A/N Here is a short chapter, sorry about that! The next one will be longer, I promise. This is just a filler, leading to a talk between JJ & Reid. I've never written JJ before, so I hope I can do her justice. Garcia has always been easy for me to write, but I thought I'd branch out this time and try a new character. I hope you enjoy!

Chapter 5

Confusion

Something was going on, and it involved Spencer. He was like a brother to her, and she felt incredibly protective over him, especially after they worked so hard to mend their relationship after Emily. It took a while, but they were finally able to get past all the lies (which she still feels guilty about), and the hurt feelings.

So, if whatever was happening in her office with Morgan and Garcia involved Spencer, then she had every right to know about it. She knocked on the door, and quietly slid in, hearing the end of the phone conversation by accident.

"Why was Spence crying?" JJ asked.

Both Morgan and Garcia jumped, not realizing JJ had come back. JJ's tone told them she wasn't messing around. Morgan looked at Garcia, tears shining, unshed, in his eyes, and she answered for him. "We aren't sure."

"That's crap, and you know it. Morgan, what the hell happened between you and Reid, and why do you think you lost him?" She paused, he voice hard, demanding answers. "And don't even think about lying to me, because I saw you earlier."

"I..." Morgan started, but was unable to continue, his dark eyes begging his baby girl to finish for him.

"Should I tell her everything?" She asked. He nodded, looking at the floor, still trying to keep the tears from falling.

"Ok, so Morgan and I were talking at the party, and we think Reid have heard us." Garcia was vague.

"Yes, I got that." JJ said, getting annoyed. "Please be a little more specific."

"Morgan is in love with Reid, and built the house for him, so they can live happily ever after together. We think Reid heard us and Morgan thinks Reid's freaked out and is avoiding him." Garcia answered in a rush.

JJ sat down behind her desk, letting Garcia's explanation sink in. She looked at Morgan, who was still studying the floor with intensity. "Morgan." She said, trying to get his attention. "Derek." She tried again, using a softer tone. He finally looked up at her. She saw his eyes wet with unshed tears, and her heart broke. Then it hit her. "The library." She said, realization in her voice. He nodded.

"There has to be something else bothering our sweet boy, though." Garcia said. "He has never been short with me before. His tone was resigned, and almost cold at the end. I even offered to bring him over soup on Saturday too, and he refused."

"Something is wrong, and I intend to find out what it is." JJ said, determination evident in her voice. "Whatever is bothering him, must be pretty serious. We promised not to lie to each other after what happened before, with Emily."

"Maybe he was really sick," Garcia said, not believing her own words, but trying to soothe JJ. If Morgan hadn't been so upset, he would have laughed at the look JJ gave to Garcia after that comment. "Ok, I guess we've established that Reid isn't really sick, so what could be the problem?"

"The problem is that he found out that I had feeling for him and now he doesn't want to be anywhere near me." Morgan said, pitifully.

"Oh baby, you know that's not true. That boy worships the ground you walk on. He must have misinterpreted something we said."

"Garcia's right, Derek." JJ agreed. "Spence considers you his best friend, and even if he heard what you said, he wouldn't just walk away. There has to be more to it. I'm going to go see him after work, and find out."

Morgan's head jerked up, and he stared at her with pleading eyes. "If he didn't hear..."

"I won't say anything. It's not my place. But, can I clear things up if he did somehow misunderstand?"

"I guess. Just don't tell him..." He paused, not sure how to finish.

"It'll be ok. I just thought it would be best for me to talk to him. Unless you want to."

"No, he is obviously avoiding me, and I doubt he'll talk to me." Morgan said, sounding dejected.

Before JJ had the chance to reply there was a sharp knock on the door. Without waiting for a response, the door was speed swiftly, and Hotch stuck his head in, asking, "Hey JJ, have you seen...oh, there you are." He said, looking at Morgan. He realized Garcia was there, as well, and added, "Are we having a meeting of the minds, and I wasn't invited?"

Hotch's attempt at humor lightened the atmosphere, and Morgan looked up at him sheepishly and replied, "Nah, we were just talking about how our resident genius should be well rested with all this time off he's had."

"Actually, that's why I was looking for you." Morgan froze. "With Reid out,"he continued, "I need you and Prentiss to split his paperwork until he's back."

Morgan relaxed, and responded, "Sure Hotch, whatever we need to do."

That comment, plus Morgan's visible reaction when Reid's name was mentioned, gave Hotch pause. He was surprised when Reid took the extra time off he'd offered, and the fact that the only contact he'd had with the younger agent had been through text, and short ones, at that, just added to his confusion. Something was going on with Reid and he guessed it had everything to do with Morgan. Anyone could see that there were shades of Reid everywhere in that house Morgan built. He just wondered when the two men would wake up and stop dancing around each other.