Fight

A/N: Hello, everyone. This is just an odd bit that stuck out in my mind… Bit of a strange story, but I hope you'll all enjoy it anyway. Italics are flashbacks, by the way.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything recognizable. Including, but not limited to: Criminal Minds or the characters. I made up Agent Stevens.

---

There is a great streak of violence in every human being. If it is not channeled and understood, it will break out in war and madness.

~Sam Peckinpah

---

Aaron Hotchner sat down at his desk and sighed. Before him sat a confused Emily Prentiss, a slightly proud Derek Morgan, a livid Penelope Garcia and an even angrier Jennifer Jareau, and a bruised and sheepish Spencer Reid. A rather amused David Rossi stood behind them all by the closed door of Hotch's office. "Alright." Hotch said after glaring at them all for another minute. "What. The hell. Happened?"

His subordinates all exchanged glances before speech exploded forth. They all attempted to give their version of the events that had transpired earlier that morning. Garcia was saying something about not believing the nerve of some people as JJ raged on about one Agent Stevens. Emily kept insisting she still had no idea what was going on while Morgan switched between saying he would have done the same thing and that he didn't know the kid had it in him. Reid opened his mouth now and again only to be cut off before he could say a word.

Hotch held up his hand to stem the outburst of speech and glared at his now silent subordinates. "This is not difficult; I would like to feel as though I am an FBI agent speaking to fellow agents and not a principal disciplining teenagers."

The five people before him erupted into argument again. "I don't even know what the hell is going on…" Emily began.

"Any of us would have done the same thing, I…" Morgan spoke over her and was in turn cut off by JJ.

"I was about to deck the guy myself, and you would've…" Garcia suddenly cut into JJ's tirade.

"He can't talk to our genius that way, or anyone for that matter! He…" Garcia began before Reid spoke over them all.

"They had nothing to do with it, it was all my fault." Reid said, speaking for the first time since he had entered the office.

"Stop." Hotch said, effectively quieting the agents. "Reid."

It took everything Reid had not to flinch under the unit chief's glare and it was only with the remnants of adrenalin coursing through his veins that he accomplished this feat. "Yes, sir?" He said as strongly as he dared.

"What exactly happened this morning?" Hotch asked. "The short version."

"Ah… well, I came in to work, I went to get some coffee, and then, as far as I can figure, I attacked Agent Stevens." Reid looked up to find six pairs of eyes trained on him.

"Man, that's not how it happened at all." Morgan told him.

"Spence, don't you remember? He…" JJ began to say.

"JJ." Hotch stopped her explanation. "The long version, Reid."

Reid took a breath and began to relay the events of that morning to his boss.

Reid came in to work later than usual, though not actually late. Most of his coworkers had already arrived, and he could hear them and the other agents who worked on that floor talking in the break room. The aroma of coffee drifted through the bullpen, calling him to grab a cup before the work day began.

Agent Stevens, a burly, pompous man who stood as tall as Reid with thick, dark hair and a thin moustache, stood in the midst of a group of new agents, regaling them with the tale of how he was sure to get that promotion.

"He's not going to get that promotion now." Morgan interrupted with a smirk. "Everyone saw how he…"

"Morgan." Hotch cut him off and motioned for Reid to continue.

As Reid poured a cup of coffee and went to stand by Morgan, Garcia and JJ who were all pointedly ignoring Stevens' noisy conversation. Suddenly the group around Stevens erupted into polite chuckles as the agent delivered the punch line to an undoubtedly corny joke. Then he looked over and noticed the small group of BAU agents and smiled. "Why, Dr. Reid, I'm glad you're here. You just reminded me of one of my favorite jokes."

Reid suddenly stopped talking and looked down at his hands, refusing to look at anyone in the room. "Reid, what happened next?" Hotch asked him, trying to prod the young man into continuing the story.

"He told a joke." Reid said quietly, his long fingers curling into tight fists.

"I'll tell you what happened." JJ spoke up, glancing over at Reid.

For the first time, Hotch did not stop her from speaking. In fact, he prompted her to continue, interested in what joke could possibly have provoked one of the gentlest people he knew into attacking a fellow agent. JJ fisted her own hands and continued the tale.

"So, Doc, if you know everything, I'm sure you'll be able answer me this." Stevens turned to face Reid completely.

Reid looked up at the agent, wary of what was coming next. He had seen that look in many a bully's eye and he was sure he wouldn't like what the agent had to say. "What," Stevens began, sounding contemplative, "Is the best thing about schizophrenia?"

Reid continued to stare at Stevens, wondering if he was really asking this question. JJ, Morgan and Garcia all turned to face the other agent as well, wondering if he could really be telling a joke in such bad taste.

Stevens, completely aware of the discomfort he was causing, grinned and delivered the punch line. "You're never alone."

The agents behind him chuckled a little, unknowingly adding to the tension.

JJ stopped and looked sympathetically in Reid's direction, rage barely contained under her surface. "Alright, that joke was in poor taste, especially considering Agent Stevens was around during the Fisher King incident, but that hardly warrants the animosity you all seem to harbor towards him…" Hotch began, somewhat confused.

