I do not own Criminal Minds. My thanks to my sister for being my beta. I welcome any and all reviews.

Chapter #49

Reid rolled in his sleep where he wrapped his arm around someone whom he believed it was his girlfriend. He smiled, not opening his eyes as he started to drift back to sleep. As he ran his hand down, he felt the course hair running against his hand and arm.

"Ghee, Ashley, you really need to shave," he groggily said, then smelling the worst morning breath that he can ever imagined. "And brush your teeth," he said.

He heard a soft whine coming from her side making him open his eyes, seeing Bailey looking straight back to him with his dark eyes. The boxer leaned forward and started to lick his face.

"Stop, stop," he said, rolling onto his back.

"Should I give leave you two lovebirds alone," he heard Ashley. He raised his head up, seeing her leaning against the doorway. She wore a pair of faded black jeans with a black tank top with a white dragon silkscreened on the front. The sides of her long copper brown hair was pulled away from her face and held in placed by a barrette on the back of her head.

"Very funny," he said, wiping the drool with the back of his hand. Ashley went over to him, picking up the towel that was still sitting on the edge of the bed. She handed it to him. He wiped the rest of his face.

"At least now, he likes you." Ashley sat on the bedside. "How are you feeling?"

"Better," he answered. He looked around, noting that the other side of her bed was wrinkled, but it was still made. He saw a blanket folded with a pillow on top, sitting on the couch and his Go Bag beside it. The clothes that he wore from last night were now cleaned and folded neatly on top of her dresser with his gun, watch and his belt sitting next to it.

"Did you get any sleep," he asked.

She shrugged her shoulders. "About an hour or so on the couch. I'm fine. I'll take a nap later on today before I go into work alright. Anyway if you are up to it, I was thinking of banana pancakes for breakfast." He smiled, liking that idea.

"Good, because Derek is joining us for breakfast." He looked up at her.

"He called your cell last night while you were sleeping. He was worried about you."

"Great," he sighed. "I don't need a babysitter."

She edged closer to him, laying her hand on his face. "Spencer, trust me. If you didn't come over last night, I would have gone to your place, called Derek and started searching for you." She moved her hand down, as she wrapped her arms around his waist.

"Spencer what if this was me, Derek or anyone else, what would have you done?"

He let out a breath, "Same thing," he answered quietly, knowing that she was right. He felt her kissing her forehead before looking up into her emerald-green eyes.

"OK, why don't you get dressed, and I will start making breakfast. I am going to let Bailey out, can please let him in before you leave the room and close the door behind you. The last thing that I want him to be barking mad at Derek." He nodded his head. She smiled, standing up.

She was about to leave when Reid took her hand. She turned around where he gently pulled her in, wrapping his long slender arms around her waist, setting his head against her chest. She bends her head down, kissing the top of his head.

"Thank you," he whispered.

"It's OK; you are allowed to have a rough night." He reluctantly let her go.

"Bailey," she said as she walked over to the doors leading to outside. Bailey who was still sitting on the bed, beside Reid during all this time. He jumped down and trotted past Ashley to outside.

Ashley hung up the phone after speaking with the guards. Morgan had just arrived. She pressed the button of the coffee maker on, letting the brown liquid dripped into the coffee pot as she left the kitchen.

Morgan was coming up the steps when she opened the door. "Morning," she said.

"Morning Pretty Girl," he said, flashing his smile at her as he took off his sunglasses. Ashley raised her eyebrows up at him when he called her that. But she guesses that since she gave him that idea last night, it was now his nickname to her.

Morgan walked into the foyer. "Breakfast will be ready in a minute," she started to say when Bailey charged into the room with one of Reid's converse sneakers in his mouth. He saw Morgan standing there and just started to bark at him while still holding his shoe in his mouth.

"Bailey," Ashley said, "Quiet."

"It's OK, he is not used to me," Morgan said as he bend forward, offering his hand out to the dog. Bailey edged closer, sniffing it.

Just then Reid came running after him, wearing dark gray pants with his beige shirt and dark green sweater. He grabbed his shoe as the boxer held on, believing that Reid wanted to play with him.

"Give it back," he said as he pulled on his shoe, not realizing that Morgan was there. Bailey held firm and a tug of war began. Ashley let out a sigh while she saw Morgan smiling from the corner in her eye.

If this tug of war happened anywhere else, Ashley would have already got her camera out and started taking pictures. This would have been perfect for her scrapbook classes. But she could easily see one of the vases or figurines breaking in the foyer and there was no doubt in her mind that it would have been expensive.

"Good grief. Bailey," she ordered. The boxer stopped. "Ta," she said. Bailey let go of his shoe. Reid stopped, straightening himself up. He noticed that Morgan was standing there, smiling away.

"OK, that was our show for today. I'll take Bailey back to my room while you can show Morgan the kitchen. The coffee should be ready by now."

Ashley returned shortly where Morgan and Reid were sitting at the table, drinking coffee. She could still see Morgan beaming like a peacock.

