Reid has spent his time in Narcotics Anonymous-- is still going-- and it's similarly painful and difficult for him to wrench these truths out of himself, to talk about the things he keeps deepest buried. He's always had that propensity, for keeping pain to himself, had been taught it in a childhood where he was the caretaker and had no one to depend on. Half the reason he became such a teacher's pet was for the assurance and attention.

He gets it. He still fidgets, because he's not great at being totally still, but Reid listens closely, attentive without being pressuring. "Sounds like me without the fighting back," he shoots back without a hint of embarrassment. "You're not the only walking stereotype. If you think your childhood is the beginning, we can start there. If you think it's somewhere else--" Spencer shrugs. "I'm here to listen to what you think."