Chapter Seven: Sorry, I Like to See You Smile

Hotch and Reid opened the double glass doors to the BAU office together the next morning. Hotch looked the same as always, but Reid was practically glowing.

Morgan, Prentiss, and JJ took notice of that real fast.

Reid laid his bag out on his desk and threw his jacket over his chair. The second Hotch was completely in his office, Morgan and Prentiss bombarded Reid with questions before he could even sit down.

"Did you tell him?"

"What did he say?"

"You guys can't be going, can you?"

"Hey, hey," JJ squeezed in between Morgan and Prentiss, "let's let him talk. Sit down, Reid."

"T-thank you…" Reid didn't realize he needed permission to sit down. But he didn't fight it.

"So tell us what happened," JJ smiled.

"Well," Reid fiddled with a pen on his desk, "it was really late so he decided to take me home to talk. I-I told him how I felt about him, but I walked out of the room when he didn't respond. When I came back in a few minutes later, he was asleep on my couch."

Morgan raised an eyebrow. "Hotch fell asleep?"

"He was out. He must have been really tired. So I just let him sleep there. He woke up completely confused, but I told him everything was okay and not to worry about me. I made him breakfast, we ran by his house for him to change his clothes, and then we arrived here."

Prentiss blinked. "That's it? He never commented about you being in love with him?"

"No, that's why I told him not to worry about it. I just wanted him to know how I felt."

"Reid…"

Prentiss, it's fine! It would be nice to have something more, but I doubt he feels the same way about me. Plus, even if we were to be a couple, let's put it hypothetically, it's the same as inter-office relationships: they're not allowed. Could you imagine if Strauss had found out? Hotch or I would be transferred on the spot. Knowing that, I would rather him not like me and be able to see him everyday than for him to like me and us never get to see each other."

Morgan, Prentiss, and JJ all eyed each other curiously.

"Reid's right," Rossi suddenly appeared behind Reid, overhearing the conversation, "it's better this way."

"Rossi, we were just talking about what happened," Morgan sneered.

"I know. I didn't want you to encourage him so he can get hurt."

"We're not trying to hurt him," Emily frowned.

Rossi raised his hands to defend himself. "Okay." He then walked off.

"What was that about?" Morgan asked.

"I think he's just trying to look out for me," Reid curled his lips. "But I did convince Hotch to do one thing for me…"

"What would that be?" JJ questioned.

Hotch strode out of his office, walking along to elevated part of the BAU office to Rossi's office. He shot a quick glance at Reid, smiling before entering the office.

"I told him to smile a bit more."

Thanks for reading this far, but there is a sequel story... Rapid Eye Movement, check it out! And thanks for all the support so far!

~Midori