AN: This is a little Hotch/Reid oneshot I wrote for Dragon. I hope she likes it. It fits in with the idea in my story "Eternal Changes" that Hotch supervised Reid during the two year probationary period all new agent's in the FBI go through.

Prompt:

Reid: Y-Y-You want me to talk to him?

Gideon: Yeah. You've done other interviews with agents running point. You can go solo.

It didn't take a profiler to see that Reid was nervous about interviewing Eric Miller alone. His body language screamed that fact to anyone watching him, which included every member of his team. He didn't protest the assignment, though Hotch got the distinct impression that part of him wanted to.

Though Reid was now officially past his probation period, the two-year mark having been passed shortly after the Dowd case, Hotch still felt a responsibility for the younger agent. Maybe it was because of the two years that Reid had been his probationary agent or perhaps it was simply the fact that the other agent was so young. Or maybe it had to do with the fact that Reid hadn't grown up with a solid father figure in his life, and Hotch knew from experience how hard that could be. Whatever the reason, Hotch felt it fell on him to make sure Reid went into this interview feeling confident. Like Gideon, he knew the young genius was ready to do a solo interview, he just wasn't so sure that this was the suspect to be cutting his teeth on.

Morgan and Gideon were the first two out of the conference room, off to the Crawford residence. Reid and Elle were next, heading to their desks in the bullpen. Hotch followed them touching Reid's shoulder gently as they stepped out of the conference room to get his attention.

"A word, please," Hotch said, when Reid looked over his shoulder at him. Hotch nodded in the direction of his office.

With a single nod, Reid started in that direction, Hotch easily falling into step beside him.

Reaching the office, the older agent pushed the door open, motioning Reid inside the room first. Entering the office, Reid stopped a few steps in and looked nervously around. Pulling the door shut behind him, Hotch took in the younger agent's demeanor. Hoping to put the young man more at ease, he gestured toward the black leather couch. "Have a seat."

Silently, Reid followed the instruction. Reid sat stiffly on the couch, placing the files he carried in his lap and resting his folded hands on top of them. Hotch sat down next to him.

"Gideon wouldn't ask you to do this if he didn't think you were ready," Hotch told him.

Reid looked up at his superior. "I know," he said. Though there was time when he would have hesitated admitting any doubts to any of the agents he was working with, he had learned shortly into his probation period that Hotch expected him to do just that. The older agent had explained to him that it was part of the learning process shortly after being assigned to supervise Reid during that two-year probationary period. The former prosecutor had assured him that it was just part of the learning process. "But what if I mess the interview up - don't ask the right question or miss something in his body language? What if I can't get him to talk?"

"First off, don't worry too much about the nonverbal tells. Elle and I will be watching for those from outside the interrogation room," Hotch informed him, steadily holding Reid's gaze, though he noticed that the younger agent broke eye contact from time to time, his eyes darting to spots in the office. "Secondly, nobody is expecting perfection. Just do your best. Try to establish a rapport with Miller and get him to open up to you. He may do so, he might not. Miller hasn't said anything to the local authorities so there is a chance we won't be able to get him to talk either. As for asking the right questions, there is no set rules on what those questions are. Each situation is different and you know the guidelines the bureau has for conducting interviews. Rely on them and you'll do fine."

Reid nodded, grateful for the impromptu pep talk. Knowing policies and procedures was quite different from actually putting those guidelines to use. Reid, just like every new agent before him, had learned that quickly.

"You won't be alone in there either. The agents escorting him here will be there too. And if you feel like you're in over your head, signal for help. That's one of the reasons someone is always outside watching the interview."

"Got it," Reid replied, that assurance going a long way to ease his nervousness. "I have to admit though, it sure would have been easier if my first solo interview wasn't with someone quite so . . . intimidating."

"You survive this and anything else afterwards is going to feel like a walk in the park," Hotch told him. He knew Gideon didn't believe in easing an agent into a situation. Though he would never put a younger agent at unnecessary risk, he believed in pushing them to bolster their self-confidence. Hotch had to admit he agreed with the practice.

Still, part of him was uneasy about sending Reid in to do this interview solo. Though watching each other's backs was part of this job, Hotch had to admit he tended to be much more protective of the young genius, even more so after the case with Dowd. Though he knew none of them would have probably gotten out of the situation alive if he hadn't done what he did, his words and actions toward Reid had hurt. He'd spend hours at night, either at home or on a case, replaying events and trying to figure out what he could have done differently to avoid that situation. So far a solution still eluded him. Hotch knew that he wouldn't stop soul searching anytime soon, though. He wanted nothing more than to be able to protect Reid from being in a situation like that again.

Reid nodded, his body language showing a little more confidence than when he had come into the office.

"I can do this. I'm ready," Reid said out loud, though Hotch had a feeling the words were more for Reid than himself.

Hotch reached out and briefly gave the younger agent's shoulder a squeeze.

The brief talk over, Reid got to his feet and headed out of the office. Hotch watched him go, wondering if this was how a parent felt when their child finally left home. As much as he wanted to protect Reid from any dangers this job threw their way, he knew that was impossible. He couldn't be with the younger agent all the time. Couldn't protect him from all the unknowns any more than a parent could completely shelter their child from harm, a realization that had gone through his head as soon as he held his newborn son in his arms. Little Jack was going to grow up and once he started to walk even his and Haley's best efforts wouldn't be enough to keep him from bumps and bruises. And the older Jack got the bigger those dangers would be.

Hotch had spent two years teaching Reid the ins and outs of this job. Had helped the young agent learn how to put everything he had learned in the Academy to use out in the field. Hotch knew he had done his best to prepare Reid for this job. Still it was moments like these when he knew he would wonder if he had done an adequate job. Was there some piece of knowledge that he had forgotten to impart that Reid would one day need?

Getting to his feet to follow Reid, Hotch knew that there probably would. Training taught you a lot but experience was always the better teacher though sometimes a harsh one. Reid just might need a buffer between him and experience in this case and Hotch planned on being nearby if that eventuality should arise.