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A/n this story begins between The Fisher King, Part One, and PS911. I have decided to change things up a bit, which will become apparent in a later chapter. I wanted to give Reid and JJ a chance they deserved well before any possibility of Will.

Dr. Spencer Reid was thrilled to see the end of another week. He'd spent most of his time at his desk with paperwork and consults. JJ hadn't found any cases that needed their attention, so he'd passed the time finishing his work, and now that it was a little of six pm, he was on his way out and to the train station.

Almost four months had passed since Elle's shooting. Reid realized that everything seemed to be going back to normal, except that Elle was still out on medical leave. JJ had said that she might be coming back in a couple of weeks. Reid hoped Elle was alright.

Reid often thought about the night of Elle's shooting. A few times, anger at Gideon for forcing JJ into the press conference had simmered in his gut, but he'd quickly pushed it away. Everyone made mistakes, even mentors, and he had to realize that Gideon wasn't perfect.

The weather outside was cool when Reid left for the day. It was late in September, and the trees were beginning to change color. The air smelled different to him, like autumn. He didn't know what Fall was supposed to smell like, but there was something different in the air. He looked up at the sky, straightened his bag on his shoulder, and began the walk across the parking lot.

Spencer didn't hear the approaching vehicle until it pulled alongside him, and a familiar voice said. "Hey, Spence. You need a ride."

He looked over to see JJ's little red car. She talked to him through the passenger side window. A ride? His heart began to thump in his chest, and he immediately began to think of reasons why he should say no."

"Ah, no, JJ. It's not a long walk and –"

"Come on, Spence. Do you want to walk to the train, wait for it, and ride home? I can take you there in half the time.

Oh god. JJ was offering to take him to his apartment.

"It's out of your way, JJ. You live in Mclean and –"

"I don't mind."

He stood there for a minute staring at her as she smiled at him, then he decided it was time to stop hiding behind his shyness. He stepped forward and climbed into her car. "Thanks."

"You're welcome."

JJ pulled out of the base and onto the side road that would take them to the freeway. He didn't speak until they were halfway to his apartment.

"Um, thanks for stopping."

"No problem. It's Friday, and since Hotch said we are off rotation for the weekend, I thought you might want to get home as fast as possible."

"Oh, well, I don't have any reason to be in a hurry," Reid said and then wished that the floor would open up and drop him out of sight. Why did he admit to JJ that he had no plans? She probably thought he was a total loser.

"I don't have any plans either."

"Oh."

He cursed his inability to have a normal conversation with her. They were friends. They talked on the jet and sometimes in hotel coffee shops or the break room at Quantico. Why was it so difficult in a car?

"I mean, I'm sorry that you don't – I mean – have any plans or a date or something."

He felt his face flame and once more wished that he hadn't accepted this ride with her.

"It's no big deal," JJ said. "I'm glad that I ran into you. I've wanted to talk to you for a long time but didn't know how to broach the subject."

"You have," Reid squeaked, and once more, he kicked himself for acting like a teenager with a crush.

JJ didn't answer him, and he looked over to see that her face had gone slightly pink. "Yes. I wish I weren't driving, though. Do you mind if we go to my place instead? We can have a beer and order a pizza or something else if you want."

"Are you asking me out," Reid said, and for the first time, his chest filled with hope that she might feel something more that coworker.

"I guess I am. I've wanted to ever since the football game, but – Spence, can this part of the conversation wait until we stop?"

"Yes."

"Yes, to dinner at my place or yes to waiting to talk?"

"Yes, to both."

"Good."

Reid was utterly floored when he heard the relief in her voice. She was glad that he agreed to go to her place. Suddenly, fear took the place of excitement. What if she changed her mind? What if she tried to – no, she wouldn't try anything because they worked together. He felt disappointment take the place of fear. JJ was beautiful, and he'd had this same fantasy of her asking him to come home, and then she'd taken him to her bed. God, he'd got through many lonely nights imagining all the things she might do to him if –

"Spence."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I was thinking about work." He lied as she realized she'd tried to talk to him.

"I was asking you if you want something other than junk food. We can stop at the store on the way if you –"

"No." He nearly shouted, then he looked out the window instead of meeting her eyes. "Pizza is fine."

Twenty minutes later, they pulled up to her small rental house, and Spencer followed her inside. She dropped her bag on the floor next to the entryway table. "Um, put your go-bag wherever." JJ kicked off her shoes. "Do you mind waiting here? I'm going to change."

Spencer swallowed hard. "Um, no, that's fine."

"You can take off your shoes or you tie, or both if you want."

"Oh, I'm okay."

"Whatever you say."

