A/n the time line on this is right after Aftermath and there are spoilers for the episode. Elle is gone and the new agent isn't Emily. I have rated this T for language and possible sexual overtones. This is a Reid/OC with a jealous JJ thrown in for good measure.

Disclaimer: I don't own Criminal Minds only my own original characters.

As always use the little review button for feedback, I respond to all reviews.

Spencer Reid woke up feeling refreshed when the alarm began to beep. It didn't occur to him to wonder why he felt so great after a difficult case, he was just happy to have finally gotten a good night's sleep. It was six am, the same time he always rose when there was no urgent case. Even the fact that it was Monday morning didn't bother him.

He never stopped to wonder why he felt compelled to be up at the crack of dawn. He knew the others on the team didn't care if they dragged in a nine, or ten in the morning. Reid was the only one who seemed to need the quiet of the early morning hours at the office to get ready for the constant string of terrible things other people did to each other.

His room was filled with books, on the table in one corner, stacked on the floor, or in the large bookshelf that completely covered one wall from floor to ceiling. It was a large bedroom, nearly five hundred square feet. It was the reason he'd bought the house in the first place. It had originally been a game room for the kids of the family that had sold it to him. The master bedroom was much smaller, and he used if for an office instead.

There was a large comfy arm chair in one corner where he read. He liked to read at a normal pace, and enjoy a good book before he went to sleep. It helped him to wind down from his work, which still haunted his dreams.

He slept in a king size bed. He told himself it was because he likes room to toss, and turn if the recurring nightmares he had plagued him. He'd had lots of closet space added because even though he dressed like a prep school student, he had lots of clothes. The floor was a chocolate brown color that nearly matched his own eyes, but he didn't make the connection. Why should he notice things like that?

He sat up in bed, and pushed off the covers as he turned on the light. Squinting, and blinking rapidly against the glare, he sat there, and waited for his eyes to adjust. When they had, he got up, and walked to the closet. He pulled the old grey tee shirt over his head, and hung it up neatly in its proper place, on its correct hanger, and with his other clothing of the same type, and color. He took off the pajama bottoms he wore, and repeated the same procedure with them. He moved a blue work shirt from the red section of his closet to its proper place.

He took a quick shower, and then went to the kitchen for his first cup of coffee for the day. He poured more coffee into a small thermos he had started carrying to work everyday. He hated the bad bureau coffee, and this way he had at least two cups of great java to get through the morning.

He grabbed his holster, and his satchel, and left his home, being careful to lock the door behind him as he left. He ran down the stairs three steps from the front porch to the driveway where his SUV stood parked. He hurried to start the car, and turn on the heat, as it was a cold October morning.

He was a little anxious that morning, there would be a new agent joining the team as Elle had left after the shooting of the alleged rapist they had been pursuing. She had never been the same since the fisher king had shot her, so he wasn't surprised when she just left one day. He was upset that she didn't even say goodbye, after all he thought they were friends. He would have to get over it, just as he'd gotten over so many other disappointments in his life.

As he drove down the street, he wondered what the new person would be like. Hotch had only said that it was a woman, she was about Spencer's age, and fairly brilliant in her own right. He was glad she was smart too. Not that he was a snob, but it would be nice not to be the only resident genius at the bureau. The others on the team didn't understand what it was like for him to have all this stuff in his brain. No one had ever really understood him, except for maybe his mother before her descent into schizophrenia.

He didn't want to think about that, he didn't want to remember that it had been his own decision to have her committed. He would never forget the look of betrayal she'd given him when they took her away to the sanitarium. He told himself again, for the thousandth time, that he did it for her, not just to make his life easier. And once more he tried to decide if he would ever believe it was true.

His guilt over his actions was what kept him away from Las Vegas, not his job, or lack of time as he told Gideon, or anyone else. He didn't want to be reminded of what he'd done to her. He tried to make it up to her by writing a letter everyday, and telling her every thing about his life. Some days it worked, and he felt ok, other days like today, the guilt was almost overwhelming.

By the time he reached the parking garage, he had his emotions under control, and he walked to the elevator with a pretty neutral look on his face. This was the reason he came in early everyday, so that he presented a normal picture to his colleagues. The last thing he wanted was for them to profile him, or feel sorry for him. So he was dismayed when he walked into the bull pen, and Morgan was already there.

"Hey kid, early as usual I see, don't you have anything better to do in the mornings besides coming in here?" Morgan smiled winningly at Reid, and then frowned at the look on the younger man's face. He was used to seeing the other agent with circles under his eyes from lack of sleep, but this was more than that, he looked….

"I'm fine Morgan, or as fine as I can be after the case we finished yesterday." He sat down, and pulled a case file towards himself, and opened it, signaling to his partner that he didn't want to talk. Of course Morgan ignored his body language, and attempted to pursue the issue.

"You look like someone ran over your puppy." His wide smile was completely annoying, and Reid was about to make a really sarcastic remark when JJ breezed by. She wore a red sweater and a dark blue skirt, her long blond hair hung down to frame her face, and she smiled at them as she strode past.

