Disclaimer: I did not create, do not own and have no legal rights to Criminal Minds and the characters therein. This disclaimer applies to all chapters.

Chapter 1: The Plan

Prentiss, Garcia and JJ were standing together on the catwalk near JJ's office when Morgan and Reid came walking into the bullpen together. They had matching to-go coffee cups and Morgan's arm was over Reid's shoulders. They were looking at one another, talking and smiling, their strides completely in sync.

"You know, if I didn't know better, I'd think those two were a couple," Prentiss stated. She was standing in the middle of the group with the other girls at her sides. The other two turned to look.

"You're totally right. If I didn't know them, I'd think they were a couple," JJ commented.

"C'mon. Junior G-Man I can see, despite the actress and the bartender I've always suspected his sexuality to be," Garcia paused trying to come up with exactly the right words, "more fluid. But my Chocolate Adonis, never. We all know he's a ladies' man."

"Me thinks the lady doth protest too much," Prentiss quoted as JJ laughed and Garcia frowned. "First of all, he could just be way deep in the closet and that's his way of covering it. Second of all, when's the last time you even heard him mention a, and I use the term loosely, 'lady'? Lastly, I'm not saying that they are in a secret relationship; I'm saying that they have feelings for one another that they obviously don't realize are mutual. Reid's so socially awkward and Morgan's so pigheaded, it's completely believable that they are oblivious to it." Garcia and JJ mulled over Prentiss' words.

"Okay, maybe you do raise a few valid points; however, I think the situation merits further investigation." Emily murmured in agreement but JJ saw the glint in Garcia's eyes and thought they might be treading into dangerous territory.

"Guys, I really don't think that we should mettle with what might be a very delicate situation."

"But if Emily's right, they clearly need our help," Garcia countered. JJ ultimately acquiesced, hoping to use her role in this operation to keep things from getting out of hand.

"C'mon into my office."

"First part of our plan is all you Garcia," Prentiss stated. "For the indeterminable future you are going to book three or four hotel rooms max. We want them sharing a room; you know if there are four rooms that Hotch and Rossi will both claim the singles. Just to be safe, JJ and I will be certain to be in charge of key distribution. If anyone questions you, your answer is budget cuts. That's not something that would go through Hotch so it shouldn't arouse any suspicion." Her colleagues nodded in agreement. "Also, Garcia, you will get Morgan in your lair at your earliest convenience and just start prodding him with some questions, get a feel for the situation. JJ, your job is to do the same with Spencer. I would do it, but you're the softer touch." Again, both women agreed. "I'll start bringing the little things that happen in the bullpen to their attention. For example, every afternoon at 2:00, Morgan goes to get a cup of coffee for himself and also brings one back for Reid. Reid used to pull out sugar packets, but apparently Morgan has learned the proper sugar to coffee ratio because that's no longer necessary. Even when he's working in his office and not the bullpen Morgan brings Reid his afternoon coffee! He never even asks me if I'd like a cup! So, the next time he does that, I'm going to call him on it, loud enough for both of them to hear." This doesn't sound too bad so far, JJ thought. We're really just going to light a small fire under them and then hopefully watch it play out. Hopefully.

A knock at the door interrupted their powwow. It was Reid, so Garcia and Prentiss hastily exited the room, pulling the door closed behind them. Reid looked at the door curiously and remained standing.

"It occurred to me that Henry's birthday is coming up, and I was wondering if you were planning a party or some other sort of social gathering."

"Aw, thanks for asking Spence. I am actually; since his birthday is on a Sunday, I'm just planning on having a party that day, probably starting around 1:00. I'll serve lunch and then we can do presents and cake," JJ paused, trying to keep her tone even, lest it give her away as she stated, "you know, you're welcome to bring a guest. The more the merrier." By now, Reid had taken up occupancy of the chair across the desk.

"Well I don't think I'll be bringing a guest. Unless, well, um, is the whole team invited?" JJ silently thanked the powers that be for making things so easy for her.

"Of course, why do you ask?" Reid looked down and began picking at an invisible piece of lint on his trousers. "Spencer?" JJ questioned in a motherly but authoritative tone.

"Well, um, Morgan and I usually hang out on Sundays, and um, if the team wasn't invited I probably would have asked him if he wanted to come along, you know, since the party is on a Sunday and all." Reid continued to focus on the imaginary lint.

"Spence, what are you saying? That you would have asked Morgan to be your date?" JJ purposefully changed her vocabulary to gauge his reaction.

"No! N-n-n-no, n-not at all! Guest! You said guest! A guest and a date are not the same." Reid glanced out the window of JJ's office and into the bullpen where Morgan sat, pouring over case files, continuing to avoid eye contact with JJ.

"Spencer Reid. Look me in the eye." He hated when JJ used this tone of voice with him and now she'd done it twice in the same conversation. It was a kind tone, but there was something about that also said 'you're not leaving this room until you tell me.' He felt like Henry as his eyes finally met JJ's.

"Are you attracted to Morgan?"

"Who isn't?" he retorted.

"I'm not." Reid sighed at her response. "C'mon, I already know that your bi."

Reid stood up and again looked out the window. "I think pansexual is more accurate." JJ made a mental note to look up exactly what being pansexual meant. "Just because I'm a three or a four on the Kinsey scale that does not mean that I am attracted to Derek Morgan."

"You're right, it doesn't, but you are just the same."

Reid sat back down. "I just can't be JJ. It's not allowed. Even if it were it wouldn't matter because he'll never see me that way. We all know he's straight. Painfully straight. On the Kinsey scale, he's a negative number."

"Reid, I know you know that there are no negative numbers on the Kinsey scale."

"That's my point." He looked so sad, JJ just couldn't help herself.

"Well, I'm not supposed to say anything, but Emily doesn't agree. And I'm not sure that I do either. I mean, after watching you guys come into the office together this morning, if I didn't know otherwise, I would think you guys were a couple."

"Or best friends."

"No, boyfriends."

"JJ, please don't say things like that. All it will do is get my hopes up unnecessarily." JJ frowned at the pain reflected in his eyes. "I should probably get back to the bullpen." And with that, Reid was gone, and JJ softly slammed her head against her desk.

When Reid returned to his desk, he noticed Morgan was no longer in the bullpen. Sighing, he picked up the telephone receiver to call a detective on a consult.

***Prentiss is quoting Shakespeare at the beginning of the chapter.***