"What," she asked him as she went over to the sink to wash her hands.

"The Reid-effect," Morgan commented.

"The what effect," Ashley asked as she turned on the griddle, dropping butter on it. She smeared the butter all over the pan as it melted.

"It is the effect that he causes towards dogs and small children. Dogs will hate him and the children cry. My dog Clooney always barks at him," Morgan explained. Reid nodded his head, confirming it.

Ashley poured the pancake batter on the griddle, smiling. "Huh. Before Spencer and I started dating, Bailey would sit beside me on the couch. Unfortunately he would start drooling on either on the pillow or the cushion. I have lost count of how many times that I had to wash that pillow case or the cushion case. Now when Spencer comes over and watches TV, Bailey wouldn't sit with us, even though, there is plenty of room for the three of us. I was very surprised last night that Bailey was lying next to him while he was sleeping. He wouldn't even let me get into bed with them." Reid was surprised at what Ashley had just said. Was that the reason that she was sleeping on the couch?

"As to the kids, he has been to my classes on a few occasions, never made any of the kids cried. Made them confused when he told them about the history of the cookies. We were making cookie jars at the time," Ashley explained. Morgan looked over at Reid where he too nodded his head sheepishly.

"It was after he started showing them magic tricks, then they all loved him. They always ask me if he was picking me up that day."

The first batch of pancakes was done. Ashley set the platter down in front of the two men, "Breakfast is ready," she announced. She returned to the stove, making the second batch of pancakes.

"Aren't you joining us," Ashley heard Reid asking.

She shook her head no, "I have to make the second and third batch. And no, I can't make them all at once or they would get cold. Go ahead and eat," she said as she turned around to face them.

When she was about to set the second batch of pancakes down on the table, Morgan stood up, pushing his chair back. "OK Pretty Girl, now you sit down, I'll make the last batch."

"I'm fine Derek," she protested, setting the plate down. Morgan pulled his chair closer to her, placing both of his hands on her shoulders, as he gently pushed her down.

"You made this wonderful breakfast, now please sit." Ashley turned her head back, seeing Reid nodding in agreement as he switched Morgan's plate to a clean plate from the empty space on the table.

Ashley knowing that she was defeated and plus, she was hungry. She pulled her chair closer to her where she raised her eyebrows up at her boyfriend.

"So Derek can cook," she asked. He shrugged his shoulders. He switched glasses as well, pouring orange juice and setting it in front of her.

She could tell by his face that last night was still on his mind and he was still thinking about what ifs. Morgan returned with the plate and he took the empty seat.

Taking a deep breath, "I love you and I hope you will forgive me, but I am going to stick my nose into this. I know that I told you last night and this morning that you were allowed to have a rough night. That is still true, but not to the point of where you were going to use again."

Then she waved her hand in front of Morgan, "Which he never did." Morgan nodded his head.

"Kid, the last thing that we want is to put you on the spot, but we just want to let you know that we are here for you. And if you don't want to talk about it, which is OK" Reid nodded yes and Ashley knew that he didn't want to talk about it. Instead he stood up, stabbing his fork into the pancakes.

"You need to eat," he said as he set a couple of them on her plate. He sat back down. Ashley glanced at Morgan as he nodded his head at her. Maybe Reid would open up with him alone. That is all she can hope for.

It was after breakfast, when they were cleaning the table. Ashley took the platter where she started to feel lightheaded and she had to lean against the table. A fork slide off the plate, making a clattering sound as it landed on the floor. She felt the plate being taken away.

"Come on, you need to rest," Reid said.

"I'm fine," she said. Her boyfriend shook her head no.

"You are tired. Morgan and I will do the dishes and clean up."

"No, you guys are my guests," she started to protest.

"This is not your house. Please Ashley," he begged.

"Kid is right. You go and lie down. I'll stay. I would like to have a tour at this fancy place," Morgan encouraged.

"Your job is done now, it is my turn." She looked at his dark brown eyes. "I am OK now," he whispered. She nodded as he kissed her forehead.

"Alright, night Derek."

"Night, hey how about one of these days, we can go out on a double date or something," he offered. Ashley smiled, liking that idea.

Reid watched Ashley leaving the kitchen as he took off his sweater and rolled up his sleeves.

"Do you want to wash or dry," he asked.

"How about I wash, you know where everything goes," Morgan offered. He nodded his head as he pulled the tea towel off of the fridge door handle. They washed the dishes in silence.

Reid was still thinking of that night. He couldn't help himself of replaying that day in his head. That was the worst thing about having an eidetic memory, he can remember everything. This is something that will stick in his mind for the rest of his life.

"Don't let her go," Morgan said, interrupting his thoughts.

"Excuse me."

He looked at his little brother, "I know that with my history with women is not exactly good, but I do know that since I known you, this is the first time that you have been truly happy. I was surprised at how she brought it up, trying to get you to talk. But the fact that she did, shows that she does care about you a lot. Don't let her go."

He smiled, "I plan to keep her for a long time."