A/N: I am not a fan or 'song fics'. This collection of stories represents an idea when I was listening to my favorite band Foo Fighter. Oh, and they are not mine. How about that finale...Enjoy!

Sean Standridge.

The first time I head his name I was devastated.

Another one in the long lists of 'Boyfriends- Girls- Have- Because- Spencer- Can- Just- Be- Friends'.

Not that I'm bitter about it. I'm happy for them- the girls. Glad they found someone who made them smile. But I'm just friends with some of the most beautiful women.

Which brings me back to Sean Standridge.

Sean and Emily Prentiss, friend, co-worker, partner, had been dating nearly four months when Emily turned to me one night as we were all about to leave.

"Hey, Reid. Wanna go on a date tonight?"

Heart in throat I made sure to clear my expression before answering. "Though you were already spoken for, Emily," I told her with a small smile.

She grinned back. "Well, I'll be there. Sean has someone he'd like you to meet."

As I swallowed my disappointment I brushed my longish hair back from my face. "He doesn't even know me. We've met once."

"Surely you trust my descriptions to be accurate."

"Um, I don't know, Emily."

Her smile widened. "Well, be sure because we're due at the restaurant in 45 minutes."

Panic became me. "I have to go home and take a shower. I have to dress."

"Spencer, you dress like you're on a first date everyday. Now, come on. You'll be fine."

She put my satchel in my hands and dragged me out of the office while I protested all the way.

Julia McGovern.

25 years old.

Bank teller.

Details of my 'date' given to me on the ride over to the chosen restaurant floated in my head as we grew closer. Not that Emily knew much. "A friend of Sean's," she kept reiterating.

We pulled up to Teatro Goldoni and I wanted to roll my eyes at the pretentiousness but my stomach felt like it made a leap into my throat, though it was a physical impossibility, and I could do nothing else.

Emily found a close parking place and put the car out of drive before reaching over to squeeze my cold hand. "Spencer, don't worry. Just be yourself."

I tried to smile but made more of a grimace. "How's that going to help? It hasn't worked yet."

To her credit she didn't give me a pity look. Instead, she scowled. "I've never known you to be a fatalist, Reid. There are plenty of people who appreciate you for who you are. If this girl likes you, great. If not, who cares."

I tried to protest. "But, Emily--"

She dropped my hand and opened her door. "But nothing," she said decisively, forcing me out of the car as well. "We're going in there and we're having a good time, damnit."

I had met Sean on one other occasion about two months prior when he appeared at an after-case drink the team had together. Tall, suave, handsome- the man seemed to have it all. I wanted to dislike him but his winning personality prevented it.

As we walked towards the restaurant's entrance Emily took hold of my sleeve. "You think I might try to escape?" I joked.

She gave me a sober look. "You might."

I snorted but did the gentleman thing and held open the door for her. And immediately saw Sean. Beside him stood a petite, attractive redhead who was as visibly nervous as I felt.

Sean beamed his toothy smile at us and steered the woman who had to be Julia to us. "Glad you guys made it. We should be seated soon."

I looked around at the classic waiting area. "I thought you had to have a reservation."

Sean's grin got impressively wider. "It helps to know the owner."

Out of a need to be polite I nodded. "I suppose the old adage 'it's all in who you know' is proven true on many occasions."

Sean casually threw his arm around Emily's shoulders and pulled her into a hug. "Even Emily here has used connections to her advantage."

"Sean!" she exclaimed in outrage.

I bristled in anger. "If you are referring Prentiss' appointment to the BAU she had proven herself ten times over that she's perfect for the job despite who she is related to."

He threw his hands in the air to show he was defeated. Then he turned his head to Prentiss. "Wow. I didn't think it was possible to get the good doctor so riled up unless it was about sub atoms."

His humor was not appreciated by me. I scowled at him. "The good doctor is still here, you know."

A voice beside me caught my attention. "Perhaps Sean will stop trying to be rude and introduce all of us instead."

