Prompt: Pancakes and bubble baths suggested by PinkHimeLacus. Thanks!

AN: Sorry this took so long. Had trouble writing this chapter - JJ wouldn't cooperate!

Morgan stood looking at the closed bathroom door behind which Reid had retreated after Morgan's inquiry if he wanted to talk. The dark-skinned profiler hadn't gotten much sleep, having checked on Reid numerous times between cat naps. Only once had he found the younger man sleeping. Morgan had tried several times to get his friend to talk, meeting with about as much success as he had this last time.

With a frustrated sigh Morgan stalked out of the bedroom. He was at a loss as to what to do. He had tried both explaining and apologizing for making the suggestion that Reid talk to a professional. Had asked Reid if he would rather talk to one of the others, to which Morgan had at least gotten a reply to, even if it was an emphatic no. If it wasn't for the fact that Morgan had searched the apartment for drugs, the one vial that had been saved having been wasted when Eric had been sure he wouldn't need it, and that Reid hadn't been outside of the apartment without him since, the dark-skinned profiler would have been worried Reid was back on the drugs.

Sitting down on the couch, Morgan rested his elbows on his knees. Leaning forward he interlaced his fingers behind his neck. What he wanted to do was get away from here for a few hours. Take a bit of time to himself and regroup. Morgan knew he couldn't do that though, at least not without someone here that he knew wouldn't leave Reid alone no matter how hard the younger man pushed, especially after last night. Reid's comment about everyone eventually leaving was sticking with him and the last thing Morgan wanted to do was fuel that sentiment.

There was a knock at the door. Getting to his feet, Morgan headed for the door. A quick peek out the peep hole revealed JJ standing on the other side.

"Morning JJ," Morgan said, opening the door. He felt relief at having someone there to share the burden while at the same time wondering if it was such a good time for JJ to be stopping by. "Come in," he said, stepping aside to allow her to enter the apartment.

"Good morning," JJ said, returning the greeting as she stepped into the apartment. As Morgan shut the front door, she got a good look at him. "You look like hell."

"I'm sure I do," Morgan replied, easily. "I didn't get much sleep last night."

"How's Spence?"

Morgan shook his head slowly. "I'm at a loss as to what to do, JJ. I made the suggestion that it might help if he talked to a professional because most of the time, I don't know what to say to help him, and now he's almost completely shut me out. I can't help him if he won't let me."

"Perhaps the two of you just need a break from each other," JJ suggested. "You've been here a week now. Even under normal circumstances two people in the same house can start getting on one another's nerves, and this definitely does not qualify as normal circumstances."

"It's just that he's gotten this far and I don't want to be the reason that he takes a step backwards."

"I know, Morgan, but the two of you aggravated with each other isn't going to help matters either," JJ said calmly. "Look. I'm here. Why don't you leave for a few hours and take the opportunity to clear your head? It'll do you some good."

"And Reid?"

"Let me worry about Spencer for a little bit. The two of us have some things to talk about anyway."

Morgan thought about the situation. It wasn't like he felt as if he was being much help anyway. Maybe JJ was right. Perhaps a little bit of time away from all of this was just what he needed. Perhaps even what they both needed.

"You won't leave until I get back?"

"I promise," JJ told him. "Now go on," she insisted giving him a small push toward the door. "Go take a few hours to yourself."

"Perhaps I'll go pick up Clooney from my neighbors and take him to the park for a while. I'm sure he's missing me as much as I'm missing him."

"Sounds like a great plan."

Morgan reached for the door knob. As he started to pull the door open, he paused, the door cracked.

"JJ, if for any reason you need to leave before I get back . . ."

"I'll call you, Derek," JJ told him, finishing the sentiment for him. "It'll be fine. Go!"

With a final nod Morgan pulled the door open the rest of the way and left the apartment. As the door shut behind him, JJ slipped her purse off of her shoulder and placed it on the couch before walking toward the bedroom.

The door was open and she saw Spencer sitting on the edge of the bed. Reaching out, she rapped on the door, the sound causing the young genius to look up.

"I thought I heard your voice," he said softly.

"Mind if I come in?" she asked, her eyes taking in her friend's condition.

To JJ, Reid looked worse than Morgan had. The shirt and sweat pants he was wearing looked way too big on him. The shadows under his eyes had gotten darker since the last time she had seen him, and from the exhausted look on his face, JJ would have thought it was nighttime and not morning.

"When did you get here?"

