Morgan emerged from the hotel elevator carrying his go-bag. He turned the corner of the corridor then was suddenly grabbed and pulled to the side by a firm hand.

"Woah!" He turned sharply and found Garcia shushing him eagerly. Morgan's face lightened and he choked out a small laugh. "You tryin' to kill me, baby girl?"

"I saw something super exciting last night." Garcia said in a quiet teasing tone.

Morgan quirked his eyebrow at her. "Oh yeah?"

"Mm-hmm, I did... I went out to speak to Kevin and I may have seen a man that looked suspiciously like you kissing another man who looked suspiciously like our young Doctor." She said with a huge, scandalous grin.

Morgan's eyes widened in shock.

"You saw us?" He whispered, grabbing her arm and pulling her further into privacy.

"I did indeed. And I only have one thing to say." She said sternly. Morgan looked nervously at her. "It's about time!" She broke out into an excited grin and hugged him. "I'm so happy for you both!"

Morgan smiled sadly. "Don't get too excited. It won't be happening again."

Garcia frowned. "What? Why?"

"Beats me." Morgan shrugged. "One minute all was fine, the next minute he's freaking out, being sick and telling me he doesn't think it will work out."

"What? But he's crazy about you. The way he looks at you-"

"Well apparently not. He even said so. After all that, he just told me that he doesn't feel the same." Morgan leaned against the wall despondently.

"Oh, Derek... Maybe he's just scared. You know what Reid's like. He's not exactly confident."

"Yeah, I get that, but you know what Penelope? It's taken me long enough to accept the fact I like men, after everything." She nodded sadly. "I'm not sure I have it in me to build someone else's confidence up. Especially if they won't even admit they like me. I mean, that hurt."

"So, what now?" She asked gently, putting a hand to his arm.

"I guess I just move on. Just pretend it never happened. That seems to be what he's doing. He wouldn't even look at me this morning. He just got dressed and left the room as fast as he could."

"Can you not try talking to him?"

"What's the point? He made things clear enough last night." Morgan frowned.

"Oh, Derek." She rubbed his arm soothingly and gave him another hug, saddened by the hurt in his eyes. "I'm so sorry."

Morgan sighed into the hug. "At least I know now. Can't help but think I may have had a lucky escape."

Garcia didn't comment. She cared deeply about both of them. She didn't like the thought of either of them hurting. And she certainly wasn't going to take sides. But she had to admit, she was surprised by Reid's behaviour.

She released Morgan from his hug. "Come on, I think everyone's ready to go." She said gently, rubbing his arm. They headed out to the front of the hotel, not knowing that Reid had been returning from the bathroom around the corner and had heard the whole conversation.

He leaned against the wall, tears filling his eyes. A 'lucky escape' rang in his ears. Morgan had no idea how right he was. Reid took a few deep breaths, looking up to the ceiling to stop the tears escaping. He just wanted to go home and hide away in his apartment. The memories of last night were driving him insane. He had never felt as good as when Morgan was kissing him. He couldn't believe that someone like Morgan could feel the same way he did. The excitement in his chest made him feel like he was flying. But he'd hit the ground with such a force, it knocked any happiness out of him, the way only his father could. Closing his eyes, he composed himself and headed out to the front of the hotel.

"There you are!" JJ said when she saw him. "We've been waiting for you."

"Sorry." He said quietly, dropping his gaze to the floor.

"You okay, Spence? You look upset." All eyes were now on him. His felt his stomach twist. His gaze landed on Morgan who was giving him a stern look. His heart clenched and his breath caught in his throat. Reid quickly looked away feeling very self-conscious.

"Huh? I'm- I'm fine, JJ." He said, shaking his head. JJ gave him a curious look.

"Okay." She said skeptically. "You look exhausted."

"Let's go. He can get some rest on the plane." Hotch said firmly, taking pity on his young colleague. He knew how much he hated being scrutinised.

They all moved towards the SUVs. Morgan waited to see which vehicle Reid got into and ensured he was in the other. He really didn't need to be rubbed in the face with something he couldn't have.

The flight back to Virginia was around 3 hours long. The team were all resting quietly. Morgan was sat staring out of the window. Garcia, Prentiss and JJ were sat together opposite Reid, who was fast asleep on the couch, his head on a pillow and his body wrapped in a blanket. JJ as usual had made sure he was comfortable. Rossi was dozing across from Morgan, and Hotch was flicking through a file at the table opposite.

Morgan heard laughter coming from the other end of the plane and smiled a little as JJ stood and pointed at the other two women, clearly having a joke. She walked towards him with an expression of amused disgust. She smiled as she passed him heading for the kitchen.

