Chapter 1

Slouching on his chair in front of his desk in the bullpen, Reid couldn't help but be noticed. He might as well have had a neon sign hanging over him. 'Vacant' seemed appropriately fitting. His mood drew attention to one Technical Analyst in particular, one Penelope Garcia. She leaned her head onto Morgan as he stopped to stand beside her after seeing the frown on her face. "What's wrong baby girl? Miss me? I know a minute can seem like an eternity when it comes to the lack of my presence but I told you I'd be back." he said with that award winning Derek Morgan smile.

"He looks so... tired" she said tilting her head in worry, ignoring his previous comment. "Who?" Morgan's head shot up following her gaze. "Our baby genius" a frown accompanied her answer. A small frown appeared on Derek's face as he took in the scene. Without thinking twice he walked forward and over towards the boy.

"Tired, Pretty boy?" he questioned with a slight smile as he leaned over his shoulder to look at papers scattered on his desk. Reid jumped at the lack of warning from the unannounced invasion. He spun around and pushed his chair back "Jesus, Morgan!" he shrieked.

"Christ actually but I'm glad you think so fondly of me to put me on that pedestal" Morgan laughed. Reid squinted his eyes at the man and shook his head "Not funny". Morgan chuckled when he saw the look of annoyance on the kid's face. "Fine fine" he said lifting his hands up in surrender. "What's this?" he reached onto Reid's desk and slid the papers around off each other to get a better look at them.

Reid's eyes widened as he saw Morgan squint to read the papers. "Don't you have some work to do!" he yelled out as he rushed to gather the papers and get them out of Morgan's reach. Morgan looked taken aback and stumbled backwards as the smaller man edged in front of him. Confused the older man backed away further and looked at his friend with a raised eyebrow. "What was that, Reid?" he asked with a serious tone.

"Me, reacting to you, invading my personal space" Reid snapped. "Not that" Morgan's tone grew tighter. Reid looked at the man and noticed the anger on his face "What?" he asked confused. "What that paper said, Reid. What was that?" he stepped forward. Swallowing a lump in his throat the boy looked at the man in the eyes "Nothing". "That wasn't nothing, Reid!" Morgan yelled making the kid jump for the second time in a 5 minute period. "Back off, Morgan!" he raised his voice and narrowed his eyes.

"Stop stop stop!" Garcia rushed forwards. "Contrary to what I believe you are NOT Brad Pitt, Derek Morgan and this is not fight club" she pointed a finger into his chest.

Morgan was glaring at Reid. Full of anger and the need to protect.

Reid dropped his eyes from the other man's to the floor and lowered his head. "It was nothing, Morgan" he whispered.

"What was nothing?" Garcia looked from one man to the other and frowned. "Is everything ok, honey?" she reached out and touched Reid's arm.

"Fine" he said as he lifted his head back up and met Morgan's eyes. The younger agent's eyes pleaded with his to drop the subject. Morgan softened his glare and shook his head "Everything's fine, baby girl". He broke away eye contact to look at her with reassurance.

She didn't believe the words but the voice she trusted so she nodded and turned to go back to work.

Morgan walked past Reid and stopped when he was at his side. "We are going to talk about this" he said with confidence and walked away.

Reid slumped down into his chair and put his head into his hands wishing that if the apocalypse insisted on happening that it happen right now. Answering to God seemed a lot more appealing than answering to Derek Morgan.