Chapter 2: Hope

"Did you enjoy it?" Reid asked Michael over the phone as he sat at his desk at the BAU. His smile widened as he listened to Michael's exuberant voice. They hadn't spoken since the day they met and it felt really good to hear from him again. Reid listened intently and laughed to himself, not really questioning why his own mood had picked up. He leaned back in his chair, needing a break from his busy day and began discussing the book in detail with his new friend.

Morgan happened to be walking through and caught wind of the conversation and he didn't even have to actually hear what Reid was talkin' about. He knew exactly who was on the other end of that phone call thanks to that goofy grin plastered on Reid's face. Morgan tried not to think about how sad it was that he wasn't on the receiving end of that expression any longer.

It had been a week since the conversation in the locker room. That conversation where Reid basically told Morgan to pound sand, to …kick rocks… to make like a tree… Ahh, no matter. They could get it back. Morgan wanted to make that happen. And he had confirmation now that he had no reason to give up so easily. He had a plan. Well, he knew what he wanted to do next, anyway. After that, he would need to play by ear. He just felt it was necessary to let things simmer down before he talked to Reid again and that time was now. One step at a time, right?, he told himself.

Morgan walked right up to Reid's desk and leaned his ass along the front edge, sort of facing Reid, but off to Reid's side, and then he crossed his arms, smirking while he blatantly listened in. Reid slowed his words as he made eye contact with Morgan, not really sure if he should keep talking, but then decided to cut the conversation short. "Yeah, hey, Michael… I gotta go… So… just stop by when you get off work." Reid maintained eye contact with Morgan, who was smiling at him. "Yeah, okay, b- yeah, bye." He broke eye contact to hang up the phone and then cleared his throat. "What are you doing?"

Morgan uncrossed his arms and rested one palm between himself and Reid and rubbed his head with the other. "Big date tonight?"

Reid rolled his eyes. "It's not a date. He's going to drop off my book."

Morgan's eye brows rose and he chuckled. "Is that what they're callin' it nowadays?"

"My book. He's dropping off my book. He's leaving for some training tomorrow and tonight is his only chance."

"Yeah, I bet… He comin' here?"

Reid's eyes shifted and his reply was hesitant. "No, he's stopping by my place."

That was not what Morgan wanted to hear. His head dropped and he bit his lower lip into his mouth, trying to hinder that wave of jealously as it began to creep up on him. Now or never. "Can I talk to you in private?" They both looked around and saw no one within earshot. "In my office?" he clarified.

Reid gulped and held Morgan's gaze until he nodded. "Yeah… okay," he said softly as he pushed himself away from his desk. While they quietly walked up to Morgan's office, Reid followed several feet behind him. He stared at floor as he walked, confused by Morgan, trying to put it together in his head: Morgan practically interrupted his phone call with Michael, smiled like it was going out of style and then wanted to be alone.

Something's going to happen.

Reid felt his chest expand as Morgan opened the door and motioned him inside. Once inside, Morgan closed the door …and then the blinds. Feeling just a bit trapped, though he knew he was in no danger, he kept his back facing the door, cautiously watching as Morgan walked over to him, feeling his heart quicken its pace. "What's this about?" He sounded so nervous because he knew that look in Morgan's eyes. He could feel every bit of his body responding immediately and hated himself for loving the way it felt. His throat and mouth betrayed him, letting a vocal response pass his lips before he could swallow back the apprehension that caused it.

Morgan watched Reid's Adam's apple as it bobbed inside of Reid's neck and grinned, knowing Reid's tells. He could see his former lover was nervous as hell. He could also see he wasn't runnin' away. Here goes… "I'm in love with you, Reid."

Reid's eyes searched the room as he began to back up, looking for some sort of indication that he was fantasizing this moment. Maybe no detail, no floor, or maybe some fluffy clouds surrounding Morgan… but everything was very much in its place and the only thing surrounding Morgan was the aura of an alpha male. He was closing the space between them and Reid knew if Morgan tried anything, he wouldn't stop him.

