[CM] [Het] [T] Not for Nothing
Title: Not for Nothing
Genre: Romance
Pairing: Prentiss/Reid
Length: around 580 words
Rating: Teen-safe
Credits: With grateful appreciation for my betas, daisycm83 and pixie_on_acid, who also helpfully provided the title.
Summary: Emily learns a lesson about love.
Not for Nothing
It started out as a matter of convenience. Emily wanted a man in her life, but couldn't be bothered to find one. And she could tell that Spencer needed a woman in his life - boy, did he ever need a woman in his life - but she suspected he wouldn't know how to find one if he tried. They were friends, fairly comfortable with one another... It just made sense.
She invited him to her place for dinner, carefully nonchalant about the whole thing until she had him in her house. He seemed to be completely caught off guard when she kissed him, but quickly decided just to go with it. (They didn't call him a genius for nothing.)
In the morning, she talked about keeping things loose, no strings, and keeping their private life out of the workplace. He listened; she took that to mean he agreed.
She reasoned with herself that she wasn't using him, she was helping him. When things between them ended, as she was sure they inevitably would, he'd be better equipped to handle a woman in his life.
He was a project, and nothing more.
As it turned out, he taught her more than she taught him.
She learned how nice it was to have someone to come home to at night. After a difficult case, he would often finish his reports before she did. When she made it home, she’d find Spencer waiting with his back against her door, long legs folded up to his chin, smiling up at her.
She learned what it meant to be treated with reverence, as he explored, mapped, and memorized every inch of her body. He remembered everything that pleased her. (They didn't call him a genius for nothing.)
Late at night, he’d point up through the skylight and teach her the names of the stars. Emily found it strange and beautiful that a man who knew so much still maintained such a profound sense of wonder.
Not that the learning was one-sided - there was definitely give and take. She taught him to enjoy music, rather than "appreciate" it. He taught her the finer points of sci-fi television. She taught him that it's okay to be silent. He taught her that it's okay to share what's on your mind.
He was her student and her teacher, as she was to him.
She understood what it all meant in an instant.
She had screwed up - she’d put the team in harm’s way. The unsub had Hotch by the throat and seemed to be on the verge of a total loss of control. Emily didn’t know how she could get through to him. Her mind raced along the edge of panic.
Reid eased through the side door, gun drawn and trained on the suspect. His eyes flicked to Emily’s. In that moment, she saw everything: his face smiling up at her outside her door, the Sunday morning squabbles over his refusal to let her do the crossword puzzle without help, his spectacularly failed attempts at cooking, his chest rising and falling as he slept, his fear, his courage, his belief in her. And she could breathe again.
She did her job and they all went home alive.
That night, Spencer showed up at her door with two moving boxes and a suitcase. He told her he'd called for a delivery of Chinese food, and by the way, he was moving in a few of his things. (They didn't call him a genius for nothing.)
Genre: Romance
Pairing: Prentiss/Reid
Length: around 580 words
Rating: Teen-safe
Credits: With grateful appreciation for my betas, daisycm83 and pixie_on_acid, who also helpfully provided the title.
Summary: Emily learns a lesson about love.
Not for Nothing
It started out as a matter of convenience. Emily wanted a man in her life, but couldn't be bothered to find one. And she could tell that Spencer needed a woman in his life - boy, did he ever need a woman in his life - but she suspected he wouldn't know how to find one if he tried. They were friends, fairly comfortable with one another... It just made sense.
She invited him to her place for dinner, carefully nonchalant about the whole thing until she had him in her house. He seemed to be completely caught off guard when she kissed him, but quickly decided just to go with it. (They didn't call him a genius for nothing.)
In the morning, she talked about keeping things loose, no strings, and keeping their private life out of the workplace. He listened; she took that to mean he agreed.
She reasoned with herself that she wasn't using him, she was helping him. When things between them ended, as she was sure they inevitably would, he'd be better equipped to handle a woman in his life.
He was a project, and nothing more.
As it turned out, he taught her more than she taught him.
She learned how nice it was to have someone to come home to at night. After a difficult case, he would often finish his reports before she did. When she made it home, she’d find Spencer waiting with his back against her door, long legs folded up to his chin, smiling up at her.
She learned what it meant to be treated with reverence, as he explored, mapped, and memorized every inch of her body. He remembered everything that pleased her. (They didn't call him a genius for nothing.)
Late at night, he’d point up through the skylight and teach her the names of the stars. Emily found it strange and beautiful that a man who knew so much still maintained such a profound sense of wonder.
Not that the learning was one-sided - there was definitely give and take. She taught him to enjoy music, rather than "appreciate" it. He taught her the finer points of sci-fi television. She taught him that it's okay to be silent. He taught her that it's okay to share what's on your mind.
He was her student and her teacher, as she was to him.
She understood what it all meant in an instant.
She had screwed up - she’d put the team in harm’s way. The unsub had Hotch by the throat and seemed to be on the verge of a total loss of control. Emily didn’t know how she could get through to him. Her mind raced along the edge of panic.
Reid eased through the side door, gun drawn and trained on the suspect. His eyes flicked to Emily’s. In that moment, she saw everything: his face smiling up at her outside her door, the Sunday morning squabbles over his refusal to let her do the crossword puzzle without help, his spectacularly failed attempts at cooking, his chest rising and falling as he slept, his fear, his courage, his belief in her. And she could breathe again.
She did her job and they all went home alive.
That night, Spencer showed up at her door with two moving boxes and a suitcase. He told her he'd called for a delivery of Chinese food, and by the way, he was moving in a few of his things. (They didn't call him a genius for nothing.)