You were the youngest member of the team, although you had been working together with the BAU for more than a year. And you couldn't help the fact that your love language was touch. Whether towards your friends or people towards whom you developed any deeper feelings. It had almost become your trademark. Derek always knew that a nudge from you was coming after every joke he made - good or bad. Emily could expect a gentle elbow under the ribs every time she teased you, and Garcia was used to an unexpected tickle attack whenever you managed to visit her in her room. Even Hotch didn't raise his eyebrows in surprise when he got a finger in the arm every time you thought he was being overly serious.

Although you knew Spencer wasn't a big fan of touch and attention shown in this way, you couldn't resist the occasional rub of his hair. And, to everyone's surprise, he never protested, never reached out his hand to stop yours before it reached his lengthy curls.

But Derek became suspicious when he began to notice how confused Reid became, every time you bestowed such a gesture on him. In his friendly duty, he decided to talk to you when everyone else was asleep in the jet.

"Hey, I know you show your feelings this way, but I think Spencer doesn't like it very much. He just doesn't know how to tell you. Please keep that in mind."

That comment was like a shot to the heart, a bullet of fear, guilt and disappointment. You never wanted to hurt Spencer, who stopped being just a teammate to you long time ago. But given the length of Derek and Spencer's friendship, you decided to keep a distance between yourself and the genius.

It only took Reid three days to tell something was wrong when your hand stopped landing in his hair, while your other gestures of affection didn't change with the rest of the team. And it hurt, because although he didn't like the touch, he disliked the lack of yours even more.

That's why when the team was getting off the jet after the another case, he gently grabbed your arm.

"Can we talk?"