Chapter 9: The Dating Game
JJ, Prentiss and Reid sat around JJ's desk, sandwiches from the deli station in the cafeteria in front of them.
"I need to talk to you both about something," Reid began. JJ and Emily exchanged a look; they thought that Reid was past the fiasco that was Emily's 'death'.
"No, no, no!" Reid said, seemingly reading their minds. "It's not that; we're past that. I need advice – relationship advice." Both women relaxed visibly.
"How can we help you?" Emily asked.
"As you know, I broke up with Ethan three months, nine days, sixteen hours-"
"Approximately three months Reid, we got it. Focus."
"Well, during those three I've been spending time with Morgan. A lot of time with Morgan actually. And, and I think that, well, that maybe Ihavefeelingsforhim." The end of the sentence was mumbled and rushed.
"Reid honey, you know he's straight." Reid sighed.
"You can't say anything. Ever. He'd kill me." Reid paused dramatically and both women raised a hand in the scout's honor. "He's not as straight as you think Emily." JJ's mouth was hanging open and Prentiss' eyes were popping out of her head.
"What?"
"You're familiar with the Kinsey scale?" Both women nodded. "He's not a zero. I'd classify him as a one, but the point is that he is definitely not a zero."
"Spence, did he tell you this?"
"Yes, a long time ago. I noticed him checking out a guy one night when we were at a bar and decided to call him on it. It's not something that many people know though. I'm the only team member who knows; he's never even told Garcia. I don't know that he'd ever forgive me for telling you without his permission."
"We won't say anything Spence."
"We promise," Prentiss confirmed. "So if Morgan's sexuality isn't the problem, then what is?"
"I haven't gone out with anyone since Ethan. I don't want Morgan to be a rebound. That certainly wouldn't be my intention, but I'm still afraid it would happen, or that maybe he would feel like one. Plus I don't think that it would go over well with the higher ups. I know that Garcia and Lynch haven't been disciplined, but I think that's only because they aren't on the same team. Plus bureaucracy can much more easily accept a heterosexual couple than an interracial, homosexual couple. Plus Morgan and I have to be able to work in the field together." JJ held up her hand, indicating that he should pause.
"Okay Spence, those are probably legitimate concerns. Before you go leaping off this cliff, tell us what Morgan has done to indicate his interest." Reid sighed, collecting his thoughts before he began.
"We usually spend our days off together. Over the past couple of weeks he's begun holding my hand, like when we're at the movies, or watching TV, or at the dog park with Clooney."
"You guys take Clooney to the park together? Did you skip dating and go straight to boring old married couple?'" Emily interrupted.
JJ playfully hit Emily's arm. "Ignore her Spence. Tell me more."
"If we're lucky enough to have a whole weekend off, I usual spend the whole weekend at his place. Normally, I sleep in the guest room. But this last time, I slept in his bed with him. Nothing happened, sexually I mean, but we woke up holding one another." At this point of his story Reid rolled his eyes as JJ and Emily cooed over this last anecdote. "He, um, he asked me if I wanted to go to Chicago with him the next time he goes home; he wants to go when we have that long weekend for Memorial Day. I, I told him I would." Both women were both surprised at this last admission.
"I think you're justified in thinking that he's interested," stated JJ.
"I already knew that," Reid replied. Emily rolled her eyes.
"I think that the part about the Bureau is something you two would have to discuss together, but I have a solution to the other part of your problem."
"Do tell."
"I think you should go on a date with some other guy before you ask Morgan to go out with you. That way you won't feel like it's a rebound."
"I suppose that's reasonable. How do you suggest I find said date?" Emily shook her head as his social awkwardness reared its head.
"There are a few guys around Quantico that are interested Reid," replied Emily. "We'll help you set up a date."
He nodded. "I, I think I'll feel kind of guilty."
"Like you're cheating on Morgan?" JJ asked gently. Reid nodded.
"This is why I came to you guys. Because I just didn't know . . ." JJ tapped a finger against her chin thoughtfully.
"Spence, I think that all that rebound business is almost like superstition, or an old wives' tale. I'm sure if you wanted you could find the statistics on it, although the data would be highly subjective." He opened his mouth and she held up her hand to stop him before he began his diatribe on said statistics, then she continued. "If you'd really feel guilty going out with another guy, even once, why don't you go to Morgan and just talk to him about everything." Reid chewed on the bottom of his lip for a minute. Before he could answer, they were interrupted by a knock on the door.
"There you are," stated Morgan after he opened the door. "If we don't get a case this afternoon, you want to grab dinner?" He was clearly addressing Reid.
"Yeah, definitely." Morgan smiled.
"Hey, I like dinner!" Prentiss exclaimed, feigning hurt.
"Two's company, three's a crowd," Morgan stated matter-of-factly as Prentiss huffed and crossed her arms. "Sorry I interrupted," he said, winking at Reid and closing the door as he left.
"Sounds like you have a date Dr. Reid."
"We have dinner all the time."
"Spence," JJ exclaimed, her voice full of exasperation.
"Okay, okay, maybe I have a date with Morgan." He smiled goofily.
"I think this little powwow was all for naught," Prentiss stated, balling up the wrapper from her sandwich. "Meeting adjourned," she proclaimed as she tossed the wad of paper into the wastepaper basket.
