Work Text:
Garcia has already snatched away a plushie, two fluffy pens and a glittery snow globe when Reid picks up a desk buddy. He toys with the wobbly head of a cat before placing it back.
He reaches out a hand for the troll and shakes its wild hair with a small smile. It dies on his lips when Garcia glares at him.
“Put it down.”
He fumbles with it, as it falls in his haste. It takes three attempts to get it to stand back up in its rightful place.
“Sorry.” He says softly.
“You want something to do? You can stop touching my things”
Reid waits until she turns to pull a face. As Garcia types, he rocks back in the chair, his good foot tapping against the floor. Garcia's shoulders tense.
“Reid, I swear on all that is good, I will break your other leg.”
The tapping stops.
Garcia watches Reid at the second computer. His brow furrows as he carefully presses individual keys one finger at a time.
“What are you doing?”
“Typing?”
“You’re too slow; here, give”
“I was doing it!”
“Not fast enough.”
Reid sighs as Garcia yanks the keyboard away from him. He leans back, shifting in the chair.
“Did you know that sitting in front of a screen in this level of light, for as many hours as you do, probably contributes to immense eye strain?”
“Reid, I love you, but right now you are contributing to an oncoming migraine.”
“That could also be because of the amount of time you spend in front of a scr-“ Reid trails off as Garcia glares at him pointedly. He wrinkles his nose awkwardly and turns back to his own screen where he can see information from the database.
He drums his fingers against the desk where the keyboard Garcia confiscated used to reside.
Garcia pinches the bridge of her nose and exhales. Reid frowns as he stares at the bank transfers popping up on Garcia’s computer.
“How come my screen looks different from yours?” he asks
“Do you think you could hack the necessary security systems required to find the bank details of two major finance corporations?”
“Well, no, but I could do more than… this?”
“Oh, sugar, know your limits. You’re a genius at everything except technology. I just gave you something to keep you occupied whilst I worked.”
“Busy work? You gave me busy work!” Reid snaps defensively.
“You wanted something to do.”
“Something useful, not… not like when you’re at school, and the teacher doesn’t have anything for you to do!”
“Well, maybe you should have thought about that before you lied to Hotch and said you were cleared to travel.”
“I didn’t lie. I told you, it was a second opinion.”
“Oh, please. It was a lie, and you know it.”
Reid huffs as he moves around in the chair, trying to get comfortable. The brace knocks against the office chair, and he winces.
“What now?”
“My knee hurts.”
Garcia turns from the computer; all trace of frustration gone as her face creases with concern.
“Can I get you anything? Do you want some pain relief?”
Reid shakes his head.
“No. No, I don’t want to take any pain medication.”
“Oh.” Garcia’s acknowledgement is soft. Reid licks his lips nervously. He swallows and rubs the top of his leg.
“What can I do?”
“Punch me in the leg”, blurts Reid, raising his head swiftly.
“What?”
“Yeah. Yeah, you could punch me in the leg. It’s a…it’s a distraction!” He flaps his hands animatedly. “Diffuse noxious inhibitory control! If I focus on that, then the pain in my knee won’t feel as bad.”
“Reid, I am not punching you in the leg.”
“No, it’s okay, you’ll be helping me.” He rolls back slightly in the chair, granting access “Punch the other leg, not the one with the brace, okay?”
“Reid…..”
“Please? It’s conditioned pain modulation; it allows a painful stimulus to increase the threshold – argggh!”
He crumples forward, clutching at his good leg as Garcia punches his thigh with force.
“Did it work?”
Reid winces and stares up at her in surprise. The pain in his knee is forgotten in the wake of the throbbing from the impact of Garcia’s fist.
“Yeah. Yeah! It did! Thanks.”
“Good. Now let me work, or next time it’s your face.”