A/N: Wow! Thanks so much for all your reviews. I didn't think I would get that much. Thanks, means a lot.
Oh, and a quick note… this story takes place sometime after Minimal Loss and takes place during the winter. I also haven't decided where this story is going, as I didn't expect to get that many reviews. So I don't know who she'll end up with, for I like all of the pairings. Maybe I'll do a poll later or something. Haha. We'll see.
Anywho…
Chapter 2
One hundred bucks was the winning price.
And Reid was not winning.
Emily was laughing hysterically at some joke Morgan had told her, and there wasn't a doubt in Reid's mind that it was about him. She laughed again.
Yeah, he was definitely losing the bet.
Sighing dramatically, he turned to stare out the window. An urgent case had stopped them from going out to the bar and Morgan, Hotch, Emily, Rossi and he were now on their way to hell.
Winterville, Maine had a population of only one hundred and ninety-six, and the temperature for tonight was to be around five degrees. It would be cold and snowy when they got there, and to make matters worse there was a sixty percent chance for even more snow the next day. To him, it was hell and he silently wondered if JJ had picked the case just to spite him. After all, since she was nearly eight months pregnant, she had been forced to stay behind. However, JJ had assured him that she did not have a choice. With nine teens dead, they couldn't wait for a tenth.
A laugh interrupted him from his thoughts and he bitterly turned in the direction.
It was Emily, again.
Reid glared at Morgan as he watched him seductively whisper something into her ear, and whatever he had said caused her to laugh yet again. He had been stupid to take on the bet, but it frustrated him to no end that Morgan always won. It was stupid, really – after all, this was Emily, but for once, he just wanted – no, needed – to beat his friend at something other than statistics.
"Earth to Reid…"
"Oh, sorry," he muttered, and quickly moved his rook two spaces to the right.
Rossi laughed, and threw a glance over at Morgan and Emily. "Stop worrying."
"I'm not."
"Checkmate." Rossi smiled.
Reid frowned as he examined the board. "I am going to take a nap," he announced, finally admitting defeat.
"Hotch, chess?" Rossi asked as he began to set up another game.
Hotch nodded, but not before taking a quick glance at the laughing Emily. "Sure."
Reid slowly plopped down on the coach and eyed his colleagues with interest. When Morgan caught his gaze, Reid didn't hesitate to ask, "What are you laughing about?"
"Nothing," Morgan replied quickly, which only caused Emily to stifle another laugh.
"Nothing?"
"I thought you were going to take a nap."
"I am."
Emily immediately became serious as she observed the odd behavior between the two. "What's with you guys, today? Did you get into a fight again?" All eyes, including Hotch and Rossi, turned to her and she felt her cheeks flush. "What?"
"Nothing," Morgan and Reid told her, while Rossi laughed and Hotch glared.
"I'm going to take a nap, so if you'll excuse me…" Reid turned his back to them and within minutes the sound of his even breathing could be heard throughout the plane.
"What aren't you telling me?" Emily questioned Morgan, her eyebrows raised.
Morgan dropped his eyes shyly. "It's honestly nothing," he whispered back. "It's nothing me and Reid can't handle."
"…Okay."
"Emily!"
They all jumped, startled by the sudden shout from Reid. Emily threw a worried glance towards Morgan, who looked just as confused as she did.
"Emily…," Reid screamed again as he thrashed around on the couch. An inch more to the right and he would be on the floor. "No…not her," he whispered raspy, fear sneaking into his voice.
Confused, Emily glanced at the men around her, who all just shrugged. "Should we wake him?"
"Cyrus… no…." Reid pleaded, his eyes shut tight.
Emily frowned. She had no idea that Reid was having nightmares about their most recent abduction. She had told him it wasn't his fault. Cyrus would have killed him if she hadn't said it was her. Why couldn't he see that? Sighing dramatically, she walked over to the couch and began to shake him awake.
"Reid, wake up."
"No… please, it's me. Not her. "
"Reid," she said louder.
This time, he shot up, just barely missing a collision with their heads.
"Hey," she said calmly. "You okay?"
His eyes darted around frantically until he met her gaze. "It was so real." He slowly reached up to touch her eye that had once been bruised. "So real."
"I'm okay," she assured him.
Reid wrapped his arms around her suddenly and pulled her into a giant hug. She was taken back by the gesture, but she didn't pull away. With Emily facing away from the others, Reid winked and gave two thumbs up to Morgan.
Finally realizing that it was all an act, all the men shot confused glances at each other. Had Reid just fooled them all into getting close to Emily?
"Son of a…" Morgan muttered under his breath and he quickly gave Reid the finger. Two could play this game. If Reid wanted war, then war it shall be.
Hotch frowned, suddenly having the urge to pry Emily from the young doctor's grip. "You've got to be kidding me," he exclaimed, ready to move, but Rossi grabbed his arm.
"Are you okay?" Emily whispered into Reid's ear, oblivious to the men behind her.
Reid immediately became serious as he pulled away to face her. "I think so." Even to himself he sounded unsure, and he silently wondered where he had learned to act.
"Reid, why didn't you tell me you were having nightmares?"
She placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder, and Reid felt his hopes sky-rocketing that he had pulled her attention away from Morgan. "I thought… I didn't think it was necessary…"
"You should have told me."
"I'm sorry." And he truly was. Maybe, not for the same reasons as she thought, but he still felt bad about lying.
Taking a seat beside him on the couch, she forced him to look her in the eye. "It wasn't your fault." When Reid didn't answer, she continued, "He would have killed you, Reid. Besides, I have nightmares every now and then too."
"You do?" He squeaked out.
"Me too."
They both shot Morgan confused glances.
"I have nightmares too," Morgan lied, and he quickly hopped up to sit on the other side of her.
Emily smiled warmly. "You do? About what?"
"The cases that go cold. About Cyrus. You."
"You weren't there," Reid snapped, knowing exactly what Morgan was doing.
With Emily sandwiched between the two men, she draped an arm around each of them and pulled them closer. "That's why we have each other."
"Yeah," Morgan leaned his head on her shoulder and Reid quickly mimicked him.
Hotch buried his head in his hands and muttered, "Will this ever end?"
Rossi shrugged and moved his bishop. "Checkmate."
Ooh, so don't worry about Hotch and Morgan. I promise they'll each have their own chapter with Emily. =]
Hope this one was okay.
~K