"Good morning boys," she said perkily, and Reid couldn't help but watch her walk all the way up the stairs to her office. If he'd been hooked up to a heart monitor, alarms bells would have been going off like mad.

Damn it, when was he going to forget about her, and get on with his life? He knew he was pathetic, but he couldn't stop pining over a woman that only wanted to be his friend.

Morgan observed how his partner was looking at JJ, and forgot about the look of despair he'd seen in the young agents eyes. He'd thought that Reid had resolved his crush on the beautiful young liaison a long time ago, but now he wasn't so sure. It was interesting to him, that if his partner had been pining away for the lovely agent Jareau all this time, why hadn't anyone seen it? Was the young man that good at covering his feelings?

"See something you like Reid?" Morgan chuckled when Reid's face turned beet red. So it was true, he was still pining after the lovely Jennifer. Morgan decided then that he would have to do something about that. He didn't want his "brother" sad about a woman.

Spencer shot him a withering look, and said, "Shut up Morgan." He kicked himself for letting his friend see his feelings. He dreaded what Morgan would do with this new information.

"Come on man, she's a beautiful woman, why don't you ask her out again?" Morgan knew he had to push the young agent, or he would continue to just sit around, and do nothing

"It's none of your business, and I don't want to talk about it, so can you please just leave me alone!" Why couldn't Morgan get the hint, and back off.

"All I am saying is, it can't hurt, at least if she says no you can move on." Morgan was exasperated by Reid's lack of initiative.

The occasions were few, and far between when Reid got the best of his partner. This was one of those times. He put a big smile on his face, and asked Morgan. "So tell me, when are you going to ask Penelope out?"

Morgan's grin left his face faster then lice deserting dying rats. "Excuse me," he said, in a dangerous tone.

"I'm just curious how it is that you think you can advise me to go for it with JJ, when you've been blatantly flirting with Garcia for years, and yet you refuse to take the next step. Honestly, I don't know why she waits around for you."

"Watch what you say Reid." All traces of humor in his face was gone, he looked as though he could actually commit violence on his friend.

"What's the matter Derek, you can dish it out, but you can't take!" Reid was tired of the teasing, and the constant pressure from Morgan for him to find a woman.

He couldn't understand why it was so important to his partner that he find a girlfriend. Reid wanted JJ that was true, but she was completely out of his league which was something Morgan would never understand, as he was the male equivalent to the object of his affections. Reid knew that Garcia had been in love with Morgan for months, but she felt as Reid did, that she didn't have a chance with someone so attractive.

At least they flirt which is more than you can say for you, and JJ.

He hushed the internal voice, as Morgan stood up, and moved toward his desk with a look that told Reid he may have gone too far.

"I don't know why you're talking this way, but it's going to stop." Morgan warned him standing over Reid's desk, and using his position to intimidate the younger man. Reid stood up, and took a step toward the bigger agent.

"You just don't get it do you Morgan, you constantly tease me, about my clothes, my hairstyle, my lack of "babes." just what do I have to do to get your approval?" Reid was practically shouting, and Morgan stood staring at him in amazement. When had timid Dr Reid decided to stand up for himself?

Morgan backed off, as he suddenly realized that Reid was really upset. It hadn't occurred to him that his teasing would hurt the young agent so badly. Why had he waited to say something till now?

Maybe because this is something you should have determined on your own!

"Reid look, I'm sorry… I didn't mean to hurt your feelings I just -"

"Oh stop it Morgan, you're just like the bullies in school, you never think of anyone but yourself, and the fun you can have putting someone else down."

"That's not true Reid, and you know it I -" Morgan held up his hands placatingly.

"Enough you two… put away what ever it is you're fighting about, and get up to the conference room. We have an urgent new case." Hotch stood to one side of them, his face expressionless as always, but his tone made it clear he wouldn't take more of their bickering. He gestured to the round table room, and turned away without another word. Morgan didn't have time to wonder just what had gotten into Reid that morning.

Reid waited for Morgan to follow Hotch, and when he did, Spencer stayed several steps behind them. They entered the room where Garcia and Gideon already sat with JJ. The two of them sat as far away from each other as possible, and refused to look at each other.

JJ looked at them curiously, but she had to put it aside for now. She pointed her remote at the screen, and began to explain their latest case.

"This is Kylie Webster." The picture showed a smiling blond girl with blue eyes and a gap in the front of her mouth where a tooth had been recently lost.

"She is the third child to go missing from Phoenix area in the last six weeks. The other two were beaten, stabbed, and sexually assaulted before they are dumped in Death Valley near route 190. He keeps them with him for three days before killing them.

"Isn't route 190 one of the routes through the national park," Reid asked, as if he didn't know for sure, after all he was the one that admitted to memorizing maps?

"Yes, this is a confident man; he's white, in his middle thirties and late forties. He's been doing this for awhile, so we need to check for other victims killed the same way." Gideon said with absolute conviction.

