"I'm not defensive. I'm trying to put things into prospective, that's all," he said, because this wasn't about Parker or anyone other than the two of them and Emily.
"Yes, you can, Reid. You can be equal but different. We've always been different, we've always relied on people having different skills. Our entire team has been build on the fact that we are different," he said. "This isn't about not being able to balance a checkbook. This is about dealing with highly trained soldiers. There's a great difference." He shook his head. "A child, a little brother? What's wrong with you? We were under attack, and people were dying, building were blowing up, and you disobeyed orders, all of you, so you weren't a child or a brother. You were someone who didn't do what he was told, and I already had one person dead under my command and I wasn't about to let that happen again."
Derek nodded, although he could hear what was said and what wasn't. "I know we will." Yet, even as he said it, he knew that it wasn't true, because Reid had put unreasonable expectations on a relationship that didn't exist, but hopefully Reid would realize that it wasn't really love, not if his actions and words were any indications. "We'll becomes something else, something new. Families change just like we change. We'll make things fit with this new life." At least he hoped so.
He took a step back and looked at Reid. "Just... don't pull away from us. We're still your family."