, dust on every surface. The desks are piled in a corner, over flowing and a few are cracked. There is a bare hint of light, however dim, from the small windows against the far wall. Sub basement if Reid had to guess. An old school facility. 

 

 

he turns back around and there’s a tub. 

 

 

A tub like an old wash basin. Not nearly big enough to fit a small child but maybe a baby. His concern is the green in it. 

 

 

Green hissing acid that Reid remembers reading about in perfect clarity. The rumored incident at Ace chemicals. He looks up and Joker’s smile hasn’t wavered a second. There's a shuffle from the entry of someone else and he feels throw-up at the base of his throat threatening to come up.

 

 

No, no no, not Tim

 

 

“Papa.” 

 

 

He’s wearing a different outfit. Suspenders, the black pumps, a dark green pair of suit pants and his hair has been haphazarly cut short . 

 

 

Tim’s eyes meet his. An odd mix of teal that Reid learned to call a friends for years now. 

 

 

They don’t hold any emotion, despite the wide smile on Tim’s lips. Perched like a madman's, it’s not a friendly grin. 

 

 

“T-Tim?” Reid whispers. 

 

 

A loud slap echoes and Reid’s face burns and he whimpers crouched to the side. 

 

 

“It’s JJ!” Joker’s voice hisses and the Clown's breath fans Reids face as he nods rapidly hoping to calm the Joker for the moment. 

 

 

“I-I’m sorry, it . . it wont happen again.” He whispers back. 

 

 

“Good!” Joker cheers a loud clap echoing as Reid looks back up again. 

 

 

Tim hasn’t moved an inch but his smile has. It’s drooped, a little less wide a little more sad. There’s a gleam in his eyes that wasn’t there before. 

 

 

Joker’s not facing Tim. Tim shakes his head. Reid’s heart soars for a second and he lowers his head trying to think. 

 

 

Joker’s talking again and Reid listens. It’s a plan, a grand finale. A way to seal the deal. 

 

 

Reid’s horror increases as he raises his head to stare at the bubbling green acid sitting in the old metal tub. 

 

 

A chime echoes from a speaker above, half hissing and half static but a familiar chime that Reid recognizes from too many years of school. 

 

 

“Wait!” He blurts just as Joker reaches for him and Joker just laughs. “Wait please I-I’m not ready yet!” 

 

 

Joker doesn’t listen. 

 

 

Reid is dragged closer and closer and then he’s leaned over the acid so close he can feel sizzling if he really focuses. 

 

 

Theres a click. Joker freezes and Reid feels the hand at the back of his neck let go. He lurches to the side wheezing trying to catch his air and when he looks back up it’s not the scene he expects. 

 

 

There’s the sound of a door slamming down the hallway and feet and Reid knows it’s his team. 

 

 

“JJ son think about this! You and me and Quinn forever! Like we always planned” Joker laughs but for the first time Reid hears how nervous he is. How human.

 

 

The gun in Tim’s hands doesn’t shake, doesn’t lower. 

 

 

“Let me tell you old man” Tim begins to talk and laughs, a crazy pained sound that Reid hears echo in his memories. “When I say I have dreamed of this moment!” Tim is devolving into giggles and Reid stands up holding out a hand. 

 

 

Tim’s eyes flicker back and forth between Joker and Reid and Reid prays that he can do this. He’s tired, he hurts there’s a shaking he doesn’t think will leave his hands even as he holds out an open palm. 

 

 

“T-Tim you don’t have to do this.” Reid whispers. 

 

 

“Spence Spencer! What make ya think it will ever end any fucking better!” Tim’s voice shakes but the gun only waves, and when it settles back on Joker it’s steady. 

 

 

“Because.” Reid breathes stalking closer seeing the way tears begin to fall. They sweep wide down Tim’s cheeks but the man doesn’t glance anywhere but Joker. “T-This won’t solve anything. He’ll still have hurt you. Killing him doesn’t fix you. Tim please just give me the gun . . .” 

 

 

Things go silent. 

 

 

Just shaky breaths and Tim’s soft sniffles. 

 

 

Then he smiles, but it’s wet. Full of sorrow and tears and a decision that Reid can’t-won’t stop. The sounds down the hall are getting louder. 

 

 

“You always were a flawed little brat.” Joker’s voice hisses behind Reid and Tim jolts. 

 

 

“You-” Tim’s voice shakes and Reid turns just in time to see Joker lunge forward face full of fury. 

 

 

BANG! 

 

---

 

 

Derek rushes into the room gun raised but quickly lowers it even as the others follow suit behind him. 

 

 

Reid raises a tired grime stained face from where he’s sat on the floor holding a sobbing Timothy drake. 

 

 

The Joker is laying dead on the ground behind them and a gun has been shoved across the floor to the other side of the classroom out of the reach of anyone. 

 

 

Reid doesn’t say anything but buries his face back into Tim’s shoulder. 

 

 

---

 

 

It’s a tearful reunion at the hospital where they take Tim and Reid.

 

 

Timothy refused to let himself be separated from Reid so the hospital put them both in the same room at Bruce Wayne’s request. 

 

 

Selina hadn’t left Tim’s bedside since everything went down, and the BAU had gotten their statements and were set to be out on the next plane. 

 

 

Reid wasn’t sure he was going with them. He wasn't sure if he was going to go back at all anytime soon.

 

 

There’s a cough and Reid looks up smiling when he realized who it was. 

 

 

“Come to see me off?” He joked just a little knowing that it would get an answer out of Derek who at first flinched before settling into his famous smile. 

 

 

“C’mon boy genius like Hotch would let you go home this early after a stunt like today."

 

 

Reid’s smile vanishes and he doesn’t say anything. The beeping of the machines echoes but Reid lets them. The quiet is kind of nice. The machines remind him that he’s in the hospital so he doesn’t spiral. 

 

 

“You know” He states “I’ve . . never gotten infected with Fear toxin before?” 

 

 

The memories of it even brings Reid’s heart rate up and he swallows trying to calm himself down, just to be able to talk about it. 

 

 

Derek stands there shifting his weight from one foot to the other and fiddling with the watch on his wrist. 

 

 

“Look kid, we don’t have to talk if you don’t want to, really-” 

 

 

“. . . I saw my mom.” He whispers and Derek goes silent. “I killed her. Like it was nothing, and before that I-I saw . . I saw Tobias Henkel.” 

 

 

“Reid.” Derek’s voice gets Reid’s attention the way Derek barks out the word and he looks up. There’s too much emotion swimming in Reid’s head. Derek’s gaze softens “It wasn’t real. You know that.” 

 

 

“I-i know . . but how am I supposed to move on after something that has tricked me into believing it was real.” 

 

 

“You find ways to disprove it” 

 

 

There’s a very quiet voice from the nearby bed and Spencer turns to see Tim’s tired, tear streaked face and bloodshot eyes facing him. Tim doesn’t smile, a haunting thing but he does nod. 

 

 

“You prove it wrong every day. Every choice you make for you and you never look back. Even when you want to throw up, you want to cry. Cry, throw up but don’t look back.” Tim’s voice is hoarse. Like he’s been crying since he got here. 

 

 

But it’s the strongest Reid has heard him. 

 

 

Anthony Brandt wrote, “Other things may change us, but we start and end with family.”