Garcia nodded, and got up to return to her children to begin the search. As she left, she almost ran into the woman who was running into the conference room. Morgan raised an eyebrow when he saw her. He glanced at Reid out of the corner of his eye, and saw that the young man had turned cherry red.

"I'm so sorry I couldn't get here any faster, I hit traffic at just the wrong time." She shook hands with Agent Hotchner, and he turned to the rest of the group.

"Every one this is our new profiler. Her name is Karen Abbott; she's been with the FBI just under a year. She has been assigned to our unit because of her unique talents. She has a tested IQ at 140 and she entered the bureau with the highest testing score since our own Reid joined us 5 years ago.

"Hey Reid… looks like she's a sandbox buddy for you."

"Morgan, can we please just get through the morning without any smart ass remarks." Hotch turned his trademark frown on Morgan.

"Ok, just teasing, since when did that become a federal offence."

They went around the table, and introduced themselves to her. Reid could hardly speak when Hotch explained who he was to her, and when she sat down next to him he lost the ability to verbalize all together. She was breathtakingly beautiful. She had chestnut brown hair with golden streaks, and eyes the color of fine whiskey. Her face was heart shaped, with a milky rose complexion. She stood about five feet three inches tall, and couldn't weigh more than one hundred pounds and ten pounds. She had a cute body with a small waist, and breasts that were just the right shape in Reid's opinion.

He realized he was staring, and turned away with his face burning. She didn't seem to notice anything was wrong, but JJ noticed, and she didn't like it at all.

Wait… since when are you jealous, this is Reid remember?

Morgan noticed, and decided that he was going to enjoy watching this play out. He couldn't wait for the case to be over, so he could have a long talk with Garcia; she would get a kick out of this as well.

"Agent Abbott, what are your thoughts on this?" Gideon asked, ignoring the non verbal currents running around the room, like cats chasing church mice.

"Oh, well I can tell you that this isn't his first kill, he has experience. He is controlled; there is no evidence of disorganized behavior." She stood up, and walked to the white board for a closer look at the crime scenes. He's a sociopath with no remorse. He is taunting the police."

"How do you know that, there hasn't been any communication with the police?" JJ blurted out. She hadn't meant to speak, but there was something about this woman that she didn't like.

Could it be the fact that you finally have some real competition for the affections of young Dr Reid? You don't want him for yourself, yet he notices someone else, and you go off the deep end.

I haven't gone off the deep end!

Right… you just keep fooling yourself, and in the meantime she's going to steal him out from under your nose.

Karen was a little taken aback at the tone in the blond agent's voice. What had she done to irritate the other agent? "Well, it's obvious; he's leaving them to be found in a heavily traveled area. He believes that he can't becaught. Each time he gets away with leaving a body in plain view, the more confident he becomes. He won't stop till he's captured. She sat back down next to Reid and was silent.

The scent of her perfume washed over him. He loved the smell of lilacs, and that was what hung around the new agent, and it was intoxicating. He sat for the next half an hour without contributing anything to the discussion which was a first for him. Gideon noticed this, and he saw how JJ was reacting to the new agent. He had a bad feeling there was going to be trouble in the team.

"Ok, everyone, wheels up in an hour. Agent Abbot would you come with me please, I need to have you sign some paperwork for your transfer." Hotch said, holding out his hand toward the door. She followed him out of the room, and Gideon followed her.

Reid stood up, and continued to ignore Morgan who tried to stop him. He left the room just as JJ asked Morgan. "What's wrong with you two," she hadn't moved from where she'd stood listening to Agent Abbot.

"I don't know what his problem is, I teased him a little, and he went ballistic on me." Morgan knew better than to tell her the reason for Reid's upset.

"There had to be more to it than just a little teasing Morgan." She stood with her hands on her hips, a look he recognized from when she was dealing with a particularly stubborn bureaucrat.

"JJ, I don't think we should talk about this, don't worry I'll handle it." She studied him for a moment, and then decided to change tactics.

"What do you think of Agent Abbott," She had turned away from him, but he didn't have to see her face to know what she wanted to know.

"Don't worry JJ, he still loves you, she's just a pretty face that distracted him for a moment, he'll get over it." He ignored the shocked look on her face, and left the room with a chuckle.

This was not a good turn of events, if Morgan could read her so easily than what about Gideon or Hotch, and what about Spencer, what was he going to infer from her outburst. She didn't know what to make of it herself, after all she been telling herself for nearly two years, that Reid was a friend, period, end of story.

How did it all get so complicated? If she had no feelings for Reid, then why wasn't she in a relationship? The excuse that she didn't have time was a smoke screen. She could have a man if she wanted one, so why didn't she. She noticed she was pacing the room like Spencer did when he was upset. She looked down, and noticed her hands were shaking. It finally got through her brain that she needed to make a decision, and fast, or she was going to be alone, and bitter for the rest of her life.