What's happening? Reid wouldn't let Morgan's words sink in and instead, he tried to understand Morgan's train of thought. Why are you saying this? You must be threatened by Michael and now you're panicking. Reid tried to smile as he put his hands up, gesturing to Morgan that he didn't need to declare any feelings. "Morgan, you don't have to-"

"I loved you back then. I love you now. I've never stopped loving you all this time." Morgan let another smile slip out and then continued as he stepped closer to Reid, "As cliché as it sounds, I love you so much that it hurts. It hurts that we're not together. It hurts that we were so interrupted and couldn't make it work."

"Look, I understand that you're upset… jealous, even… and I-I get that, but you-," Morgan continued stepping toward Reid, backing Reid against the door, "…but you need to understand that I'm not going through that with you again." His finger nails scratched against the wall as he tried to grip onto the door frame with his right hand.

"Did you even hear what I said?" Morgan had to ask. He'd just told Reid something so very important and got nothin' in response. When Reid's back actually met with the door, he froze, suddenly mute. Morgan took this as his chance to make something very clear. He placed Reid's chin in his hand and turned his head so he could speak directly into his ear. Reid closed his eyes shut tightly and waited. "I… am not giving up on us without a fight." Morgan paused and leaned back. "Do you understand that? He watched another nervous swallow go down the length of Reid's neck.

Morgan could feel a familiar intensity deep inside that was so missed. To put it simply, Reid had this way of bringing out something so primal in him and that feeling had been away for far too long. As he nearly pinned Reid against the door, he fought with everything he had to not to take him then and there. He knew Reid wouldn't stop him. He knew Reid would like to give in as much as he wanted to.

As Morgan's fingers slipped down to the center of his neck, Reid pursed his lips and breathed through his nose. Morgan was pressed up against him and he began to pray that he wouldn't notice his hard on. "Okay…" Reid gulped. "I hear you…" He waited for Morgan to let him go and back away, but he wasn't doing it. "Message received," he tried again.

Reid closed his eyes again as Morgan's fingers moved to the back of his head, interlacing with his hair, creating goose bumps down his arms. When Morgan leaned in to smell his hair, Reid couldn't help but let out a whimper because Morgan didn't just smell his hair. Morgan pushed his nose into Reid's hairline just above his ear, inhaling him deeply as he pressed his lips to Reid's ear, exhaling humid heat. Having Morgan so close was heart stopping. Reid could feel the warmth from his skin. He could feel the tickle of his breath. He could feel the hunger on his lips.

Reid knew there was no way in hell his reaction could have gone unnoticed, but suddenly, he felt Morgan back away, leaving him absolutely swooning. It took a second for him to open his eyes and when he finally did, Morgan was several feet away, opening the blinds. He cleared his throat and began stepping in Morgan's direction. What the hell was that? He got mad once he thought about what was happening. "You can't entice me back into a relationship, Morgan."

"I know, I know… I just wanted to get your attention… if I didn't already still have it."

Reid wanted to have a talk about this, but he was out of time. Glancing at his watch, he sighed and looked back at Morgan. "It didn't work!" He was lying just a little bit. "I'm not interested in your games." He glanced at his watch again then he pinched the fabric at his crotch and pulled on it, making an automatic adjustment with his fingertips before he could stop himself and that's when Morgan smirked. Reid ignored him. "I have to go." His frown couldn't have wrinkled any deeper into his brow. He was so mad at Morgan that he decided to go ahead and let him have it. "Ya know what? If this is what your big plan is to get me back, you can forget it. I'm not some love sick puppy that's gonna follow you home because you gave me treat." That sounded better in his head; puppies didn't seem serious enough.

Morgan raised his brow and chuckled. That was more amusing than it should have been. "You got me all wrong." He stepped over to his desk and leaned on the edge. "But, you go on, then. Go 'get your book back'." Morgan used quotey fingers to emphasize that he thought Reid was full of shit and Reid glared back at him in response. "Hey, you don't gotta lie to me. I know you're into him… and there ain't nothin' wrong with that. Just don't forget about me while you're out there sowing your wild oats."

For just a second, Reid had a moment of clarity and knew Morgan was right about the way he felt about Michael, but he pushed it back, like he had been. Michael was just a friend and barely that. Nothing was going to or needed to happen between them.

