Enemy - S03E02 - In Name and Blood

Nothing brings people together like a common enemy, and while the team had never not been close, even in their reduced state, the presence of Section Chief Strauss only made the three of them, Morgan, JJ and Reid, close in even more. Morgan and Reid in particular felt the fresh weight of their new relationship on their shoulders. Obviously, it was against protocol to have this sort of bond with team members… coworkers of any sort. With the kind of job they had, it wasn't practical. They, of course, didn't really care. But Strauss was there, and just her presence reminded them of the dire consequences if news of their being a couple got out.

So Reid didn't exactly resent Morgan being so hostile towards her on the plane, showing her the picture of one of the victims and watching as she squirmed. And maybe Morgan's protectiveness flared a bit too much with her around, his voice accidentally hard as he told the detective that it was just Reid's thing, remembering everything, the tightness in his chest when JJ pulled her aside, the glare that threatened her after hanging up on Garcia. The razor edge Strauss put them on did nothing but make them more tightly knit. It was a relief to see Prentiss and Hotch again, on the eve of what they thought was a breakthrough, only slightly more satisfying than seeing the Section Chief lose her level head at the site of where the newest victim had been dumped. Despite that though, Morgan wasn't spiteful. He'd been there. They all had, it was just different seeing it in someone of her status. Defensive and protective, but not hateful. He didn't envy her inexperience.

Spat - S03E03 Scared to Death

He wouldn't exactly call it a fight. Neither of them did. It was just a few curt words exchanged in a rather stressful situation, and all things considered, Morgan thought they handled it pretty well seeing as that stupid elevator had jammed and shook like it was protesting against moving any way except down. It was anger born of panic and even that vanished as soon as the adrenaline kicked in. Reid was doing his best to help, and it was a bit amazing he'd thought of so many things even with his brain, considering the situation they were in. And then it was over, they were fine though their nerves were a little worse for wear.

After that, it became a joke between them, something they used to jab at the other with, starting that very same case. And it was always taken with a smile, because they'd gotten out okay and it made a fun little story to tell.

Future - S03E05 Seven Seconds

Looking at Reid talking to that boy, Morgan decided the genius would make a pretty good dad. Even if he was still the socially awkward gangly pretty boy he'd fallen in love with (yes, he admitted it), he spoke to Jeremy in a way that not many adults did; understanding, treating him his age and respecting his intellect but still simplifying things to his level.

Reid thought the same thing of Morgan. Jeremy started having a panic attack and he just stepped right in and took charge. He didn't freak out, didn't do anything but help, speaking in a gentle but firm voice that was easy to listen to and obey.

As profilers, as partners, as teammates, they worked well together, reading every behavioural cue and prodding in whatever way was needed; bolstering Jeremy's confidence, catching his uncomfortableness and anxiety. It was still too early to think about it as the two of them, but even separate, they would both be pretty good.

Moments - S03E04 About Face / S03E05 Identity / S03E06 Lucky

Morgan liked to catalogue some of the moments he and Reid shared. Just the little ones, things that were relatively insignificant. Fun moments; Reid spooking him with his Halloween mask, the genius' enthusiasm at meeting Agent Rossi. Moments that he regretted, like somehow getting into a conversation about Star Wars (because sorry Reid, he just really didn't care), others that he didn't, like luring pretty boy into Rossi's office with art and profiling. Reid being able to create a map of where the unsub might be, easy as anything. His own protectiveness flaring after hearing about the veiled threat from a member of the militia the genius and Rossi went to go talk with, and the following humor at the older man's tenacity in facing down the same person. The ever-present surprise when Reid demonstrates his amazing memory for someone new, and subsequently the need to remind him to stop. Even the kid talking about Morgan's belief like he knew how Morgan should feel; it rubbed the wrong way, his faith not exactly intact, but still a moment. Little things that he enjoyed taking note of, regardless of circumstances or feelings. They made the days happier.

Baby Girl - S03E07 Penelope (Reid's POV)

Garcia had been shot. Garcia had been shot and Morgan didn't know. He wasn't answering his cell but Reid would be damned if he wasn't going to try again. He needed to know, he needed to be there because Garcia had been shot and this wasn't about Reid freaking out because he wasn't, and this wasn't about comfort for either of them because it was about her. Morgan needed to be there and he needed to know so they could catch the guy who did this and lock him away for the rest of his life. They needed to catch this man and why did his phone keep going straight to voicemail?

