Disclaimer: I have no affiliation to Criminal Minds or its characters. This is fiction pure and simple.
Author's Note: I'm still working on the 'The Lost and the Broken' but this story came to me out the blue and practically wrote itself. It will be a two shot - three at the most, will let you know if that changes. Hope you enjoy it. Please review.
Till Death
Reid wretched into the bowl of the church bathroom trying so hard to muffle the gagging sounds tumbling out of his raw throat. A few dribbles of sour whiskey a reminder of the night he'd spent tossing back shot after shot with Garcia both of them trying to forget that Morgan was getting married the next day - let alone deal with it.
He should have turned Garcia down when she popped up at his apartment door already slightly tipsy armed with Johnnie Walker Black and regret. The drinking games that followed only made a bad situation worse and at one point he remembered literally crying into his Captain Kirk mug. I'm pathetic excuse of a man.
"Reid man, are you okay?" The banging at the bathroom door worsened his pounding headache. This is the mother of all hangovers; I'm supposed to be better than this wasteful burning of brain cells.
"I'm coming." He rinsed his mouth quickly adding a dab of toothpaste found in the tiny cabinet below the sink.
The dressing room was empty save for his best friend who looked absolutely devastating in a classic black tux. Irresistible even as he tried to suppress his laughter but snickering sounds leaked out exploding into a full-blown belly laugh.
"You would be the worst best man ever if this wasn't so damn funny."
"This isn't funny. Okay," he added, "it isn't that funny."
"You got drunk with my baby girl. It's hilarious. What got into you anyway? You wouldn't even drink at my bachelor party and I remember doing lot of begging."
Ah yes, the bachelor party! Topless stripper straddling Morgan's chest while he run his hands up the inside of her thighs, eyes locked with Reid the entire time. Luckily both Rossi and Hotch were too out of it to notice a thing, adding alcohol to that flame would have loosened his tongue and made him say what he really wanted.
"Lemme help you with that?" Morgan knocked his hands out of the way and began to straighten his tie. "Wow, I think I'm getting wasted just from the fumes coming off of you."
Their eyes met for a moment and dropped away uncomfortably both of them remembering the last time Reid had been that drunk.
xxXxx
Strobe lights flashing, hot tongues probing, the ripping of clothes in the club bathroom as Morgan sank to his knees before him tearing open Reid's pants and swallowing him down slowly. Finally the words that'd ruined everything. "I love you. I want to be with you." The argument that followed almost broke them.
"No. Its too risky the fraternization policies are clear we could both get fired."
" We don't have to tell the world. It'd be nobody's business but ours."
"Yeah," he scoffed "because that worked out so well for JJ."
"Is this really about work? Reid, look at me. I can read you like a damn book, which is how I know something else is bothering you. I'll stand here all night if I have to." He threatened.
"What happens when we break up?"
"When? What happens ifwe don't?"
" I'm not a child Morgan, believing in fairytales and happily ever after. Nothing lasts forever. So when we do break up I will have to leave the team. They are my family. You are my family."
"Okay. So what yo saying is you don't want to be with me on the assumption that we will break up as a couple but not if we remain friends. You know that's completely irrational right?"
Reid stared back at him stubbornly bony hands clenching and unclenching.
"I love you. How can you just throw that away?"
Still silent.
"Damn you Spence"
"Morgan please…"
"Don't worry about it." Morgan bit out, "Tomorrow I will be fine and we can talk and be – whatever you want. But tonight I get to mourn a life that I'd been dreaming about, planning for. I even prayed about this, Jesus I…"
"Morgan!"
"Just go Reid. Go home."
Reid paid the cab driver and headed up to his apartment knees threatening to give out with every step he took. Bile rose up in his throat as he yanked open his front door getting to the bathroom just in time to spew into the tub. He sank down to the cold tile and let the tears fall, sobbing long and deep into the night but still his conviction held. It was better to have half of him than lose him entirely. He was a betting man, Vegas born and bred but you don't bet on something this important. The loss would be too great.
He nervously approached the bullpen the next day, last night's indulgences still clinging to him like an old tired actress to the last vestiges of youth. The sight of Morgan his back to him as he chatted with Emily sent his heart pounding beneath his argyle sweater vest."
"G'morning" he stammered.
"Hey pretty boy, long night?"
xxXxx
Two years down the road he stood besides his friend before an elaborately dressed priest, wedding rings tucked away safely in his breast pocket. Next to him stood Hotch and Rossi listening intently, a little ways back JJ, Will, Prentiss and Garcia waved gaily at him, the latter looking a little worse for wear. He'd done it. He'd kept his family together.
"Speak now or forever hold your peace."
He was stunned when his voice rang out loud and strong considering how badly he was quaking on the inside. Time slowed as his objection started a murmuring deep within the bowels of the church, the bride turning to look at him in horror and disbelief. Everybody's eyes bored into the back of neck but he stared at the only person he cared about, face pleading for understanding.
"NOW. You are doing this now?" Morgan hissed at him.
Big brown eyes blurred with impending tears. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I'll just go." Suddenly a warm hand laced with his and squeezed, it stopped him in his tracks stilling the desperate urge to get away and drowning out the bride's shrieking.
"Stay."