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1. To Understand One's Mind by fabfemmeboy

   Fandoms: Criminal Minds (US TV)  

   • Explicit
   • No Archive Warnings Apply
   • M/M
   • Complete Work

   15 Oct 2025

   Tags

   • No Archive Warnings Apply
   • Derek Morgan/Spencer Reid
   • Spencer Reid
   • Derek Morgan (Criminal Minds)
   • Demisexual Spencer Reid
   • Protective Derek Morgan (Criminal Minds)
   • Past Rape/Non-con
   • Past Drug Addiction
   • Self-Esteem Issues
   • Spencer Reid Has a Praise Kink
   • Enthusiastic Consent
   • Gay Sex
   • Canon-Typical Violence
   • Good Friend Penelope Garcia
   • Good Friend Emily Prentiss
   • Good Friend Jennifer "JJ" Jareau
   • Major Character Injury
   • Angst with a Happy Ending

   Summary

   "To have someone understand your mind is a different kind of intimacy altogether." — Farraz Kazi

    

   In the wake of Derek's declaration of love - and the ensuing physical exploration - Spencer had no idea what was supposed to come next. Dating? Going Out? What was the difference between those two terms on a practical level, anyway? A relationship? Wasn't any interpersonal connection between two people a relationship? At a loss, and finding books not nearly as helpful as he would have expected on the subject, he decided to follow Derek's lead. After all, Derek had been in relationships before. ...Hadn't he?

   Series

   • Part 2 of Intimacy Requires Courage Because Risk is Inescapable

   Language:

   English

   Words:

   178,824

   Chapters:

   38/38

   Comments:

   546

   Kudos:

   295

   Bookmarks:

   41

   Hits:

   12,788