Chapter 22: The Next Step

Reid took one more look around at his empty apartment. He thought he would be a little upset to see himself leave this place, but a quiet smile crept across his face as he placed the key down on the island counter top in the kitchen.

Morgan could be heard entering the unit. "You got everything?"

The odds and ends were only a few. Reid was able to fit them all into one box. "Yeah…" He continued to look around the place, taking the moment in. The time had come to move on.

"You're gonna miss this place, aren't ya?" Morgan already had the box in his hands and was ready to go. He even found himself glancing around. There were a lot of memories here for the two of them. Good ones. Sexy ones. Meaningful ones. But until they found a house of their own, they wanted to share Morgan's place which was almost triple the square footage of this living space.

"I don't think so," he turned around with a smile aimed right at his fiancé.

Morgan smiled right back. "Come on, Pretty Boy. Let me take you home."

That made Reid's heart swell. This was another very big step for them. "We're really doing this…"

"We are, so let's not waste any more time…" Morgan led the way out.

Reid followed, but not in any particular hurry and actually came to a stop at the door way. He glanced behind him toward the hallway, admiring the work Morgan had done on the wall. He had been able to repair the dent caused when Morgan had pushed him away during a heated, and at the time, not so welcomed kiss. Morgan's work was flawless. No one would be able to tell the sheet rock had been damaged.

Morgan turned around and waited for him. "Man, you're lucky your landlord likes you. Gettin' off without paying any fees?"

As he stepped out into the hallway, Reid tried to explain, "She said she already has somebody mov…" his voice trailed off as he locked eyes with unexpected company.

Morgan saw Reid's attention get yanked and had to turn his head to see why.

Michael Ortega was slowly making his way up the hallway toward them. He was walking with the assistance of a forearm crutch… and he was struggling. Reid could see it wasn't easy for him and that he was pushing himself. He could also see how much weight Michael had lost. If anything, Reid thought, he should have put on a few pounds.

Reid looked to Morgan and Morgan looked right back at Reid able to come to the conclusion that neither one of them were expecting him. Reid's feet began to pull him toward Michael, trying to at least meet him half way and Morgan was quick to follow. When they met, Morgan set the box down and greeted Michael, gently pulling him into a hug during their hand shake.

Reid gulped as he stood to the side. He had no idea how to greet Michael. He felt a hug would be inappropriate or not wanted so he began to timidly reach out to shake hands with the young man. "Hi, Michael," he spoke cautiously.

Michael took a deep breath as he steadied himself with his crutch and then took Reid's hand. "Hello, Dr. Reid."

As they looked into each other's eyes, the two of them shared feelings without saying a word about them.

And Morgan wasn't blind to it. "Uhh, yeah… so… I'm gonna take this… down… to…" Morgan let his words fade and then bent down, picking the box up off the floor by one of its sleeves. He didn't even bother finishing his sentence. He was sure they wouldn't hear him.

Once Morgan was out of sight, Reid was the first to speak. "Michael, I am so sorry about Maya…" His eyes glossed over.

"Me too, for you… for Morgan and everyone else..."

There was an uncomfortable pause so Reid changed the subject. "It's been almost four months… I haven't heard from you…" He tucked his lips inside of his mouth as he nervously stalled. "Uhm," his voice trembled and he covered his pursed lips with a closed fist as he quickly cleared his throat. "How are you doing?"

Michael smiled as his eyes found the ring on Reid's finger. Reid noticed him notice and slipped his hand into his pocket. In no way did he want to make things harder for Michael.

"I'm leaving." Given his tone, it was obvious Michael wasn't really here to catch up or chit chat. As he forced himself to explain, it was more difficult for him to look Reid in the eye. "…I'm moving to California and I wanted to say goodbye to you."

"Oh…" Reid nodded. His mouth hung open as he tried to grasp onto the fact that his friend had chosen to move away. "What's in California?" Reid closed his eyes and scolded himself. "I'm sorry, you don't have to ans—"

"Familia."

"Oh…" Reid nodded again, still not ready to let this be fact. He didn't dare ask who. It was simply none of his business.

"Losing Maya has been hard for my mother and she wants me back home since I can't work right now…"

Having this beautiful young man in his presence again convinced Reid that he still had unresolved feelings for him. And suddenly, he felt a surge of emotion that it was impossible to ignore. He did not want to see Michael go. "I've really missed you," he blurted as he let out a heavy sigh.

