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1. Drowning (Coming Up For Air) by GarlicBreadforJuliusCaesar for Nock_and_Bolt

   Fandoms: Criminal Minds (US TV)  

   • Mature
   • Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings, No Archive Warnings Apply
   • Gen
   • Complete Work

   20 Dec 2025

   Tags

   • Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
   • No Archive Warnings Apply
   • The BAU Team & Spencer Reid
   • Spencer Reid
   • Aaron Hotchner
   • Derek Morgan
   • Emily Prentiss
   • Jennifer "JJ" Jareau
   • Penelope Garcia
   • David Rossi
   • Mental Breakdown
   • Spencer Reid Needs a Hug
   • Spencer Reid Gets a Hug
   • Emotional Hurt/Comfort
   • Suicidal Thoughts
   • Implied/Referenced Suicide
   • Implied/Referenced Self-Harm
   • mentions of drug usage
   • Temporary Amnesia
   • some graphic imagery
   • including an extended drowning metaphor
   • The BAU Team as Family (Criminal Minds)
   • Case Fic
   • Non-Canonical Trauma
   • Spencer Reid Whump
   • Angst with a Happy Ending
   • Everyone helps Spencer recover from his trauma

   Summary

   Spencer is usually good at treading water.

   His life has been a slow drip of trauma, only broken up by torrents and floods. When it rains, he supposes. He can’t remember ever being fully above water. He’s always at least half-drowning. Life has always been a constant battle of keeping afloat, keeping his head up enough to suck in trembling breaths. He swims. He tries to float. He’s gotten good at swimming. At least, good enough not the drown.

   Usually, at least.

   Right now, Spencer’s on the bottom of the lake. He’s slowly drowning, watching as the bubbles drift up from his mouth. He’s drowning. And this time, he actually will.

   ---

   Spencer has a mental health episode, and his family rally around to help

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   English

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