Disclaimer: I have no affiliation to Criminal Minds or its characters. This is fiction pure and simple.
Thanks for your reviews; Yugiyamisex4eva, Nannily, NathanRose, Cristina Reid and MarineLvr84.
Anon – That was the most detailed review I've ever received, thank you. I do agree that Garcia was acting like a bitch but we all do strange things when we get hurt.
Till Death
Chapter 7: Closure
The clinking of glassware and ethnic chatter permeated the Chinese restaurant. Reid pushed the Peking duck around. He'd wanted to try something new in an effort to tempt his palate but it wasn't working. Morgan sat across from him. They'd agreed not to let their professional life leak over into their personal one and vice versa so their limited small talk had tapered off into an awkward silence.
Occasionally Morgan's phone lit up buzzing next to his plate and Reid glared at it wondering if that was her; the 'Bunny boiler'. Resentment built up pushing hard at his resolve to avoid confrontation by burying his head in the sand about the whole Rachel thing.
When the phone lit up one more time, the levees broke. "You don't look at me."
"What?" Morgan's eyes met his and skittered away.
"We have sex all the time but you wont look at me. I'm spending so much time on my knees I need protective gear."
"We are in a restaurant having a meal like a regular couple. What more do you want from me?" Morgan hissed at him.
"I want…" the life we had. The one I'll never get back because I lied to you. He couldn't say that.
"Stop picking at this, we are fine."
"We are not fine." Reid's fork cracked the wine glass. He strained with the effort not the yell. "You couldn't stop looking at me when we were fine. You never needed condoms when we were fine and you certainly weren't talking to your ex-fiancée – when we were fine!"
Rage gathered on Morgan's face. "Did you go through my phone?" He ground out.
Greater men than Reid had crumbled under that hard stare. He can't possibly hurt me more than he already is. "Why are you talking to Rachel?" He countered.
"You know what Reid?" A sheaf of dollar bills hit the table. "You're the liar not me."
It wasn't till after Morgan stormed out leaving a deathly quiet that he realized how much noise they'd been making. Customers began to clear their throats uncomfortably. Some still stared out of the corners of their eyes. When a homophobic slur was uttered it seemed like a good time to leave.
He didn't believe Derek had actually left him till he walked outside and the older agent was nowhere to be found.
An abandoned bench perched at the corner looked as desolate as he felt. He squeezed into a corner splinters digging into his back and drew his legs up to his chest. Counting every breath he took calmed him and kept panic at bay. Hot tears gathered but weren't allowed to fall.
He was focusing so hard on not falling apart he didn't hear Morgan call his name. Was so completely oblivious to the outside world until warm hands took his cold one and a kiss was brushed on the clammy skin.
"Derek." He whispered.
The sorrow in Morgan's dark eyes was hard to ignore. "I'm too attached to you."
The shocking statement sent him scrambling upright. He faced Morgan urgently holding tight to the warm palm. Ready to fight for them again. "That doesn't make any sense. If you are too attached then you wouldn't keep leaving me."
"Baby, you're younger than me, smarter…I'm just one in a long list of things that you'll want to do over the next decade. I want you but I also want to get married and settle down. "Morgan's dark hands cupped his cheeks. "I figured if I didn't care so much about you…invest too much… it will hurt a lot less when you leave. You said it yourself it's a matter of when not if."
Reid's mind sped in a million directions but while he figured out the right thing to say; he single-mindedly pursued the immediate problem. "What about Rachel?"
"She called me, upset and weeping like somebody died said she wanted to talk. I never gave her a second thought after I left her at the altar. When you picked me it's like I had everything I ever wanted and she ceased to exist. It was cruel and when we broke up I figured 'Karma is a bitch'. So now I'm atoning; she calls me yelling or crying and I listen. It's the least I can do."
"So the two of you aren't…"
What? No! You know much I love you."
"Yeah?"
"Of course I do."
"You haven't said it since the morning I left for Maryland. I was in a hurry and only caught the last part." Reid's voice wobbled. "I thought that was the last time I…I've been messed up over it."
"Come here." Morgan took his hand and dragged him into the dark alley behind the restaurant.
"This is not very sanitary…Oh!" He tilted his neck back when Morgan's tongue traced down his long neck.
"I love you." Rumbled in his ear. "I'm always going to love you."
Reid blinked rapidly to clear his wet eyes. He melted when Morgan's lips chased the tears kissing them from his face. "I love you too." He managed to choke out. His long arms held on tight to his lover's broad back. "I want what you want."
"What are you saying?"
"I want to marry you too. That was a proposal right?" His neck couldn't hold his head up any more. Pleasure rippled up and down his spine pooling in his belly when Morgan shoved a hand down his pants. Think. "You can't take it back."
xxXxx
The scratches on Reid's back stung as he stretched dragging him from slumber. When he rolled over a silly smile hugged his face, all was right with his world. Finally. His hand sought Derek's perfect body; he could definitely use a repeat of last night.
He sprung upright when he discovered cool sheets. "NoNoNo!" This isn't happening again. He just knew they should have gone back to Morgan's last night then he'd have nowhere to run. He tugged on the nearest pair of pants barely feeling it when a sharp hipbone collided with the side of the dresser as he raced out.
"Reid?" At breakneck speed he turned to see Morgan poke his head out of the kitchen and promptly slammed into the front door. "Where are you going?"
He's still here. Reid walked back sheepishly, rubbing his aching head. "I needed…coffee."
"Uh huh!"
He threw his arms around his Derek's neck kissing the disbelief from his mouth. "I thought you'd left."
"I'm never leaving you again."
xxXxx
Reid stood rigidly in the corner of the elevator. He kept a careful distance from Garcia who occupied the other corner twirling a fluffy red pen and trying for nonchalance. He suppressed a nervous giggle at the thought that they seemed like combatants in boxing ring. What were the odds they'd both end up stuck in the same elevator. He just knew Morgan had engineered it somehow. The way he'd jumped out at the last second to retrieve a forgotten file stank of dubious intent. A look at the numbers on the panel revealed they'd only descended five floors. This has been the longest minute of my life.
Garcia spoke up first. "He set us up, didn't he?"
"Yeah he did." Reid grinned at her when she echoed his very thought.
"I'm sorry." They both said in unison. Apologies tumbled out of both of them. "No. I'm sorry. This is so stupid. You did nothing wrong."
They paused smiling at each other in relief. "It's crazy how jealous I am – Was. I mean was. You are cute together." Garcia stammered.
"Thank you." Reid chose to ignore her Freudian slip. They had made up. That was enough.
The elevator opened on the underground garage. "Baby," They both turned when Morgan spoke. "Let's go home."
"Goodnight boys." Garcia waved brightly at them before heading off to find her car.
"You did that on purpose."
Morgan's hand crept up to his nape stroking gently, lips brushed Reid's forehead. "Don't you feel better?"
Reid leaned into the kiss. "I love you. About the wedding, I have some ideas…" Morgan's laughter cut him off as he dragged him off home. Into forever."
Fin
This is the final chapter. I finally finished a story. YES! Hope this brought closure for everyone that has reviewed, followed, favorited and read. I appreciate all your support. Please read my other stories 'The Lost and the Broken and Virgin!' both of which are awesome. Well enough of me tooting my own horn, thanks again.