Title: The Whistle
By: LoraLee2
Pairing: gen
Fandom: Criminal Minds
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Usual disclaimers, I do not own any CM characters, I'm just borrowing them and will return them in the same condition as I found them.
Summary: Morgan's POV. Humour fic about Reid failing his firearms qualifications.

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Morgan felt kind of bad about what he'd done, but he knew it was the right thing. He'd know Reid wasn't likely to pass his firearms qualifications. He'd really hoped he would, but -- well, Hotch hadn't sounded very hopeful when he'd come back from the firing range yesterday.

It really didn't matter to him whether Reid carried a gun but he knew it mattered to Reid. Personally he figured half the reason Reid was such a bad shot was because he couldn't stand the thought of actually shooting someone, but that was something he had to work through himself.

But the thing was he joked with Reid all the time. He picked on him like he was the little brother he'd never had. Most of the time Reid seemed to enjoy it, but he knew sometimes he'd hit a nerve, sometimes he went to far, sometimes he touched on subjects best left alone. He'd never done that deliberately, he only teased Reid because he loved him like a brother. But Reid failing his test could very well be one of those times when it would be so easy to go too far.

It would be so easy, a word here, a gesture there and Reid would fall apart on him; maybe get angry enough to take a swing at him, which would only embarrass Reid, 'cause Morgan was fast, he'd move and Reid would miss - or if he let Reid hit him, then Reid would feel guilty and if there were other people around embarrassed again.

Then there was another possibility that was even worse, Reid might get so anxious about when Morgan was going to say something, do something, that he would be distracted, jumpy, nervous - those were not good emotions on Reid. The poor kid had enough problems with his self-esteem as it was, it would be two whole weeks before he could retest, and he didn't need to be on the defensive, just waiting for Morgan to humiliate him.

Which is why -- man, it made him feel so bad having to do it, but that's why Morgan had planned ahead, decided exactly what to say, chosen his time precisely, mapped out his actions. That is why the moment Reid walked in, angry, defensive, prepared for attack, ready for whatever Morgan was going to throw at him, that was the moment Morgan gave him the freakin' whistle. Really it was the kindest thing he could do.

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