When Reid turned to leave, he knew it would happen… Morgan said his name. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before he turned back around. "I'm serious… about Michael. Go have your fun and then…" Morgan swallowed, "and then you come back to me." For Morgan, that wasn't an order. It wasn't even a request... It was the idea that he would, as if just saying the words aloud would somehow resonate within Reid, reminding him who he belonged with.

Reid however, wasn't sure if Morgan was over-confident or delusional. He reached blindly for the doorknob behind him, not able to stop looking at Morgan, trying to size him up. He finally realized after a couple tries, he was still two feet too far from the door. Morgan walked around his desk and took a seat, trying not to watch Reid leaving. Since that day on the plane, watching Reid walk away was… well, it was hard.

After Reid left, Morgan sat in silence for a very quiet minute, processing and decompressing. He let out a huge sigh of relief once he thought he could let it happen without an emotional reaction. He had been working up to that moment the entire week. He had just planned to have a one on one with him, not literally inhale him… but Mmph, he thought back. He wasn't even sure if he'd done any good though. Reid still seemed… so guarded. At least he knew Reid was still attracted to him. It would just be a matter of winning him back. I can do this, he assured himself. I'm Derek Fuckin' Morgan. No matter what Reid was saying about Michael right now, Morgan could see right through him. And Morgan could admit that Michael was a good lookin' kid who seemed like a nice guy. Yep, I got a fight on my hands.

When Reid got home, he pulled off his tie immediately and practically tossed his satchel to the couch. He began undressing on his way down the hall. He wanted to shower and get cleaned up before Michael was going to arrive, which was going to be in about thirty minutes, if he was a punctual person. He desperately tried not to think of Morgan, but it was difficult. Reid's nervous gut couldn't decide who he was more worried over, Morgan or Michael. Each time he thought about either man, his stomach flipped. He vigorously brushed his teeth and checked his barely there 5 o'clock shadow.

When he was stepping out of the shower, he remembered he hadn't eaten anything since lunch. His stomach was nervous and empty. He scrambled to his small walk-in closet and pulled out a light blue button up that had a subtle pattern and an older, worn pair of brown cords.

When Reid heard the knock on his door, he ran his fingers through his hair and exhaled most of the air in his lungs. Michael was all smiles when Reid opened the door. "Dr. Reid, hello." His smile was so sweet and genuine that Reid lost almost all apprehension, feeling excited to see him again.

"Michael, come in," Reid told him with a welcoming smile.

With that, Michael stepped inside and was immediately awed by Reid's spacious home. "Wow, your place is great."

"Thanks." Reid was rubbing his hands together, but caught himself and cleared his throat as he brushed his bangs from his eyes. He didn't like that he was fidgeting so much. "Would you like something to drink?"

Michael spun around, smiling, and shook his head. "No thanks, Dr. Reid. I actually can't stay too long."

Reid was going to tell Michael to stop calling him doctor, but then the disappointment hit. "Oh… Uhh, Okay…" He walked up Michael and held his hand out for his book, which Michael handed over.

"Again, this book was such good read. I couldn't put it down. Thanks for the suggestion. I'm gonna read that other one you mentioned. I have a copy on order."

"Good, that's good," Reid responded, distracted. "Uhh," he swallowed. "Do you think you're going to eventually get into the field?" Reid kinda wanted him to. He was hopeful of it, anyway.

"I'd like to after a few years of being a cop. I wanna get some more experience under my belt."

"Yeah, Derek… Morgan, one of my team members, he was a cop before he-"

"That's that guy who came into the break room, right?" Michael had remembered his name from the seminar.

Reid nodded. He didn't mean to bring Morgan up. He didn't want to think about him. Or talk about him. As ridiculous as it was, he felt like he was cheating just having Michael in the same room. "Yeah, that was Morgan."

"He's a very attractive man, but kind of a jerk, huh?"

Reid frowned. "He's actually an amazing person. You just met him at a bad time." Ugh, that came out way too quick and too… defensive?

Now there was an elephant in the room. Michael could tell there was more to Morgan… and Reid could tell Michael was suspicious.

"Yeah, what was that all about anyway?"

Reid bit both of his lips into his mouth as his eyes shot off to the right and then down. None of it was any of Michael's business, but Reid wanted to be honest with him. "Morgan… and I… have a history."

Michael paused for a second trying to interpret Reid's expression and then he nodded subtly. "Lovers?"

