Authors Note and Disclaimer: This is a fan-made work of fiction: I don't own Criminal Minds or any of the main characters.
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Chapter Four: The Long Day
It had been a long day for Luke.
It started with breakfast.
There was something about orange juice, coffee, scrambled eggs, bacon, pancakes with syrup, and milkshakes that really made the day a good start.
Pretty company helped too.
Lisa had been texting him on and off, and whilst their relationship was complicated – and they had ended it a while ago – they still liked each other's… companionship.
Breakfast was Lisa's idea – but they both agreed a catch up would be nice.
The little café was outside and in the sun.
They could sit and talk for hours.
Roxy was tied to the table; happily bounding around exploring the sidewalk.
Every once in a while, Luke would feed her a blueberry or a piece of bacon and she'd nibble at it happily before bounding around again.
Lisa would smile and laugh.
It was good conversation:
They talked about work.
They talked about Phil.
They talked about their plans for the rest of the day.
If she was seeing anyone; she wasn't.
If he was seeing anyone; he wasn't.
Eventually when lunchtime hit, Lisa had to go to work.
Luke was fine with this, because he too, figured he'd go see Phil anyway.
They spilt the bill, included a tip, and Luke walked Lisa to her car.
When they got to the car, Lisa had the windows down, so she could say goodbye.
It wasn't expected, but they were happy; and they kissed.
"I might call you later, okay" he promised.
She smiled at him, kissed him again, and then drove away.
Luke watched her drive away and then stood beside Roxy on the sidewalk, and gave her a pat.
"We'll go see Lou now?"
Roxy barked happily.
Lunchtime: Luke took meatball subs over to Phil's house.
Roxy ran around and played with Lou.
When Luke told him about his morning with Lisa, Phil was less than thrilled.
"I mean, you're both my friends, I want you to be happy" he explained, "But come on, man. You've already broken up once".
"Really twice" Luke muttered under his breath.
"Exactly" Phil clicked his fingers.
Lou, confused about the finger click - came over for attention and Phil gave him a pat happily.
Roxy did the same to Luke.
"So…" Luke asked, "What do you want me to do?".
Phil sighed, "Honestly – I don't care if you're together. I don't care if you're not together. Just don't go back and forth. That just toys with emotions".
He stroked Lou's fur happily while the happy dog licked the denim on Lou's pants.
"And we've all been through enough, haven't we, Lou?"
Lou barked a happy bark.
Luke didn't mean to roll his eyes – he and Phil were practically brothers and always looked out for each other – however relationship advice, especially un-asked-for relationship advice was never something Luke liked hearing.
Deep down, he knew Phil was right.
He shouldn't toy with Lisa – but then, Lisa shouldn't toy with him either.
She had an ex that kept coming and going too, some guy named Roy – but he was obviously off the scene now, hence why Luke was back.
On-again-off-again never really worked, yet here they were; kind of but not really, on again?
"Look, brother" Phil could see Luke was in thought about it all, "I'm not telling you what to do. I'm just saying – actually think it all through first. Take things slow".
Luke nodded.
They ate their meatball subs, while giving Roxy and Lou the most undivided attention.
Luke thought about the situation but shrugged it off.
This was all going to be fine.
Absolutely.
Dinner and drinks:
After the team had saved Patricia West; the first person Luke called was Lisa.
"Hey"
"Hey yourself"
"I just wanted to know if you wanted to go out for dinner with me, tonight? And then maybe drinks at O'Keefe's later on" he asked.
"I'd love to".
"Really?" his words weren't surprising but after all he and Phil and discussed, he just needed a tad bit of reassurance, "I mean really?".
"Yes" she chuckled, "Yes really".
"Lisa – I know we've broken up before… and I don't want to put false hope in something when we've just started out again… I just want to take things slow and actually work it out this time, okay?".
"Okay, I'll meet you at Carpatchios around 8pm?" she suggested.
It was a modern Italian restaurant - quite romantic - they had been there once before – but it had still been a while since they'd dined there.
"Okay, sure" he nodded.
"Luke, I'll make it worth your while – I promise" she smiled and hung up the phone.
Luke left the BAU.
He went home, hung out with Roxy, watched some TV, heard from the rest of the team that they indeed were going to meet at O'Keefe's later – and indeed, Luke was going to meet them there.
He planned for Lisa to be a surprise.
It was he who got the surprise first.
He had almost forgotten how beautiful she was when she dressed up.
She was sitting at Carpatchios, nibbling on some garlic bread, wearing the most gorgeous red dress Luke had ever seen her in.
She was beautiful.
He was shell-shocked.
"Hey" she smiled, as he kissed her on the cheek and sat down.
"You look great" he told her.
"Thanks – you too"
Luke knew it was a lie – he was just wearing his jeans and a dark buttoned up shirt, but he almost blushed at Lisa's words.
They shared a bottle of red wine and clinked their glasses together to hope for the future.
