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A/n, this is a tag for "It Takes a Village."

Reid found JJ in Rossi's living room. She was sipping a glass of red wine and staring at the fire crackling in the grate. The lights were on rather than off, and JJ appeared – tired and afraid. She looked at him with eyes that always noticed his moods. He blew out a breath and spoke to her for the first time since he'd decided to join the "cooking lesson" with Dave.

"Hey, Spence," JJ said.

"Hello, JJ."

He joined her, staring into the flames as they leaped and crackled. Reid thought about the destructive power of fire and shivered.

"So," JJ broke the silence, and Reid nearly sighed with relief that she'd spoken first. "How are you?"

"I'm fine."

Reid didn't speak again until JJ turned to him and said, irritably. "Are you going to talk to me?"

"I don't know what you want me to say, JJ."

"Spence!"

"Do you want to do this here with everyone in the next room?" Reid hissed out, his temper rising in the heat generated by the fire.

"You weren't worried about making a scene in the precinct," JJ retorted.

"Because you goaded me into responding. JJ, I –" Reid stopped when he realized he was about to say too much.

JJ's eyes flashed hotter than the flames next to them. "What?"

Reid's jaw clenched so tightly he thought he might crack a tooth. He looked around for help as though he might find a teammate in the doorway, but conveniently, they all stayed in the kitchen.

"Spence!"

"Shh," he snapped. "I don't want to have this conversation now."

"If not now, then when."

'Oh, so you thought my coming here constituted an apology," Reid said quietly, but anger laced every word. "Okay, I'm sorry for causing a scene with you, but I'm not sorry for what I said."

"Spence –"

"I can't believe your ego at times, Jennifer."

JJ flinched, and Reid interrupted her when she tried to speak. "No, I don't want to hear it. I came tonight because I don't want to be responsible for a split in the team. Everyone means too much to me."

Reid heard laughter break out in the kitchen again and felt relieved that they weren't making enough noise to bring the team into the room. The last thing he wanted was to see the judgment on their faces, especially Emily.

Again he surveyed the room and realized that he was looking for a way out. His eyes fell on an arrangement of flowers sitting on a decorative table near a leather sofa. Reid walked over and tugged a peach rose from the floral arrangement.

"Ouch, damn it," He cursed and sucked on his thumb.

"What is it," JJ said, but she didn't approach him.

"Nothing. I forgot that roses have thorns."

JJ left her position by the fire and carefully approached Reid. She said. "Are you okay?"

"Yes. Here's my peace offering. Peach roses are said to be the best gifts for co-workers or friends."

"Are we friends?"

Reid stared at the rose in her hand for a long time, and then he sighed and seemed to deflate a little. "Yes, JJ. We're friends if that's what you want."

"I want it if you do," JJ said.

"I said, I do," Reid shot back. "Understand that I'll not trust you for a while, JJ."

"I know," she said. "I'm sorry for that."

"Good," Reid said and almost apologized when he saw her flinch.

"Hey, why are you two hiding here," Dave said. "I'm almost finished with my famous Tiramisu. I promise you'll love it."

"I'm always good with coffee and chocolate," Reid said.

"Me too, Dave," JJ said.

Reid held out a hand to direct JJ to go first. He looked down at the small puncture in his thumb. It didn't bleed after the first drop, but the wound was still there, only hidden. It would heal in time. Now he had to believe the same for himself.