AN: Not that I really need another story started but . . . Not a typical story for me but I hope it finds an audience anyway. I'll be updating sporadically on this one as inspiration hits me. Hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: Criminal Minds and the characters are not mine, only the ideas!

It was Friday night and the bar was crowded. Despite the mass of bodies though Derek Morgan could still see the object of his admiration. The slim figure, and head of wavy dark hair, could be seen standing at the bar as the person waited for their order. Derek watched the slim fingers absently drum a beat on the top of the bar. Unfortunately the long legs that Morgan often daydreamed about running his hands up were not visible from where he sat.

"Take a picture. It'll last longer," Prentiss said, a smug smile on her face.

"What?" Morgan said, coming out of his own thoughts at the sound of his teammate's voice. The thought that he had been found out caused his heart to feel like it was pounding against his ribs. He was sure that the two women whom he shared a table with could hear it themselves.

"You've been staring for like the last five minutes as if you're a coyote eyeing a chicken," Prentiss said. "Seriously you'd think you were at a strip club or something. Can't you be a little less obvious? Not to mention, I've never seen you go gaga over a blonde before," Prentiss commented, looking back in the direction of the bar. "Brunettes seem to be more your type."

"Alas, don't I know that. I'm doomed to forever be overlooked by my Chocolate God because of my golden hair," Garcia said, with a slight sigh.

Morgan meanwhile felt a wave of relief wash over him. Prentiss didn't know who it was he was really goggling. She thought it was the blonde standing behind his image of perfection. So be it, he could play along with that.

"I have an eye for all of nature's beautiful creatures and besides, they say blondes are more fun. Perhaps I want to test that statement out for myself," Morgan said, tearing his eyes off of the brown-haired figure by the bar to glance over at Prentiss. "I am up for a little fun, if you know what I mean."

"Perhaps I should have kept my mouth shut," Prentiss said, feeling creeped out by her teammate's blatant excitement over the prospect of a one night stand. Not that she hadn't had a few herself in her lifetime, however those were times that she had a few too many drinks and to this day couldn't recall much of what had happened. To Derek Morgan the one night stand was an art form that he had more than perfected.

"Perhaps you should have, Princess," Morgan told her. Feeling the need to cement the profiler's belief in his interest in the blonde, the dark-skinned agent felt that it was time for a little playacting to commence. Besides, it wasn't like the person he really had eyes for even looked at him in that light. "But look at it this way, now you get to see the master in action," he whispered in her ear as he got to his feet.

Leaving the two women to stare at him, both for different reasons, Morgan headed in the direction of the bar. He exchanged quick words with Reid, whom he passed as the younger man was heading back to the table Morgan had just left. What Morgan wanted to do was turn around and follow the younger agent right back to the table, but for the sake of keeping up appearances he continued in the direction the bar.

"Hey Sweetie, you here alone?" Morgan asked quietly, slipping in beside the blonde that Prentiss had thought he was eyeing. She was good looking, as far as women went, and if it wasn't for wishing he was with his true object of affection, he probably would be enjoying this. Still, unless he wanted to confess to all his co-workers that he swung the other way, flirting with this woman was in order.

"Depends on why you're asking?" the woman replied, in a flirting manner. Morgan didn't miss the subtle movement of her eyes as she looked him over. Apparently liking what she saw, the woman leaned forward slightly.

"I thought you and I might take a little time to get to know one another. Share a drink, a dance and maybe something a bit more intimate if things go well," Morgan told her, slipping his arm across her shoulders.

"I don't know. I've been told talking to strangers isn't safe," the woman replied coyly.

"I can fix that," Morgan said softly into her ear. He removed his left arm from around her shoulders and turned to face her squarely. "Derek Morgan. It's good to meet you," he said, holding up his right hand out to her.

"Katie Anderson," she replied, shaking his hand.

"Can I buy you a drink Katie, and then the two of us could go find a quiet place to talk?"

"Just talk?" Katie asked, a slight bat of her long lashes as she took a step toward Morgan.

"We can negotiate on that point," Morgan told her leaning forward to whisper in her ear. "Was this something you had in mind?" he asked, before placing a kiss on the woman's creamy white neck.

"What are you two looking at?" Reid asked, as he placed his scotch down on the table, and sank down into the chair next to Garcia.

"Morgan apparently has his eye set on his latest conquest," Prentiss commented. "I'm waiting to see if he gets shut down or not."

"Not my Chocolate God," Garcia said, her eyes still watching Morgan talking to the blonde. "He's like a cat. I love watching him in action no matter what he is doing."