They also shared the most deliciousness pepperoni pizza ever.
Luke couldn't believe his luck.
He had no idea what Phil was talking about.
He and Lisa weren't messing around.
This was going to be good.
He had almost forgotten why they broke up in the first place.
When Luke arrived at O'Keefe's – he was running late – but, he was so excited for the team to see Lisa.
She burst into the room like sunshine; full of happiness and gorgeousness – and just like Luke had predicted; the team was surprised and happy.
He noticed Emily looking a tad uncomfortable, but just assumed lots of things: maybe she wasn't feeling good, maybe she'd had too much to drink, maybe she'd had a bad case.
Maybe it had something to do with Alvin Phillips?
Luke hadn't been in Dallas, so he wouldn't have known.
He just assumed it was something.
But then he remembered – you should never assume – so, he figured he had better go check on Emily and make sure she was okay.
"I'd better go help too" he told the table before following Prentiss up to the bar to get some more drinks.
Emily … was really in a mood.
He didn't know why.
"So, Lisa's back" she said, almost grumpy.
She tapped her card against the surface of the bar.
Luke looked back at Lisa; she was still smiling and looking all gorgeous.
The whole table was laughing about something funny she must have said; always a good impression to see within a group of friends.
"Yeah… she's the best" Luke said.
Emily seemed very distant.
Luke said something else about how he met Lisa for breakfast but Emily seemed so distracted, he waited for his voice to pipe out before he said anything else. Letting his words almost flow and fade out with the conversation around them.
"Emily, are you okay?" he wanted to reach for her hand and squeeze it, but he didn't.
It didn't feel platonic. It didn't feel friendly.
It felt… unknown.
He shivered.
Why did he care what Emily thought anyway?
She was tough, and always stood her own ground.
Besides, he had Lisa.
Gorgeous, beautiful, funny, smart, Lisa.
She was successful, way out of his league, and she had chosen him.
For now, anyway. Until Roy came back or whatever. Stupid Roy.
It hit Luke.
Perhaps this it was Phil meant?
How so many things could affect his relationship with Lisa, and they had both already been through so much?
Why, were they doing this again?
Luke shivered again.
Then, he stared back at Lisa who was still laughing with the group, beams of smiling.
The team were all very happy.
Luke's fear, or apprehension, or whatever it was, distracted by Lisa's smile.
He knew why he was here.
He knew why Lisa was here.
He knew they were good together.
He picked up the black plastic tray full of drinks and walked back to the table with Emily.
They had five mojitos amongst the girls, and he had a beer.
He sipped his drink casually and engaged himself back into his own conversation with the group.
There was a big fondue chocolate fruit platter in the middle of the table and Lisa picked up a strawberry, puckered it up to Luke's lips – and he met her in a strawberry-mouthful kiss.
Almost on cue, Emily stood up to leave.
She said her goodbyes around the table, and then approached Lisa.
"It's wonderful to see you Lisa, it really is" Emily said to her with a big smile.
It was genuine; Luke was sure about that – but he was still worried about her.
Lisa had a sip of her drink and put it down gracefully, "It's wonderful to see you too, Emily".
Then, Emily got to Luke.
Luke hesitated at first: he knew whatever was going on with Emily, he didn't want to impose her, or push her.
She didn't get in bad moods often, but when it did, it was usually due to something difficult.
However, he didn't want her to feel alone either.
When she raised her hand almost for a hand-shake it looked like? - Luke didn't feel like letting her get away with that.
Prentiss looked like she could use a hug, and he elected to give her a hug.
He wrapped his arms around her body and pulled her close, all the pressure in his hands, on her back in a supportive way.
"See you tomorrow, Em" he told her.
Their eyes met, and there was a spark.
Her pupils dilated and he was taken by surprise, like electricity went through his whole body.
Emily grabbed her scarf, wrapped it around her neck.
"See you all" she smiled and waved goodbye.
Her boots clipped across the room as she headed towards the exit door.
The door was opened quickly, and made a noise when it almost slammed shut.
The room was loud: with bustling bartenders, clinking drinks, the sounds of pots and pans from the kitchen. But, Luke watched the door slam.
Everyone was still elating in conversation.
JJ was laughing with Tara and Lisa.
Matt and Kristy were talking about how thankful they were to have the night off.
Penelope had gone up to the bar to order herself another mojito.
That just left Luke:
Luke, who noticed Emily was still in eyeshot at the glassy door. She had her back to the door by this point, and couldn't see him.
She didn't look back; but, he watched her leave.
Lisa's hand squeezing his knee comfortingly, a big smile still plastered on her face.
Luke placed his hand on top of hers and squeezed it.
He sipped his beer and joked with Matt about the bar's best tasting lager, he finished the strawberries on the fondue platter, and he listened to Lisa's voice as she engaging told stories while the team listened eagerly.
But, he noticed Emily's obviously empty chair, and wondered about her.
Nothing more, nothing less.
Just wondered.