Archive of Our Own ^beta

It had been over a month since Reid had been shot in the knee. He had finally been cleared to go back to the office, but hadn’t been cleared for field work yet. It was killing him. He felt useless. Like he couldn’t do anything. He hated it.

The crutches were helping, but they were a constant reminder that he couldn’t do his job properly. Even though he had to stay in Quantico, he was grateful that Garcia was there with him. She made him take breaks, find new hobbies, and keep his mind off the injury.

One day, he came into work and Garcia had her sewing kit, with her bedazziler. When the team came back from their case, they found Reid’s crutches. “What did you DO?” They heard Reid yell in the bullpen. What they didn’t know was while he was nose deep in old case files, she stole them. For her own amusement.

The sight before them was something. Reid’s crutches were not only had rhinestones on them, but feathers were everywhere (accept the part where his armpits went of course), the glitter was impossible to get off. “Oh you know, just a little DIY. Your crutches were so boring anyway,” She said, as if it was no big deal.

“They were practical!” He argued. “Now, now they’re-they’re“ He started, but she cut him off.

“Fabulous? Amazing? Wonderful?” She finished, while his face was horrified.

Hotch and Rossi were already dreading the upcoming lecture to the two. “This is going to be a long few months,” Rossi remarked, as they still had a long way to go before Reid was cleared to be in the field.

The next incident was the Caffeine Intake Challenge of 2009. Garcia downed three Red Bulls, while Reid downed FOUR. In an hour. Before the team was scheduled to land after a case. “Garcia, I’m telling you. Birds, namely, pigeons, AREN’T REAL!” He rambled a mile a minute, as they were sitting across from each other in the break room.

Garcia was fully intrigued in the conversation. “I mean, it makes so much sense. Have you ever seen a baby pigeon?” She asked, just as the two senior profilers were walking in.

Reid shook his head. “You’re so right. And-and the reason why they don’t get electrocuted when sitting on the phone wires? It’s THEIR CHARGING PORTS!” He exclaimed, not realizing that Hotch and Rossi were witnessing the whole thing.

Hotch sighed, running his hand down his face. “Alright, you’re not getting in trouble. I just want to know. Who’s idea was it?” He asked, as the two of them both pointed at each other.

“How much caffeine have you had?” Rossi asked, crossing his arms as he was afraid of their answers.

As soon as they heard the numbers, both were suspended from anything stronger than coffee. The next morning when they walked in, there was a sign on the break room door, that said ‘NO ENERGY DRINKS. PERIOD’. While Garcia and Reid both looked mortified, while the rest of the team laughed.

They really sold their bond while on a video call, helping the team. They were bickering relentlessly about something stupid. Who could finish their crossword faster. Reid had timed them, and it was only a split-second difference. “Alright, that’s enough. Reid, Garcia, what information do you have on the victim?” Hotch asked, and the two of them went back to business.

“How much longer do we have until he’s back here?” Rossi asked, still weary of the chaos those two were causing.

Hotch sighed, as he too was counting down the days until Reid was under their thumb. Not left to his own devices. “Not soon enough,”

On a particular slow day, Garcia had the bright idea to bring her hair straightener. Reid’s paperwork had been finished, but he was still needed to help out with the profile. To pass the time, Garcia brought it upon herself to straighten his unruly hair.

It was some task. It took hours. But when she was finally done, she of course needed a picture for posterity. He swore her to secrecy, making her swear that this never happened, and never leaves her office.

Just like always, he was wrong to trust her. The next day he came in, he found that picture under the ‘no caffeine’ sign. “YOU PROMISED!” He yelled, feeling the most betrayed he’d ever been.

He looked over at the rest of the team, Garcia included who couldn’t hide her laughter. “I’m sorry boy wonder, they made me!” She said, trying to compose herself. “I didn’t do all that work for nothing!”

Hotch was rubbing his temples. He should’ve cleared Reid to travel when he forged his signature. “They’re worse than Jack,” He mumbled to Rossi, as they slipped back into the quiet that was his office.

What the team didn’t realize was Garcia’s interior design methods. While they were stuck back home, she had secretly been teaching Reid Origami. In a way, it did help with him feeling not as useful. It kept him occupied and helped him whenever he was feeling anxious. She had been teaching him how to make paper cranes. And together, they would decorate the entire office with them.

When the team came back, they were shocked to see the cranes suspended from the ceiling, not even questioning how they got there. “You two, my office. Now,” Rossi ordered, as the rest of the team gave them a pitiful look, though they were obviously glad it wasn’t them.

“Alright, alright. Do you two need a babysitter?” Hotch asked, making sure they knew he was unimpressed with their antics.

Both of them shook their heads. “No-no, Sir,” Garcia said, scared of what their consequences would potentially be.

“Again, who’s idea was this?” Rossi asked, trying to act calm.

As per usual, both pointed their fingers at each other. “Reid, we both know this wasn’t your idea. You’re free to go,” Hotch said, as Reid felt the soul come back to his body.

They waited until Reid was out of the office to talk to Garcia. “Sir, it wasn’t Reid’s idea. I’ll have them down by the end of-“

“Relax, Garcia,” Rossi said, making it clear she wasn’t in trouble. “We just want to thank you.”

Now that was something she wasn’t expecting. “For what exactly?” She asked, confused as to where this was heading.

“For distracting him. I know recovery hasn’t been easy for him, and he hasn’t been feeling useful. You’ve reminded him that he’s not a machine,” Hotch explained, as they knew Reid hadn’t been himself ever since getting shot.

Garcia was shocked. She wasn’t expecting that. “Of course. Anything for boy wonder,"