A/N: A bit of a short one but I wanted it separate from the next chapter. I hope you enjoy. I've had some issues with character and plot development, so let me know what I can improve on. =)

CM/CM/CM/CM/CM/

Sounds of keys clanging on wood, and shoes being kicked off carelessly rang through the dark, quiet home. Two damn weeks they'd been on their last case, two damn weeks of not having a chance to find out what was causing Reid's depression.

Morgan shuffled through his house to his bedroom. After stripping off his shirt and throwing on a pair of gray sweats he began a stare down with his bed. There was no way he could sleep right now, even with the exhaustion he felt deep in his muscles and bones.

Heavy heart in chest, and beer in hand, Morgan settled down on his couch and flipped on the television. It was late, so there wasn't anything good on, and Clooney was still at the neighbors since it would've been rude to wake them. As the loneliness and boredom filtered through him he heard the familiar ring of his cell phone down the hallway.

With the thought of someone to talk to the burly man leapt to his feet and raced into his bedroom, snatching up his jeans, pulling his phone out of its place on his jean's belt, and snapping it open.

"Morgan here," he answered, trying to not sound elated at human contact.

"Hey there stud muffin!" Garcia exclaimed on the other end. Morgan could feel his heart lift at the sound of her voice. If there was one person on the Earth that he could talk to, it was her.

"Hello my solace, what's got you calling me so late? Aren't you with Kevin?"

"Oh, I'm sorry dream hunk, am I interrupting something?"

"The only thing I would've been doing besides nursing a beer is sleeping, and no." He padded softly down his hallway and resumed his post on the couch.

"Honey, it's two in the morning, you should be sleeping." Garcia chided.

"Oh really, so why aren't you?"

"I knew you'd be awake and stewing in something, so I thought I'd call to lend a listening ear and a comforting phantom hand," she explained. Morgan could hear her pouring herself a drink and some other clattering in the background.

"Baby Girl, are you cooking at two in the morning?" Concern laced his voice, baking and cooking were two of her favorite outlets.

"Yes, I'm baking some delicious cupcakes for the team. I'm spending the night alone, and after that last case I can't sleep, and I know none of you will be able to either, so I'm making sugary treats to get us all going tomorrow."

"That's what coffee's for."

"Yes, but coffee doesn't give you the endorphins chocolate does."

"Peas do," Morgan replied automatically. There was silence on the phone. "Sorry, just something Reid said to me once..."

"Ah, yes, Reid." Garcia replied knowingly. Silence stretched between them as they took gulps of their respective brews.

"Um, yeah, so did you want to talk to me about something?" The dark agent mumbled, feeling tense at the amount of understanding Garcia had voiced in that one sentence.

"I was going to ask you that," she replied sweetly. "This last case was hard on all of us, but you seemed to be bothered by something much more."

She was right, although all of them were rocked by the brutality of the massacre of families, and the sickness of what he'd done to the children, Morgan was bothered by something more personal even before boarding the jet.

"Besides, I thought it wouldn't hurt to ask what Reid was talking about, you know, when he said, 'you'd like that wouldn't you' to you before the case."

Smiling at the memory Morgan finished his beer and made his way to the kitchen for another. He kicked the fridge door closed and after discarding the beer cap into the garbage he leaned against the counter, contemplative. The tech kitten patiently waited, noises from her baking the only sounds.

"I'm not sure I should really talk to anyone about it." His admission was quiet.

"I understand if you feel that way chocolate thunder, but I want to put it out there that one, I am always here for you and nothing you say will go beyond this conversation, and two, I am the goddess of all knowing, and I think I already know what the dealio is."

"Okay smarty pants, how about you tell me what you think the dealio is, and I'll listen." Morgan took another drink of beer, set it down, and ran his now free hand over his scalp, trying to slow his breathing and pittering heart.

The sound of an oven being shut, and the beeping of a timer being set was the response to Morgan's words. He tried to wait patiently but he felt anxious. He wasn't entirely sure why, but he wished Garcia would hurry the hell up and be out with it.

"Okay, so now that I have my refill and my lovely cupcakes are in the oven I'm going to curl up on my couch. I would like for you to do the same." Garcia's motherly voice left no room for argument. Morgan grabbed his beer and shuffled back into the living room, he grabbed the blanket off the back of the couch and curled into his favored corner, the blanket spread across his lap.

"Are we all settled in?" She demanded.

"Yes." He told her, hoping his voice sounded sturdy.

"Okay, here we gooo!" She mimicked Mario's voice from N64 and Morgan couldn't help but crack a smile. The woman sure did know how to relieve some tension to a situation, even with only the presence of her voice.

"I'll keep this short and sweet, as sweet as can be, because I feel like enough time has been wasted." She started, her voice tactfully even. "You are head over heels, down a flight of stairs, and spread eagled on the floor in love with our lovely Dr. Spencer Reid." She stated, it was definitely not a question. Morgan let his head fall back against the couch and squeezed his eyes shut.

"Shit...How do you...? Oh fuck, do you think anyone else knows?"

"Well, I can tell you for sure our boy genius doesn't." She sounded a little resentful about that.

"I'm not good at relationships, baby girl. I couldn't risk hurting him...But when we were in the break room-"

"Shush, I'm not finished." Garcia growled. "I wasn't going to interfere, but after the last month and half of watching our lovely junior g-man go into a pit of depression, and then after witnessing you're behavior for the last two weeks, I'm putting my foot down. You are going to tell him."

"Hun, I decided that two weeks ago...I just haven't had a chance..." Morgan ran his hand over his bald head again, feeling slightly asinine. "I don't know how to do this. I'm so bad at relationships, like real ones. I don't want to hurt him. I don't think he even wants me, but I want to make him happy, and I know we'd be so good for each other, I just don't want to risk hurting him, or being rejected, I..."

"You've always gone after what you wanted, don't stop now." She reminded him.

"You are way too perceptive baby girl...How long have you known?"

"Four years."

"I haven't known for four years. How the hell have you?"

"I am the fountain of all knowledge." Garcia replied playfully. "So, do you have a plan yet?"

Morgan chewed on the inside of his cheek in thought for a moment. "No. I mean, I should just up and tell him, but…I don't know."

Sounds of more baking filled Morgan's ears and he gulped down the rest of his beer. Not being sure of Reid's feelings for him he didn't know what to do. It would hurt worse if he got shot down outright.

"Maybe I should play the subtle hand?" Morgan suggested.

"That would be waaay more fun." Garcia agreed. She had a feeling that Reid reciprocated Morgan's feelings, but she wasn't sure on what level. Plus, what fun would she have watching the show if it happened too fast?

"I think I can do subtle."

"It might be a challenge for you," Garcia said, her voice full of amusement. "But, I agree, it's the best way."

"Alright, well, I'd better head for bed I guess." Morgan groaned and stood to stretch out his aching spine. "And you, baby girl, should do the same."

"Yes, yes. Now, I don't want you backing out of this, you hear me?" Garcia's tone had become sharp and motherly.

"Of course not, sweet thang. I'll see you tomorrow."

With thoughts of Spencer Reid and cupcakes swirling through his mind, Derek Morgan slumped off to bed for a very short lived nights sleep.