"A few minutes ago," she replied, stepping into the room even though she hadn't gotten a reply to her question. As she walked slowly toward the bed, she tried to decide what to say next. The normal 'how are you' pleasantries just didn't seem appropriate in this situation. Still trying to decide what to say, she sat down on the bed next to Reid. It felt so strange not knowing what to say to him as her friendship with the young genius had always seemed so free and easy. Doing things, like reaching out to button a shirt sleeve, had always seemed like a natural thing to do, even though she would never have considered doing something like that with someone else. She could only imagine that Hotch's reaction would be just as loud and angry as Reid's had been back in the lobby in that California hotel. But her relationship with Reid had always been different from the one she shared with the unit chief and the two of them had taken their share of teasing from their teammates because of that.

"We've missed you at work," JJ said, choosing that sentiment to break the silence that had fallen over the room.

"The way I've been acting lately, I find that hard to believe," Reid told her. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly before he continued. "I'm sorry about snapping at you out in California, JJ. It was uncalled for. I could have just asked you not to fix my sleeve."

"Yeah, you could have," JJ ventured, "but me buttoning the sleeve wasn't the real issue was it?"

Reid shook his head before propping his elbows up on his knees and burying his face in his hands. "I've made such a mess of everything and hurt everyone who's important to me. I really am sorry, JJ. I never meant to hurt you."

"I know that, Spence," she said, reaching out to put a hand across his shoulders, feeling the tenseness in her friend. "I'm just glad you're finally letting us help you."

"I don't deserve for all of you to be so forgiving."

"Yes, you do. Yes you made some mistakes and you've been difficult, but we all know you've been hurting. Feel as if we've failed you."

"This is my fault and my fault alone."

"I shouldn't have let you go off on your own like that in Georgia," JJ said, voicing the guilt she had been carrying around with her since February.

"I didn't exactly give you much choice and I should have made sure you were with me before running into that cornfield. When I heard those gunshots, I thought . . . If anything had happened to you . . ."

"Nothing did. I'm fine and you're going to be, Spence."

"I want to believe that but I'm still screwing things up. Hurting people who are trying to help me and I can't blame it on the drugs this time."

"Things will get better. Just give it time," she told him, removing her arm from his shoulders and starting to rub his back in a circular motion. "The first thing you need to do is to find a way to relax. You're too uptight. It isn't good for you."

"That is easier said than done."

"When I feel stressed, the things I find relaxing are pancakes and bubble baths."

"I'm not really the bubble bath type of person."

"Fine," JJ said, a smile coming to her face, "but have you eaten breakfast, yet?"

Reid shook his head in reply.

"Then how about I make us some pancakes for breakfast?"

"You don't have to go to the trouble," he told her.

"It's no trouble at all," JJ told him getting to her feet. "I'll meet you in the kitchen," she said as she headed for the door.

"Morgan left didn't he?" Reid asked, stopping JJ about halfway between the bed and the door.

JJ turned to face her friend. "Yes though reluctantly," she told him. "He's worried about you, Spencer, and that is the only reason he made the suggestion that he did. He's afraid of making a mistake and thought you might need to talk to someone who knows how to help people deal with things like this."

"I need someone to talk to who knows what happened. I can't face trying to explain everything to some stranger. I know you guys don't know everything but you all know most of it, and went through some of it with me in a way. It's bad enough I relive everything in my nightmares I don't want to do that while awake too."

"Then tell Derek that, Spence. Don't just shut him out. He made the suggestion because he's afraid of failing you."

"I just don't want to lose his friendship. I don't think I could deal with that, with losing any of you right now. I couldn't stand being alone again."

JJ crossed back over to him and knelt down in front of him. "Spence, look at me," she said, waiting for Reid to raise his head to meet her gaze. "None of us intend on leaving you, least of all Morgan. This past week should have shown you that."

"I guess when he suggested that I talk to a professional it felt as if he was trying to get rid of me."

"If that were the case, why wouldn't he have left right after he made that suggestion? Or why would he have made me promise not to leave until he got back?"

"Did he really?"

"Yes, he did. None of us plan on leaving you, Spence. The fact that we're all here for you after how you've been acting lately should attest to that."

"I'm so sorry, JJ" Reid said again, reaching out to hug the blonde woman still kneeling in front of him.

JJ wrapped her arms tightly around Reid and held him tight.

"I forgive you, Spence," she said softly. "Now, it's time that you start finding a way forgive yourself."

JJ didn't make an attempt to free herself from the hug, but instead held Reid tight until he started to pull away. When he finally did, JJ got to her feet, still looking at her friend.

"Are you ready for breakfast now? You're way too skinny."

"You sound like my mother."

"I like your mother, so I'm going to take that as a compliment," JJ told him with a smile as she reached out a hand to ruffle Reid's hair before heading for the bedroom door again.