A/N: OK I am so sorry for the unbelievable delay in me updating. there is no words i am so sorry. For those still interested i am hoping to finish this story over the xmas holidays so please take a chance and read this story again. Time has passed but still love reviews. i don't deserve it but please make my day :)

anywhos please read and enjoy i hope my rustiness doesn't show.

Chapter 13: The first strike

Morgan returned to the group with drinks in hand. They all cheered and JJ challenged someone to a dart match.

"Come on, I'll go easy. Morgan, are saying you're scared of a girl beating you."

"Hell ya! When it is you and it's darts" Morgan stated. Morgan glanced at his watch and sighed

"I'm wrecked and unfortunately I've work tomorrow. Somehow I don't think the 'I'm sick cough, cough' excuse will work" Morgan moaned glancing at Hotch.

Hotch grinned "I knew you were pulling a sicky that time"

Morgan laughed "Yeah well that was one hell of a night"

"What Morgan you pulled a sicky?? I don't believe it, what happened if we had a case." JJ asked.

"Well it was my first week on the force and there was mumps going around so the whole unit was on quarantine. We could only do conference calls to anyone in need so I worked from home. Garcia hooked me up. First time I talked to her. It is a pity she didn't come tonight."

"Yeah but she had a hot date with Kevin so I don't think she will be missing us as much as we miss her." JJ informed the unit.

Morgan made a face "How does she have a hot date and it is not with me. That hurts" Morgan exclaimed holding his heart as if in pain.

Prentiss had been quiet the whole night and was just watching the group. She really thought of them as her family. She didn't know what she would do if she didn't have them.

The DJ started his set for the night and Morgan stood up and turned to Prentiss "Dance with me pretty lady?"

"I though you were going home mister."

"I will but I can't miss the opportunity to dance with the prettiest lady in room"

JJ coughed and spluttered then sighed resignedly "I use to be the pretty team member" and pulled a sad face. "Oh well at least my title was stolen by a worthy competitor. Wear the title with pride Prentiss."

"Oh I'm not the prettiest at least not with my face all bruised." She said self deprecatorily.

"Please dance with me; I don't want to dance with Hotch. Save me please"

"Ok I suppose if it is to save you"

Prentiss stood up and downed her drink before she left the table. Morgan leaned in to JJ "You're still the pretty member of the team. I am a very blessed man to work with you and Prentiss, the most beautiful women in the FBI."

"Oh you are a charmer" JJ laughed and smiled "Now go show Prentiss your moves"

Prentiss and Morgan went and showed the wannabe dancers how it is done.

JJ and Reid tried their best not to laugh at the image of Hotch dancing with Morgan {especially the way he was dancing with Prentiss}. Hotch sighed and said "I wouldn't want to dance with him anyways. He so is not my type."

At that Reid and JJ lost control and burst out laughing. Hotch tried to look offended but quickly joined in. It was his first genuine laugh in a long time and it felt good.

After another round of drinks on Hotch and a lot more laughs everyone was struggling to keep their eyes open and headed to their various cars. But Hotch wouldn't allow anyone to drive in their intoxicated states and called taxis for everyone.

Once everyone was safely in their taxis and on their way home he stepped out of the shadows and got into his car. He was disgusted with Hotch allowing his team to get so drunk. He would never condone it.

Still soon he would be in charge and some changes would be made. But first he must show the FBI how incompetent Hotch was.

He drove following Prentiss taxi. He was so caught in his internal rant he didn't notice Morgan taxi had also changed course and was following Prentiss.

He turned off once he knew where Prentiss was going and he took a left and a left again so he was back at a junction that joined onto Prentiss road. He knew he would be quicker and he just sat at the lights and waited. The cars were building up behind him but he was oblivious to their horns and shouts. The lights went green, red and green again. They had just turned red for him when he saw Prentiss's taxi and he shot forward and aimed straight for her car. But the taxi driver saw the car and slammed on the breaks and screeched to a halt.

The kamikaze driver went flying across the junction in front of Prentiss's taxi and crashed into the traffic lights. Prentiss was shocked to say the least. Morgan who had been right behind her jumped out of his car and ran up to Prentiss

"Are you ok" he yelled not even giving her the chance to roll down her window. She looked over at the taxi driver.

"Are you ok?"

"Yeah are you?"

"Fine"

With that Prentiss got out of the car and Morgan embraced her in a tight hug. She held him back but they both caught themselves and quickly pulled apart. They walked over to the driver's car that crashed but the seat was empty. The whole car was empty. They looked at each other puzzled and Morgan called it in.

Once the police came got all the statements and then finally they were able to go home. They both got into Morgan's taxi and Morgan gave him Prentiss's address. They got to her house quickly, Morgan tipped the taxi man generously for all he had been through and he drove off.

Prentiss hugged herself and looked around neighbourhood. She loved her apartment; it had this massive window with a view to die for. Once she had seen the window she had been convinced this was her new place.

Morgan let her get lost in her thoughts for a few then gentle touched her shoulder. Prentiss, what is running around your head?"

"Em just why did you send the taxi away? You're going to have to call another one now to get home."

"Oh girl, you and Garcia!! After the last few days that you have had do you really think I was going to let you be alone. Not a chance. When Garcia got shot…" Morgan took a breath he still hated the thought of that day

"I said I wouldn't leave her till she was better. Well you mightn't have a gaping hole in your chest but I know you are hurting and I also know you would never admit it or ask for help but you are not going to be alone tonight."