Spencer watched her go around a corner and disappear. He looked around her living room and remembered the football date. He'd picked her up, and before they had gone, she'd asked him inside briefly. The living room looked the same. There were two end chairs and a couch upholstered in chocolate brown, with a glass coffee table and magazines. The hardwood floors were polished, and a throw rug spanned most of the room. She had a flat-screen television with a DVR and a computer table in one corner. He looked beyond the sofa and found himself looking through a doorway to her kitchen.

"Hey," JJ said and made him jump a little. "Are you ready for pizza?"

"Ah yeah. I'm hungry."

JJ smirked at him and said. "You're too thin. You need some carbs."

"Everyone says that," Reid said, but it didn't sting coming from JJ. It felt like she genuinely cared about his health.

"What do you want on your pizza?"

"Um, I don't like mushrooms," he yelled out and then blushed. Did JJ like them? If she did, it wasn't fair of him to demand that she order pizza without them. "Ah, if you want them, it's okay – "

"I do like mushrooms. I'll order half with and a half without them. Does a Supreme sound good?"

Reid never ordered pizza; instead, he liked Greek, Indian, or even Mexican, but he said. "Yeah, um, what's on a Supreme?"

JJ's eyes sparkled, and she grinned at him. "You'll see."

Later, after ordering the pizza, she handed him a cold beer from the fridge. He took it and said. "Thanks."

"I hope this brand is okay."

"Um, I don't drink beer often, but I'm sure this is good." He took a sip and swallowed. "I like it." He decided.

"Good. Why don't we sit down? The pizza won't be here for about 30 minutes."

"Ah, sure."

Reid followed back to the living area. He perched in one corner of the sofa and watched her sit on the opposite end. Why was she sitting so far away? Didn't she want to be close to him?

They were quiet for so long, and he felt his pulse rate begin to climb. He couldn't think of anything to say. JJ said that she wanted to talk to him about dating, but she wasn't speaking. Was she mad with him, or had he done something wrong?

"Um, JJ –"

"Spence –"

They both laughed when speaking at the same time. Reid felt some of the awkward tension break apart.

"You go first," Reid said.

"Um, it's difficult. I told you that I wanted us to go out again."

"Yes."

"I wanted to ask you for months, but I couldn't find the right time. I was afraid that you'd say no."

Reid choked on the last of his beer. "You thought I'd say no. Are you serious?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because I brought Garcia with us to the football game. Reid, you have to understand that I thought it was a fun time between friends when you asked me to go. It didn't occur to me that you'd ask me on an actual date."

"I don't understand."

JJ sipped her beer and sighed. "Here's the tricky part. I don't want to ruin our friendship."

"Alright," Reid said. "Why do you think our friendship will suffer?"

"Because I like you, Spence."

"Um, I like you too."

JJ reached over the distance between them. "No. You don't understand. I like you more than friends."

"You – um, you do?"

JJ's face went pink and, Reid felt like his heart wanted to burst out of his chest. She liked him!

"Yes, I realized it a couple of months before your birthday. I always thought you were cute and sweet –"

"I'm not –"

JJ squeezed his hand tight. "Don't say you're not attractive. You're the nicest and kindest man I've met. You make me laugh when I need it and, you listen to me when I need a friend."

"Ah, I don't know what to say."

If only he had the words to tell her how he felt.

"I never thought you'd see me as more than a friend at work. You're so smart, and I'm not so I –"

"Don't say that," Reid burst out. "You're brilliant and thoughtful and beautiful."

"Thank you, Spence. You don't need to shower me with compliments."

"I wanted to ask you out again, but I thought you didn't like me that way because of Garcia."

JJ put her head down and studied her shoes. "I'm sorry, Spence. Will you forgive me?"

Reid reached out a shaking hand and lifted her head. "Of course. I like you too, JJ."

Reid wanted to tell her that he loved her but knew it's not the time for such an admission. He would begin at the start and put the past behind them.

"So, what do we do now," JJ asked him.

"I think it's time for me to call a cab."

"I can take you home," JJ said.

Disappointment that she didn't try to ask him to stay curled in his gut, but he knew he was not ready for that step. He'd take control of his hormones and wait.

"No, you've had two beers, and I know we've eaten, but it's better that I get a cab. I want you to be safe."

"I guess you're right."

After Reid called a cab, he stood at her door and wondered if he should try to kiss her. JJ decided for them and stood on her toes to plant a kiss on his mouth. It was brief, but it sent tingles down his spine. It was a feeling unlike anything he'd experienced.

"Thank you for food and company," he said.

"Thank you for listening."

"Always."

He left, rode back home to his empty apartment, but it didn't seem so lonely this time. He had the possibility of things to come, and, for now, it was all that he needed.

"