Title: Matters of the Universe: Unlikely Emergency (Part 12 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 title was the prompt for this one. Fuzzies would be great I'm soooo beat this week.

"You grew like a smile... a reaction on my face, and I felt I was coming home, knew all the while I had misplaced, something important. But I was no longer alone. I wouldn't have mind if you said that "there's no chance so pack up and head on home," but you just smiled when you said that, you could dance with me forever if you could, you could." Serena Ryder (Unlikely Emergency)

Reid thought that he was going to stop breathing when he heard the transmission. He needed to make sure that Prentiss was all right. The unsub was in custody and Gideon wanted him to be there to interrogate her, but Reid needed to be sure that Prentiss was all right. The team seemed surprised by his reaction but understood that they were friends. Reid has been the first to accept Prentiss as part of the team. Reid had tried to keep his emotions in check but he hadn't felt like that about anyone before so he wasn't able to.

Reid practically ran through the hospital looking for Prentiss. He was searching the ER when he saw her. He went over to her and hugged her tightly. She wrapped her arms around him, glad to feel his arms around her.

"You're okay," he told her. "I love you so much Sweetness."

She shivered when she heard him call her that. He had never used that nickname for her before when they were anywhere but in bed. She ran her hands along his cheeks to reassure him. She could tell that everything that had happened had shaken him and she wanted to make him feel better.

"I love you too, Spencer, I'm fine really" she assured him. "The same can't be said for James, though. He's got two broken ribs and a concussion but the doctors think he'll make a full recovery."

"I thought she got you, I know this must sound terrible I'm just glad you're okay."

"I was lucky. Spencer, are you all right?"

"I am now that I know you're not hurt. I've never been so scared before. When I thought you were hurt it felt like I was in a fog and the only way to snap out of it was to know you are all right. I have no idea what all of it means but I couldn't calm down until I saw you."

"That's what happens when you care about a person. I've been really lucky because I haven't had to deal with this situation in reverse." She felt his fingers moving across her back and arms. "I'm fine, really, Spencer."

"I was sure I heard you react to something before everything went dead. It sounded like you gasped or screamed I'm not sure which."

"I did, but not because I was hurt. She crushed the radio Garcia made and then she threw my phone into a pit of oil. I'm so sorry you were worried. Where's the rest of the team?"

"I need to call them," Reid suddenly realised. "I told them I would call them when I found you." He took out his phone and dailed JJ.

"Spence?" she asked. "What's going on?"

"Emily's here, James has two broken ribs and a concussion but they are both going to be all right," he explained.

"That's good news, the unsub is with Gideon and Morgan now."

"That's better news, thank you JJ."

"Keep us updated, we have everything under control here until I can contact James' family."

"All right, good. We'll see you when we get back."

The two of them said their goodbyes and disconnected their respective phones. Reid then turned to Prentiss. Their hands were still linked because she knew he needed to feel that connection. She pulled him toward one of the seats in the waiting room, and when they were both seated she took his hand again. He smiled at her warmly, and she brushed his unruly hair from his face with her free hand. She had always found his eyes to be expressive, but there was something there she hadn't seen before. There was something pensive and reflective about the smile on his face, and a fierceness in his eyes that made a spark go through her.

"Spencer what is going through your mind?" she asked him.

He shrugged. "I'm not sure I should voice it. I'm afraid if I do I am going to change everything between us, and possibly not for the better."

"We can't sit here and wait for more news on James without saying a word."

"Actually we only need to be here until his family arrives then we should report back to work."

She sighed softly, realising he was still in work mode. It still amazed her how Reid could be almost two different people depending on the situation. When he was in work mode he was the picture of professionalism and she was certain he had no thoughts about her as anything other than a co-worker despite their intimate relationship. Still he was holding her hand, which he had never done before and she couldn't help but hope that he might be softening which could lead to them finally coming clean about their relationship. She understood why they had been keeping their relationship a secret but it was starting to wear on them both.

"Do you think we have to rush back to the station when they arrive?" she asked. "My nerves are still fairly shot."

"I'm sure no one would fault us for getting a coffee to help you calm down after what happened."

"Thank you."

The two of them talked about the case as they waited for the officer's family to arrive. It didn't take as long as they had expected. They offered up their sympathies and assured them they and the rest of the team would be back when James was ready for visitors. After they left the hospital they went to a nearby coffee shop. They found a comfortable place to sit. Prentiss still knew there was something going on with Reid.

"Spencer, you need to talk to me," she warned him. "You are a million miles away, and if we go back to the team with you like this they'll figure something out."

"Is that so bad?"

"Are we ready for that?"

"I don't know," he told her with a sighed. "I know that I want our relationship to move forward."

"This is still new to us both."

"I'm aware of that, but I also know that I have never felt this way before, and I'm terrified that I am going to lose it before telling anyone the truth."

She brushed the inside of his hand with her thumb. "I'm sorry Spencer. I don't know what to say right now."

"Please, hear me out." She nodded at him. "Everything that happened today made me realise just how much I love you. I know that everything is still new, but I also know that when I look at my future you're in it. I need to know that you see that too."

"I do Spencer, as scary as it is for me to admit I want you to have a huge role in my future. It's just not that easy with work, there are rules and I'm still new to this team."

"Hotch has fought to keep this team together before, with you as a part of it. I'm sure that he would do it again if there was good reason to."

"I'm not sure that our dating would be enough to make him go another round with Strauss and maybe even her bosses."

He nodded. "I suppose, but what if this was more than dating?"

"What are you talking about?"

"We both see each other in our futures. We have never really adhered to social customs before, why start now?"

"Spencer," she warned him.

"Please, hear me out Emily. I know this is unusual but what if we skip a step and elope? Then everyone will know that we are serious and will realise that our relationship doesn't get in the way of our work; but will also understand why we need to get to one another when something happens in the field."

"This sounds a little crazy, have you really thought it out?"

"Yes, I can write out the pro con list I started in my head if you'd like."

She laughed, realising only Reid would have a pro con list when it came to this subject. She had thought about what it might be like if Reid proposed and she never thought it would go this way. She had never been the kind of woman who had her dream wedding planned since she could remember. She always liked the idea of running away and getting married without all of the fuss, but never thought that an opportunity would arise to actually go ahead with it.

"All right, let's do it," she told him.

He started to go through his bag to find a pen and paper, assuming that she was talking about making the list. Prentiss smiled watching him then took his hands to stop him. They locked eyes and his went wide with wonder. Reid didn't want to get his hopes up without hearing her say anything about what she wanted, but he hoped that her stopping him meant she was at least thinking about eloping. He could easily just tell her the pros and cons list he had started, but he had to admit he didn't see many cons other than keeping such big news from their friends and family.

"No, not the list, let's skip dating for a year or more, and being engaged for longer and let's just throw caution to the wind," she told him, still holding his hands.

"All right, wow, okay so we're going to elope," he said getting excited and nervous at the same time. "Now we just need to figure out a reasonable reason for you to go to Las Vegas."

"You don't think that gambling is a good enough reason to go?"

"I suppose it could be. But why would you go gamble alone?"

"Because of what happened, I just want some time to myself Spencer."

"I suppose that would make sense, more sense than what we are really doing if you think about it."

She laughed. "Let's go back to the BAU, finish our paperwork and get on a plane before anything happens that will change our minds."

"Okay, I'll have to get you a ring."

She smiled still not believing that this was real, but excited for the adventure. Both of them wanted to get back and finish their paperwork as soon as possible and get on the first plane they could to Las Vegas.

End Part 12

Notes: Well that's that... I know I'm evil... hope the two days wait isn't too horrible.