Disclaimer: If I owned them, I would be figuring out a way to get Reid and Morgan together on the show. But I don't, so it will have to remain a dream.

Lifeline

Pregnancy Counter: 15 Weeks

Derek opened his webcam. It hadn't been something he did at work, but he liked to talk to Joy during their lunch breaks. She was leaning back in her chair, licking yogurt off a spoon.

"Well, isn't that a pretty picture?"

She glanced at her computer and smiled. Leaning forward, she adjusted the camera angle. "How are you?"

"We're in Quantico again. Doing all right. You?"

"My mother is threatening to move in."

"You're only three months."

"Yes. Doesn't matter. You don't mess with my mother."

"Don't be offended, but I haven't told mine yet."

"Derek, I was showing with Tyler by the time I told her the last time."

He sighed. "I'm a grown man. I shouldn't be afraid of my mother."

Joy laughed and set her yogurt aside to dig into her salad. "Please, you should always be afraid of your mother."

"How's Tyler?"

"He has told everyone in his class and possibly his school that I am expecting. You?"

"Garcia announced it. I walked in after the last case, the one that interrupted our dinner and she's standing at my desk, hands on her hips. 'What the hell were you talking about? Joy's pregnant and it's yours?' I think I'm lucky she waited until we returned and didn't ream me out while on the case."

"She's called everyday since I told you."

"Hope you don't mind that I told her."

Joy smiled. "It's nice to have someone checking in on me. She's already planned out my diet for the week and found some pregnancy exercise classes near me. It's almost like it's her baby."

"She gets like that. Should I ask her to back off?"

"No! No, I like it."

JJ sailed past his desk, then doubled-back. "Hey."

"Hi, JJ."

"You're looking good."

"It's cause I'm not puking my guts out."

"I remember that. Not fun."

"Yeah, no."

JJ glanced at Derek, who was sitting back in his chair, a content smile on his face. That's when Garcia came out of her lair and pushed Derek's chair out of her way, grinning at Joy. "How's the baby mama?"

"I'm doing fine. I don't even show yet."

"Did you have your first appointment?"

"Yes, Penny. Everything is fine." Joy's eyes glazed over.

"Hey, sugar, focus on the present. That was then, this is now. Now you have us."

"Garcia, budge over." Derek rolled his chair back into view.

"I have you and the station. I told my chief and she was beside herself."

"That's good, sweetie. Are you going to be in the field?"

"Few more months," Joy said. "I'm not showing yet and I do like the field. But I'll be careful."

Derek closed his mouth and smiled.

"I did it. You'll be fine."

"Who are you talking to?" Reid peered over their shoulders.

"Hello, Dr. Reid."

"You can drop the doctor, if you want."

She smiled. "Call me Joy, then."

"So, you're expecting?"

"Yes."

Derek glanced up at the doctor. He had a smirk on.

"Captain?"

Joy sighed. "Work calls. I'll talk to everyone later, all right?"

Derek leaned forward. "Let me know about appointments and stuff."

"I'll keep you in the loop, I promise. Ciao!"

Her smile blinked out and everyone turned to him.

"What?"

"You are so smitten with her," Garcia cooed.

JJ sat on the edge of his desk. "And you need to start thinking about what you want."

"I haven't even told my momma yet."

"How are you going to do this? Are either of you giving up your jobs? Are either of you moving? Or are you just going to be the visiting father?"

He closed his eyes and tipped his head back. He could still picture Joy's smile.

Honestly, he had no clue when he fell for Joy. Somewhere along the last case, the need to protect her and Tyler had blurred into something different. He convinced himself that he slept with her to get the itch out of his system and give her some comfort.

Too bad it didn't work.

JJ's questions burned in his mind. What were they going to do?