Title: Au Natural (Part 3)
Author: dustytiger aka Trista Groulx
Rating: T (like the show to be safe)
Disclaimer: I do not on CM. I am still poor. CM still belongs to its creator, network, writers, actors and actresses who bring it to life weekly.
Summary: Prentiss and Reid are getting married, but what brought them to this point?
Notes: Thank you again for the support on this. I hope the pace is working for everyone I am really liking it a lot. Sorry tonight's posting is a little late… I got home from work after buying some fresh veggies and got distracted cooking them. Well enjoy!

The team were all making calls and collecting their personal items after wrapping up another case. Reid was glad that they were home from the rough case. His headaches were still not getting better and he had an appointment the next day with the specialist the ambassador had recommended. He hadn't wanted to cancel the appointment, but he still wasn't ready to tell his superiors there was something wrong with him, fearing they might overreact without a diagnosis. They would think that taking time off might be the best thing for the young man, but Reid found having the team, his family, close by seemed to keep his stress levels down and that helped keep the headaches from getting worse. He could see Rossi was still in his office, but the rest of the team seemed to have gone for the night other than Prentiss who was sitting writing a letter at her desk.

"Emily?" he asked.

She looked up from what she was doing. "What's up Reid?"

"Do you want to play a game of chess tonight?"

"Sure, it will take my mind off everything that just happened."

"That's what I was hoping."

"You can finish whatever you're working on I can go get a coffee or you can meet me at my place whenever you want."

She shrugged. "This can wait. Let's go, how about you get the coffee started and I'll pick up a pizza?"

"All right that sounds good. I'll get those cupcakes you like for dessert."

"Great I'll meet you at your place in half an hour."

"I'll leave the door unlocked for you."

"Thanks."

The two of them went to their own cars, and as planned after making their respective stops before they met at his apartment. They enjoyed their pizza and then began to play an intense game of chess snacking on the cupcakes as they played. The whole night Reid seemed to be slightly distracted, like he was deep in thought. Prentiss assumed he was worried about his appointment the next day. She had talked him into letting her go with him to the appointment after it was made, other than if they were on a case so no one would be suspicious if they both had to leave a case for unknown reasons.

"Checkmate," Prentiss said to break him from his silence.

She saw him jump slightly then his eyes began to scan the board wildly. "Checkmate?" he asked, confused, his king was fully protected.

"I thought that might bring you back to earth. Usually you're a fountain of facts during a chess game. What's going on in that brain of yours, Reid?"

"I suppose we are going to find that out tomorrow," he sighed.

"Is that the problem?"

"Somewhat. I was re-reading the literature the doctor's office sent me. There are tips on how to ensure that the appointment is well used. It also mentions that patients should try to get a good night's sleep before the appointment to not have any doubt about the symptoms."

"It's hard to sleep when you have an important appointment on your mind."

"It's hard to sleep when your head is so sore you can't find a comfortable position to sleep in."

"Is it that bad today?"

"I won't know until I fall asleep- if I fall asleep. Emily can I ask you a favour?"

"Of course you can."

"The night you fell asleep here, or I fell asleep and you stayed with me," Reid stammered. "Despite the pain that was the best night's sleep I can remember having. I was hoping that maybe… you might want to… well."

"Reid, are you asking me to stay with you tonight?"

He blushed. "You don't have to, but I was hoping you wouldn't mind."

"I don't mind at all. My go bag is in my trunk."

"Thank you I appreciate it. I know this is asking a lot but do you think you might want to stay in my room?"

"I thought that was what you needed. I'll do anything if it will make tomorrow go better it's worth it. What are friends for?"

"Thank you so much Emily. You're a good friend."

"Anytime," she assured him, although her reasons were not entirely selfless.

Their game didn't last much longer, and Reid won, although it was close he always felt challenged when he played her. He wondered if she had deliberately lost so they would end up having an early night. He knew that it was the best idea to go to sleep earlier but he never liked to do that. He wondered if maybe she had enjoyed the night they had spent together as much as he had, but then worried that it was too much to hope for.

"I'm going to go get my go bag," she told him.

"Let me get it for you," he said standing up to get his coat.

"Thank you Reid."

He went down to her car to get her go bag. When he brought it in he let her change and get ready first. He then went into the bathroom to change into his own pajamas, a pair of boxers and an undershirt, and brush his teeth. When he went into his room he smiled seeing her sitting up in his bed reading the book that had been on his side table. He got into the bed, taking another book. They both read silently next to each other for half an hour before Prentiss closed her book and flicked off the light on the side table. Reid did the same thing a moment later.

They both laid next to each other stiff as boards for a few long moments, neither wanting to be the one who made a move closer to the other. Even with so much on their minds it didn't take much time for them to both fall asleep, on opposite sides of the bed facing opposite walls. Knowing the other was there helped them to relax and allow sleep to take them.

Prentiss woke up in the middle of the night surprised to feel Reid's arms wrapped around her. Her legs were tangled in his. She sighed softly, wanting to move and stretch but not lose the warmth of his body. She moved her head and rested it on his chest a small smile forming across her face as she heard the beating of his heart. She yawned and drifted off to sleep again when normally she would lie awake for a while after waking up but having someone close made he realise she was safe from the Irish monster who had once wanted hers and her family's lives.

Reid woke up minutes before his alarm was supposed to go off and seeing the content look on Prentiss' face decided it would be better if he turned off the alarm before it would scream and wake her. He laid there for a few minutes longer before running his fingers along her cheek gently. He watched her eyes flutter but not open. He didn't want to wake her, she looked so peaceful, but knew they needed to get the day started to get to his appointment. He ran his finger along her face again.

"Emily," he said softly. "Emily, it's time to wake up."

Prentiss was surprised to feel a light touch of someone's finger's along her cheek. It took her a moment to realise that the voice talking to her was Reid's. She opened her eyes slowly and stretched out a little bit. She flopped back on the pillow.

"I know it's early I'm sorry, I shut off the alarm I didn't want to wake you, but…"

It was only then that she realised her head was on his chest and she hadn't moved anything but her arms since she had woken up. She thought it was nice that he didn't want to disturb her. There was a part of her that wanted to stay like that and pretend for a few minutes more that they could be something more than friends. But they both knew they had things to do and places to be. If she was like this with any man but Reid she would try to make a move, but she didn't want to lose her best friend again.

"Sorry Reid," she whispered moving, already missing the closeness.

"It's okay. You can sleep a few more minutes while I start some coffee and breakfast."

"Thanks."

She watched him leave the room and she flopped back into the bed, but her mind couldn't stop racing. She knew he had only asked her to stay because he wanted his appointment to go well, but the fact of the matter was that she also slept better when she was there; she couldn't help but wonder if that might change their friendship. If it did she was excited for it. Reid was one of her closest friends but there was a part of her that wanted more. He was one of the kindest and most gentle people she knew and she was sure that would translate well in how he loved a woman.

Reid meanwhile was in the kitchen, putting on some coffee, and looking in is fridge for ingredients to make them both breakfast. His mind was racing with thoughts of the woman who was still in his room. Waking up to find her curled up to him was one of the best feelings he had felt in a long time. He had almost forgotten about the pain of his headaches just by having her so close. He wondered if maybe everything was related to stress and hoped she would be there for him no matter what the diagnosis might be. As much as he wondered what it might be like to change their relationship he was terrified he might lose her. So he had reserved himself to only asking for what she could give, and right now it seemed like that was her friendship.

End Part 3

Notes: We find out in the next part what is wrong with Reid! I'll try to post early tomorrow cause I'm having a girls' night and I don't wanna forget.