Disclaimer: see chapter 1

A/N: This takes place after Wednesday's episode "Retaliation", spoilers exist

Chapter 7: And by it, I mean my body …

Emily Prentiss's body was sore when she woke up. She was still feeling bit of pain from the collision. Of course after the collision, Spencer was hesitant to touch her. He was over for a little bit last night, and he kept telling her, "you need to rest. Sleep will help your body heal."

She took a shower, which made her feel a little better, but what she really wanted was over in Spencer's apartment. Fortunately, it was the weekend and they didn't have a case.

When she got over there, Spencer was working on his computer and sipping coffee.

Spencer's coffee was still a mystery to her. She had searched his kitchen several times, but he had the same brand of coffee she did, had an ordinary coffee maker, so how did he make coffee that good? Even after several interrogations, including one where she threatened to beat him with his own cane if he didn't tell her, he refused to say anything other than it was magic.

Spencer Reid looked up from his computer and saw her there. He got up and said," What are doing here? I thought we agreed you would rest and call when you woke up."

"You agreed. I distinctly remembered saying I will get up when I decided to and then I would talk to you. I can't help it if you thought that meant using a phone."

On one level, Spencer knew this stubborn contrariness was an encouraging sign. It meant she was feeling pretty good, and everything was probably just fine. But he refuse to believe that. It's my fault, he told himself, it's all my fault. "Do you want some coffee?"

"Sure"

Reid went to go get, and Emily knew something was wrong. There was a look in his eye she had seen before. After Ben Cyrus and the cult. Guilt. He blames himself for what happened. Shit!

She went into the kitchen. He was pouring coffee into a mug for her. "Look at me Spencer."

He didn't move. He couldn't look at her. It's all my fault, he kept thinking, and he couldn't stop thinking it.

Her hand found his face and moved his head until his eyes were looking into hers. "It wasn't your fault. The collision, me getting hurt, it wasn't your fault."

He just looked at her, his expression of guilt was unchanged.

"I mean it Spencer, it wasn't your fault. Do you hear me?" There was an intensity in her tone, almost like anger but not quite.

"Yes it is. I should have seen it."

"How? What could possibly have pointed to a partner?"

"I don't know, but I should have seen it."

"You can't see everything. We do the best we can, based on the information we have. We did the best we could do. It isn't your fault. You know that, don't you?"

He broke away from her, he was shaking his head, and clutched his can so tightly his knuckles were white. "It is my fault. It's my job to know. I can't break down doors with you, no while I have this," he said indicating his cane. "And because I wasn't smart enough to see it, you got hurt. It is my fault."

"You really are an idiot sometimes, you know that? You can't predict everything." She looked at him, for a moment, her eyes softening. "Is this really about not being able to predict everything, or not being able to go knock doors?"

Spencer looked at the floor, suddenly feeling embarrassed.

"How long has that been bothering you," she asked. He lifted his head to look at her, that's when he realized she was about and inch away from him. She placed her hand over his hand that gripped his cane. Her eyes were filled with concern.

"Why do you think I flew before I was cleared by the doctors?" The word were out of his mouth before he could stop them. He was usually better at keeping his thoughts from being vocalized. Not around her, though, not anymore. He was trying to unsay the words when she started stroking his hand with one finger. The feeling of her finger stroking his hand was both electric and distracting.

"You never said anything about it bothering you before."

"I wouldn't have now, except for you."

She smiled at that, and kissed him lightly on the lips. "Let's sit on the couch. I think sitting with you is just what we both need.."

She tried to lead him towards the couch, but grabbed her and kissed her, long and hard.

She kissed him back, and for a moment they forgot about cases, unsubs, pain, and other thoughts unrelated to kissing.

When they stopped kissing, Emily had a coy smile on her face. "You know, Dr. Reid, I do have something still hurts that I need you help with. And by something, I mean my entire body, and by help…"

"I think I know", he said, kissing her some more and as they both moved into the bedroom.

The thing that surprised Reid the most about sex, was the afterglow. Nothing felt so good as the feeling when the two partners were still snuggled against each other after the actual intercourse. He and Emily lay on his bed, their bodies completely entangled. He had a feeling of complete peace and contentment at that point.

"Spencer," Emily's voice was soft but not really a whisper," about what we were talking about before, about not knocking down doors. How much does that really bother you?"

"It's not that I enjoy kicking down doors. It's that I don't like that I can't. " His eyes had a sudden far away look in them. "It makes me feel distant from the team."

"You're not, you know. You're right there with us, helping us."

"I don't know how much help I was this time."

"Reid, do you remember when we got home from the case. You drove me home."

"Yeah." There was a faint smile on his lips.

"I was feeling guilty about Det. Bunting."

"That wasn't your fault."

Emily smiled. "But I feel like I should have been able to stop it. You kept telling me it wasn't my fault. Do you remember what else you told me?"

"We do the best we can."

"That means you too."

"I know that in my head. But I still feel guilty."

"It's all right. I'll stay right here until the feeling subsides."

"That could be a while."

"That's all right, "she ran her fingers through his hair while pulling him closer to her," this is right where I want to be."

They lay like that for quite some time.

A/N: I want to thank everyone for the reviews. Please keep them coming, the feed back really helps motivate me.