Author's Note: Good evening. Brace yourselves. The reruns have arrived. I suppose that's a product of the holidays and perhaps, the reruns will help me break my latest insomnia cycle. That being said, I'm still looking forward to the return of new episodes. Enjoy this week's chapter.

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

"Something's different."

Reid barely glanced up from his #4 Sunday breakfast special.

"With what?"

"With you, man. Something's different with you. You're not all wound up like usual and you're dressed up a little… you got some action, didn't you? You did!"

One of these days, Reid was going to find or invent a method to keep his damned blushing under control. Every time he wanted to have a little privacy, the right question or guess would make his cheeks go up in flames and prompt either more teasing or coddling of the 'aw, he's so cute…' variety. He was not cute. He was a grown man with grown man feelings and impulses. He had given into those impulses when it came to Emily and by some miracle from a God he didn't even believe in, she hadn't been repulsed. She had been welcoming and open and hot and sweet…

"I have a date with Emily on Saturday." he replied bluntly, cutting all the speculation and teasing off at the pass.

"Our Emily? Emily Prentiss?"

"Yes. We're going to see a movie and I'm going to cook her dinner afterwards and before you ask, yes I know how to cook actual food. I didn't have a choice otherwise."

"That's great, kid. I hope it works out for you two, even with the frat rules."

"The frat rules aren't really a factor. It's geared towards the prevention of boss and subordinate romantic entanglements. Emily and I are the same rank and according to Strauss, none of us 'renegades' have a chance in hell of moving up within the ranks…"

"Like I'd want one. The BAU is exactly where I want to be."

"…same here…anyway, if Emily and I get into a relationship, it would be frowned upon but not forbidden."

"What do you mean if?"

"It might not work out. It didn't with JJ…"

"JJ wasn't into you like Prentiss is. Neither was Elle."

"You know about…?"

Reid never thought any of the team noticed the brief…connection between him and Elle Greenaway. It had started after the incident with the train hostage situation and it had become sexual shortly before the disaster with Lee. The hotel room had been the last time he had been intimate with anyone…

"Yeah. I…I kinda heard you two when…I had the room next door and…"

And now he was sure that a dozen eggs could be fried on his face.

"Fuck. Sorry."

"Nothing to be sorry about. It gave me a lot of hope for you." Morgan replied with a broad grin.

"Thanks.", he replied with flat bitter sarcasm.

"Look, all kidding aside: Prentiss likes you. She's liked you for a while, even when you were being a dick to her, and as long as you don't do something completely disgusting or illegal on Saturday, it'll work out."

"I hope you're right.'

Insecure as he was, Reid was definitely looking forward to it.