Stepping into the Unknown
Chapter 14: One Step Closer

Author's Note: This takes place after Daily Morning Routine. Since this is part of my first Criminal Minds story, I don't think I am going to go into cases in detail. This will mainly be focus on what Dr. Reid's life outside of work might be like.

I do not own Criminal Minds or Dr. Spencer Reid. I do own Michelle, though.

He ends up staying at her place for a few days, unable to leave her since he is the reason she got so scared in the first place; she apologizes three times for calling despite their agreement and promises not to do it again, even if he reminds her that if she hadn't called he probably wouldn't have known what was going on until Garcia checked on them. After couple of days, life gets back to its normal course; the team is called to Ohio on a case and for the first time he takes her grandfather's revolver with him. He doesn't believe in good luck charms or fate, but she does, despite the hour long lecture he gave her, where he explained how good luck is simply a matter of perception and the fact that all good luck charms and symbols are simply based on shared cultural consciousness. She says she doesn't really care if it's logical or not, it's just something that she's believed in for a long time and it hasn't let her down yet.

Then Colorado happens, where he and Prentiss are taken hostage by a cult. The guilt he feels due to Emily getting beaten to spare him is eating him inside; he knows already it will take a good long while to ease it and that it will probably lead him to a few meetings. He also feels guilty because, for the first time since he joined the Bureau, he worried as much for his own life as he did for his teammate's. Before, he never really had anything to go home to, sure there's the rest of the team and his mom, but it's not the same; now there's someone whose life is intertwined with his.

When he joined the BAU, death wasn't something that scared him, it's simply a fact of life, that at some point, it ends; no one knows when or where, so why not make it a little magnificent and have it happen while trying to catch some awful murderer. There's so many careers that he could have chosen and he went with the one with some of the highest risks of physical or psychological harm. Deep inside he knows there's a part of his mind, one that he doesn't want to dwell on for too long in fear of what he might find, that probably pushed him to this job due, partially, to theses odds.

As he runs out of the exploding chapel, he realizes that, for the first time in years, he is afraid of dying, afraid of not coming home; in that moment, he decides that it is time to bring both his lives together. No more hiding!

And that's how they got here, a week and a half later, at a pub in the city; he's nervous and he tries his best not fidget. He takes a sip of his soda and turns to watch Prentiss winning a game of pool against Morgan who can't seem to believe what just happened. Garcia and Kevin Lynch are dancing, or at least, Garcia is dancing and Kevin is attempting, without great success, to follow the beat. J.J. decided to come out with them, he wonders if it's a safe idea given how late it is in her pregnancy, but he's glad she's there.

His phone vibrates in his pocket and he excuses himself; the bar is too loud for him to hear anything and he has to step outside to take the call.

"Hey!"

"Hi! I just got off the subway and I'm almost there," she says her voice a little hoarser than normal due to a lingering cold.

"I'll wait for you outside then." He barely finishes his sentence before feeling two arms wrapping themselves around his waist, and the now familiar touch of her body against his. He turns around without breaking her embrace and simply leans down to kiss her. She smiles up at him and takes his hand; he opens the door and step back inside, leading her toward their tables.

Garcia spots them and smiles before whispering something in her date's ear; Michelle nods in the blonde's direction and gives a little wave. Derek and Prentiss are back by J.J.'s side; the tall man is busy flirting with the waitress as the girls roll their eyes. None the less, it's his eyes that lock on their hands first and Reid wonders if he's made the right decision.

"Huh, guys," his voice is a little high and he clears his throat. His three friends are staring him and he's feeling uncomfortable; he glances at the pretty girl at his side, her eyes sparkling with affection. His entire demeanor gets more confident. "I'd like you to meet my Michelle... my girlfriend, Michelle."

Prentiss is the fastest to get up and introduce herself and starts asking her questions. Michelle smiles and happily answers to all of them; he's glad she has an easier time with meeting people than he does. J.J. shakes Michelle's hand as Morgan walks up to him and puts his arm around his shoulders.

"Well kid! I have to say, I'm impressed; she seems nice and she's cute too. Why'd you hide her from us for so long?"

He's saved from answering by Garcia who chooses that moment to walk back up to their group, pulling Kevin behind her.

"Oh God, I'm so glad you guys decided to tell everyone, I was dying trying to keep this to myself!" She says, beaming.

"Baby girl, you knew about this and you didn't tell us?" Morgan's surprise is written all over his face and his mouth actually falls open when Garcia mentions that she's known for over a month and managed to keep it to herself.

Michelle squeezes his hand to get his attention, she mentions she's going to get herself something to drink and asks if he wants anything. He declines and watches her as she make her way through the crowd.

"You're in love, aren't you?" Prentiss is standing next to him, a knowing smile on her lips. "We're really happy for you, Reid, she seems like a sweet girl. She's the reason you've been smiling more the last few months, isn't she?"

"Yes." He finds himself replying to both questions with one word, and then the second question hits him. "Did it show?"

"A little, from time to time, mostly at nights when we were all headed home or to our rooms, everyone would be tired and you'd suddenly have this boost of energy."

He finally turns his head to look at her before adding: "We talk on the phone at night when we're out of town on a case. It's kind of the best part of the day."

Michelle walks back toward them, and Prentiss claps his shoulder before leaving them alone for some privacy. He can hear his teammate talking behind him but he doesn't bother listening, he knows what they're gossiping about. He's glad the entire thing was actually so painless, he wonders why he worried about it so much.

"What's going on in that big brain of yours?"

He purses his lips and frowns a little before telling her he's trying to figure out if it's acceptable for him to kiss her in front of his team. She puts down her drink on the table next to them and pulls him into a kiss, right then and there, in front of everyone. His arms close around her waist, he can hear Morgan and Garcia catcalling behind them and he doesn't care, right now, nothing matters but the fact that he is here with his friends and the woman he loves and he's happy.