Title: Sticks and Stones
By: onlyonceinforever
Pairing: gen
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: If I have to count down the days until the next new episode of Criminal Minds, I think it's safe to say I don't own it.
Summary: Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me... Yeah, right. Dr. Spencer Reid reflects on why he hated school.

***

"Hey, Brainiac! Come here!"

Spencer Reid remains where he is, resolutely staring at the open book in his lap. Years of experience had taught the child prodigy to ignore those attempting to engage him. Most of the time, it worked.

"Did you hear me, nerd? I told you to get your ass over here!"

But sometimes it didn't.

A large boy - Captain of the school football team, as a matter of fact - storms over to where Spencer is sitting. The latter keeps his gaze down, refusing to make eye contact, like he had learned.

"Are you deaf, moron? Look at me when I'm talking to you!"

Spencer slowly, deliberately drew his gaze away from the page and up to the hulking figure in front of him.

"Why would I wish to subject myself to such inane torture as that?" he asks cooly. He immediately regrets opening his mouth, however, as the behemoth's eyes flashed. His hand reached for Spencer's neck, where he grabs the latter's shirt collar and pulls him up by it.

Spencer dangles there, airway compressed, in the air. He gasps for breath, hardly having filled his lungs when a fist collides with his stomach. He can't even double over in pain for fear of compromising his airway even further.

One of the goon's friends grabs Spencer's arms and holds them behind him. Another takes hold of his legs, rendering him completely unable to retaliate as blow after blow lands on his thin body. Spencer cries out, unable to remain silent any longer. The boys laugh, taking great joy in the other's suffering.

Eventually, they tire of their game and move on. The first boy drops Spencer on the ground, where he lands with a loud thud. He does not move as the others walk away, still laughing and joking. Once he is absolutely sure that they are gone, Spencer curls up into a ball and waits for the pain to subside.

"Hey, Spencer, did you hear me? We have a site to check out." The voice of fellow B.A.U. member Derek Morgan calls.

Spencer shakes himself out of his reverie, disgusted that he allowed himself to be distracted so easily.

"Yes, I'm coming."

But there are some pains that never go away.

Ack, that was really short. And just when I was getting so proud of myself and my relatively long entries, too... Grr. Anyways, I hope you enjoyed it, especially since it killed me to write about poor Spencer getting beaten up. /coddles Spencer plushie/ Does anyone else wanna see him wearing a lab coat, or that just me?