Those hours outside of the OR were excruciating. It didn't take a profiler to see the worry, and the reflection that were going through each of them. Their choices, their time with Garcia, if they could've done anything. When Morgan finally did show up, it was almost a relief because it had broken the stifling silence. News of the surgery and Garcia being okay followed immediately afterwards and it was enough to throw Hotch into gear again. He and Rossi left; those that stayed had to deal with Morgan's anger and even Reid wasn't sure what to do anymore because he didn't know how to handle someone else's grief and rage. At least she was going to be okay, and it was focusing on that, through everything else, that kept them going.

Classics - S03E08 True Night

Morgan wasn't overly surprised when he and Reid started arguing over directions; even if they were profilers, and one of them was a genius, it wasn't like it couldn't happen. It was more funny to him how quickly it turned into pretty boy spouting facts and indignation, however slight, that Morgan didn't know them too, and his own half-serious threat in retaliation. And of course, him needing to translate between Reid and the leading detective. But then, that was a state more normal for them than arguing over directions was.

Though Morgan hoped Reid mentioning what they did as a couple, only thinly veiled in mirth, wouldn't become a regular thing in front of the team, talking to Garcia or not.

Proud - S03E12 Damaged / S03E14 Elephant's Memory

Sometimes, it amazed Morgan, the things he learned about Reid. In the two and a half years they'd been working together, it seemed like the lanky genius had grown a lot. He'd faced down Chester Hardwick during the custodial interview with Hotch, stayed calm and kept the brutal murderer distracted long enough for the guards to make it back and open the cell door, and he'd done it alone. He'd done it without any help from their team leader. And Morgan was proud of him for that.

He was more proud when it came to Owen Savage. That time, Reid had chosen not to have any help. Made the deliberate decision to face down this homicidal teenager who reminded pretty boy of his own demons and his own past, more than he probably would've liked to have been. He stood there, no weapon, no vest, and laid himself bare to Owen on the small chance that maybe this time, he could save this boy's life. And he did.

Truths - S03E15 In Heat (Mixed POV)

Reid had never tried to deceive himself when it came to his relationship with Morgan. The man enjoyed flirting, a player who "sticks to trying". That was something the genius knew came with the other agent and he had no problem accepting it. Morgan's sexual confidence was simply another thing he loved about the man, so there was no offense or misunderstanding to be smoothed over when the bigger man showed his attraction to Tina, the Miami detective. She was pretty, Morgan's type. Reid understood, and he had made sure his lover knew that so that he didn't have to try going through lengthy explanations to 'win him back' or try to be someone that he wasn't which would only stress him out and strain their own relationship. And he himself wasn't about to burst into tears or throw an unwarranted fit over something about Morgan's personality he didn't want or need to change.

Neither of them fooled themselves into thinking that the team didn't know. They were profilers, the world's best minds. Their relationship was as obvious to their eyes as JJ's and Will's. It was a matter of not showing enough in public to be able to make a legitimate claim. To the normal, untrained eye, the two of them were simply teammates, and if the others ignored the nicknames, the teasing, the occasional touches, or looked the other way… well, that was just too bad for the upper brass.

Morgan was never blinded by the norms of society. His skin color, where he grew up, what he had become, who he was - he wasn't about to let what other people thought was right, influence him. He was in a relationship with Reid, and that wasn't wrong, no matter what anyone said. It hurt, when they found out that the victims were gay, because it seemed another hate crime. It hurt worse when they found out why. When they found Steven, Morgan wanted to share his strength more than anything. He wanted to convince this beaten and broken man that there was nothing wrong with him. Maybe Steven saw something in him, maybe he saw that one thing in the FBI agent he could relate to. He gave up.

Neither of them thought they would go public. They couldn't. They couldn't be free like JJ and Will or Hotch and Haley. It wasn't just because they were gay, but also because of protocol. Bureau rules; no fraternization within the team. But that was okay with them, because they made up for any lost affection between cases, and they were perfectly fine with that.

AN: So my body has decided to mirror Reiver's own problems, because I'm officially sick. Yours managed to brighten my day though (as intended), so hopefully this does the same.

-Sable