Disclaimer: I don't own anything here, only the plot =)
A/N: Hahaha! Chapter 4 is up! I'm so sorry, I can't help it, I'm excited on how this story will end up. So anyway, i was planning on updating this on the weekends, but heck, screw weekends! i'll publish this now! (sorry, kinda high on caffeine right now O_O)
Chapter 4
1 Week later…
It was paperwork day at the BAU and Reid was gleefully going through his file, eager to finish and go home. Prentiss was looking at him, annoyed that he can go through his paperwork just like that. Morgan was at least for now, doing his own paperwork, without slipping Reid a folder or two.
Prentiss frowned. Something actually changed. The last few weeks, she could sense tension between Reid and Morgan. She just thought that maybe Morgan has offended the genius or something, but they work together quite well when they are on a case. But after the case in Bakersfield, Reid seemed…happier? But she noticed that there were dark shadows under his eyes. He has problems sleeping again. Are the nightmares back?
She was jolted from her musing as the said genius stood up and stretched.
"All done?" Prentiss asked.
"Yup. And still early, too." Reid gleefully said, packing up his messenger bag and arranging the files on his desk.
"Hey, JJ, Garcia and I are actually planning to get pizza after this. Want to come with us?" Prentiss asked.
Reid smiled. "No, thanks. There's actually this thing tonight on the Discovery Channel about the mystery of the Man in the Iron Mask. He was held in the custody of the same jailer, for a period of 34 years. The possible identity of this man has been thoroughly discussed and has been the subject of many books, mainly because no one ever saw his face, which was hidden by a mask of black velvet cloth. The writer and philosopher Voltaire claimed that the prisoner wore an iron mask and was the older, illegitimate brother of Louis XIV."
Prentiss was staring at him as if he grew a second head. "Oh. Of course. I just remember that when Leonardo DiCaprio played him in the movie."
Reid frowned. "Who's that?"
Prentiss chuckled. "Seriously, Reid. Try to watch modern movies sometimes." She shook her head then turned to Morgan. "Hey, how about you, Morgan? Wanna get pizza with us?"
"Sorry, Prentiss. Maybe next time."
"What? Headache again?"
Morgan chuckled as he signed the report with a flourish. "Nope. I have a date."
Reid was about to carry his bag when he paused at Morgan's statement.
Prentiss glanced at Reid, whom she noticed paused at what he was doing.
"Oh. So you have a…date, huh?" Prentiss asked, surreptitiously glancing at Reid who suddenly found something interesting in his bag.
"Yup. Met her at the café a few nights ago." Morgan grinned.
Prentiss nodded. "I see."
"Anyway, I gotta go if I want to catch that Discovery Channel thing. Have a great night, guys." Reid said without looking at any of his colleagues. Prentiss watched him until he disappeared from the glass doors. She then turned her attention to Morgan.
Morgan felt that Prentiss was looking at him so he glanced her way and was surprised to see her eyes narrowed, which could only be described as rage. "Why are you looking at me like that? Did I do something?"
Prentiss continued to stare at him. "Nope. What could you have done wrong, huh?"
"Uh, that's what I was asking." He glanced at his wristwatch. "Anyway, I gotta go. We'll be meeting at 6 at that new Italian place. I heard they're good."
"Oh I bet it will be good." Prentiss was still staring at him.
Morgan started to feel uncomfortable with her staring. "So, I'll be going now."
"Good luck." Still with the staring.
Morgan shook his head, wondering why Prentiss was acting weird.
Morgan met arrived at the restaurant and Chris is still nowhere in sight. He glanced at his watch. 5:45. Still early. He sat at their reserved table and ordered a beer. Morgan's stomach growled and he suddenly remembered that the last time he ate was breakfast. Then all of a sudden, he thought about Reid. Pretty Boy must have forgotten to eat again. Morgan took out his phone, flipping it on his hands. What would he think if I call him? I mean, I'm just a concerned friend, right?
With one last look to check if Chris has arrived, Morgan hit the number to speed-dial Reid.
The genius answered after 3 rings.
"Hello?" Morgan's gut clenched as he heard Reid's voice on the phone. It's been awhile since they talked.
"Hey, kid. It's me."
Reid was silent for awhile. "Morgan?"
Morgan smiled. "Yeah. Who else could it be?"
Reid chuckled. "Well, let me tell you something. You're not the only one who calls me, you know?"
"Well, aside from JJ, Hotch, Prentiss and Rossi, who else calls you?" Morgan teased, grinning unconsciously.
Reid thought for awhile. "…Garcia?"
Morgan laughed. "Of course. Our baby girl calls you, too. How could I forget?"
They both laughed at that then they turned quiet, Morgan could hear Reid's breathing at the other end.
"Why did you call me? I thought you're on a date?" Reid asked quietly.
"Well, she's not here yet. I'm just checking if you already ate."
"Eat? Oh. Well, I had some Jell-O. Does that count?"
Morgan groaned. "Kid, that's not food. It's dessert. Don't you have normal food?"
Morgan could hear Reid rummaging through his refrigerator and he knew that it only contained water, milk and carrots. "Huh. All I have is water, milk and…carrots."
Morgan smiled. "Try to maybe order something. You should eat."
Morgan could hear Reid rolling his eyes. "Yes, mom. Anything else?"
Morgan grinned, then caught himself. Wow, he's been grinning for the last 3 minutes that he was talking to Reid. Weird. "No, that would be all." His voice then turned low and husky. "Sleep well, Reid."
Reid's breath caught. He cleared his throat. "Uh, yeah. You, too. Enjoy your…date."
