"...The reunion! YAY! R&R?...Also, PLEASE enter my contest! If I get five people to enter, I'll update this story TWO times in ONE day! HA! Motivation, right?.."

Pain-Chapter 17

Visitation Rights

Derek Morgan sat across from Spencer Reid, Garcia and Hotch sitting around the table behind them. For the last half hour, they had all just been staring at each other. Hotch and Garcia were too busy watching Morgan and Reid stare at each other to strike up polite conversation, and Morgan and Reid were too busy trying to avoid their conversation to notice the two staring at them.

"Hey." Reid finally said, offering a small smile.

"Hey yourself." Morgan said with a laugh. "What brings you here?"

"Oh, my boyfriend screwed up, and I wanted to talk to him about it. He's not doing a very fine job of it, though." Reid sighed. "I wanted to forgive him, you know, but he still won't talk to me. I mean, the last time we talked, he managed to squeeze out seven words on forty-five minutes."

"The guy sounds like a jerk. Why do you still want to be with him?"

"Because I love him, and he told me he would never screw up in that way again. I'll expect him to screw up every now and then, but he promised me he was getting help to fix what he did, and I really hope he does. I can handle an occasional fight, just as long as he promises not to hurt me again- physically hurt me." Reid explained.

"Well, at least he's making an effort, right? That tells me he still loves you. Maybe you guys could try again, but take things slow- lay down some visitation rights, you know?" Morgan suggested.

"That sounds fair." Reid smiled.

"You can't just forgive him on a whim, though. You have to make him prove himself again. There is no excuse for abusing you. There's no way that you could have fended him off; you're so thin, and you were in a vulnerable situation. He took advantage of you."

"But he didn't mean to. I know that there's no way he would have hurt me if he could control it-"

"If he could lose control that easily, what makes you think he won't do it again?" Morgan growled, obviously annoyed at how easily his friend would take his boyfriend back.

"Because it's not like that anymore." Reid said, snapping back.

"Oh, and how so?" Morgan asked sarcastically, although he knew Reid would answer anyways.

"He has anger management problems, which is why he hurt me in the first place. He-he told me that he was going to start taking his pills again, and he told me he was getting help. He promised he'd go to his therapist that I'm not supposed to know about and tell him that he was an idiot for not listening to him in the first place and beg for a new refill."

"I doubt he said that..."

"Of course he didn't, but it's unspoken things like that that could avoid situations like he put me in. I knew about his problem for a while, and I shouldn't have pushed him like that. I know it wasn't my fault, though, but I still wish he'd trust me enough to tell me when something's wrong. He knows I trust him, so I don't see why he can't trust me. I think it's the least that I've earned."

"I think he understands that, but it's just too hard for him to do. It sounds like he has trust issues, if you ask me."

"I know he has trust issues, but he used to trust me." Reid sighed.

"Have you considered that it isn't you who he doesn't trust but rather himself?"

"I have, actually."

"It's true, Spencer."

"I know, Morgan. I just...I know what it's like not to trust yourself, and I don't want to consider that an option for you. It' not pretty- not trusting yourself, that is. It's self-destructive, and it'll tear the best of us apart. And...and when I was in that situation, you helped me through it. I want to help you now."

"I know Spencer. I'm just not used to this. I want to take care of you- I don't want you to have to take care of me. I'm the one who hurt you; you should hate me."

"I don't hate you, Morgan. And I want to take care of you,too. I don't want to be the one who constantly needs you when you seem to never have a problem. When you do have a problem, though, you shut me out and don't talk about. That's going to have to change-starting now. You hurt your boyfriend, and although he's forgiven you, you can't forgive yourself. That's something WE can figure out together. You don't have to be alone anymore."

"I want to stay with you. I love you." Morgan said after a brief silence.

"I love you too, Morgan." Reid replied, a single tear rolling down his eye. Morgan smiled sadly as he wiped it away, reaching over the table. Reid found himself smiling back at him, a sincere smile.

"I think we're going to make it." Morgan whispered.

"Yeah, me too." They shared a brief look before continuing, letting the finally comfortable silence set in.

"They'll be visitation rights, of course." Morgan started. "We'll take things slow. We can start with hand holding, goodnight kisses, cuddling..." Morgan sighed. "We'll make it through." he said, nodding his head.

"Sounds like a good plan." Reid said with a small smile.

"I was hoping you'd say that." Morgan replied. Then, he extended his hand to Reid, who immediately took it. How about we get out of here? I don't know about you, but I want to go home."

"Only if you're there."

"Aw..." someone from behind them cooed. They both turned around to see who it was.

"Baby Girl, let the grown-ups talk." he scolded, wagging a finger with a playful smile on his face.

"Well, the 'grown-ups' are done talking." Reid smirked.

"It's good to know that all is well with my two favorite boys." she sighed happily.

"Hey.." Hotch mumbled, playing with his drink.

"Oh you know I still love you. Besides, I said boys, not men." This time, Reid and Morgan 'hey-ed'. "You're both boys because your younger than-" But when she saw Hotch glaring at her, she didn't dare finish the sentence. "Lovely weather, 'ey?" she said instead.

"Yeah, perfect." Morgan snickered as he pulled Spencer's hand into his own. Spencer smiled up at Morgan, glad to see him act like himself again.

"Come on; I think it's time to go home." Hotch said. "Morgan, you can drive my car and take Spencer. I'll ride with Garcia."

"Are you sure? You don't have to..."

"I'm not letting my babies separate when you guys just got back together." Garcia interjected. "You don't have a choice- take his car."

"Yes ma'am." Morgan smirked. Hotch smiled a bit at their exchange; he was glad to see they were finally getting together again.

"We should get going now." Hotch said. "I think you need to get your boyfriend home, Morgan." he added with a smirk. Garcia glanced at Reid, seeing that he was half-asleep and using Morgan to support his weight.

"Come on Pretty Boy; we're going home now." Reid just nodded, his sudden tiredness evaporating his energy. Wrapping his arms around Reid's waist, Morgan carefully guided his younger lover to Hotch's car. He half fell-half sat down in the passenger's seat, and Morgan took the driver's seat. He waved a good-bye to Garcia and Hotch before heading home...

"...The deal still stands, BTW. And considering there's only two chaps left, it's a good deal :) hehehhe...R&R?..."