Fic: Adjustments of Lifestyle, Chapter 1/2 (Criminal Minds, Spencer Reid/ Derek Morgan)
Title: Adjustments of Lifestyle 1/2
Author: FinnishSphinx
Rating: PG
Fandom: Criminal Minds
Pairings: Spencer Reid / Derek Morgan
Spoilers: None
Disclaimer: They are not mine, just using them for amusement...
Morgan let out a happy sigh and closed his eyes. Reid`s head was resting on his
shoulder and a warm blanket had just been pulled over them. All and all, Morgan
felt like he could purr simply from the worm, fuzzy feeling.
"You awake?"
Morgan opened one eye to look at Reid. "Yeah. What is it, Pretty Boy?"
Reid was quiet for a moment. "Can I ask you a question?"
"Go ahead."
"I mean, you don`t have to answer if you don`t-"
"Babe, just ask your question."
"Okay." Reid took a deep breath. "Do you miss it?"
"Miss what?"
"Your life. I mean.. Most of it is just like it was but..." Reid paused to collect his
thoughts. "Let`s approach this from another angle. Before we got together, how
many times per week did you go out?"
"Once a week, probably. Why do you ask?"
"Well, you haven`t gone clubbing at all, since we`ve been together.
Do you miss it?"
Morgan thought about it. The whole thing hadn`t even crossed his mind before
Reid brought it up. "I miss dancing and relaxing like that, but I don`t miss hooking
up." He ruffled Reid`s hair with his fingers. "Where did this trail of thought come
from?"
"Since the whole thing with Mark we`ve pretty much lived... you know.. my way.
And that`s pretty far away from yours. I don`t want you to give up something
you love to do."
"Pretty Boy, I`m not giving up on anything. Honestly I never even thought about it."
"But you could... I mean if you want to you could go clubbing, I would understand
that." Reid`s voice sounded unusually muted.
"We could go together. Have couple of drinks, dance..."
"I can`t"
"Of course you can."
"No, I really can`t." Reid blushed. "Listen, I know what I can do and what I can`t
do. I can`t deal with the crowd, and people look at me funny, and I end up sitting
alone somewhere."
"You won`t be alone. And you have no problem going out with the team."
"That`s different, the whole team`s there, it feels... safe."
"You don`t feel safe with me?"
"I do, but in that kind of places everyone is your kind of people. And that`s just
one more reminder of how different we are."
Morgan nuzzled his lips against Reid`s temple. "Not that different."
"I just mean I know my limitations, and I`m horrible in all kind of social situations."
"Your not that horrible. We could go for a little test drive on Friday. You could
think about it as a hyposensibilisation session. And you don`t need to worry about
other customers. You`ll gain a ton of credibility when you arrive and leave with
a gorgeous hunk."
Reid had to laugh. "We really have to do something about your ego."
----------------------------------------------------------------------
"What can I get you?" Bartender glanced at Morgan.
"I`ll have a beer. Reid?"
"I`ll... I`l have a coke." Reid stammered and took a look at the people in
the club.
"A coke?"
"It`s probably better if I keep my head clear."
The bartender brought them their drinks and they sat down in an empty booth.
"This isn`t so bad, is it?"
"I guess."
"Morgan?"
Both men turned to look at the woman who had walked to them.
"Maggie?"
"Who else? Haven`t seen you for a while. What have you been up to?"
"The usual. And I`m a taken man nowadays, so I`ve had other activities."
"You? A taken man? I think somewhere Hell is freezing as we speak... Who`s
the lucky lady? Someone I know?"
"Well, he`s lucky, but not a lady." Morgan grinned and pointed to Reid. Maggie
looked at him like she hadn`t even realized he was at the table.
"Oh... Isn`t that adorable. Anyway, you want to dance? I don`t think I`ve ever seen
you sitting still for longer than five minutes, when there`s a dance floor near."
Morgan turned to look at Reid.
"Go, I don`t mind. I`ll wait here." Reid gave Morgan small smile, but didn`t sound
very convincing.
"Are you sure?"
Reid nodded and Maggie pulled Morgan up from his seat and to the middle
of the dance floor.
"So.. Guys now?" Maggie pressed herself against Morgan grinding to the beat
of the music.
"No guys, one guy."
"Even weirder. Never thought you would go for that type. Where did you two meet?"
"At work." Morgan glanced over her shoulder. Reid was looking at them like a
kicked poodle.
"I thought you were still in that BUI team."
"BAU, and yes, I am."
"And he works there too? "
"Yeah." Morgan`s mind was wandering further and further away
from the conversation. Reid was no longer alone. Some guy had parked himself
next to the table, and Reid looked ready to run away.
"Okay, he just didn`t look like a fed..."
"Well, he..." Morgan`s attention was now glued to the table. Reid was trying to
leave, while the guy grabbed his wrist. "..is. It was nice to see you."
Morgan left his dance partner in the middle of the floor and headed to the table.
People coming and going blocked his view, and he was starting to get worried.
By the time he got to he table Reid was gone, but it was very easy to guess what
had happened. Reid`s glass was empty on the table, and the pushy guy looked
soaking wet.
Morgan quickly scanned the club, but couldn`t see Reid. He rushed to the bartender
who was leaning over the counter.
"Have you seen the guy I came here with?"
"Yeah, he went out just a minute ago. Looked like he was in a rush."
Morgan hurried outside trying to figure out where Reid had gone. They had come in
Morgan`s car, and he still had the keys, so Reid couldn`t be too far way. Finally he
spotted him, sitting in the ground, leaning against Morgan`s car. When Morgan
got closer, he could hear sobbing. The pale light from the lamp post illuminated the
darkening bruise on his wrist.
Morgan grouched down next to him. "Are you alright, Pretty Boy?"
Reid gasped for a moment, trying to get his breathing even. "Not really."
"Did he hurt you?"
"It`s not bad...."
"Are you sure?" Morgan slipped his hand around Reid`s waist and pulled
him closer.
"I told you I shouldn`t have come here. I told you."
"Babe, it was just one moron-"
"I didn`t mean just that! That was one more sign!" Reid yanked himself away
from Morgan and got up to his shaky legs.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean-" Reid gulped and wiped tears away from his cheek with the back of his hand.
"I mean.... Why do we... You know who I am and who you are, so why do you..."
Reid paused. This time he didn`t even try to stop his tears. His voice was now very
small. "You know who I am."
Reid turned around and before Morgan could react he had disappeared into the
shadows. Morgan searched frantically around the parking lot, but it was too late.
Reid was gone.