Again thank you all for the reviews! They keep my butt in line mhm. Sorry if it gets a little OOC my brain isn't a good filter for most things. I tried not to make it though.

I don't own Criminal Minds, people! The only thing I know is a wicked cool play list and that's it.

Hotch found himself in the break room with Morgan and Reid chatting about something random and not important. The youngest man looked like his old self again. His arms were animated and his eyes were wide and passionate in whatever topic he was talking about. Knowing Reid it was either something about books or science.

"Did you know…" Reid began, "Garden gnomes were first made in the early 1800's in Germany? They were first made out of clay and…"

Hotch laughed inwardly. He was wrong, it was about gnomes. How random. Although Reid was always known to be the most random one of the team. Random or not, Hotch was glad to see the young doctor happy again. Well, he was. Morgan didn't want to hear about the history of gnomes and how they stopped producing them in the first world wars.

"I see you and Garcia made up," Hotch swooped in and saved Morgan from Reid's gnome rant. Reid snapped his head towards his boss and lost his concentration. "Oh," Reid smiled once he processed the simple question. "Yeah, everything is okay. How did you know she was angry at me?"

"Dude," Morgan chuckled, "Everybody could tell. When Garcia gets angry we all feel it."

"Oh," Reid felt a little guilty, "Sorry."

"So what was it about? What did you do to cause incur the wrath of my baby girl?" Morgan just had to ask. Reid cursed how nosy his friend was and why couldn't he just butt out.

"Well… I…" Reid panicked and tried to formulate a lie but for some reason he could only picture that stupid garden gnome at the coffee shop. Stupid gnome!

"It's none of your business. That's what," Garcia appeared like an angel from above. Despite her red sexy pumps.

"Good morning baby girl," Morgan winked at Garcia who was now standing in front of Reid. She crossed her arms then leaned her head back in a threatening manner, "Were you bothering my junior-G man?"

"We are all just curious to know what happened," Morgan said. "Right Hotch? Hotch?"

Hotch left.

"Dammit, thrown to the wolves."

"Who are you calling a wolf?"

"I'm making things worse aren't I?"

"Yes," Garcia brought out a sly grin to play. "Lets change the subject shall we?"

Reid was forever thankful. He was lucky to have Garcia look out for him and that reassured him that Garcia was serious about keeping his secret. He also knew however, that she'll urge him to come out to Morgan and everyone else at some point. Only right now, he'll just focus on keeping things low key.

"It's good that both of you are on good terms," Hotch reappeared once Garcia and Morgan took their argument elsewhere. Reid was so used to Hotch popping in and out of places that it didn't scare him anymore. He remembered the first time almost gave him a heart attack.

Reid smiled, "Yes me too. I don't do well on fights."

Hotch smiled back, "Fighting with someone who's like a sibling is always a chore. I know. I had a feeling you'd patch things up quickly with her," then left as quickly as he appeared.

"…" Reid walked up to the coffee machine and leaned himself on the counter. Hotch smiling this early in the morning was pretty rare, not unheard of. Reid brushed his own brown locks away as he looked at his own reflection on the coffee pot. Hotch has been smiling a lot recently. He was happy to see his boss be able to feel like his old self again. At the same time, Reid will have to be more cautious again. That smile was a visceral bullet.

J.J. walked by and gave Reid a megawatt smile. Reid returned the favor and went back to the work waiting for him. Things are looking okay so far.

2 Weeks later….

"Oooh," Garcia and Prentiss were huddled together in Garcia's 'temple of solace' and began their little scheme. They decided to have a little secret meeting after work to do a little brainstorming. "I wonder how many exes our wonder boy had in the past," Garcia wondered.

"If that guy was any indication then his other exes must look like Brad Pitt," Prentiss crossed her legs together and supported his head on her hand, "Or Daniel Craig."

"My head is swimming," Garcia danced a little in her seat, "What if he was with a hot sexy Professor who looked like Don Draper and had a steamy student teacher affair? In the end, Reid had to break it up because he was worried about his hunky Professor getting fired if anyone found out. Even now the Professor has a picture of our sweet little G-man enjoying life and he stares at it every night while he drinks a glass of scotch."

