A/N: I actually had a day off today, so I decide to write/post chapter 2 as well! Chapter 3 might be up as well, depends on my mood. It may include them going out on a case that I made up, or may jump straight to The Big Game/Revelations, I haven't decided yet. If you guys have any ideas about which you'd prefer, let me know!
Oh, and I am aware that this chapter is quite shorter than the first one, but I had nothing else to say here because nothing else would fit. It's mainly just Reid trying to process what JJ said.

Disclaimer: Sadly, I do not own Criminal Minds or any of it's characters. But on with the story!


For once in his life, Spencer Reid was speechless. He must've been drunk too; how else could he have heard JJ say what she had just said? He looking over at his one empty cup, assuring himself that there was no way that he was so heavily intoxicated that he was hallucinating. But JJ was. She couldn't mean what she had just said.

"I- I think I'm gonna take you home, JJ," Reid finally said, lifting JJ to her feet.

"That's all you're gonna say, Spencer?" said JJ. Reid was shocked at the genuine hurt in her voice. "I just confessed my love for you, and all you can say is you'll take me home?"

"I just think it will be better for us to talk in private," Reid replied quickly.

"Oh. Okay." JJ appeared mollified, and allowed Reid to lead her towards his car.

As Reid drove, he realised that JJ was looking at him from the front passenger seat, and had been for the whole drive. It was the way that she looked at him that disconcerted him, however. JJ was looking at Reid like- like she was seeing the sun for the first time, like he was the most amazing thing she had ever seen. No woman had ever looked at Reid like that. Ever. Not even Lila had, and he had been her hero.

When Reid pulled up at JJ's house, he reached down to get her keys out of her bag. JJ, however, reached down and grabbed his hand, lacing her fingers through his. Her touch made him shiver, and he looked into her deep blue eyes. She smiled at him.

"Let's go inside," was all Reid could say. JJ wrapped her arm around Reid tightly as her led her to the front door. Despite the fact that JJ was seriously drunk and completely uninhibited, Reid didn't want her to let go. He never, ever wanted her to let go.

Reid led JJ to her bed, which she collapsed on fully clothed. She patted the bed enthusiastically, smiling up at Reid. "Come lie with me," she purred.

"You need to rest, JJ," Reid countered.

"I thought we were going to talk," JJ said, pouting.

"We will in the morning, if you go to sleep now," Reid lied.

"Okay," said JJ, snuggling into her doona. She looked up to Reid with heavily lidded eyes. "I love you, Spencer Reid," she said before she closed her eyes and drifted off into sleep.

Reid sighed heavily. He knew full well that JJ would not remember anything she had said in the morning. But oh, how he wished she would. And how he wished she'd actually meant it.

"I love you too, Jennifer Jareau," Reid whispered sadly.

Reid barely slept that night, and when he did all of his dreams featured one blonde-haired, blue-eyed woman- JJ. His gut clenched, and he knew he wouldn't be sleeping any longer. Reid's eyes flickered open, and he stared at the clock sitting on his bedside table: 4:27. Too early to start getting ready for work, but too late to go back to bed even if he was able to sleep.

Reid sighed and clambered out of bed, slowly stretching his long, lanky limbs. He'd left JJ's after he was sure that she was sound asleep, and wouldn't be waking up to be sick any time soon. He doubted she'd ever remember he was there, just like she would never remember anything she'd said that night.

Reid headed into the tiny living room, bare of anything but the essentials and a wall of bookshelves. He pulled a huge physics journal out of the shelf and began reading; his eyes flying down the page and onto the next one as he read at his alarmingly fast pace. All of his reports for work were at the BAU, and he wasn't much of a music or TV person- except for classical music, but he didn't really think that would help him right now. Reading was all that he had to distract him from thoughts of JJ, thoughts he shouldn't be having. Sure, once upon a time Reid had had a crush on JJ, but that's all it had been. A crush. And after their failed Redskins 'date', which Reid knew JJ hadn't enjoyed, he'd completely forgotten any feeling he'd once had for his fellow FBI agent. Or had he?

He glanced at the clock again: 5:51. He'd been so lost in his confused thoughts (which had happened plenty of times before, except maybe without the confusion part), he hadn't realised nearly an hour and a half had passed. At least now he could get ready for work, so he could focus on criminals and victims, instead of his misdirected, love struck feelings.

Spencer Reid wished last night had never happened. While JJ had confessed her undying love for him, she had been completely wasted. Because of this, Reid knew two things were absolutely certain: one, JJ would remember nothing that she had said when she woke up in the morning. And two, JJ hadn't meant what she said. The beautiful, talented, intelligent Agent Jennifer Jareau could never have fallen for the clumsy, socially awkward genius that was Doctor Spencer Reid. Even if he had fallen for her.


A/N: Aw, poor Reid! *sniffle* While you may think it's a bit fast, I had to have him realise that he was in love with JJ here. He's always had a crush on her, and him not realising he loved her would be kinda cold. Plus, I think it works better this way.
And just like last time, please, please review! I need to know whether at least one person would prefer an original case or The Big Game/Revelations before I continue with the story!