Title: Au Natural (Part 16)
Author: dustytiger aka Trista Groulx
Rating: T (like the show to be safe)
Disclaimer: I do not on CM. I am still poor. CM still belongs to its creator, network, writers, actors and actresses who bring it to life weekly.
Summary: Prentiss and Reid are getting married, but what brought them to this point?
Notes: Thanks for all the happy messages about feeling better. HUGZ all. So the team finds out the truth in this one. I hope everyone still likes the pace of this. As always thank you for the support I am enjoying this fic.. it feels nice to be posting regularly.
It had taken another three days to solve the case the case had been so long that Garcia had to join them in Detroit half way through for extra help. They had been able to save the last two victims, and everyone was just glad to finally be getting to go home knowing the unsub couldn't hurt any more children. The team boarded the jet and began to take their usual spots. All except for Prentiss who sat down next to Reid, he was surprised she was close but relieved at the same time. He needed her close after everything that had happened. He was surprised when she took his hand and squeezed it softly.
It took Prentiss a moment to realise what she had just done, she hadn't even thought about it. She needed to calm down and Reid was able to do that for her. She knew there were at least four pairs of wide eyes on her, and for the most part she was relieved to not be keeping secrets anymore. This wasn't how or where she expected to tell everyone else but she was glad it was over with.
"I knew it!" Garcia exclaimed from where she was sitting.
"When did this happen?" Morgan asked.
"The night before this case started," Prentiss replied.
"You two look awfully comfortable together for something so new," Morgan commented.
"You can believe whatever you want to believe," sighed Reid. "We didn't want to hide this however telling you while on a case seemed like a bad idea."
"I think we all needed some good news," JJ sighed, looking up from her phone where she'd been flipping through pictures of Henry.
"Don't you think that this means our girls night is off," Garcia warned.
Prentiss laughed. "All right, I'm not really in the mood to talk right now it's late and it's been a long case."
"I'm with Prentiss I don't wanna know all the dirty details, it'd be like knowing your baby brother's sex life," Morgan agreed. "Let's all just wind down." He then put his ear buds in his ears.
The rest of the plan ride was spent as they always did. JJ had fallen sleep after she called home. Morgan and Garcia were both plugged into their iPods, no one knowing whether they were asleep or not. Rossi and Hotch were chatting quietly. The only thing that was different about this trip was that Prentiss and Reid were curled up next to each other. Prentiss had fallen asleep on Reid's shoulder within minutes of the discussion about their relationship ending. Even Reid had let his guard down after the long emotional case and had fallen sleep with Prentiss.
"It's nice for them to have that," Rossi commented, looking over at the sleeping couple who seemed totally at ease despite everything they had been through.
"It is," agreed Hotch. "I'm just relieved they didn't try to hide their relationship."
"Do you really think they could have gotten away with it in this group?"
"Reid is very good at keeping his hand hidden when he thinks he needs to. I've learned Prentiss' tells but without Reid's reaction we likely would have dismissed it."
"You might be right about that. So do you think it's gonna last?"
"If anyone has a chance it's those two, they've already been through so much together. Despite my failed marriages I do believe in love Aaron."
Hotch smiled. "I just hope that this doesn't change everything for the team."
"I'll pull some strings with Strauss if I have to."
"Do I wanna know what happened between you two?"
"It's better not to know."
The two men continued to talk until the plane landed. When it did Reid woke up first and gently ran his fingers along Prentiss cheek to wake her. She mumbled something then opened her eyes. She smiled at Reid then leaned toward him and kissed him softly, forgetting the whole team was there. Reid couldn't relax into the embrace and after a moment she pulled away. She squeezed his hand to assure him she understood. They all disembarked from the plane and went to their cars.
"Let me drive you home," Reid offered as Prentiss went to her car.
"Thank you Spencer."
She knew she probably shouldn't be driving but she needed to get home to feed Sergio. As soon as they got to the main road Prentiss had fallen asleep again. Reid pulled up to her building and this time gently kissed her to wake her. He then got out of the car and opened her door for her. She smiled and they walked into the building together, stopping at her front door.
"Do you want to come in?" Prentiss asked, running her fingers along his cheek.
"Mm, sure," Reid replied, kissing her softly.
She unlocked the door and the two of them went inside and were greeted by a very angry looking black cat. Prentiss had never seen her cat act like that. His fur was up on ends and he looked twice as big as he normally did. Usually Sergio was sweet but something had set him off.
"Sergio what's up with you?" she asked looking around the apartment. "Stop that."
Sergio hissed and spat at Reid in response. Prentiss had heard about the "Reid effect" before but had never seen it first hand, she also had not expected her own cat to be the one to let her see it. Sergio had attitude but he had never hissed in the entire time she had him. She went to get closer to him to pick him to reassure him but the cat growled.
"Stop being a bastard," she grumbled, going again to touch him but the black cat backed away.
"I told you animals don't like me," Reid reminded her.
"He doesn't normally act like this. Maybe if you tried to pet him."
Sergio growled angrily bearing his teeth, and retracting his claws the moment Reid put his hand near the animal. "I don't think he likes that idea," Reid told her.
Prentiss couldn't believe her luck she had finally gotten him to come inside and now Sergio was acting like he was possessed. Normally she liked that cat's attitude but this was more than that. The cat seemed to genuinely hate the genius.
"Maybe it would be best if I just headed home," Reid offered.
She sighed. "I don't want you to go."
The second she got closer to Reid Sergio's growls and hisses grew louder and he looked like he was about to pounce.
"Either I leave now or we end up at the hospital because your cat attacked me," Reid told her, going to run his fingers through her hair despite the feline's angry protests.
"Sergio would never hurt you Spencer," she assured him.
"No offense Emily but I don't really believe that statement. Besides as much as I may want this I think the timing is less than ideal."
"Maybe, but you can stay here tonight."
"I'm fairly certain that your cat is going to sit on my face at some point in the night and smother me to death."
"Are you afraid of cats?"
"That's illogical. Of course I'm not afraid of cats. I do have a fear of suffocation causing death."
"Caused by my cat?" she asked.
"If any animal you encountered reacted like that you would be nervous too Emily."
"He just needs to get used to you."
"I feel like him knowing that we are mating in another room is not the way for him to get used to nor warm up to my presence."
She laughed. "I can't believe you just used the word mating. Besides if that's your only issue tonight I've fed Sergio so we can go to your place." She ran her fingers up his chest.
"Again I don't think that is the best way to get him to accept me." He kissed her softly. "I just feel like it would be best if we waited a little while longer."
She sighed. "Spencer it's not like either of us is saving ourselves for marriage or anything."
"I know. This case has been long and I'm tired. I just want to go home."
"You can stay here."
"There's nothing clean left in my go bag. I'd ask you to come with me but I feel guilty you've been away for so long and I keep you away from home more when Sergio is here alone. Maybe that's why he doesn't like me."
She laughed. "Okay I understand maybe I should stick around here tonight. If you change your mind I'm getting in the bath so I'll be up for a while."
"Okay Emily." He kissed her cheek then left.
He left her apartment and went to his car. He sat in it for a few minutes wondering if he should go back up and talk to her. Instead he started the car and went home. When he settled into his bed he noticed the pillow next to him still lingered with her scent and pulled it closer to him.
End Part 16
Notes: I know this one was a bit of a tease… I really liked the Sergio bit and wanted to keep it in the fic. There will be more with Reid and Sergio hehe… Let me know what you think!