"Garcia please stop,," Prentiss pinched the bridge of her nose as she imagined Garcia's little spastic story, "God what is wrong with us?"

"Nothing," Garcia looked at her straight in the eye, "Nothing is wrong with us."

"I believe you," Prentiss nodded, "So why did you bring me here in the first place? I'm sure it wasn't to daydream about genius's private life and embarrass ourselves."

"Right right," Garcia grabbed her favorite sparkly pen and used to it press enter on her keyboard, "Tada! I want to introduce you to the Reid Matcher 3000. Something I cooked up on my free time."

"What does it do?"

"Glad you asked," Garcia smirked, "The Reid Matcher 3000 matches all qualified single gay males to our little Spencer Reid's love profile. It's very high tech and spiffy."

Prentiss hummed as she leaned closer to the screens, "Wouldn't it be easier to make a profile at a dating website?"

"Pish posh. Our genius deserves the best and this is way more high tech and accurate than those piss poor things you call dating sites," Garcia enlarged the Reid Matcher 3000 window on her screen, "You insult me."

"I just don't want you to get in trouble that's all," Prentiss frowned at a not so recent memory, "Remember what happened that night you got shot? You got suspended."

"Don't worry girl," Garcia unraveled an evil grin, "I got it covered. Anyway how about we start with…. This guy?"

"Nice," Prentiss smirked, "How about you make me a Prentiss Matcher 5.0?"

"I'm going to have to charge you though."

"What? Why? Reid doesn't even know you're doing this."

"That's because he's shy and oh so very sweet. You have no problem seducing men with your feminine wiles," Garcia raised an eyebrow at Emily.

Emily rolled her eyes, "Reid gets all the special treatment. So unfair."

Reid looked at Nick's business card after forgetting it was in his coat pocket. It read Dr. Nicolas Brahms Clinical Psychologist PhD with all of his contact information on it. Nice card, Reid thought. Much more professional looking his own card, thanks to Garcia's insistence to put little graphics on it.

He tossed it to the side and began to loosen his tie, "Maybe later…." that meant in a few months or something. Before he could get into his comfortable pajamas the phone started to ring.

"This is Dr. Spencer Reid speaking."

"Reid," Garcia enthusiastically squeaked, "Hey good news. I have a friend who wants to meet you on Friday."

"What?" Reid blinked, "A friend? As a date? What?"

"Yeah and he's really cute and smart!"

"I don't think I should… not with work and…"

"Enough excuses hun. Aren't you the one who complains how he can't get any girls all the time? I know you used that as a cover but I seriously think that there is some truth to that."

"I'm sorry. I already told you that I don't want anybody meddle into my personal life."

"Ugh," she gasped, "I'm not meddling I'm… enhancing. Besides, it's just a date and you'll get a free dinner. Please? He's a real gentlemen."

Reid sighed and wondered if he'll go on one date Garcia will back off. He didn't want to tell her that he swore off love long ago because he knew that would cause Garcia to flip her lid and insist to meddle even more. He weighed his options.

"…"

"Reid?"

"Okay. Just this one date. Is that a deal?"

"Deal. I'm so excited! You wont regret it. Anyway I'll give you more details on the phone on where to meet and all of that. I'll see you tomorrow," Garcia giggled, "Good night Romeo."

"Goodnight Garcia," Reid sighed again as he hung up. Even though all of this was annoying the living daylights out of him and Garcia is turning into a mother itching to get her daughter married away, he was flattered. His own mother would ask Reid sometimes if he found anyone but she wasn't this bad. Granted Diana Reid was sick but still…

"Just one date," he mumbled to himself when he spotted Nicks card from across the living room. There it was mocking him. Reid got up, picked it up, and looked at it once more and smiled. Maybe it wont be so bad, Reid wondered. Sure some of his past relationships were difficult and a certain unrequited love was pointless to pursuit. It could stop Reid from thinking about those things and besides, his first date ever was pretty enjoyable if he remembered correctly.

