Disclaimer: Don't own Criminal Minds or the characters and sadly never will.

AN: So, I got inspired by Graveygraves "Series 6 Oneshots" (great collection so far you should check it out) and decided to do my own collection of one-shots based on something from Criminal Minds episodes. The first one is from the first episode but I'm not promising to do one from every episode just as something inspires me, though I do plan on keeping them in order. Hope you all enjoy.

Morgan: Next time show a little leg.

Elle: Morgan, the only time that you're going to see a little leg from me, is when I'm about to kick your ass.

Morgan: I still teach hand-to-hand over at Quantico if you need a little brush up training.

Elle: Seriously, I want that opening at BAU. Got any advice?

Morgan: Just trust your instincts.

FBI agent in training Derek Morgan stood on the sideline of the gymnasium mats with most the rest the current class. On the mats, two of their classmates were currently engaging in a sparring match. A match meant to prepare them for their test in hand-to-hand combat the following day, when their instructors would get to see how much they had learned so far.

Trainee Morgan wasn't concerned about it. He was already a black belt in judo. This part of the training had been a snap for him, and he had yet to lose a sparring match to one of his fellow trainees. Not that much of the program so far had caused him too much problems, his years on the Chicago Police Force having prepared him well, even though it did mean that he was a few years older than a majority of the trainees who had decided to join the FBI right out of college. Not that it mattered. He wouldn't give up his years in the Chicago PD. He had learned a lot and that knowledge was helping him now, and he was sure it would serve him well once he graduated the academy. However, now he felt that he could be of more help to society than just trying to keep the peace in his own city. Not to mention, he needed to get away. As much as he loved his family there were too many bad memories in Chicago.

Besides, it wasn't like he was the only one who had chosen to come to the Academy after putting in time doing something else. One of the female trainees currently involved in the sparring match had done likewise. He had spoken with Elle Greenaway briefly a couple of times. Morgan knew she was from Brooklyn, and knew that she had been a beat cop for the NYPD before coming here. However, where he hadn't lost a sparring match, Greenaway had yet to win one.

Watching the match unfolding before him, Morgan could see what her problem was. The technique was there, and no one could fault Greenaway with not having paid attention. At the top of the class in many areas of the training, hand-to-hand was turning out to be her kryptonite. A point that was driven home as Trainee Madison pinned Greenaway to the mat once again.

"Okay class," SSA Watkins said, as Madison got to her feet. Greenaway sat up on the mat but stayed there, her attention focused on the instructor, just like all of her fellow trainees. "We'll call it a day. I'll see you all tomorrow afternoon at fourteen hundred hours for the test. Female trainees will go up against SA Crane, while the rest of you get to face me. Any questions?"

Watkins paused, glancing around at the gathered group of trainees. When no one spoke up, he spoke again.

"You're all dismissed."

As his fellow trainees headed for the locker rooms, Morgan stepped onto the mat. Stopping in front of Greenaway, who still hadn't gotten to her feet, he held out a hand to help her out. With a lopsided smile, Elle Greenaway put her hand in the one offered to her, and let Morgan help her to her feet.

"Thanks," she told him. "Somehow I don't think tomorrow afternoon is going to be a day for me to shine."

"I might be able to change that. I was watching the sparring match. I know what you're doing wrong," Morgan told her.

"Oh, do you now," Greenaway said. "Not exactly one of your smoother pick-up lines there, Trainee Morgan." As she was watching him, she saw the surprise that crossed the man's face at the light-hearted jab. "I saw you at the bar last week when you went out with some of the other guys. It seemed like you can be quite a charmer to most girls but I'm not most girls."

"That's for sure and I wasn't trying to pick-you up," Morgan told her, cringing as the words came out of his mouth. The look on his fellow trainee's face told him she was taking those words exactly how he was afraid she might. "Not that you're not attractive, it's just it's one of my survival rules - never date a woman who carries a gun."

Elle Greenaway continued to look at the man skeptically. She wasn't sure if she believed him or not. Although, she had to admit, if he really did know what she was doing that was causing her to lose on these sparring matches, maybe tomorrow wouldn't turn out to be such a fiasco after all.

"So what am I doing wrong?"

"You're over thinking it. While you're trying to figure out in your head what your opponents next move will be, they're already making it. You need to trust your instincts."

Standing there, looking into the dark orbs of the man before her, Elle Greenaway contemplated what he was telling her. ~He just may have a point, ~ she conceded.

"I've got some free time tonight if you want me to help you get some more practice in," he added.

"I thought you weren't trying to pick me up?"

"I'm not. I'm offering to help a fellow trainee. So do you want my help or not?"

"At this point I'll take any help I can get," Elle conceded.

"Six o'clock?" Morgan asked. Elle nodded. Morgan smiled once again. "Does this mean I'm forgiven?"

Elle smiled back at him mischievously. "Only if I win my match against Agent Crane, tomorrow."

Morgan smiled and knew he was all but forgiven. Greenaway had the skills and potential to beat every other female cadet in the program, with a few pointers he was confident she could hold her own against their female instructor. All she had to do was trust her instincts.

AN: What can I say, that scene always gave me the feeling that Morgan and Elle knew each other beforehand and this is my take on when and how they met. Hope you enjoyed it!