They disconnected the call, both men feeling confused now more than ever.
Reid stared at the television but he was not seeing anything. He still has his phone grasped in his hand, looking at it like it just sprouted tentacles. He then groaned as he flopped himself on the couch. It's been a week since they both agreed to see other people. Is it wrong to say that he misses the older man?
Reid growled. "No, I don't miss him. You're just hungry, Spencer. Chinese." He nodded resolutely. "I just need fast food."
Morgan was still staring at his phone when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned around and saw Chris. She looked breathtaking.
She smiled. "Hey. Sorry to keep you waiting, traffic was insane."
Morgan stood up and kissed her cheek, then held out a chair for her. "It's okay. I didn't wait that long."
She smiled as she sat down. "Everything okay? You were looking at your phone quite broodingly when I came in."
"Oh, no." Morgan laughed self-consciously. "I was just talking to a friend. So, wine?"
They were in the middle of the main course (steak for him, medium rare, and broiled chicken for her) when Morgan's mind suddenly wandered. Don't get him wrong. Chris was beautiful, intelligent, funny, but Morgan can't help but compare her to Reid.
She would gesture with her hand while she was telling something about herself and Morgan couldn't help but think of the young genius' pale, elegant hands, which were made to play the piano. She would sometimes push a lock of hair behind her ears, and Morgan can't help but think of Reid pushing a lock of hair behind his ear when he's nervous, or when he's concentrating on something.
Morgan was watching Chris' mouth while she was talking and he had to admit it looked kissable, but then thoughts of Reid will creep out, and he would see Reid's lips on his mind. Come to think of it, he hasn't kissed Reid yet and now he's wondering why. He then imagined what would it be like if did kiss Reid. Will it be good? Will it be mind-blowing? The restaurant now felt restrictive and Morgan would give anything to leave.
"Earth to Derek." Chris smiled as she waved her hand in front of his face.
Morgan jolted. "Sorry. I was thinking of something." He then laughed self-consciously. "Uhm you were talking about Harvard?"
Chris laughed, her eyes crinkling at the sides. "Harvard was over 3 minutes ago."
"Is it?" Morgan winced.
Chris smiled kindly and placed her hand atop his. "Who is she?"
"Who's who?"
"The person who's been on your mind for the past hour?"
"I wasn't thinking of anybody." He said defensively.
"So you were listening to me the entire time?"
"Of course I am."
"Okay, well then let me ask you something. What course did I take when I was in Harvard?"
Morgan's eyes widened. Was it architecture? Business? "Uh, was it Public Administration?"
Chris laughed. "Close. It was journalism."
Morgan sighed exasperatedly. "Sorry, my mind is apparently somewhere else."
"Yeah, I figured that." She smiled as she sipped her wine. "Want to tell me about her?"
Morgan sighed. She caught him, might as well come clean. "Uh well. I can't tell you anything about her, because there's no 'her'."
Chris slowly put down her wine glass. "Then what?"
Morgan cleared his throat, blushing up to his ear. "There's a 'he'."
Chris clapped her hand against her mouth, but her eyes were dancing with merriment. "Oh my."
Morgan laughed self-consciously. "Yeah. Oh my."
Chris grinned. "What's his name?"
"Spencer." Morgan mumbled.
Chris smiled widely. "Well, if you two were together, why did you agree to have dinner with me?"
"Well, we actually decided to see other people."
"But apparently, even if you held up your end of the bargain, he's still on your mind."
"Well, it doesn't matter because we're not seeing each other anymore. And it isn't like we dated at all, more like…friends with benefits."
Chris nodded with understanding. "Right. But you want to know what I noticed?"
"Yeah?"
"Whenever you talk about him, your eyes lit up and there's a smile on your lips." Chris smiled. "Have you considered moving past the friends with benefits phase?"
Morgan sighed. "I'm not sure if he wants that."
"Well, did you ask him?"
Morgan was silent. Well, the time that they were together having passionate sex, they never got a chance to talk at all.
Chris understood Morgan's silence. "Well, maybe you should." She looked at her watch. "Anyway, if we leave now, we'll still catch that movie."
"Oh. Right." Morgan signaled for the waiter, asking for the bill.
"Anyway, think about it. Try to talk to him. I think it would be good for the both of you."
"But what if he's seeing someone else already?"
Chris shrugged. "Then you gotta take a risk."
Morgan sighed. "I don't know about this."
"Well, still, think about it." Chris grinned. "Anyway, if all goes well, I know a great wedding planner."
Morgan blushed again. "Chris!" he spluttered.
Chris laughed and Morgan joined in after a few seconds, finally feeling a great weight has been lifted off his shoulder after one week.
"The possible identity of this man has been thoroughly discussed and has been the subject of many books, mainly because no one ever saw his face, which was hidden by a mask of black velvet cloth. The writer and philosopher Voltaire claimed that the prisoner wore an iron mask and was the older, illegitimate brother of Louis XIV."
Reid nodded as he watched "The Mystery of the Man in the Iron Mask" on Discovery Channel. He just ordered Chinese a few minutes ago and just realized that he was hungry. The phone call from Morgan earlier still had him reeling, he could barely concentrate on the show, much more on the 16th century poetry and art book he was reading (yes, he knows how to multi-task).
Reid was jolted from his musing when he heard a knock on his door. Finally. He was really hungry already. He got his wallet from his messenger bag and went to answer the door.
"Hey. So that was $25.50, right?" He asked while he rummaged through his wallet.
He looked up and his breath caught in his throat as he beheld the person before him. It was not the Chinese delivery guy.
It was Morgan.
