Chapter Text
"This wouldn't happen to be about the city hall investigation would it?"
"Actually this is a bit more...personal."
Derek and David both flashed their badges in unison, causing the man across them to straighten his stance slightly. He was trying to appear in control of a situation where he had no clue of the outcome. Behind him, the sweet receptionist poured far more attention than needed into reshuffling a pile of papers.
"How so?"
"It's about your son."
Now, they expected shock, or even concern. What they got instead was a look of contempt. Maybe even anger? William had the audacity to roll his eyes at the pair of agents.
"I don't have a son."
"Oh cut the bullsh-"
"Hello, dad."
Spencer had abruptly returned from the bathroom, sadly not looking much better than a few minutes prior. His eyes were bloodshot and his hands refused to stop shaking. If the others didn't know any better, they'd assume he had relapsed.
"Hello. It's been a long time, hasn't it?"
"Well who's fault is that?" the harsh tone was predictable in this circumstance, yet it still shocked the two seasoned profilers. They had never heard anything like that from the young doctor.
"I'm not sure you want to have this conversation Infront of your co-workers. We both know I'm not the bad guy here."
Red flags were going off like police sirens in Derek's head. Glancing over to his right, he could tell Rossi was in the same boat. This was textbook gaslighting: try to push the blame off yourself and onto the victim. By the looks of the small flicker of doubt in his best friend's eyes, this tactic was somewhat working. Had he heard this all before?
From the triumphant look on his father's face, definitely assuming victory, the answer was an obvious yes.
"Why don't we speak in your office, Mr Reid?"
"Of course, follow me. Sorry in advance about all the mess. It's organised chaos I swear!"
Just like a switch, William's mood was back to being carefree and welcoming. His smile felt so fake that Morgan wanted to punch it off him.
'Chill, nothing too bad has happened yet. You already know he's a bit of a twat. No awesome person leaves their kid at ten years old.'
The trio were lead down a very bland hallway, with only one window that showed a lovely view of an alleyway covered in graffiti. Beneath their feet, an emerald green carpet seemed to be holding on for dear life, almost completely frayed at the edges that line both walls.
A few paintings were scattered around, all displaying old, white, business men in classic suits or tuxedos. Thanks to its strong smell lingering throughout the building, it was clear this place had recently been repainted.
Overall, it was a lifeless block of offices that housed equally lifeless people.
Mr Reid's office was no different.
It had a simple dark grey door with a foggy window you couldn't see through from outside.
Once everyone piled inside, its owner offered a round of coffee, which went declined. This caused him to reluctantly sit down behind his desk, feeling slightly cornered.
"Now, do you want to explain why you denied having son to two FBI agents, or are we gonna do this the hard way?"
"I didn't realise that's what this was about." short, precise answers. Straight to the point with no readable infliction. Lawyer through and through.
David leaned forward from where he was perched on the arm of the couch.
"I'm too tired to play these games. Just be cooperative and we can all go about our day."
Neither one seemed willing to back down, both locked in some sort of private battle of glares. Meanwhile, Morgan was far more interested in the other Reid in the room.
He was the only one who had made zero attempt to sit down. All of his limbs were moving in one way or another, from bouncing legs to twirling hair around thumbs. Now, Spencer wasn't exactly the world's most outgoing person, but he made sure to speak his mind when needed. Why was he silent now then? Better yet, why did he look....afraid to talk? Where's the anger from before?
Personally, if Derek met the man who abandoned him, after over a decade of no contact, he'd be talking with his fists.
Something was...off... though he couldn't quite put his finger on it.
"Look, you came here to my place of work, which means this must be important. Either get on with it or I'll have to kindly ask you to leave." William was getting nervous; defensive. They hadn't even started questioning him yet.
"Do you know anything about a boy called Riley Jenkins?"
"Riley-?" the man glanced at his son, realisation gracing his features, "Ah yes. He was on your baseball team that I coached. Except, he could actually hit a ball and play sports like a normal boy."
Such pure venom hissed into those last two words confused the older profilers.
"Maybe because his dad didn't force him into doing things he adamantly hated."
"Oh we both know that wasn't the problem."
"Gentlemen." Rossi cleared his throat, "let's get back to the topic please."
"Of course."
"Mr Reid, do you happen to remember much about the circumstances of Riley's death?"
"I'm not the one with an eidetic memory."
"Wow real mature man. Truly the words of an innocent guy who wants to help out with an investigation." Derek was seriously sick of William, so sue him for letting some sarcasm slip.
"Listen dad-"
"I thought I had 'lost the right to call myself your dad'." the condescending smirk and exaggerated air quotes made something in Spencer snap.
He wasn't a child anymore. He was a fully grown man working for the BAU. He had three doctorates and a growing list of bachelor degrees. This idiotic coward who couldn't handle taking care of his own child could not talk down to him like that.
"Yes, yes you did. That's what happens when you run away from home because your son tries to tell you who he really is. You're a selfish bastard that never even tried to accept me. Fuck you. Fuck every single one of your 'lessons' on being normal. Fuck all your attempts to get me into the girliest clothes you could find. Fuck each time you made sure mum's delusions made her forget the real me and reinforced your views. And an especially big fuck you for every time you used that god awful name, knowing just what it did to me."
A stunned silence consumed that tiny office. Even the birds outside ceased all their singing. Rage flowed off the youngest in waves, through his ragged breaths, as well as full body tremors.
He wasn't the only angry one.
"You little shit! You can paint me as evil all you like, but I was just trying to make sure you actually survived in this world. It's not my fault you threw away the lovely baby girl I had and changed it into.... this. I'm truly disappointed, Samantha.
Spencer didn't register slamming doors behind him, or charging out into the street. His feet carried him until his body physically could not go any further. With no clue where he ended up, his only logical move was to drop his head into his hands and sob.