Chapter Summary: Sometimes, it isn't about what you can handle. It is about what you want.

Author's Note: Just to clarify a little, this chapter and the one prior both occur shortly after 3x16. Also, I will be adding a third chapter to this. :)
This was written as a prompt for the brilliant Hinfallend. Go check her out and give her FFs some love. (Link is on my profile.)
This was edited by the totally epic x-stoked-x. I'd say check her out, but she hasn't posted anything yet. :(

"I, um, I am surprised you came," Morgan confessed with a tentative smile that looked bizarre on such a confident face. As his eyes traveled across the brunette's body, his skin was dark enough to mostly hide the blush, but there was no hiding the way his eyes nervously danced away when their gazes almost met.

On the other hand, Reid didn't have the luxury of being able to hide the red hue on his cheeks. It was one of the few times that avoiding people's gaze came in handy. It was nothing new for him, as he sat fiddling with the pen and trying to not look directly at Morgan. He wanted to do more, but his mind went completely blank when he chanced a glance and caught the dark gaze on him.

His blush brightened, and he knew that his friend looked away almost as fast as he did.

The uncomfortable duo was seated near a window in a coffee shop in a town they didn't know well enough to matter. They were there, waiting for their drinks, because they had just finished a case. Most of the team had already settled into hotel rooms, but just before Reid could scurry off, Morgan had pointedly announced to the team that he was dying for some coffee.

Not even Reid was naïve enough to not realize that coffee wasn't what Morgan wanted.

He, however, was unsure of what he wanted, so he had followed, eagerly volunteering in front of the others and trailing quietly after Morgan as they searched for a shop. After all, if things hadn't changed, he wouldn't have hesitated before leaping at the chance of coffee.

As their orders were being prepared, they sat in an awkward silence that neither knew how to break. This was not the time to discuss a case or ramble about nothing, and small talk was hardly what either was after. Statistics had nothing to offer them at the moment. Flirting was what had gotten them in this mess.

Of course, it wasn't Morgan's harmless flirting that left them wordless. It was that minute interaction that had occurred barely seconds before they had been called in. That small change had affected everything.

The barista called out their number, despite the fact that the shop was completely empty except for them, and Morgan quickly got up. When Reid went to follow, he waved him off and went over to the counter.

As he watched the athletic male walk over, the young doctor couldn't help but touch his lips. He felt so conflicted, and watching Morgan lean a little too close to the dark haired woman didn't help.

One part of him was eagerly urging him to stay there, to stick it out, and figure out exactly what was going on. Some of that was his interest in something new, but the majority was spawned from a feeling that he didn't completely understand. He felt like he needed to know exactly what was happening to him.

Another part of him was resolutely commanding him to flee. With a strange, absolute certainty, he knew that if he stood up and walked out then, it would be the end of it. There would be no more fleeting touches, no more intense declarations of love, no more moments where he wasn't quite sure what Morgan meant...and no more kisses. Their relationship would be plain friendship, even if it was tense for a while.

That in itself left him feeling farther undecided. He wanted the normal friendship back so badly that it almost hurt, but then something inside of him whispered that he needed to stay, needed to see what would happen. He tried to tell himself that it was his inquisitive side, the side that had to repeat something even if it hurt the first time to see if it would the second go around.

Of course, associating their kiss to a painful experiment made about as much sense as comparing getting hit by truck to baking a cake. It didn't equal out...though Reid was just as curious about what the results would be for a second kiss, while not quite certain what he was hoping for.

As Morgan returned, he realized that his hand was still on his lips and quickly removed it to accept his cup. Even as he poured in sugar, he could feel the look that his companion was giving him: thoughtful, judging his expression and reactions, trying to figure out where to go from there. Reid knew that Morgan was as lost as he was, but he knew what he could do to indicate what his friend should do just about as well as he knew what he should do with himself.

His eyes followed the shift of Morgan's shoulders as he drew a deep breath. There was something about the way they rose and fell slowly that enchanted and calmed his racing mind ever so slightly. That was probably the only reason he didn't spew coffee all over the table when he heard Morgan's question.