"It's a good job she doesn't normally travel with us. I'd be corrupted." She said shaking her head jokingly. She was clearly talking about Garcia.

Morgan laughed a little. "That's my baby girl." He moved his gaze to back out of the window, the smile still resting slightly on his lips.

Suddenly he heard a small whimper. He leaned out and looked up the aircraft. Garcia and Prentiss had gone quiet and turned in Reid's direction. A moan followed and he shifted in his sleep.

"Is he having a bad dream?" Prentiss asked, frowning.

Hotch's gaze now lifted from his paperwork.

"No." Reid whispered. "Please help me." He gasped in his sleep; his hands gripped the blanket tightly.

Garcia was now up and moving towards him. "Reid?" She said gently.

Reid moaned again and then started to cry. "Dad... no." He whispered desperately. Morgan's brows furrowed.

"Did he – did he just say, 'Dad'?" Garcia asked, he eyes flashing with apprehension.

Morgan fought every muscle in his body that was telling him to go towards the younger man. He stayed firmly in his seat watching carefully, Garcia's words playing over in his mind.

"I couldn't tell." Prentiss said quietly.

"Reid?" Garcia spoke cautiously but a little firmer this time.

"Wake him up, Garcia." Hotch ordered. Rossi was now roused out of his sleep by Hotch's firm voice. He looked across to Hotch then followed his gaze towards Reid. The concern in his face was clear.

Garcia took Reid by the shoulder and shook him. "Reid? Come on, wake up." It didn't work and he just pulled himself away from her grip and whined. "Please, don't."

She replaced her hand on his shoulder and shook him harder this time. "Reid!"

His eyes suddenly shot open and he gasped in horror shoving her backwards. She toppled onto Prentiss' lap.

"Don't touch me!" He sat upright, fleeing to the corner of the couch and pulling his knees up to his chest. His eyes seemed lost for a few moments.

"Reid!" Prentiss exclaimed in shock. Hotch was now up on his feet to check on Garcia. "Reid?" Prentiss said again when she realised he wasn't fully present.

He then shook his head as if clearing the fog. He turned and looked at Garcia and realisation swept over him. "God, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

JJ was now emerging from the kitchen, curious about what she had missed.

"What the hell was that?" Prentiss asked, not fully able to keep the shock out of her voice as she looked at Garcia's upset expression.

"I'm sorry. I just... don't like being touched when I'm asleep." He dropped his gaze.

"You were having a bad dream. I was just trying to wake you up." Garcia said in explanation.

"You should have just left me." Reid said shaking his head running his shaking hands through his hair.

"I couldn't do that, Reid. You were upset." She responded softly.

He blushed with embarrassment. "Well next time, just leave me."

"Why? I couldn't leave you in a nightmare."

"I don't have to have a reason... just... don't touch me in my sleep again." He snapped, standing up and moving towards the bathroom.

"Reid." Hotch tried to draw his attention but the door to the bathroom slammed shut.

Morgan raised his eyebrows. That was weirdly familiar. For the first time since last night, something else gripped his heart. It was worry. That behaviour wasn't normal. Between the sudden nightmare, the possible mention of 'Dad' and the total freak out when Garcia woke him, a terrible feeling entered his body. It made him feel sick. He cast his mind back to Reid sleeping on the plane over the years and couldn't remember a time when he had reacted like that. But then he couldn't remember a time when someone had needed to wake him up. He was obsessive about setting an alarm for himself. And come to think of it, he rarely slept near anyone either. He usually managed to find a space of his own where he wouldn't be touched or disturbed. He would only fall asleep next to someone on very rare occasions.

"Are you alright?" Hotch said to Garcia.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I was just surprised, that's all. Do you think he's okay?" She looked towards the bathroom.

"I will have a word with him when we get back." Hotch said, moving to sit back down where Reid had been lay. JJ re-joined the group and was quietly asking what had happened.

Morgan kept his eye on the bathroom but there was no sign of Reid emerging. He looked across to Rossi who appeared to have his chin resting in his hand and was gazing thoughtfully out of the window. Morgan eyed him carefully.

"You alright, Dave?"

Rossi pulled himself away from his thoughts and looked at his younger colleague.

"Me? Yeah, I'm fine." His eyes were trying too hard to appear nonchalant. Like he was actively trying not to react to anything that had just happened. Morgan regarded him for a few moments and leaned forward.

"You know something."

Rossi's back tensed and he sat up a little straighter. A clear sign that Morgan was onto something.

"I don't know anything, Derek."

"Then you suspect something." Morgan pushed.