Reid reached out and grabbed a pretzel from the dish in the center of the table. Part of him wanted to turn and watch himself, just for the excuse of watching Morgan, but he didn't want to give himself away.

The two women continued to watch in silence for a while as Reid played with the pretzel. It was Prentiss who finally broke the silence.

"How does he do it?" Prentiss asked, her voice conveying her amazement.

Reid risked a glance back at the bar to see Morgan walking off into the crowd with the blonde hanging on his arm.

"Apparently it's called 'game'," Reid commented, playing with the pretzel he had in his hand rather than eating it, "which according to Morgan I'm never going to learn."

Not that Morgan hadn't tried, on multiple occasions, to coach him on the subject. Other than that incident with Austin while on a case, he hadn't been successful even using his magic. Morgan claimed that first incident was a fluke, and had gotten quite a bit of amusement from the younger man's attempts, much to Reid's embarrassment.

Reid knew the real problem though and that was the fact that women just didn't turn him on romantically. The fact that he found men attractive was something he had learned in college and something that had gotten him a few black eyes and bruised ribs when others in his dorm had found out. However, that had led to a couple of memorable relationships. Though Neil and Todd had been special in their own ways, he had known that neither was that special someone. Still, both of those relationships had meant more than the one night stand he'd had while at the academy. That one had been nothing more than two cadets trying to relieve a bit of the stress of a rigorous training program.

The young genius knew he could never admit that to Morgan though. Reid had finally felt like he had found a place that he fit in and he wasn't about to do anything that would jeopardize that. ~I'd rather have Morgan in my life as a friend than not have him in my life at all, ~ Reid told himself for what felt like the thousandth time.

"Ahh, Sweetie, you don't need 'game'. You're so adorable that the women like you just as you are. You just need to learn to loosen up and talk to them like you do with us," Garcia said.

"Adorable," Reid grumbled. "Great, that makes me feel like a stuffed animal."

"I love my stuff animals," Garcia said.

Prentiss laughed. "She's right though, Reid. I've seen plenty of women eyeing you tonight."

"Yeah, right."

"No seriously. That girl who came up to you while you were headed for the bar had been eyeing you all night. What did you say to her anyway?"

"I'm not saying," Reid replied, his cheeks flushing bright pink. He stuffed the pretzel in his mouth and took his time chewing it.

Prentiss shook her head. "Perhaps you should try your luck with the guys who have been eyeing you then," the dark-haired woman said, lightly.

Reid quickly swallowed the pretzel before he choked on it. "What!" Reid exclaimed, even as Garcia choked on the soda she had been trying to swallow.

"Are you okay?" Prentiss asked, Garcia with genuine concern.

"Yeah. It just went down the wrong pipe," Garcia replied, waving off her friend's concern with one hand as she placed her glass on the table.

Prentiss nodded and then looked back at Reid. "Face it Reid. You're cute in a geeky sort of way, and both sexes see it. You just need to hone your social skills a bit, and you could score with someone no problem." She paused a moment, and then with a smile added, "no matter what team you play for."

"I'm not . . ." Reid stopped himself as he realized how loud his voice was. Lowering his voice and looking around self-consciously he tried again. "I'm not gay."

"Okay," Prentiss said, putting her hands up in defense as she realized she had upset her friend. "I was just kidding. We'll change the topic okay."

"I think maybe, I'll head home instead," Reid said, getting to his feet. He had only come to spend time with Morgan anyway and it seemed as if his friend would be enjoying more pleasant company tonight.

"Reid! Come on, I was just joking around," Prentiss protested.

"It's been a long day, Emily, and I'm tired. I'll see you on Monday," Reid said, getting to his feet, his glass of scotch still almost completely full.

"I'll give you a ride," Garcia said, quickly grabbing her purse. "I'm about ready to call it a night anyway. I've got the beginnings of a headache," she said. "You don't mind, do you, Emily?"

"No. Course not. Feel better," Prentiss told Garcia.

"Thanks, Angel," Garcia told the raven-haired agent. Rounding the table she gave Emily a hug. "You ready?" she then asked, looking over at Reid.

"You really don't have to . . ."

"I want to, Sweet Cheeks, so stop protesting," Garcia told him, cutting the genius off.

Reid nodded, giving in. He hadn't won an argument with the blonde technical goddess yet and didn't think that was going to change tonight. As he fell into step beside Garcia, the blonde looped her arm through his as they headed out of the bar.