Seeking comfort

Chapter 5

"Hey, do you want to watch a movie?" Reid asked, coming into the living room with a couple of DVDs. JJ looked up from the book she had been reading and smirked.

"Sure, but do you mind if I use your shower?" she asked. She looked like she felt bad for asking, but he didn't mind at all.

"Of course, I'll grab you a towel," he said, leading her towards the bathroom and grabbing a towel from the hall closet along the way. He set it on the bathroom counter and then looked into his shower and frowned.

"I don't know if you'll like any of my shampoo, or anything..." he said, trailing off and looking at JJ with an apologetic expression. She smiled at him.

"It's fine, I think I have some in my go bag," she said, walking back into the living room and grabbing her bag. For some reason, Reid was still standing in the bathroom, pondering what it would be like to be in the shower with her, washing her golden blonde hair and rubbing the tension out of her shoulders. He snapped out of it when she rounded the corner, smiling at him and setting her go bag on the toilet.

"I'll just being in the living room," he said, his voice cracking a little bit. He rushed out of the bathroom and went to the kitchen to pop some popcorn.

JJ let the hot water run down her back, relaxing her muscles. Instantly her mind started wandering to how Reid showered in this shower every day. Naked. Good god, JJ. Get a hold of yourself! You're not a hormonal teenage girl anymore. Control yourself, she thought, trying to brush the inappropriate images off. She couldn't help how she felt about Reid, but she shouldn't be letting it run rampant in her head, distracting her from the most basic tasks. She finished her shower and got out, drying off quickly and then dressing in the same yoga pants, but a different tank top. When she left the bathroom she could smell popcorn and hear Reid bustling around in the kitchen. She was still drying her hair out with the towel when Reid walked out into the living room with a bowl of popcorn.

"Hey, good shower?" he asked, giving her a smile. The smell of her shampoo-rosehips and strawberries-filled Reid's nose. He had always loved the way she smelled, so natural. Nothing too overpowering or thick. It was a scent that always made him happy now.

"Yeah, it was nice. What movie are we watching?" she asked, walking over to his sofa and plopping down in the center cushion. Subconsciously she realized this was forcing Reid to sit next to her no matter which side he chose, but she pretended that had nothing to do with it. Reid brought the bowl of popcorn over and sat to her left, grabbing the remote off the side table and turning on the TV.

"I thought Dracula was a good choice," he said, turning and giving JJ the crooked smile she loved so much. She laughed out loud and settled back into the cushion.

"Dracula. I wouldn't have thought that'd be your first choice," she laughed, reaching over and grabbing some popcorn from the bowl.

"There's much you don't know about me, Jennifer," he said in a mock-vampire voice, causing JJ to burst out laughing again. Reid started the movie and turned out the lamp that was on the side table.

Now that it was dark JJ was having an inner argument much like the arguments she had with herself in high school when she saw movies with guys she liked. How close could she sit without being totally obvious?

"I'm gonna get a drink, do you want something? I have wine, water, and soda," he asked as the credits began.

"Wine sounds great, actually," she said, moving her legs off the ottoman for him to walk past. While he was gone, she sneakily scooted just a little closer to where he had been sitting. She felt like she was a teenager again, getting all nervous hanging out with a guy and surreptitiously finding ways to get closer to him.