"Derek, don't do this." Rossi shook his head and closed his eyes. He really didn't want to discuss this. It was something he had kept hidden for months.

"Dave, he was acting weird last night too... I'm worried about him." Morgan said seriously. Now his concern was really amping up.

Rossi dropped his forehead into his hand. "Derek, it's really not my place to say."

"I'll go and ask him what it is you know then." Morgan went to stand up and he saw Rossi panic slightly. He grabbed his forearm. He looked cautiously around the plane, satisfied that no one was eavesdropping, he nodded for Morgan to sit back down. Morgan's brows furrowed.

Rossi leaned forward and dropped his voice.

"Look, this really isn't my place. You keep this to yourself, right?" Morgan nodded.

"Of course." His hands clenched.

"You remember the Riley Jenkins situation?"

Morgan's jaw clenched and he nodded. "Yeah, how could I forget." He rolled his eyes. Reid had irritated him a lot during that situation.

"Well, when I took him for hypnosis there was a moment where he was back in his bedroom. It was when he was about 4 years old. His Dad came into the room and he froze up. He didn't want to be there. He was really upset and I don't know, I just got a really bad feeling. After that I was sure that his father was involved... obviously we know how it turned out. But I've never forgotten his reaction. And I could tell by the way the therapist looked at me, she thought there was something in it too. But she took him away from the memory in order to not distress him."

Morgan closed his eyes in devastation. "Are you saying what I think you're saying, Rossi?"

"I don't really know what it means. But all I can say is that feeling in my gut has never gone away. And the way the kid went after his father, he was convinced he was involved."

Morgan nodded thoughtfully. He remembered his words to Reid. "You're just determined to nail him, aren't you?" and the expression in Reid's face when he said it. He had been so angry. Was it possible that Reid had been hiding this all along?

He ran a hand down his face. "If that had happened, surely he would have said? He apologised to his Dad after all that."

"I know." Rossi nodded, closing his eyes. "I'm not saying I know anything. I'm just saying what happened. If his father did... something to him... then he clearly doesn't want any of us to know."

Morgan stared at Rossi, his mind drifting back to the night before and how desperate Reid had been to push him away. How he'd been violently sick, how he'd hidden under the sheets to avoid the confrontation. All of it pointed to something potentially sinister. Something Reid wanted to keep deeply hidden.

Suddenly the bathroom door swung open and Reid emerged. His face was pale. He looked eerily similar to when he emerged from the bathroom last night.

"Spence, are you okay?" JJ asked.

"I'm fine." He said quickly, dodging all of their gazes. Hotch grabbed him by the forearm and Reid instantly tensed.

"I'd like a word when we get back." Hotch said gently.

Morgan could see the look of dread flash in his expression. "Yes, Sir." Reid said quietly, dropping his gaze. When Hotch let go, he kept moving down to the other end of the plane where Morgan and Rossi were. Completely ignoring them, he slumped down into one of the seats opposite and wrapped his arms around his waist, turning his body towards the window.

Rossi raised his eyebrows and looked to Morgan knowingly, then turned towards the window himself. Morgan's gaze dropped as he once again considered the previous night. Reid had been fine until he touched him in his sleep. Then he'd panicked, just like he had now. If Rossi's concerns were to be taken seriously, then Reid's reaction could be completely justified.

He looked across at his young colleague and his gaze softened when he saw a shiver run down his back. A cold lump swelled up in his chest and a feeling of dread washed over him. He couldn't leave this alone. This was the man he'd dreamed about for months. The man he'd hoped to make his. The man he wanted to care for and protect... The man he loved. That realisation hit him right in the gut and took his breath away.

I love him.

His eyes welled up as he looked at Reid. He looked so alone and vulnerable. All he wanted to do was sit next to him and take him into his arms. Morgan glanced up the plane to see Garcia looking at him intensely. The concern radiated from her. She nodded to him. Her message was clear: 'Talk to him'.

Morgan turned back to Rossi and nudged his knee. The older man looked at him, his eyes filled with worry. Morgan nodded up the plane. Rossi understood the gesture: He wanted some privacy. He gave a small smile and automatically stood; he placed a supportive hand on Morgan's shoulder then moved towards the rest of the group.

Morgan took a deep breath then moved opposite Reid. He gazed at him for a short while but he had a far away and sad look in his eye. He didn't even appear to notice that Morgan was there. Morgan leaned forward and spoke quietly.

"Reid?" He said gently. Reid just kept staring out of the window, lost in whatever thought was consuming him. Morgan frowned, he reached out to Reid's knee, tingles ran down his spine as he did. "Spencer?" Reid started when he felt the touch, his wide eyes locking on Morgan's. "It's okay. It's just me." He said softly, removing his hand straight away. "Are you alright?"