Michael held Reid's gaze as Reid realized what he'd just said and just how much emotion pushed those words out. "Spencer…" Michael's eyes shot downward as he struggled with his own feelings.

Reid was angry with himself now. "I know… I know I shouldn't still feel this way and I shouldn't be saying anything, I know this, but I'd be lying if—"

"We had a good run… but it's over." Michael spoke over Reid with a firm tone.

Reid shut up right away, but to be shot down so quickly obviously had stung a little bit. "You're right," he nearly whispered just before swallowing his pride. "Just please understand that if things had been different—that if we'd been given a proper chance…" He knew his earlier apology would never suffice. He knew they would never get back even a fraction of what they had. And in time, he knew he will have moved on completely, but it hurt him so badly to see Michael this way and there was so much guilt weighing on him for everything that had gone wrong that he found it hard to take his next breath. The lump in his throat pained him.

Michael changed the subject. "Congratulations are in order?" He forced a smile.

A tear slipped down the front of Reid's cheek as he hesitated with his answer. "I uhh… I asked Morgan to marry me. He said 'Yes'." He tried to smile about it. "I'm moving out to go live with him… uhh..." he sniffed and then wiped his tear away with a trembling, but swift hand. "Jesus, you must hate me," he mumbled while shaking his head.

Michael ignored Reid's last comment. "Good, Spencer. That's good news." He adjusted his stance, trying to mask his physical discomfort, but Reid could see right through it.

"Would you like to come in and sit down?" He had left the bar stools behind for use with the island for the next tenant.

"No, I'm sorry… I need to go… I have a flight to catch… I'm happy you're doing well, Dr. Reid. I wish you and Derek the best." He began to turn to leave.

"Thank you…" Reid looked Michael up and down as he calculated the young man's difficulty. "Can I…" he swallowed hard, "Do you need any help?"

"No, I'm fine. I got it."

"Okay…" he agreed, but stood close, still ready to help.

"You can let me go, Spencer," Michael softly told Reid with sharply focused eye contact. "Please… just let me go," he begged calmly. They held each other's gaze until Michael simply turned his back completely and began the struggle to get down the hallway.

Let him go? Just as Reid began to try and respond to that, Morgan rounded the corner and Reid buttoned his lip.

Morgan actually stopped and waited for Michael to reach him. It would have seemed like a dick move, but Morgan wanted to talk to him away from Reid. When they were face to face where Morgan stood, Reid could hear them, but he couldn't make out what was being said. He slowly began stepping toward them, watching Morgan's lip movement carefully until Morgan's hand went up. Reid stopped and observed as Michael turned around to look at him. Then they both moved around the corner out of his sight.

Reid cautiously walked to the wall at his right and then down to the end of the hallway. He closed his eyes and focused on the words being said. All it took was for Reid to hear a few key words of one sentence from Morgan and everything clicked. He didn't say anything, but he let Morgan see him.

Morgan let out a heavy sigh as he spoke with Michael, a little upset that Reid couldn't mind his own business, but then he noticed so much empathy in Reid's expression that he couldn't get mad. Reid was going to be as understanding as he had been. Reid slipped behind the wall again tried to remain unseen by Michael.

"Michael, tell ya what…" Morgan put his hand on Michael's shoulder and squeezed. "You have my number. I'll text you my address and our new one when we move. We're always gonna be here for you. I am always gonna be here for you. Please check in from time to time."

"Yes… Okay… I can do that."

Reid heard them say their goodbyes and then things got quiet. He peeked around the corner and saw them embracing. When they separated, Reid moved out of sight again and then waited while Michael got onto the elevator.

After Reid stepped around the corner, Morgan and Reid walked together in silence, heading toward the stairs. When they reached the lobby, they both stopped in front of the glass doors. Reid could see Michael getting into a cab that appeared to have been waiting for him and watched as it drove off.

Morgan had followed Reid's eyes and then glanced back at him before letting his eyes fall to the floor. "So… I don't have to say it, right? You know what happened?"

"She raped him?"

"That's what happened and that's what he'll tell anyone evaluating him, but he doesn't actually see it like that."

"Why do you say that?"

"Maya is forever on a pedestal in his eyes, Reid. He's never going to lay any fault on her for what happened between them four years ago. He's convinced himself that he wanted it or somehow needed it… no matter how depressed, fucked up, high or drunk he was at the time. And everything that led up to her death happened because he told her 'no more' at some point. He blames himself."

