Author's Note: Good morning, everyone. And now for a journey into Emily's mind, more specifically, her mind on Reid. It's his first day back at work and although Martin has quietly faded into the abyss, her sharp actions towards him in defense of our favorite genius still require some 'splaining, both to the team and to herself. Enjoy.

Disclaimer: "Honestly, it's not mine!"

"Good morn-oof!"

Emily couldn't help but grin as Garcia nearly broke him in two in a hug. Reid wheezed out a laugh and hugged her back, gamely letting her steer him to his chair. Or rather, the chair right across from her. She shot the Tech Goodness a Look but she simply gave them an angelic smile before retreating to the bullpen.

"Good morning." he greeted softly, looking at her through his lashes.

Butterflies in her stomach, she looked at him through her own lashes.

"Hi. I'm glad you're back."

"Me too. I…um…I went shopping yesterday. I actually went to the mall."

"I can tell. You look good."

Actually, he looked great. He had put on at least 10 pounds and he had gotten some more color to him. His hair was growing out and taking on curls, some falling into his eyes. He had on a navy and gray pinstriped shirt, black jeans, and new dark purple sneakers. His brown messenger's bag had been replaced with a black one and he had gotten new glasses, black chunky square frames. With the smile playing at his lips and the genuine happiness in his amber eyes, he looked like something out of a Macy's catalog…

He looks long and lean…elegant, even. He's always been elegant in his own way… amazing what detox, a few meals, and non work time spent together can do to a girl's blinders…or compartmentalization skills…

"I feel good. Do you think we'll have a case, today?"

"Hopefully not. I'm still tired from Texas…and from Friday night."

A pink flush entered his cheeks and she smiled at the memory. After stuffing themselves silly with Indian food, Emily had impulsively turned his living room into a dance club for two. Using her iPod, she had turned on her Marathon Workout playlist and yanked him up to dance with her. He was surprisingly rhythmic, the awkwardness lost in the comfort of his own home and in the face of her acceptance. It was a night of laughter, warmth, and a shared sofa in front of The Alfred Hitchcock Hour.

It had been a very nice date.

Before all this happened, Emily would've never put Reid and date into a sentence, especially pertaining to her. She was just happy for the beginnings of his friendship. Her mind understood his aloofness. Elle had been a dear friend to him, maybe even a lover at one time and Emily joining the team drove home the fact that she wasn't coming back. There was guilt involved there, a plaintive sense of helplessness in the face of Elle's breakdown. Having been witness to such breakdowns herself, Emily knew that a lot of Reid's harshness had been a preemptive strike, a way of getting as much hurt out before it got in to get him again.

Still, it had hurt to feel his obvious ice, even as the others accepted her. Then…Henkel. Sometimes, Emily wished that the man was still alive just she could kill him herself for what he had done to Spencer. He had tortured him, drugged him, made him relive obviously painful events, made him dig his own grave…he was a monster and he had the audacity to hurt Spencer, to treat him like he was worthless and dirty and everything that he wasn't. Henkel had introduced the Needle into his life and the Needle had damned near ruined it, ruined him. The Needle had made Spencer mean and cold, his job performance suffering, the Team suffering…Emily had seen the endgame. Reid forced out, the team disbanded, the BAU's reputation tarnished, Reid losing everything and everyone until all he had left was the Needle. Emily had seen it all happen to people before, people she barely gave a shit about.

She certainly wasn't going let it happen to Spencer. Like the others, she was protective of him. One couldn't help but be protective towards him. Oh, he was far from weak. In 25 years, he had gone through emotional torments that would've shattered men double his age and experience. Emily knew he wasn't weak but…he was different. He was genuinely kind, genuinely honest, a bright spot in a dull world of hateful self absorption. To hurt him would be like hurting a butterfly, something pure that needed to be nurtured and loved. Once Emily had confirmed her suspicions, she had sprung into action, determined not to let his light burn out.

Sure, he could've gotten rid of the drugs on his own. He accomplished greater things but at what cost? What would letting him suffer alone really do in the long run? Would it make him feel like just a tool to them, someone they only cared about when it was convenient? That wasn't the case at all but once a person latched onto an explanation, a reason for why they were seemingly left in the cold, it was near impossible to be rid of it.

She didn't want him to draw that conclusion with her so she had done what she had done and now…now, things were different.

She still mulled over her actions against Martin, her conversation with Morgan, her behavior with Spencer…her behavior with Reid and she had come to a conclusion.

She was starting to fall for him. Hard.

It scared her. Her past romantic entanglements had proven to be nothing sort of catastrophes. She either fell for a jerk, pushed them away by her own actions, or when she really gave it her all, they would betray or abandon her. Falling for Spencer was different. It wasn't the all consuming intensity she was used to. There was no instant roiling boil of sexual chemistry turned into something more. It was something sweeter, rooted deep like a tree instead of a whirlwind. It was out of her depth…

"Well, well…look what the cat drug in!"

Emily smiled as Reid reunited with the rest of the team, hugs and handshakes and smiles. Things felt right again, at least for that moment and hopefully, she would find a way to compartmentalize the feelings before she was completely overwhelmed.

Or was it too late for that?

Unconsciously, she began to use her left thumb to pick at her skin around her right hand nails.