"What is this to you?"

Sucking in a breath and some scalding hot java, Reid burnt his tongue. For a moment, he struggled not to make a complete idiot out of himself as he quickly blinked back tears. Clearing his throat and coughing slightly, he stammered out, "I, er, I, uhm, I, uh, er, I..."

Morgan didn't bother to hide the dejection that flared in his eyes, and Reid couldn't face it. He jerked his gaze away to look over the empty tables and barstools for the millionth time. It was later than midnight, so it was a bigger miracle that the shop was open than it was that they were alone.

No matter where his eyes were, his attention was always on Morgan, and when he started to speak, Reid's gaze slowly shifted back.

"I...Reid, I understand if you want to be friends. Honestly, I do. It won't be a problem for me. I'd be a liar if I claimed that some part of me doesn't really want that...but then another part of me wants more, want to be more with you. For me...it is impossibly balanced. It is up to you to tip the scale."

It was hard to say exactly what Reid was thinking just then. His mind slowly turned over the words that made sense but seemed so odd at the same time. The thoughts that came to him were even odder. For some reason, it simply seemed impossible to process what was being said.

What Morgan said next, however, made perfect sense to him.

"Reid...I just want to know, you know that you don't have to go along with it."

Huffing from offense, Reid rolled his eyes before shooting Morgan a glare. Bitingly, he snapped, "You realize that I'm not a child, right? If I didn't want to go along with it, then I wouldn't have."

"So, you do want it?" Morgan pressed instantly. His eyes brightened with hope almost as soon as Reid said it.

Blushing brightly, Reid quickly looked away. Once more, his eyes roamed over the floor, studying the various patterns as he answered, "I'm...I'm...I'm not opposed to it." While it wasn't really an answer, and not what he honestly wanted to say, it was the only one he had. Risking a look at Morgan, Reid felt a bit bolder when their eyes met. Abruptly, he demanded, "What exactly is it that you want?"

It seemed that the question actually stumped Morgan. Rather than reply, he looked out the window and stared thoughtfully into the distance. His expression was considerate, yet impartial, as if he hadn't really thought about what it was that he wanted before.

While waiting for the answer to his question, Reid rotated the cup in his hands, feeling the warmth slip between his fingers. His gaze flicked around the store, incessantly going back to his friend before being rushed away. He had never felt so nervous and uncomfortable around Morgan before.

Finally, the dark gaze went back to the fair skinned man, and the older male replied, "I want to just let things go. I want to let things happen when it feels right. I honestly don't want anything exclusive, but I do want to be with you when we both want it. I want to be able to stay friends and still be more. I want to be able to love you and be your friend. I want...I want to be with you, but I don't want to be drowning in us."

"Drowning in us...," Reid repeated under his breath as his mind turned over the words. Slowly, he began to nod in agreement. Not meeting Morgan's gaze, he answered, "I think that I can manage that."

"Can you want it though?"

The question was quiet and went unanswered as they left the shop to wander through a nearby park and finish the last of their coffees. Even hours later, as Reid curled up on the jet to catch a little bit of sleep as they went home, the query danced through his mind.

Could he want to go along with feelings that might cause trouble for them? Could he want to see Morgan with others and still harbor feelings that were more than just platonic friendship? Could he want to be friends and more at the same time? Could he want to be with Morgan?

Just as he fell asleep, Reid had the strangest thought that maybe, just maybe, he already did.

A/N: Like it? Love it? Hate it? Comment and tell me how to improve it! :D

Yep, Reid still is undecided. In my opinion (and story line), Reid wouldn't know how to handle it. I mean, he is sort of emotionally handicapped. Just think of 1x18, when Lila was throwing herself at Reid. She literally had to shove her tits his face for him to be like "Oh." and even then, he was all "Against the rules. No." "/ I love the boy, but he is a bit dense when it comes to things like that. I know a lot of you want him to, but there is no way that he would instantly say that he loved Morgan back.

...but I am adding the chapter where Reid confesses. :D

Read and Review. ^^

~Muzi