Emily detached herself from her boyfriend and stepped forward, hand extended. "I've a better idea. Let's cut him out all together. Emily Prentiss."

"Julia McGovern." She turned her light green eyes on me. "And you must be Spencer Reid."

"All day long," I managed.

She giggled. "Please tell me you are as caught off guard by all this as I am."

I was relieved and relaxed slightly. "Immensely. I'm lucky Emily allowed me to grab my things."

"Good. That's something we have in common."

I smiled back at her as the concierge came to inform us our table was ready.

On the ride home I was all smiles. "Thanks for doing this, Emily. That was fun. Sean was bearable AND he paid for the meal. And Julia. Wasn't she nice."

"Hm. Nice."

I looked over at her. "Are you ok? You seem distracted."

She gave me a smile. "Just tired."

As the months progressed the happier I became the more pensive Emily grew. Finally I grew tired of the silence between us and sought to bring it out in the open. My timing, however, was not the best.

"What emotions are you harboring?" I asked her mid-flight as everyone became settled. Suddenly all eyes were on us.

Her face flared slightly but her tone was smooth. "I don't understand what you mean."

I was exasperated. "I mean, what's the matter? Why are you so distant lately?"

"I...thought you needed more time for Julia. I don't want to be the cause of any problems."

I was incredulous. "Emily, she's completely secure about my relationship with you. That can't be what this is about."

She arched an eyebrow from across the table. "Oh? Why not?"

"That theory would only apply if you were refraining from going out after work. But your aloofness carries over into our work relationship and is causing disconcertion."

Derek Morgan nodded next to me. "Even I've noticed it, Em."

She sighed. "Fine. Julia seems nice but I get some weird vibe from her."

"Vibe?" I repeated.

Morgan's eyebrows shot up. "You mean you're jealous?"

"What?" she answered, just as surprised. "Jealous? No! Why would I be jealous of her?"

Her tone made me frown. "What exactly do you mean by that connotation?"

Emily focused on me. "There's something off about her."

"Off?" I repeated in a slightly higher pitch. "Of course she's 'off'. She likes me. Or is that what you're basing this off of."

She pointed at me. "See. This is exactly why I haven't discuss this with you. I knew you'd get defensive and it has absolutely nothing to do with you."

"How could it not, Emily? She's my girlfriend."

Emily winced. "Don't say that, Reid. You can get better."

"In case you didn't notice I'm not like the others, Emily. If I breakup with her based on your feelings I would lose a good thing in my life."

She grabbed my cold hands and looked directly into my eyes. "Spencer, come on. You know something's wrong. Your criminal gut is telling you. I'm the voice inside your head you refuse to hear."

I pulled my hands from him. "Funny, because that's the way I feel about Sean." I refused to talk about it the rest of the trip.

Emily's words may not have been revisited out loud but they stayed foremost in my mind, making me want to see Julia even more once we got back in town. Eagerness overcome higher thinking and I quickly made my way to the bank where Julia worked.

Only she wasn't there.

At all.

They had never even heard of her.

I stood in the lobby as I called Emily.

"Maybe you have the wrong bank," she suggested.

"She told me the intersection, Em."

"I don't understand. Sean says she's know here for years. He got her that job because he's friends with the manager."

"I know," I told her. "I even talked to the manager. He doesn't anyone named Sean."

"Well, this is just a flustercluck."

I had to laugh despite the situation. "I'm coming over."

"Hey, guys," Morgan greeted us the next day in the office.

Emily and I just grunted back.

He held up his hands defensively. "Whatever you two go into last night must NOT have been good."

I sighed, knowing he would only pester until answered. "Emily was right about Julia."

"Oh, man," he groaned and sat on my desk. "I'm sorry. What happened?"

Emily spoke up. "It seems Reid was also right about Sean."

He crossed his arms and waited silently for us to continue.

"That Adams case we closed up in Miami," Emily said. "They were that second couple."

"They were pretenders," I started out.