Author's Note: Good evening, everybody. I would've updated earlier today but Criminal Minds gave me such a swift, deep, absolutely fucking brutal heartbreaking kick in the Feels last night, I had to spend the majority of my off day looking up fix-it fics, pumping my favorite jams, and reading my comfort fic staples. I swear I haven't felt so TV pissed/ miserable since In Plain Sight's 3rd Season Finale…

Thankfully, I've calmed down now (and bought some orange creamsicle ice cream that I'm not sharing and you can't make me…) so now, it's writing time.

I'm glad you guys liked what I did with Eddie last chapter and he'll be sticking around as a lookout for the Morelli/Helen/Jeanne Ellen unholy alliance (aka Terrible Trio) plot line I've settled on. I know it's been done before but I think I can put my own original CMW2 flare on it and even if I can't, I'll still enjoy writing it. Enjoy today's chapter.

Disclaimer: "Honestly, it's not mine!"

"How'd he get in?"

"Picked the lock."

"How'd you get in?"

"Picked the lock…look, get yourself a couple of deadbolts…and lock that shit up."

-Ranger and Stephanie in One for the Money (2012)


"Eddie called me earlier. He said that he didn't want to cause friction between me and you in case you didn't tell me about what you're gonna do about Morelli."

"I won't let him hurt you again, Steph. I promised."

"And you're a man of your word. That's one of the things I love most about you."

She reached across the dashboard and I could see absolute trust in her cerulean orbs as she squeezed my hand.

"You do what you have to. I'd prefer if you didn't kill him but if that's what has to go down, then okay. I don't trust him, either and Eddie's not the only person who's noticed the way he looks at me sometimes. Lula once said that he had lusty mean eyes like a pimp and she'd know better than anyone."

"She would. Babe, I'm also gonna assign someone to stick by you when you're out in the field. It's not that I don't think you're capable of taking care of yourself but an extra set of eyes never hurts."

She sighed heavily and took another forkful of Ella's pasta primavera.

"Okay. I don't like it but I get it. Do I get input in the decision?"

"You do."

"I work well with just about anyone in the building but other than you, I trust and understand the Core Team the most. They get how I operate and I know that if they're telling me to simmer down, they're saying it because they actually care about me, not because they think I'm incapable."

"All right. I'll let them know and then we can establish a schedule."

"A schedule?"

"Steph, they love you and if there's not a schedule worked out during a briefing, then it'll be worked out on the mats."

"Seriously?"

"Serious as a live grenade."

"Don't you mean as a heart attack?"

"Same meaning, Babe."

"Jeez."