Ethan saw his neighbor pace back and forth in a frenzied panic. He wanted to shoot himself for agreeing to help Reid find a costume for the Halloween party. Then again, seeing his unique friend freak out over something so trivial was amusing in itself. "Dude, really? Just pick whatever costume and go buy it. Who cares?"

Reid stopped in his tracks and huffed out a frustrated breath, "Ethan it's my first party ever a-and I don't want Nick to regret ever inviting me. This is my chance to ever have a normal night out."

"Pfft," Ethan rolled his eyes but stopped himself from saying something that could make the situation worse. "Since you are the little brother I never almost nearly killed via roof jumping. I'll pick your costume and you just worry about owing me a favor. This might be fun," the dark haired man lifted himself off the couch and walked out the room, "I'll call Carmen, she'll take your measurements and help me find something."

"Ethan," Reid placed his hands on Ethan's shoulders and looked him square in the eyes, "I'm begging you as a friend. Please don't pick out anything embarrassing. I've grown up with bullies that made my life a living hell. I'm counting on you not to become one."

"Alright alright," Ethan dramatically lifted his arms in defeat, "I'm not an asshole. I'm going to make you proud."

Halloween finally arrived and everyone in their twenties were at the party. Carmen, Ethan, and Reid got out of Ethan's green Sudan and took in the scene. "Now this is a party," Carmen grinned and shook her 'booty' a little. She was dressed as Nymphadora Tonks and Ethan went as Remus Lupin. Both Harry Potter characters and both carried their fake wands that had lights in the end.

Reid lifted a brow at his friend and his girlfriend as they had a pretend battle with their wands. For once in his life he was embarrassed to be near his friends. "So, this is how it feels," he sighed and waited for the battle to end. He noticed a small group clap at the end of the little show and Carmen stood victorious. "Patronus up your ass! I win!"

Reid shakes his head.

"So these are your friends?" Nick asked and caused Reid to jump and yelp. He had no idea Nick was right behind him the entire time. "Wow," Nick laughed at the two continue their next epic battle. The brit looked away from them for a moment and focused his attention to Reid's costume.

"What are you supposed to be?" Nick took a step back and scanned the outfit.

Reid shifted his feet a little and felt his cheeks grow warm, "I'm a time traveler from the future. I think Carmen call it steampunk… it's a mixture of Victorian era style with science fiction. That's what she told me," Reid smiled. "Do you like it?"

"You look like Jules Verne's wet dream," Nick chuckled, still eyeing the young man in front of him. Reid blushed more at the scandalous statement but didn't contest it. "T-thank you? Um… who are you supposed to be?"

Nick looked a little hurt and spread his arms out wide, "I'm bloody Dr. Who, Reid. The Tom Baker version," he turned around and Reid still looked confused, "Look at the scarf! Don't tell me you've never seen Dr. Who?"

"Sorry," Reid found it hilarious that Nick was exasperated at him. "Never seen it."

"That HAS to change," Nick put his arms on his hips, "Some genius you are. Anyway, it's a bit strange that we both ended up as time travelers and yes, Dr. Who is a time traveler."

"It is," Reid snickered, "Freaky coincidence."

"Damn right," Nick grinned his now typical awkward grin. "Lets go inside and have a couple of drinks. I'll go school you on Dr. Who and other important cultural relevant things."

It turned out that the young doctor can be very sociable when he has a couple of drinks in his belly. He talked to Nick's friends and they were all very nice. He didn't drink too much though, Ethan told him to be careful because he was so 'impressionable'.

The night was winding down and everyone was either too drunk to function so they had to spend the night or left home. Nick and Reid were pretty sober but were content on sitting on the curb.

"Ay Ay Reid!" Ethan lifted his bottle up and swaggered to the car. Carmen shushed her boyfriend, "Shut up, I have to take your drunk ass home. Leave Reid alone."

"Bye Reid," Ethan waved, "Good luck!"

Nick leaned back and watched the two couples argue, "Your friends are hilarious. I like them."

