AN: Three short (and getting shorter) vignettes from the other rooms


"Reid? It's a bed. You pick a side, you lie down, you sleep and tomorrow we go out and profile the hell out of these people. What is the problem?" David Rossi could only look in bemusement at the youngest member of the team. It was possible that he could look younger but Rossi wasn't sure it could be done without footie pyjamas.

The young doctor was standing there, staring at the bed, drowning in what looked like a real football jersey. He turned at the question, looking confused as to the meaning.

Rossi shook his head. "You were in the room first so it's probably unfair to ask you to sleep on the floor and I'm telling you now that I'm not going to, which leaves us sharing the bed. Though why you were provided with the key to their honeymoon suite escapes me." The bed was a work of art, totally out of place in a small Alaskan town it looked like something better suited to a European castle, with its four posts and drapes.

"I think she felt sorry for me so thought I should have a nice room." The statement was made in such a way that Rossi couldn't tell if he was upset by Morgan's insensitivity or not. "I expect she thought that you and Hotch would share so it wouldn't be an issue."

There was a question there, even if it wasn't in the intonation. Given the unpleasantness earlier there was nothing to be lost by providing an explanation. "There's a reason the cost cutting pushes us towards cheaper hotels rather than fewer rooms. We all have needs that require privacy." Rossi laughed at the eyebrow Reid managed to raise in his direction.

"Routines that take time, you think JJ's hair gets like that without work? Or a chin becomes this impeccably groomed?" He ran his hand over his chin. "We all need privacy. Right now Hotch needs it more than I do. Or you do. So get in the bed."

At the lack of movement he huffed. "Look take the side by the window, I'll take the door and we can both get some sleep."

Finally the other man moved. "Anyone would think you'd never shared a bed before." The flippant comment arrested the progress that was being made and Rossi mentally kicked himself. There were rumours in the bullpen about Reid's supposed virginity but he'd not believed them until that moment.

"I prefer to sleep... alone." There was a world of profiling to be had in that one word. Did he ask the question though?

"Have you ever gone out with the team and actually watched how we all interact? I'm allowed to talk to whomever I want but if there's any chance of me leaving with them then one of the others appears and puts a stop to it. It's difficult to convince someone you're single when you have JJ, Emily or Garcia sat on your lap." He stopped to climb into the bed. "So I've learnt to keep my sex life from the team and as there's always a chance that someone will pick me up in the morning I tend to go home, alone, after…"

"You do know that you can tell them to butt out don't you? For all that you look about ten dressed in your big brother's… Is that Morgan's shirt?"

Reid went bright red at the question. I borrowed it one time when I was cold and haven't quite managed to get it back to him yet." He looked away. "I thought you wanted to sleep."

Rossi pondered his colleague. While it was true that Morgan would lend Reid something to wear if it was absolutely necessary, given that Reid would end up swimming in it, but his old football shirt? Give up the memories that it embodied, as he'd kept it this long. That seemed a little off.

Morgan's overprotectiveness about who Reid dated suddenly started to look a little different from being someone who wanted to look out for a friend and was something that would bear watching. Pushing now though would probably end up with Reid sulking and neither of them getting any rest.

"Go to sleep Reid. Try not to snore."