Title: Matters of the Universe: The Education of Spencer Reid (Part 3 of 15)
Author: Trista Groulx aka dustytiger
Rating: T (same as the show to be safe)
Disclaimer: I still do not own CM, it's a pitty really, it belongs to many people, writers, directors, actors, actresses, creators, network types none of whom are me. I also do not own the quotes at the beginning. They belong to the people who wrote and preform them, and likely SOCAN as well.
Summary: Reid and Prentiss meet in a bar one night before she joins the team, but things don't go how she plans. What happens when they have to work together?
Notes: The prompt for this one was the title. It's amazing how different these fics are considering the sames. Thank you for the support with this one, it really means a lot. I'm noticing a lot of you are reading both fics. Awesome. The song for this one is from one of my all time fave bands, they have a special place in my heart being the first band I sneaked into a club underage to see see. So strange not updating daily... so strange...

"Do ya wanna be my girlfriend? C'mon and hang around with me (Around with me), I wanna know when I think about you, Do you think about me too?" See Spot Run (Do you Want to be my Girlfriend)

Prentiss was thrilled to have been given a chance to be a part of the team. She knew it was going to be awkward with Reid because of what had happened the first time they met, but she was sure she could move past that. She understood she would probably have to work harder to prove herself to Hotch, which only made her more determined to do well. She was a little surprised to discover that her desk was so close to Reid's but she knew she had to move past their first meeting. She knew that the team were close and she would eventually have to give the youngest member of the team a second chance. She noticed that he kept glancing up from his work at her. Finally she couldn't stand the tension anymore and got up to get herself a coffee.

Reid knew he needed to talk to her, to at least clear the air between them. He still felt horrible for the way he'd treated her and hoped she would find a way to forgive him. They both knew they would have to work closely together, and although their first encounter had been negative he hoped that they could move past it; that she would be able to give him a second chance after the way he'd treated her. He followed her into the break room, wanting a coffee to calm his own nerves, hoping she would listen to what he had to say. She was putting milk into a coffee mug, when Reid took the fresh pot.

"I'm sorry," Reid told her, pouring coffee into the mug she was holding.

"You're sorry? Do you even know what you are sorry for?" Prentiss asked.

"I'm sorry that I treated you poorly when we first met. I would like to explain it to you, but not here."

"You're only saying that because you have to work with me. Can't we just forget about what happened and start over?"

"I have an eidetic memory I can't forget anything even when I want to and I certainly won't soon forget how you looked on Saturday night."

"How nice you thought I looked good so you turned me down? The way you reacted you made me feel like I was a cougar. I'm not going to forget what happened either but I don't want to dwell on it."

"How did what I did make you feel like a wild feline? Please let me make it up to you. We can go for a coffee, or dinner whatever you'd like and I'll explain myself. If you still feel the same way then we'll be co-workers, and hopefully at some point friends. You have my word. Please I have been guilt ridden about how I reacted since it happened."

"For a genius you can be clueless can't you Doctor Reid?" she asked smiling despite herself. "A cougar in this context is an older woman who goes after a much younger man. I'll think about doing something but I won't make it easy for you, after all we do need to be able to work together."

"Oh, I believe that age is irrelevant in such matters. I have always been surrounded by peers who are older than me my whole life. What matters is the connections that you make with a person which leads to friendship and sometimes more. I assure you that was never my intention, I simply have trouble understanding social customs and norms which gets me into trouble. But I do want us to be able to work together. I know that it's hard to become a part of this team and I want you to feel welcome especially after the way I treated you. Please let me make it up to you, we can do anything you'd like, I just want to say my peace."

"I'll think about what I'd like to do, but I'm looking forward to getting to know the real you. You make a strong case but I like to think we could be friends. Besides I'm not sure how well the team is going to warm to me."

"Hotch'll come around, and everyone else is fairly easy going. Thank you, I'm glad you gave me a second chance. All I am asking for is a chance at a friendship, and I think you might be able to use an ally on the team."

Prentiss left the break room as Reid added his usual five sugars to his coffee. Morgan walked in having heard the end of their conversation. He was surprised that the young genius had been so brazen, and realised he must have misunderstood; that was no reason to not bug his colleague. Reid knew what it was like to be new to the team and was just trying to help the new member of their family.

"Reid mah man!" Morgan exclaimed, sounding like a proud coach. "Did you just ask the new girl out?"

"Not really, I wanted to make her feel welcome and it's nice to go home and do things other than read when we have free time. It's difficult to come into this dynamic, and after the way Hotch reacted to her joining the team I wanted to show her that we are friendly. I told her that if she wanted to do something to let me know and we could do it together."

"Don't think I don't see the way you look at her kid," laughed Morgan. "Just don't pull a Reid and scare her off."

Reid shook his head. "I have paper work to do."

Reid scurried out of the break room, coffee in hand. He went to his own desk and began to work on the paperwork that had been piling up on his desk. It was odd working with Prentiss, but was glad that he no longer had to look at an empty desk.

Prentiss wondered if this workplace was like so many others and their becoming friends would be start the rumour mill. Working with some of the best profilers in the world probably meant that it was impossible to hide anything from her co-workers, but she wanted to be friends with Reid. He seemed like he genuinely wanted to at least make her feel welcome if nothing more. She had heard while she was researching taking the position that it was often hard to maintain even friendships with the job she wanted, and that sometimes the longest lasting relationships they would make were with other members of the team. She had moved around so often growing up she valued any chance she had to get a lasting friendship and she didn't have to be a profiler to see that Reid could offer that, even if he was socially awkward.

End Part 3

Notes: I am having a heck of time with ending chapters with this. I usually don't work with an outline as I have been with this one and I don't want to give too much away. Thank you as always for the support. I have a ten day work week this week so any fuzzies will be warmly accepted.