"They're the right type of crazy that can accept me as a friend," Reid drank a little of his punch and smacked his lips together to rid of the tangy taste. "I'm lucky to have them as friends."

"Oy, and me? Aren't I your friend too?" Nick pouted and shoved himself a little towards Reid. "Hm?"

Reid rolled his eyes, "Of course. You're insecure when you're drunk Nick."

"I guess," Nick quirked a smile, "I'm not that drunk. I'm sober enough to notice something is bothering you. What is it?"

"I guess you're pretty sober then," Reid looked at the top hat in his hands, "It's just, my mother used to take me Trick or Treating when I was a kid. I remember she would hold my hand and I wore this over sized pumpkin costume. I noticed one of the children wearing the same costume when I was heading to the party and… I missed that. That costume signified the last year I ever went trick or treating before my mom got ill…"

"Oh," Nick put his hand on Reid's shoulder, "I'm sorry… you mentioned before she has schizophrenia. I know it's hard as kid to live with that."

"Mhm," Reid placed his punch on the concrete next to him, "For some reason, I can't stop imagining the future tonight. I'm talking to your friends enjoying myself but, in the back of my head I can't stop thinking that… that… if this is the last time I'm going to be able to do this. What if every holiday or year would be the last time I'm lucid. I know that the percentage to have it genetically passed is %10 percent if only one parent is schizophrenic but…"

"I know what you mean," Nick felt bad for interrupting but thought it would be good for Reid to hear what he was about to say, "My father is a schizo as well as my grandfather. I'm starting to see the same symptoms on my little brother. I used to think we were a cursed bunch. Especially seeing someone so young go through something like that. It's so unfair. I have a %20 percent chance of getting it and it scares the shit off of me."

"I'm sorry," Reid looks down at his feet. He felt bad for feeling sorry for himself when the person right next to him is going through much worse.

Nick shrugged and let his hand fall on his own thy, "That wont stop me from living that is. What I do is, do a little math. 10%? Try looking at it as a 90% of not getting it. I say those are some pretty good odds. Mine is around 80%. That's still pretty good. Even if we do end up getting schizophrenia, that wont stop us from being ourselves. As long as we have the support group and treatment that we need, we can deal with it and continue our lives. That's why I want to be a psychologist," Nick turned to smile at Reid, "I want to remind everyone with a mental illness that they are just as normal as everyone else. We all have the same feelings don't we? Besides look at John Nash. He's a badass."

"He is a badass," Reid giggled. "That's the first time I listened to someone talk more than I did yet… I appreciate it. I feel a lot better. Thank you," he put his arms on his knees and looked out into the street. He couldn't believe he revealed all this to someone and have that same person do that in return. It was nice to have someone on the same boat.

"Reid?"

"Yes?"

There it was, it was only a few seconds but Reid felt like he was in the clouds for a couple of minutes. Nick broke away and his cheeks were tinted red. He had a goofy nervous smile and expecting green eyes. "Sorry if I did something wrong. I couldn't help myself."

Reid blinked his large eyes and his mind froze. He felt his brain churning out possible words and sentences, "I um… I… er… hmmmm… You didn't do a-anything wrong," He blushed.

"Phew," Nick wiped his forehead in relief, "Dr. Reid, how about we time travelers go forward in time and go on a second date? Maybe catch a movie?"

"Okay," Reid still felt a little dazed. So many firsts happened in one day his head was spinning. "We can go two days in the future around seven O'clock. Is that okay with you Dr. Who?"

"Oh yes, how could the time lord ever say no to such a cute time traveler? It's a date."

Tbc

I'm just filled with flashbacks aren't I? I even wrote one with J.J. finding out somewhere but I'll have to find a better time squeezing it in. Oh and John Nash is that guy from A Beautiful Mind. Such a good movie! There are some inaccuracies but hey, all movies are.

I swore I wouldn't have so much of Nick around but dammit I wrote the Halloween bit some time ago and I liked how Ethan turned out. As to how the relationship fell apart? I have a couple of options.