"They haven't gotten to the good part yet." Reid said quietly, his voice shaking with anger.

Hotch turned back to JJ for explanation, but she shook her head, digging her nails into her palms. Garcia continued the story this time.

"I'm surprised you didn't get that one, Doc. I know you know everything there is to know about schizophrenia." Stevens said, still grinning.

"He knows everything there is to know about everything, Stevens, he's a genius." Morgan said, trying to keep the mood light.

"Oh, but Dr. Reid here has a special affinity with this subject," Stevens said, coming up beside Reid and tossing an arm around his thin shoulders. "Don't you, Doc?"

Reid stiffened under the other agent's touch. "I-It's my job to know about things like that. It makes me good at what I do." He said, trying not to let the anger through in his voice.

"Well, sure, but I was actually talking about your mother." Stevens said dismissively. "I mean, I know she's crazy as a loon."

Reid stood stock-still, his face unreadable before he moved into familiar territory; facts. "Did you know the origin of the phrase "crazy as a loon" comes from Shakespeare's plays, where…" He began, in an attempt to pull conversation away from his mother, before Stevens cut him off.

"Yeah, no one knows and no one cares." The other agent cut across Reid, then turned to the agents he had been addressing before. "You know, he does that all the time. Just jumps from subject to subject. Must run in the family."

This time, no one laughed. Morgan, JJ and Garcia had all put their coffee cups down and were staring daggers at Stevens. Reid remained where he was as Stevens released his grip on his shoulders and walked around to face him once more. "Now, you're being awfully quiet today. Normally you'll talk the ear off anyone who stands still long enough. Must not realize that no one actually listens to you, huh?"

Reid put down his cup of coffee and clenched his fists. His face was still unreadable. The other members of the BAU, however, were livid. All three looked ready to jump Stevens. "So, can you answer this for me, Doc?" The agent continued, unaware that he would have been dead several times over if looks could kill. "What's it like to live with a crazy person?"

Reid said nothing, he simply continued to stare at Stevens. "No?" Stevens asked, cocking his head. "Okay, how about… What's the craziest thing she's ever done?"

Reid was perceptibly shaking with rage now, as Stevens came closer, smirk still present on his face. "Not that one either, huh? Well, here's a thought-provoking one I'm sure you'll know." Stevens stepped up and was now standing right in front of Reid. "If a schizophrenic threatens suicide, is it a hostage situation?"

Garcia stopped there. Hotch's normally expressionless face was caught between shock and rage. Even Rossi's expert mask broke, revealing anger. Emily, who had come in late and really didn't have any idea what had transpired that morning looked outraged to say the least. Reigning in his emotions, Hotch looked from Reid and back to Garcia. "What happened?" He asked finally.

"I- I'm really not sure…" Garcia said, anger evident as she shook her head.

Morgan cleared his throat and continued for her.

Reid spoke quietly, his voice dangerously low and shaking with pure rage. "Get. Away. From. Me. NOW."

"Don't tell me you're going to go crazy now, too!" Stevens laughed darkly.

Placing both his hands on Stevens' shoulders, Reid pushed him two steps back and moved away from the table. Stevens' face contorted with rage as he watched Reid move. "Don't you dare touch me, Freak!"

And then it happened. Before anyone could react, Stevens grabbed Reid's arm to turn him around. Reid, in turn, twisted out of the agent's grip and pushed him away. Stevens retaliated with a blow to Reid's cheek and all hell broke loose.

Reid seemed to be putting the self-defense training he had been working on with Morgan to good use and was, in fact, more than holding his own against the larger agent. When fueled by pure rage, it seemed Reid was a very good fighter. Stevens did not let up and Reid continued to dodge and get in blows of his own. Finally, overcoming his shock, Morgan moved to pull Stevens away from Reid as JJ and Garcia both worked to pull Reid back. The new agents seemed terrified. One of them had left shortly before the fight began to get Hotch.

"That's when I came in." Emily said.

"And that's what happened." Morgan concluded, "You didn't attack him Reid."

Reid looked both angered and relieved. "I- I was so angry, I blacked out for a second and then I was fighting with Stevens… I- I thought that…"

JJ gripped Reid's hand firmly. "Never in a million years, Spence." She told him. "You would never attack someone."

Relief completely overtook the young agent as he sagged against the chair. The last remnants of adrenalin gone, he was left feeling drained. He barely noticed that his nose had begun to bleed again. Hotch offered him a tissue and took in the black eye and cut on his agent's cheek. "Morgan, take him to the infirmary. It seems Stevens got in a few good hits."

Morgan nodded and stood up with Reid, who didn't bother arguing, and headed out of the office. "Hotch," Morgan called the older man's attention, poking his head back through the door.

"Hm?"

Morgan grinned with unmistakable pride. "You should see Stevens."

Hotch couldn't help but smile, if only a little, at the thought. He couldn't wait.

---

A/N: This had very little point, but I just had to write it. I have the feeling you guys might enjoy it anyway. I think I'm going to add a second chapter if anybody wants it… let me know, yes? Thanks!