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Virgin! Two: One Angel, Slightly Used

Chapter 25

"I love you, I love you, I love you" The refrain filled Morgan's head matching the staccato in his heels. He stumbled to a stop from the brisk jog resting his palms on his knees breathing heavily. His early morning run took more out of him than usual, maybe because he wasn't with Clooney or maybe more importantly because Reid had dropped an emotional bomb in his lap and then nodded off. No matter how much Morgan had shaken him, under the influence of the pain pills Reid had failed to rouse.

Having spent a long night holding him and battling a cold sweat, Morgan had left his bed and his genius and gone for a run. Automatically following the familiar route, music blasting in his ears he tried not to take Reid at his word.

He had had a hell of a day. After being abducted Reid had drifted in an emotional fog, he was tired, had suffered a head injury. Any of those factors could have culminated in an ill advised 'I love you". While his confession had seemed heartfelt but it could just as easily been an after effect of his trauma. He'd been abandoned with the unsub for hours on end on a highly personal case that ended in the death of three people, his fears of failure would have come into play leading him to cling to the first available warm body. It didn't help that Morgan had spirited him away and tucked him into his bed without giving him the option of calling his boyfriend.

Banishing the selfish act from his mind, Morgan set off at a grueling pace. The solid concrete met his feet with a solid whack building up into a rhythm as he raced down the block, early morning shadows dogging his steps.

Jogging every day before work cleared his head like nothing else. The ritual successfully drained his mind of troubling thoughts and lingering nightmares even as he pushed his body to the limit. The sooner he hit his daily mark the sooner he could go home. Home. To Reid.

"Dammit" He swore collapsing to an unattended stoop. He couldn't outrun his ghosts, not today, certainly not the very pretty, exhausted ghost that was home in his bed. Not to mention the looming problem of his ghost's very real boyfriend. There was no doubt in Morgan's mind that Alex was a good man. Reid was happy with him. Lately he'd been relaxed, easy in his skin. The little weight he'd put on suited him and being exposed to a whole other world separate from serial killers and death was good for him.

Morgan flexed his wrists then retied his running shoes. Torn, he rubbed his palms on his knees, leaning back on his elbows. He wasn't sure what to do about Reid's confession. Even over the brief time they'd been together he hadn't known how to keep Reid happy. He was short tempered; selfish and covered Reid in bruises every chance he got. They fell apart at the slightest problem. Then Morgan groaned dropping his head he remembered all his recent sexual activities. There was no way he was telling Reid about that, if he did love him Morgan wasn't going to give him reason to stop.

"Yup. Selfish." He muttered getting to his feet. All the way home he kept up the illusion of debate, the illusion that he would give Reid a chance to go back on his word and the closer he got to his condo the harder he lied to himself because if there was a chance for him to get Reid back he was going to take it, no matter how bad he was for him.

Morgan tore his iPod off his arm; the thumping bass that had accompanied his debate was cut off mid song. Unlocking his door he stepped inside, it was quiet and for a moment he thought Reid had gone home. The smell of freshly brewed coffee wafted from the kitchen, he followed, praying with every step that Reid was still around. He was. Fully dressed he sat in his living room on the window seat; his knees were drawn up to his chest, the mug clasped loosely in both hands.

"You're still here." Morgan pronounced almost rolling his eyes at the stupid statement.

"Yeah"

Morgan's heart sunk, noting that Reid spoke at him, instead of to him as his eyes darted all over the place even as he swung round carefully and placed his bare feet firmly on the carpet. At a loss of something better to say, Morgan inquired. "Shouldn't you still be in bed?"

"I wanted to talk about…about last night." Reid focused on the mug in his hand putting it aside before he dropped it. His hands were shaking so hard but determination overrode any sense of self-preservation he had left. "About what I said."

Reid knew what he had said; he knew exactly how he felt. JJ had been right his feelings were so big and consuming and no matter how scared he was of Morgan hurting him again, he couldn't keep running. Memories of Nathan whispering to his son played on a loop reminding him how fragile life was. They had a job that jeopardized their lives on a daily basis neither of them could say how long they had left. One second with the love of his life was all he asked.

Reid finally looked up searching Morgan's face for clues. He wanted to be able to see his rejection coming. Floundering a little as he was unable to tell what he was thinking or feeling Reid pressed on.

"I love you." He said.

"Reid?"

"Don't say anything." He rushed devouring Morgan with his eyes. "I love you" Reid chewed on his lip choosing his words carefully before laying it all on the line. "And I want to be with you. If I'm not…I mean if that's not want you want…"

"It is." Morgan stepped forward, stepped up. "You are."

Reid sagged back in his seat, suddenly boneless with relief. "I am?" He questioned convinced his mind was playing tricks on him.

"Yes" Outside of declarations of love and flowery language, Morgan's conviction and unwavering stare was the best response he could have gotten.

"I'm going to tell him." He preempted then clarified. "Alex. I'm going to tell him that we are over." When Morgan crossed the room and sat next to him, Reid felt his relief. He might not have been whopping for joy but it is definitely what he wanted too.

"Right now?"

"I can't put it off any longer." Reid cleared his throat as he got to his feet.

"Wait" Morgan grabbed his elbow getting up as well. "Do you feel well enough to drive or get into a big emotional discussion? It could get ugly."

"With Alex? No way." Having spent months with his boyfriend – soon to be ex-boyfriend, Reid knew his moods and reactions and that he was more likely to walk away than start a fight but it wasn't an argument he could present to Morgan. "I will take a cab." He insisted firmly.

Unwilling to let him out of sight; Morgan tightened his grip. "I could come with you." He offered. There was a chance that Reid's decision that had come seemingly out of nowhere would fizz out just as fast and he would remember that Alex was the one he really wanted.

"No" Even though he was scared, Reid knew he had to do it alone. He owed Alex that much. "I have to do it by myself and having you there will not make it any easier."

"Reid?"

"You can't protect me from everything. Just – um – one thing…" Suddenly ridiculously shy Reid wrung his hands together and stared at the floor. He blinked rapidly as he made his request. "Maybe I could come over later and we could have dinner. Like the first time when we..." He flushed.

"Like a do over?" Morgan chuckled. "Or do you want another chance to finish the job?"

Reid's head snapped up and he huffed challenging Morgan's grin. "For the last time, I was not trying to kill you."

"I know." Morgan raised his hand dropping it before it reached Reid's face. "I also know that I have given you plenty of reason to hate me over the past couple of months." He choked up a bit. "I don't deserve a second chance but I want one. So, dinner is a great start and this time I will take care of everything. You just come back to me okay?"

Reid gave him the sweetest smile and nodded. "Okay"

Hours later, Morgan slammed his front door behind him, heading for his truck. He had heard neither hide nor hair from Reid since he waved gaily at him from the cab that morning. Putting aside his pride was hard especially since everything pointed to Reid coming to his senses and deciding to stay with his boyfriend. Morgan cursed the gallant decision to let him go break things off in person. His first choice to drag Reid to bed and never let him leave would have kept him home where he belonged. Tons of people had been broken up with over text and email; Alex was tough he would have survived.

Morgan jumped into the car, started up the engine and tore out of his parking space. The dark thoughts of clobbering Reid over the head and dragging him back to his lair by the hair were very appealing.