Hello again, my lovelies. After writing two midterms on Thursday, I am back with your next ch. of Blinded. I apologize if it is riddled with mistakes, I typed some of it at work on a comp that doesnt have spell check. I decided I would rather get it to you right away and fix it later than leave you hanging any longer.
Thank you so much to everyone who left me goodies. I love you all. And all you lurkers, while I love you as well, I hope you will see fit to drop be a few words on your way out. I hope you like Chapter 2.
~Daisy

I do not own Criminal Minds. At all. :'(

"Agent Morgan, it's good to see you again. I trust you've been well," his voice pleasantly inquired.

Morgan had stared at Monroe for a few confused moments, wondering why his voice sounded just like Reid's, before he realized that the professional greeting had actually come from his old teammate. Turning to look at him, Morgan felt his heart sink at the polite, but closed, smile on his face.

The atmosphere in the vehicle alternated between polite, common conversation, and slightly awkward silences. He glanced to his right, to see the object of his affection gazing out the passenger window. He had been surprised when, approaching the vehicle, Monroe immediately took the back seat, and Reid approached the front as if it was his right.

Reid suddenly turned his head, and Morgan looked away too late. "Agent Morgan, do you have any of the case's paperwork here with you?"

"Uh, yeah. In the pocket on the back of my seat," he replied, aching at the formal tone of the conversation.

Reid nodded, and reached behind the seat, sending a wave of his scent wafting over Morgan. He gripped the wheel until his knuckles were white, and then Reid was back in his seat, flipping through the folders at a manic pace. He had brutally shut down any attempt at personal conversation, and Morgan's mood dropped with every rebuttal.

Monroe leaned forward and caught the driver's eye. "Agent Morgan, do you want to go for a short drink with me tonight? I'd love to catch up with you."

"Yeah, sure," he immediately replied, and couldn't stop his quick glance at his other passenger.

"Agent Monroe, so long as you do not become inebriated and it does not effect your work tomorrow, you may do as you like," Spencer stated, eyes not leaving the pages in front of him. "I would like to be dropped off at the hotel."

Disappointed, Morgan barely caught himself before offering to let him stay at his place. That would not be at all appropriate. Other than the innate disappointment, Morgan was finding himself thrown off each time Spencer opened his mouth. The way he spoke was so different, and the kind of authority he seemed to hold over Monroe was so contrary to the Reid he knew, that he almost had trouble reconciling the two. The fact that he had, in essence, given Monroe permission to go have a drink baffled him. How much had he changed over the years?

Half an hour later, Morgan and Monroe were sitting at the bar counter, each on their second bottle. They had had a great time reminiscing and catching up with each other. Morgan was surprised to hear that the other man had been engaged for two months, and the other was not surprised that Morgan was still playing the field. They joked and told stories, enjoying the reunion.

Now, while both men held their liquor well, two beers was enough to start loosening the tongue. Inhibitions floating farther and farther from the surface of his mind, Derek reasoned to himself that it was perfectly normal for one to ask about a past coworker and teammate. There was nothing strange about. Surely nothing bad could come of it.

"So Jimmy, how do you find working with the brilliant and eccentric Dr. Reid?" he asked, turning to the man with a goofy grin on his face. James kept his eyes trained to the front as he bit out his answer.

"He's an ass."

His jovial mood screeched to a halt. He could feel his lip curl and his hackles rise. He couldn't remember the last time he had been so shocked or enraged. This was the last word he could ever imagine being attributed to the sweet and innocent doctor that was adored and somewhat pampered by the team. He had to struggle not to reach out and hit the other agent without warning. Before he had a chance to verbally attack the man, he resumed speaking.

"He's just so cold, and unfeeling, and thinks of nothing but the facts. Not the feelings nor the pain of the victims and their families. He is brilliant, yes. But he rejects every attempt to get to know him at all, to build a bond like teammates should have. It's like everything he says is to prove he is smarter, and therefore better than everyone around him. He even insists on titles on the job. He is only to be called Dr. Reid, and he will tear a strip out of anyone that calls him anything else. Even Hotch and the others allow him this, which shocks me. It's just so stupid. True, he hasn't crossed any actual lines, with any of us or the locals we visit, but it doesn't mean he isn't being a complete and total jack-" Here he turned to his companion and trailed off, eyes widening, at the look on Derek's face.

"You listen to me, and listen well. I will never tolerate that kind of talk about Reid. If you ever abuse him so abominably behind his back again, there will be dire consequences. You have no idea what he has been through." He seemed to collect himself. "Now we are going to leave here, and I am going to drop you off before I do something I regret."

The whole bar seemed to have gone quiet as Morgan stood and tried to control his pace out of the bar, Agent Monroe following him meekly.

The next morning when Derek called to tell Reid that he was on his way to pick them up, he was told rather bluntly that they had called to have a bureau SUV dropped off for their use while they were in the city. He tried not to feel too discouraged as he made his way into the police precinct to meet with his team. Agents Cory Barnes and Meaghan Smith were standing at the evidence board, deep in discussion, and Agent Robert McGillin sat at the table on his cell phone, a grim look on his face. They were small, as far as teams went, but efficient and had good working relationships. While very successful though, they would never be the Quantico team, which was known as the best of the best, even among other teams of elite profilers. Morgan ofter felt almost like he was being held in awe, having worked along side some of the most infamous names in the FBI.

"Hey guys," he called as he entered the room. Barnes and Smith immediately turned and approached him, while McGillin turned his head slightly away after a glance with Morgan, ending his phone call. As soon as they were all assembled, he began. "I got a call last night from Agent Hotchner of the Quantico team." He could feel their anticipation grow. "We've really got something strange on our hands this time guys. They have been following a killer in Jersey for a little while now, and our two cases appear to be related." He gave them the details of the case and watched them absorb the details. He ended withe the most confusing and seemingly impossible.

"And to wrap it all up, their Unsub's DNA is a match for a sample that we found at our first crime scene."

They reacted almost exactly as he had and he raised a hand to queit them. I know this is a lot to take in, and yes it does change everything. Before we get started on this though, Hotch sent over two of his men to help us out and provide insight into their side of the case." There was a sharp tapping on the open door, and Morgan spun to see Reid standing with Monroe beside, and one step behind him. Fighting the urge to glare at his past student, Derek chose to turn a warm gaze on his past teammate, who looked at him expectantly before glancing at his team. Remembering himself, he turned to make the introductions.

"Agents Reid and Monroe, these are Agents Cory Barnes, Robbie McGillin and Maeghan Smith. Team, this is-"

He was cut off by Spencer stepping forward. "This is Agent James Monroe, and I am SSA Dr. Spencer Reid," He said, by way of announcing himself. Derek turned to look at the Doctor with amusement. "That's a lot of letters on the front of your name there, kid."

Instantly the air went cold. Spencer stood stiff and straight, a polite smile pasted on his face. "Agent Morgan, if I could have a moment?" It sounded more like an order than a request, and Derek found himself following him into an empty office, where frigid brown eyes met his.

"I don't appreciate being demeaned and belittled to those I am to work with. Just because we once worked together does not give you the right to be overly familiar now. Please see that you refer to me as Dr. Reid in the future, or we will have a problem, Agent Morgan." As soon as he had finished snarling his lecture, he was gone, leaving a stunned Morgan standing alone.

There's the next bit everyone. You know what to do! (And in case you don't I'll tell you. REVIEW!)
BTW, im considering starting to name the chapters, so if you have any ideas for the first two, let me know!