Chapter 24: Reconciliation

A/N: This takes place during the episode: Reflections of Desire

"That was gross," Emily said. The unsub had sewed the lips of Kelly Landis onto the corpse of his dead mother. Fortunately, the BAU had managed to find Penny Hanley before he killed her.

Reid and Emily were outside the police station.

"I certainly didn't expect that," Reid said. "I'm not sure exactly what I expected, but not that."

"Yeah, well. I'm sure that will make an interesting paper or lecture for you. I mean, you did say this was a purely academic research."

"Emily, I think we both know why I did this."

"Oh, right Dr. Who. Well,..."

"Not that either, Emily."

"The garment?"

He smiled and shook his head. "I did it because you asked me. You know that. I always will help."

"Well, you seemed a little reluctant to help this time."

"Well, I'm in the middle of grading papers, so it was a little inconvenient. I should have said that." He kissed her on he forehead. "I really do love you."

"Then give me a real kiss, Spencer."

He smiled. His hands famed her face as he kissed her full on the mouth, a kiss she returned. When the kiss ended, she said, "I love you too."

"How long has this been going on?" Emily and Spencer turned to see Morgan standing there.

"Something wrong, Morgan," Emily asked.

"Not wrong, I just wanted to know. Is this why you left, Reid?"

"No," Reid said," Emily and I didn't start seeing each other until later. Now if you will excuse me, I have papers to grade, and next week's lectures to prepare."

He walked away. Emily watched him as he walked away, a smile on her face.

"When were you going to tell me, Emily?"

Emily turned back to Morgan. "I guess when you needed to know."

"You could have told me that's how you go him to help."

"And have you needling him the whole time?"

"C'mon Emily you know me better than that."

"I'm surprised you didn't figure it out before now."

"I asked about the two of you earlier. You said I was reading into things."

"You were. But that was at the beginning, when it was just being friends outside of work."

"Then what happened?"

"What do you mean?"

"How do you go from friends to kissing?"

"Do you need Spencer to give you tips?"

"Emily, I'm serious."

"Serious? Fine, here is my serious answer. He is the first guy in a long time I can be myself. Just exactly who I am, all of it. It doesn't scare him. What's more, I can trust him. It's been even longer for that."

If Emily thought that was going to be the end of Morgan's interrogation, she was sorely mistaken. The next day, it started all over again. Morgan was bound and determined to figure out how socially awkward Reid and worldly Prentiss began a romance without his knowing about it.

"Who made the fist move? You or him?"

"What does that matter? Moves were made and we are happy, by the way. Your concern is endearing."

"Someone made a move first. You or him? When did it start? Before he quit or maybe that's why he quit."

"It isn't."

"How do you know?"

"He told me."

"He's socially awkward and has almost no experience with relationships or women. He might be completely incapable of telling a woman he finds her attractive."

"He's a grown man who is an expert at reading body language and microexpressions. I think he would know if he was attracted to me."

"I'm not saying he didn't recognize he was attracted to you. I'm saying he didn't know how to tell you. At least not in any way where he was confident you would reciprocate his attraction. Or did you initiate it?"

Emily sighed. "This right here is why I didn't want to tell you. At least Rossi had the decency not to give me the third degree."

"Rossi?"

"I told him a few weeks ago."

"You told him?"

"He wanted me to convince Reid to come back. So I explained that I have no incentive for Reid to come back."

"What do you mean?"

"If he came back, Strauss wouldn't let him be on the team, not if we're dating."

Morgan was not satisfied and kept asking Emily more and more questions. Finally, Emily retreated to Garcia's office.

"PG, do have got to do something to Morgan."

"Oh, Honey, I would love to but Momma has work to do."

"I'm not kidding. If he asks one more question about me and Spencer, I will slug him."

"Can you blame him?"

"Excuse me?"

"Sweetie, it takes all of my restraint not to ask for blow by blow every time I see you. I mean, it helps that you give me some dirt – like that picture you took of Reid wearing the bowtie. Morgan had no idea until last night. Of course, he's going to have questions."

"He's giving me a goddamn third degree."

"He gets like that. In situations like this, he's worse than a housewife trying to find a speck of dust that the maid missed. Eventually, he will calm down."

"He better."

It wasn't until the following day that Morgan stopped, but it took Rossi to reign him in.

"Maybe you want to lighten up on Emily. Or maybe keep it to one or two questions a day."

"Doesn't it bother you?"

"What?"

"That this might be the reason he quit?"

"Not particularly."

"Really?"

"I doubt it's the reason, but even if it is – so what?"

"So what?"

"You yourself said this place burns people out. Reid left before it did. And sometime after that, he and Emily happened."

"How?"

"I don't know. But I don't think that's what's bothering you. I think what bothers you is that Emily didn't tell you. After the tenth degree you've been giving her, I don't blame her."

"You mean third degree."

"No. You've been at least three times more intense than a third-degree."

"Emily said you wanted her to convince him to come back."

"Well, I knew she was in close contact with him. I thought maybe he might be getting bored with teaching. I also thought she was the one of all of us who was in the best position to entice him back. I didn't realize how close they were."

"Do you think he will ever be back?"

"I think we all need to come to grips with the fact the team won't be like it was. If Reid comes back to the FBI, it won't be with us. Things change, and we need to accept that."

It was a few nights later, that the entire team – and Reid – went to watch Penelope perform in a play at the Tollgate Theater.

During intermission, Reid and Morgan were in the men's room. Morgan said, "There's just one thing I need to know, kid."

"Just one?"

"You and Prentiss."

Reid sighed. "Yes?"

"Even if it was the primary reason, could it have been part of it?"

"You know Morgan, I've been thinking about for a while. It wasn't a conscious part, but if you are asking if I've always found her attractive – I have. Part of why I left was to have a more normal life and relationships are part of that. I didn't anticipate it with her but …"

"Yeah?"

"It feels right. For the first time in a long time, I feel complete."

"Huh."

"What?"

"She said something similar."

"And?"

"I'm glad for both you."