Reid knew that feeling. "Will you please just tell me what happened?"

Morgan struggled with how much detail to repeat and rubbed his scalp as he thought about it. He came to the conclusion it didn't much matter now. "It happened on a weekend when he was all broke up about Jason ending their relationship. Neither spoke of it until the next weekend when she came at him again while they were both completely sober. He told her he couldn't do that with her ever again… He said she was really hurt by his refusal and thinks it was what set her off because he remembers her saying that if they couldn't 'be together', she promised she would make sure no one would ever get away with hurting him again. She musta left out the part where she decided she would kill them all. It's all sorts of fucked up. I don't think 'dysfunctional' even begins to describe those two."

Reid cringed. "I just… I feel so bad for him." He paused to think about Morgan's impression of Michael when they went to see him at the hospital. "I see what you mean now… His eyes… His spirit is gone." He felt another rush of guilt ridden emotion and blinked, then held his eyes closed for a moment. Once he quietly cleared his throat, he spoke again. "I'm never going to see him again, am I?"

"I don't know, kid… Let's hope we do."

Just then Reid happened to glance downward next to the entrance and saw the box that Morgan was supposed to have taken to the vehicle. "I thought you took this to the Suburban." He bent down to pick it up.

"It's locked and you have the keys."

"Ohhh! Sorry." Reid glanced down into the box again and happened to notice the apartment key. "What's this doing in here?"

Morgan watched as Reid pulled the key out. "I thought you'd need to turn that in, so I grabbed it."

"Noooo, I left it on the counter on purpose. The cleaning crew is going to turn it in. And I guess the new tenant is supposed to stop by today too." He handed the box off to Morgan and then pulled the car keys from his pocket. "Here, I'll meet you outside."

Morgan didn't care. "Alright." He and Reid went opposite directions: Morgan headed the vehicle and Reid turned around to head back up the stairs.

He hummed to himself as he walked down the hallway with his hands in his pockets. He smiled as he remembered he would be sleeping in Morgan's bed tonight. Then he frowned as Michael crossed his mind again. He hoped a case would bring them close to him one day soon. He knew he could count on Morgan to look in on him. "So stupid," he mumbled to himself. He didn't like that he still had some legitimate feelings for Michael.

When he reached his old apartment he saw that the door was no longer closed. In fact, it was left halfway opened. He knocked as he entered the unit. "Hello?"

"Hello?" a female called back.

His brow furrowed; he didn't recognize the voice he heard. He stepped further into the apartment and saw the silhouette of a young woman stepping toward him from the hallway. "Hi," he waived with a slight smile.

She had long, straight, dark brown hair with bangs cut straight across, just above her brow. Her eyes appeared to be dark in color until the light from the window hit them as she came out of the shadows, confessing of blue and green tones. She was wearing a light brown knee length skirt with a light blue blouse. Over her blouse, she wore a medium brown long sleeved Cardigan that was buttoned up all the way to her neck.

"Hi, I'm sorry. I hope I'm not intruding. The landlord said I could stop by and look at this apartment. I'm the new tenant. I move in next week." She held out her arm to shake Reid's hand.

Reid hesitated long enough for her to notice. "No worries. I'm the old tenant." He openly reached for her hand after a bit of self-motivation. "I just came to drop off my key for the cleaning crew. My name is Spencer."

As they shook hands, she told him, "My name is Maeve. It's nice to meet you, Spencer."

"That's a pretty name."

She smiled so sweetly at him, clearly flattered. "Thank you." Neither of them had let go of the hand shake and the actual shaking had stopped.

"You're welcome," he replied automatically. Reid thought she was beautiful and found himself staring, which in turn reminded him that he was still holding her hand.

The same was true for her. "Have we met before?"

"I don't think so," he told her, still a bit taken in. But he forced himself to let go of her hand, apologizing, and they both moved toward the window. "What brings you here?"

"Oh, the usual. My ex and I had a bad break up and I just really need a fresh start…"

Reid nodded. "I get that." He gave her a soft smile. "Well, great view, quiet neighbors, it's a nice place."

"Yes, it seems that way…"

They both looked out the window in silence for another couple of minutes, both sneaking glances at each other and looking away before eye contact was made.

Finally, Maeve spoke up. "Are you a student?"

Reid grinned and laughed, "Uhhh… yeah, I guess you can say that."

