The Bar

Morgan arrived at the bar before Reid and Garcia. As soon as he walked in he spotted the team sitting near the back at their usual table. He waved to acknowledge that he saw them and headed straight for the bar. He ordered two royal flushes. Within minutes he had downed those and was ordering two more. Emily noticed this and brought it to the attention of everyone at the table. They all knew that the case in Nevada had bothered Morgan so they assumed that was the reason for his sudden consumption of alcohol. Rossi states 'If Morgan doesn't pace himself, Garcia is going to be driving him home tonight." Everyone at the table agrees. Morgan downs his last shot, orders a beer and makes his way to the table where the team was sitting. When he arrived, JJ asked him where Garcia and Reid were. He took a sip of his beer and casually dropped in that they should be there soon. Sensing something was wrong Emily asked if everything was okay with him and he just shrugged. Hotch took note of his response but did not comment. After a brief silence, conversation resumed. They talked about the case they had just finished, events that were going on in their respective lives, etc. Out of the corner of his eye, Morgan spotted Reid and Garcia entering the bar. The song had just changed so he took this opportunity to ask Emily if she would like to dance. The bar was beginning to get crowded so the team had not spotted Reid and Garcia when they came in. Emily had not had a chance to respond to Morgan's question before he pulled her up out of her chair and onto the dance floor. Hotch noticed Morgan's sudden need to dance as Reid and Garcia approached the table. Normally Garcia would make some obscene comment about the way Morgan danced but today she merely pretended not to notice the way he was dancing with Emily. Rossi was finishing his beer and about to head to the bar for another. He got up and asked if he could bring anyone anything. Garcia, after trying to glance at the dance floor without being spotted said she would accompany Rossi to the bar. As if watching a rewind of Morgan's actions, Rossi saw Garcia order two shots in which she downed quickly before ordering two more. He merely observed her actions without comment. Rossi ordered another beer. Garcia downed her last two shots and ordered an apple martini. Rossi asked if she was okay and she just shrugged. He gently guided her back to the table. As they returned to the table they noticed that Emily was back but Morgan had found a new dance partner. The team continued to talk for the next hour. Morgan did everything he could to avoid coming back to the table. After his umpteenth dance with some unknown girl, he finally made his way back to the table. Just his luck, the only chair open at their table was right next to Garcia. He took a slow deep breath trying to calm him as he approached the table. Seeing his approach Garcia took this moment to announce that she needed the ladies room. As Garcia is getting up from the table, she stumbles a little. Without thinking Morgan attempts to help her steady herself. As he did, he cursed himself knowing that this would cause Garcia to react and react she did. Garcia snatched her arm away from him and yelled 'don't touch me." Garcia scowled at Morgan who was about to comment when he remembered the team was watching so he just threw up his hands in mock surrender. Garcia headed off towards the bathroom and JJ decided that she would excuse herself and go to the restroom as well. While in the restroom, JJ tries to find out from Garcia why she snapped at Morgan. Garcia just shrugged and said it was nothing. JJ did not believe her but thought it best to let it drop for now. As Morgan took his seat at the table, he tried to act as if nothing had just happened with Garcia. Emily asks what the exchange was all about and Morgan shrugged saying maybe Garcia had just had too much to drink. Being the profilers that they all are, Morgan knew they did not believe him. Morgan didn't want to allow them more time to question him so he decided that maybe he should call it a night. Garcia and JJ came back from the bathroom and Morgan can tell by the look on Garcia's face that she is still upset so he tells everyone he is going to call it a night. Having heard him, Garcia says in an icy tone, maybe you should. Morgan gets up, kisses Emily and JJ on the cheek and shakes Reid, Rossi and Hotch's hands. Thinking that he should at least say something to Garcia, he merely mumbles good night and turns to leave. Once he is gone, Garcia begins to chatter incessantly as if nothing happened. Everyone at the table is confused as to what is going on with the two of them but no one is daring to ask. They all sit around for another hour and then JJ, Emily and Garcia decide that it is time to leave. Garcia asks JJ if she could drop her at home as Esther is in the shop. JJ agrees. Hotch is about to agree with them and leave also but Reid gives him a look that makes him decide against it. Rossi says that he will see the ladies to their cars and he will return. As Rossi and the ladies leave, Hotch turns to Reid and asks what the look was about. Reid takes a deep breath and begins to fill Hotch in on what happened back at the BAU between Morgan and Garcia. Hotch is intrigued but not entirely surprised. Rossi returns to the table and picks up the conversation. Rossi tells Reid and Hotch about Garcia's behavior at the bar. Reid asks Hotch if he has any idea what is going on between the two of them. Hotch admits that he doesn't have a clue. Rossi asks Hotch if he plans on finding out. Hotch says 'as long as it does not affect their work or the team, I will let it be.' Rossi reminds him of the behavior that they have witnessed in the bar that night and challenges Hotch saying 'and you don't think it is already affecting the team.' Hotch knows that Rossi is right. He can see the concern on Reid's face. Hotch finally tells them that he will let them sleep it off and if they have the same attitudes at the morning briefing, he will talk to them. The three men decide to call it a night and leave. On his drive home, Hotch hopes that whatever was going on with Morgan and Garcia would work itself out by the morning but something told him that it would not.