Inspired by a deleted scene found on youtube

Morgan gets a lot more than he bargained for when he goes for an early morning workout in the office gym...

It was barely 6am and still dark outside. Emily Prentiss pulled her gym bag off her shoulder and held it in one hand as she pushed open the door to the gym at her building with the other. The place was deserted and most of the lights were still off. After quickly changing in the locker room into black track pants, a tight black vest and trainers, she made her way back to the gym and started her workout. She didn't much care for the gym; she much preferred to take a run out on the street or in the park. But in the middle of winter with the streets covered in snow she didn't have much of a choice. She began on the treadmill, setting the speed and incline to give her a good run. With her mp3 player on and the headphones in, she was oblivious to the arrival of another person.

When Derek Morgan entered the gym he didn't expect to find anyone else there as he usually had the place to himself until at least 7am. So the surprise was written all over his face when he spotted his partner running on the treadmill on the other side of the gym. She hadn't noticed him yet so he set down his bag and sauntered over to her. Derek had warmed to Emily immediately when she joined his team. She had proven herself a good profiler and a reliable partner. But on top of that she was smart, beautiful and funny. Though he would never admit it, if they weren't partners and working on the same team, he would want a whole different kind of relationship with her. But things weren't different and he had to keep his feelings to himself.

As he approached, he didn't intend to surprise her and he certainly didn't expect her to react the way she did when she noticed she wasn't alone. Emily was focused on her run, listening to her music and keeping her eyes straight ahead. She didn't hear his soft footsteps approaching and didn't realise she wasn't alone until Derek appeared suddenly at her side. Surprised, she gasped then missed a step and before she could stop herself she lost her footing completely and tumbled backwards, falling right off the back of the treadmill, landing in a heap on the padded mat behind her.

Morgan reacted but not fast enough. He reached out for Emily but she spilled back and fell onto the mat before he could do anything about it.

"Emily, I am so sorry. I didn't mean to startle you." He said, holding back a little laugh. She was sprawled out on the mat glaring at him with her deep brown eyes but to him she still looked beautiful. Blowing a puff of air up, she dislodged her bangs from her eyes.

"Shut up and give me a hand." She thrust her hand forward and Morgan grasped it, pulling her back to her feet.

"You okay?" he asked, casting his eyes over her for signs of injury.

"I'm fine. But you scared the hell out of me Morgan." She lightly punched his arm and moved past him to retrieve her mp3 player which had landed at the side of the treadmill. "What are you doing here so early?"

"I'm always here this early."

"Working on your strong sexy core I suppose." She teased.

"So you've noticed huh?" he patted his six-pack through his t-shirt.

"Don't flatter yourself." She rolled her eyes and started to walk away.

"You're not done already are you?" Morgan called after her.

"Why? Scared to be her alone?" Emily asked as she turned and took a few backwards steps so she could face him while she spoke.

"Please." he walked after her. "Come on, I could use the company."

"No, you want an audience." She laughed.

"You just know you can't keep up with me." He baited her.

"Oh really." She stopped moving backwards and instead, took a few steps towards him, her hands planted on her hips. Everyone on the BAU team brought something to the table and though not all about it, Morgan was definitely the brawn. Since Emily joined the team, she had kept up with him. She could chase down suspects, kick down doors and she knew how to handle herself in a fight. It's why they worked so well together.

"If you don't, you take me to dinner. I could really go for a steak."

"And if I do?" Emily asked as she came to stand in front of him. She wasn't sure what she was getting herself into but she liked Morgan, perhaps a little too much. She enjoyed their banter, teasing and flirting, though worried sometimes that it would go too far and they would do something they might come to regret.

"Anything you want, Princess."

"Anything?" she asked, licking her lips. "Okay, I'm in."

And so the battle began. They started with a run on the treadmill, matching each others speed and incline for twenty minutes. Both were sweating and breathless when they came off but neither wanted to concede. Next came stomach crunches. Morgan had once bragged to Emily about doing a thousand sit-ups a day but he was now regretting that when after just a few hundred he was feeling the burn but Emily was still with him.

"Ready to give up?" she asked him as she pulled herself up into a sitting position, ignoring the burning in her abdomen from the intense workout.

"Hell no." He responded immediately, "We got one more." He told her. "Hand to hand, first to three wins overall." At this, Emily figured she was bound to lose. Morgan was just too big and strong for her to overpower. But she wasn't going to give up without a fight.

"What are you waiting for then?" she grinned and jumped to her feet. "Bring it on stud."

Now Emily had taken a lot of self defence classes as well as FBI training on hand to hand combat so she had a good idea of what she needed to do. But as soon as Morgan made his first move, she went down, flat on her back, taken completely off guard by his sweep. He loomed above her, grinning.

"Come on Prentiss, you gotta at least try." He laughed. Annoyed, Emily scrambled back to her feet and after a few swift and well placed kicks, she clipped Derek's legs and sent him flying onto the mat.

"Nice move." He complimented her. "But this isn't over." After getting back to his feet, Morgan managed to grab Emily's arm and twisted it behind her back. Wrapping his other arm around her front he had her in a tight grip, her back pressed against his chest. He held her for just a moment, then released. When Emily turned around she looked a little pissed.

"That's two for me." He laughed. "I can already taste that steak."

"Don't get cocky Morgan." Emily warned him. "I might still have a few tricks up my sleeve." She lunged towards Morgan and for a few minutes the pair exchanged fair blows and kicks. Emily got the feeling Morgan was going easy on her and it spurred her on to prove she could take him. But as she stepped up her game, Morgan took advantage of a mistimed kick and grabbed her ankle. In one swift move he flipped her and she landed flat on her back. Momentarily stunned, she didn't have time to move out of his way before he straddled her body and pinned her arms at either side of her head. Leaning forward until he was just a few inches from her face he whispered in a low husky voice,

"That's three. Game over."

Emily stared into his eyes and her resolve to try and get out of the hold melted away. She let her body relax and for just a few seconds, enjoyed being in this intimate position with her partner. While she knew they could never take their friendship further, she could enjoy the small moments they had where both knew there was more to it.

"Fine. You win." She conceded with a sigh. Morgan released her wrists and sat up but he didn't move from on top of her.

"I can't wait for that steak dinner. Where are you taking me?" he waggled his eyebrows.

"I won't be taking you anywhere unless you get off of me." She grunted. He laughed and stood up, then extended his hand down to help Emily. As she grasped his hand rightly he hoisted her to her feet with ease.

"So Prentiss, when and where?" he asked. Realising she would now be having dinner alone with Morgan, Emily decided she could use this to her advantage and get some personal time to enjoy his company, away from the prying eyes of her colleagues. She was well aware that Garcia, JJ and even Reid thought there was something more between them than just being friends and colleagues, and that made spending time alone together difficult as they always had to explain themselves.

"Saturday. My place. 7 o'clock and don't be late." She smiled flirtatiously then turned on her heels leaving Morgan alone in the middle of the gym with a stunned look on his face. A private dinner at Emily's house was not what he expected when he walked into the gym that morning but he was not complaining, not one little bit.

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