Reid's eyes filled with pain for a few moments, then the mask dropped into place and his eyes brightened. Morgan's jaw clenched. How many times had Reid done that before and he'd never noticed?

"I'm fine." He smiled and shrugged, shaking his head. Another unconscious gesture that suggested what he was saying wasn't entirely the truth. He wrapped his arms tighter around himself and looked back out of the window.

Morgan stared at him for a few moments longer until Reid shifted uncomfortably under his gaze. "Talk to me... what's goin' on up there?" He watched as Reid nervously bit his lip. "Reid... come on, man. It's me." Reid glanced at him then pulled his gaze away quickly, his face twitched as he held back his emotions. He looked like he could burst into tears any second. Morgan shifted over into the next seat. He softly tapped on the seat next to him. Reid glanced at him and then at the seat. Morgan could almost see the cogs turning in his head. His body opened up but his head was clearly resisting. Reid frowned as he went through the internal battle. Morgan's soft eyes were drawing him in. Suddenly he dropped his head and slumped his way over into the seat next to Morgan. Morgan opened up his arms to him and Reid's face crumpled. Silent tears began to run down his face and he pressed his head into Morgan's chest. Morgan automatically put his arms around him and held him tight.

"I'm sorry." Reid whispered. "I never wanted to hurt you." His body shook with upset.

Morgan closed his eyes and grimaced. "It's okay... it's okay, kid." He stroked his fingers through Reid's hair soothingly. "Talk to me, baby... please." He whispered. He felt Reid stiffen. He pushed him back up and took his face into his hands. "There's nothing you can't tell me. Nothing in the world." Reid closed his eyes and shook his head in denial, tears running down his cheek. Morgan tenderly wiped them away with his thumb. "Come on, Spencer. Let me in."

Reid screwed up his face for a few moments as he bit on his bottom lip. He looked so conflicted. Then his eyes opened and they were full of regret. He placed his hands on Morgan's on his cheeks and squeezed for a few moments, an apology in his eyes. Then he removed Morgan's hands from his face and placed them back into his friend's lap and looked down.

"There's nothing to tell." He shook his head and pulled away. He moved back into the seat opposite and quickly wiped his face clear of tears. He was so suddenly composed. His chest expanded as he took a deep breath and looked back out of the window.

Morgan felt bereft. The warmth that had radiated through him when he was close to Reid left him feeling empty. He was so close and once again, Reid's defences had come up and pushed him a million miles away. But this time he didn't feel angry or hurt. He felt only concern and worry. He looked at the man opposite him and wondered how he'd never seen the pain in him before. How could he not have noticed it? Was Reid really that good at hiding it? Or was Morgan simply that blind? The hurt radiated from him. And it wasn't a look he hadn't seen before. But he'd never recognised it as hurt. Seeing it now, it couldn't be anything else. Reid often drifted off into his own mind. It was easy to put it down as a symptom of his intelligence. A genius was going to spend a lot of time in his own head, right?

Morgan shook his head and shifted himself next to Reid, determined not to be disregarded.

"Reid, I know something is going on. You can trust me." He spoke gently, putting a hand to his knee. He saw Reid's back and jaw tense and automatically regret swept over him. Reid spun round to face him, mild fury in his eyes. He spoke in a fast and harsh whisper.

"Just because we kissed last night, it doesn't mean you have any right to pry into my life. It was a mistake!"

Morgan looked taken aback. "You and I both know it wasn't a mistake, Reid." He tried to hide the weakness in his voice.

"I'm not interested in being your next conquest. I'll make it really simple for you. Go and find someone who can satisfy your needs and just leave me alone!" Reid spat callously.

Morgan's brows furrowed and his mouth dropped open. "Is that what you think I want from you?" Reid just turned away from him and looked back out of the window. Morgan sighed. "Reid, I'm crazy about you. I – I..."

"You guys want a coffee?" Prentiss asked as she stopped by them.

Morgan clenched his teeth. I love you.

"Please." Reid said instantly. "I'll help you." He quickly stood up and moved towards the back of the plane. Morgan tried grabbing his wrist but Reid violently shook him off.

Morgan rubbed his face with his hands, frustration overwhelming him. Giving up, he stood up and returned to his own seat. He looked up to see Garcia staring his way expectantly. He just shook his head and shrugged. Her shoulders slumped and she shook her head sadly in response. Morgan sighed deeply and looked out of the window once again. He felt like his heart was breaking.