Prentiss started to protest but Morgan cut her off "Now where is the couch?" Morgan inquired as he directed her towards her door.

"Fine you can stay here tonight but don't think you are getting another sneak peak at my freckles."

"There was more than one?" Morgan chuckled.

Prentiss hit him gently over his head and lead him up to her apartment. Once inside the door she instantly glad he was there. Not that she would ever admit it. It was eerie how accurately he knew her. But mostly it just made her smile.

"Ok help me pull out the couch. You're in luck it is a roll out bed and I think it should be nice and comfy. The shop guy who sold it to me said as much."

Morgan smiled "so I'm the first to stay over"

"No you're just the first who didn't make it to the bedroom"

Morgan acted offended and he smiled cheekily "Oh has someone else?"

Prentiss blushed softly and asked "Do you need anything else? PJs? Toothbrush?"

"Em I'm good I have my over night bag from the case. I can live out of that for one more night."

Prentiss nodded as she pulled out the spare duvet and pillow from the hallway closest.

"Actually there is something I need." Morgan said as he caught her hand when she handed him the duvet.

Prentiss looked at him confused.

"Please sit down for a minute. Ok Prentiss I know and I thank God every minute for this, but I know Jones didn't get the opportunity to go all the way but he still went further then should have and after all the cases we have done I know they all must have been spinning through your head as he touched you."

He paused and took a breath "Prentiss look at me. Please" he gently reached out and caressed her chin into looking at him

"I know you must have been scared. I know this is probably what is upsetting you the most but I need you to know that it is ok. I was terrified and Reid was completely out of his mind. I don't need to tell you how Hotch, JJ and Garcia felt. We all were falling apart just at the thought of losing you. I need you to know you are loved, accepted and needed by us. It is ok to be shaken by this but know we are here for you"

"When I was with him it was the cases that were going through my mind it was Reid. It was everything he went through. I just kept thinking I couldn't survive what he did or anything like it. I just kept thinking please just rape me. I thought I could forget that but the torture, the drugs, the mind games that is what scared me. Also I was afraid" she stopped bit her lip

"Prentiss it is ok. Keep going"

"She took a deep breath and continued "Also I was afraid you would think I wasn't ... I wouldn't be… I" she struggled to get her words out.

Morgan hesitated and then leaned in and kissed her. It took a second for it to register with Prentiss but then she kissed back, hard and passionate. She longed for this for so long. She pulled his top off and laid her hands on his hard chest. He pulled back her hair and looked at her asking her with his eyes was she ok with this. In response she laid back on the pull out bed and pulled him down on top of her.

He started to undo her buttons of her blouse on at a time and gentle pulled her blouse of her. Then he reached for her bra slipped it off and threw it down on the ground. He leaned to kiss her again. He needed to taste her lips and her raspberry lip gloss. But suddenly she pushed him off and ran into her room slamming the door behind her. Morgan sat back and held his head in his heads in his hands.

Damn it! What was he thinking? This was so wrong for so many reasons he never, never went with someone from work then after all she had been through he should have known it was too soon for her. He felt like kicking himself.

He reached over and picked up the bra from the floor. He recognised it. It was the same one as the on from the attack. Suddenly he got a picture in his head of Jones taking off her bra just like he did and he felt sick. Damn it!

He went to knock on Prentiss's door but hesitated and then decided to give her some room. Simultaneously Prentiss was about to come out of her room to talk to Morgan but then froze, scared. She instead went to bed and tried to sleep but was too afraid to turn of the light beside her bed. Also she was very acutely aware of Morgan out side on the couch. And part of her wanted to run her hands down his chest again and to feel his breath on her neck and to taste his lips and play with them. She cried to herself, silent crying was something she had honed very well over the years.

Morning couldn't come soon enough for either of them. Morgan got up and had almost finished cooking breakfast when Prentiss emerged cautiously from her room.

Morgan held up the pan of French toast and bacon "Peace offering?"

Prentiss nodded and walked to the fridge, grabbed the OJ. She grabbed two glasses from the press and she sat down at her table. Morgan served up the hot food and placed the plate in front of her. He accidently brushed her hair slightly and both froze for a brief second then he quickly retreated and sat at the other end of the table.

"Sleep well?" Morgan asked knowing she would say yes and fully aware this would be a lie judging by her eyes and their bags.

"Yeah well enough. You?"

"Yeah the couch is extremely comfortable" he also lied. He hadn't even laid down on it. He spent the whole night sitting up beating himself up about his stupidity.

Both then ate in silence. When they had finished Prentiss collected the plates and piled them into the sink. "I'll do them later" she said. He merely nodded. They both inwardly sighed as she dropped them down in the sink and it made more noise than they both had all morning.

"We need to talk" Morgan started but Prentiss interrupted him "look last night was a near mistake. We stopped in time. It won't happen again. You don't need to worry."

Morgan sat back in the chair and digested what he heard.

"Look, don't go profiling me. It is what it is. Ok? Now I want a shower. Do you?"

"Em no I might head home. Water the plants and stuff before heading to the office."

"Fine see you at Quantico." And she slipped into the bathroom.

He gathered his things but the bed back into the couch and with one glance towards the bathroom was gone.