Reid, unlike most people, has never really had the luxury of drifting. For some people he knows, the question of finding a career as opposed to a job hadn't really become a serious one until later in life but for Reid, the offers had come early and often. Being a child genius doesn't go unnoticed, though for a time, Reid had been keen on the idea of taking on a position to do research for curing schizophrenia. He'd taught the occasional class at Caltech until he'd attended a seminar conducted by Jason Gideon. Not long after that, Reid had followed Gideon across the country to join the FBI.
It'd been more complicated than that, of course, there'd been a lot of hoops to jump through because of his age, not to mention his sheer inability to adequately pass the physical portions of testing that would qualify him; but Gideon had been a strong ally, possibly the best Reid has ever known, and he'd been well-respected enough by his peers that they'd been convinced to give Reid a shot. He'd like to think he hadn't disappointed any of them. Even with his mentor long gone, he's certain he hadn't disappointed Gideon in the same way it sounds like Riley hadn't disappointed his best friend.
Still, as much as he loves his career, there are just some days that make him remember just how difficult it can be.
"This has been my purpose for almost fifteen years," Reid says. "I've been doing this a long time, too, I know the drill. I know I can't save everyone but that doesn't make it any easier when we don't. There's another family out there that doesn't have time, Detective Riley. It's supposed to be my job to figure out how to stop this guy, and I'm failing. Eventually, the question isn't going to be 'who's the unsub,' it's going to be 'why don't you know who the unsub is?'"
As if on cue, there's a crash against the door from its other side, followed by an aggravated grunt before the door is flung open to reveal a harried looking officer. Reid frowns at the sight of him, tilting his head as he takes in the look on the officer's face.
"Rodriguez, what is it?"
"Doctor Reid, someone called! There was a call, I-- I mean, a call about him, the suspect! Er, the unsub, someone said they saw a guy matching his description across town!"
For the first time since the whole ordeal had started, Reid feels something that feels like hope flutter in his chest, and he scrapes his chair back as he leaps to his feet with wide eyes. It could be nothing, he reminds himself, it could be a prank or an excitable person with terrible observational skills, but it could also be something. "You're getting a squad car ready?" he asks.
Rodriguez nods, so hard Reid thinks he might give himself whiplash, and pulls his keys from his pockets. "Right now, Doc, I thought maybe you'd want to join me."
"Absolutely, I do," Reid tells him, and Rodriguez grins broadly before nodding and running off with the promise of meeting at the car. Reid bites down on the inside of his cheek, forcing himself to remain composed as he glances down at Riley, though he can't keep the spark of excitement out of his eyes. "Maybe you were right. Maybe we just needed to give it a little time."
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It'd been more complicated than that, of course, there'd been a lot of hoops to jump through because of his age, not to mention his sheer inability to adequately pass the physical portions of testing that would qualify him; but Gideon had been a strong ally, possibly the best Reid has ever known, and he'd been well-respected enough by his peers that they'd been convinced to give Reid a shot. He'd like to think he hadn't disappointed any of them. Even with his mentor long gone, he's certain he hadn't disappointed Gideon in the same way it sounds like Riley hadn't disappointed his best friend.
Still, as much as he loves his career, there are just some days that make him remember just how difficult it can be.
"This has been my purpose for almost fifteen years," Reid says. "I've been doing this a long time, too, I know the drill. I know I can't save everyone but that doesn't make it any easier when we don't. There's another family out there that doesn't have time, Detective Riley. It's supposed to be my job to figure out how to stop this guy, and I'm failing. Eventually, the question isn't going to be 'who's the unsub,' it's going to be 'why don't you know who the unsub is?'"
As if on cue, there's a crash against the door from its other side, followed by an aggravated grunt before the door is flung open to reveal a harried looking officer. Reid frowns at the sight of him, tilting his head as he takes in the look on the officer's face.
"Rodriguez, what is it?"
"Doctor Reid, someone called! There was a call, I-- I mean, a call about him, the suspect! Er, the unsub, someone said they saw a guy matching his description across town!"
For the first time since the whole ordeal had started, Reid feels something that feels like hope flutter in his chest, and he scrapes his chair back as he leaps to his feet with wide eyes. It could be nothing, he reminds himself, it could be a prank or an excitable person with terrible observational skills, but it could also be something. "You're getting a squad car ready?" he asks.
Rodriguez nods, so hard Reid thinks he might give himself whiplash, and pulls his keys from his pockets. "Right now, Doc, I thought maybe you'd want to join me."
"Absolutely, I do," Reid tells him, and Rodriguez grins broadly before nodding and running off with the promise of meeting at the car. Reid bites down on the inside of his cheek, forcing himself to remain composed as he glances down at Riley, though he can't keep the spark of excitement out of his eyes. "Maybe you were right. Maybe we just needed to give it a little time."