Reid looked down again as his eyes tried to find a place on the floor to focus on. He knew from somewhere deep inside himself that he could trust Michael, but he still didn't feel like he could confirm the answer to that question openly and it kept him from replying.

Michael didn't want to make Reid uncomfortable in the slightest. "You don't have to say anything. I know your story all too well."

Reid looked up. "What do you mean?"

"I've been there, Dr. Reid." Michael was smiling with his eyes.

Suddenly, this huge weight had been relieved and Reid finally felt some ease because now Michael knew his secret, didn't judge him at all for not being forthcoming when they met and still looked at him as if he had absolutely no flaws. Reid's smile cut through the worry on his face. "You don't have to keep calling me 'Dr. Reid.'"

Michael smiled right back. "It suits you."

Reid wasn't usually one to blush, and he really tired so hard not to, but he just couldn't help it. There's was something in the way Michael spoke to him that made it happen regardless of his efforts. And then to throw in the flirting that Reid wasn't oblivious to, really just set his upper half on fire. "Are you insisting?" Reid kidded with a shy grin.

"Absolutely," Michael answered in return. After one more glance around Reid's place, he sighed. "I would love to stay, but I gotta get back home."

"Oh, yeah, don't let me keep you," Reid pushed, too easily dismissive of himself.

"But hey, that training got pushed back a day. Would you like to come over to my place for dinner tomorrow? Spaghetti's on the menu."

Reid's stomach flipped, but in that good way and he smiled to himself and then made eye contact with Michael. "Yeah, I think I'd like that."

"Great, I'll call tomorrow and let you know when and where."

"Okay," Reid agreed. They had been inching their way to the door in this last moment and Reid opened it up for Michael who turned around to face him in the door way. He reached for Reid's right hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. As Michael held his hand, Reid noticed right away he didn't have the urge to pull his hand back and instead, gave Michael a closed mouth grin. He extended his arm as Michael began to walk away from the door and Michael held Reid's hand until the very last moment, silently cursing the second their hands fell away from each other.

Michael turned around and gave Reid a very playful smile as he kept walking. "Bye, Dr. Reid."

"Bye," Reid laughed and closed the door.

He walked to the computer desk and stood next to it, looking out his window. The feelings he felt were so overwhelming. He had the urge to do some sort of ridiculous and joyous dance, but thought that allowing that energy to explode might somehow jinx everything. He just stood in place and smiled to himself as he stared out his window out into the nighttime city lights.

"Did you get your book back?"

Reid knew that would be the first thing Morgan would ask about. He wouldn't look at Morgan and instead watched the reader count the levels as the elevator lifted them to their chosen floor. "I did."

Morgan turned the corners of his mouth down, supposing something else happened. "Anything to report back?"

Reid let out a soft laugh and shook his head just a little. It wasn't any of Morgan's business. "I don't know why you need to know."

Morgan licked his lips and then pressed them together. He knew he was sticking a needle into a balloon here, but he was curious as hell and he knew that alone would chew at his insides all day. "I'm just trying to make conversation."

Reid slightly turned toward Morgan and leaned in, ready to get in his face. "You need to stop." He backed up and faced forward again.

"What the hell is with you lately?"

"It's ridiculous that you think you've got any sort of control over who I'm dating."

Actual fear struck Morgan's chest. His eye brows rose and his mouth hung open. "Dating?"

Reid clenched his teeth together tightly, pushing his lower jaw outward. He struggled to turn his head to look Morgan in the eyes. "I'm seeing him again tonight."

Morgan tried not look like his feelings were hurt, but he wasn't sure he was pullin' it off, so he spoke lies. "Good," he nodded. He cleared his throat and then smiled weakly. "Yeah, uhh… That's alright," he told himself out loud, trying not to wonder why Michael wasn't doin' his training like Reid had mentioned yesterday. "I'm sure you'll have a great time."

The elevator doors opened and Reid stood still as Morgan practically left skid marks trying to get out of that suffocating box. Reid glanced up that the black dome on the ceiling, not feeling alone, even though he was the only person standing inside. When the elevator doors began to close again, he stopped them with his foot and then stepped through, into the lobby.

Hey guys! Workin' away on Chapters 3 and 4! I hope you're enjoying it so far! :)