She caught on that he was holding information back. "What is it?"

"I have PhDs in mathematics, chemistry, and engineering and I hold BAs in psychology and sociology. I'm hungry for more, but my job doesn't leave me a lot of free time." She asked him with just a facial expression to elaborate. "I'm actually an FBI agent... a, uhh, profiler with the Behavioral Analysis Unit."

"Quantico?"

"Yes," he smiled, proud, but still humble.

"My goodness!"

"You?"

"I'm a geneticist at Mendel University."

Reid's eyebrows raised high as he realized he'd heard about some of her work there. "Dr. Maeve Donovan?"

"Yes?" She was confused how he knew her by name.

"Lawrence and I know each other."

"You do?"

"Yeah, he was just telling me the other day how impressed he was with your last project—the one on cyclic adenosine monophosphate. He called it 'revolutionary'. I have to agree."

Maeve reveled in the acknowledgement of her peers and then took the next moment to work up the nerve to take a chance. She bit her lower lip just tiny bit, but then shyly smiled as she began to speak, "I know we only just met, but would you like to—"

With a loud and what seemed like booming voice, Morgan barged in, "Hey, Reid… It's time to get yo' skinny, white ass—" and stopped short when seeing the pretty lady with Reid. "Sorry… I didn't mean to interrupt," he apologized, remaining at the doorway.

Reid stared into her eyes for a moment fully understanding her intentions while he himself wrestled with the unfairness of life. "I'm, uhh… I'm sorry, but I have to go…" he said so quietly. Then he spoke at a normal volume. "Will you please leave this on the counter for the cleaning crew? And tell Lawrence I said 'hello'?" he asked Maeve as he handed her the key.

"…Sure," she replied before she could even consider it, letting Reid fold her fist closed around it; his warm hands were affectionate against her skin as he applied gentle pressure. Then she saw the bright and so very hard to miss ring on his finger. How did I miss that?

"Good luck, Maeve…" Reid smiled warmly at her; his kindness was so genuine. "I think you'll like it here."

"Thank you…" Though she was disappointed, Maeve politely smiled, but then began to feel nervous while she felt Morgan's eyes still on her. She tried so hard to work up the nerve to speak out loud to get Reid's attention before he could leave, but could only watch him walk away. When her eyes fell on Morgan again, her mouth absolutely refused to let out a sound.

"Ready?" Morgan kept his eye on the woman, giving her a nod as Reid headed over to him, but he slipped her a smile before they left, stepping out of the unit, leaving the door opened a bit.

Once they were out of sight, Maeve exhaled and then moved quickly to the door, peeking out into the hallway only to see the back of Reid's hand getting kissed by the other man as they walked away. "Ugh, figures…" she closed the door and used the deadbolt to test it out.

"Who was that?" Morgan asked, a little more than curious about her. "There was something weird in the air back there."

"That is the new tenant. She's looking for a fresh start. I hope she gets it." He really meant that.

Fine… Reid wasn't going to divulge any information… "Do I finally get to take you home?"

"Only if we stop for dinner because I'm starving," Reid told him as they reached the stairs.

"Conditions, conditions…" Morgan spoke under his breath, teasing his fiancé.

When they got into the Suburban, Reid made a point to look up to the window of his old apartment and there she was. Maeve was leaning out of the opened window, resting on her elbows and taking in some fresh air. He rolled down his window and watched her as they pulled away from the curb. She waved to him and he smiled back with a wave.

When he buckled himself in, he took Morgan's hand and squeezed it tight. Then he rested his head against the headrest and closed his eyes for a moment, still holding his lover's hand. This is really happening. "I'm ready," he spoke aloud. "Our forever starts right now, doesn't it?"

Morgan glanced over to Reid while driving. His boy looked so happy, so in love and so eager to take the next step. "Yes, Sir…" He brought the back of Reid's hand to his mouth and kissed it again. "Yes, it does…"

OMG, you guys. This story is done! Had to pay some respects to Maeve and let her remain alive and breathing in this alternate universe. If you want a 3rd story, you can check out Eleanor, but please read the summary. It's not for everyone!

I really hope you enjoyed this story. It doesn't seem to be as popular as The Thirteenth Step, but it's still one of my babies that took forever and a day to write. Plus we got to meet Michael. I adore him and I wish he would have received a better hand in all this.

Please leave our happy couple some love! :)