The Feeling

One More Step

Morgan's "End of the Year" parties were always the best. Alcohol and good music everywhere. The whole house was absolutely gushing cool vibes. People dancing in every way that you could imagine, except for Dr. Spencer Reid. As per usual, you could find him in Derek's excuse for a library. 

"Spence! There you are! Penelope is looking for you." JJ said, as she passed the threshold into the Doctors safe zone. She grabbed his arm and dragged him with her downstairs. With all of the jerking that his good friend had used on him, it was a wonder he could place him bookmark before setting the book down on one of the tables in the hall.

"What could possibly be so important that you had to rip me from finishing the last book in Derek's-". He was cut off by Penelope.

"Spence! So glad JJ found you, it feels like I've been looking for hours. Any who, this is my other male genius friend. Play nice you two! Hey Derek, do you have a computer to hack into so I can learn your dirty little secrets? Too late!!" Penelope called, as she left the two men alone. 

In the awkward silence that ensued for what felt like ages, Dr. Reid had profiled this new guy as an average age of possibly 28. He lived alone and had a dog or two which he took for a weekly run because his schedule was busy through out the week. He looked like an average mechanic due to his plaid shirt with the cuffs rolled up to his elbows. The creases were clean and straight, unlike him. His hands were blackened (probably from fixing cars for so long) and Reid would bet all of Rossi's money on him being a homosexual. And Reid doesn't lose bets.

"Uh, Spence is it?" the mystery man said, rubbing the back of his neck and looking away with a shy smirk. 'A submissive trait...'

"Yeah, SSA Doctor Spencer Reid. And you are?" Spencer asked, extending a hand for the man to shake.

"Curtis O'Malley. Uh, mechanic." Curtis said, smiling extra wide as he gripped Spencer's hand like a vice.

"Just as I thought. Well, profiled." Spencer said, shaking his hand out to relieve some of the pain.

"Wait, you just profiled me? Awesome!" Curtis said, grinning like a fool. "What else do you think of me, Doctor?" 

The way he held out the last word made Reid feel a sort of...tingle. His naturally low voice dipping ever lower was just...in a word...sexy. 'Wait, sexy?' Reid thought. 'Do I really think this man is...sexy?' 

Curtis interrupted Spencer's train of thought. "I'm waiting." and he braced himself against the dooor frame as he spoke. 

'Oh yeah, he's definitely sexy.' Spence thought. "Uhm, could you repeat the question?" 'Flustered? I never get flustered. What is going on?'

Curtis chuckled. "And Penny says you're a genius. Well, if I must I must. What else did you profile about me?"

"Oh, your profile. Well I had the initial thought of you being around 28 or so and that you live alone in a small apartment or home with a dog or two. Your mechanic job has kept you from social life because you are the best at what you do and that you are a homosexual." Reid said matter-of-factly.

"You got all that from a minute of looking at me?"

"Well, they don't call me doctor for nothing." Reid said, flashing a toothy grin. 'Am I flirting with this man?'

"You, Doctor, are a brilliant man. I'm an open book with you, aren't I?"

'Yes you are, and I'd like to see what's under your cover.' Reid thought, licking his lips. "A-are you thirsty?I'm parched. Would you like something? No? I'll be right back. Stay here."

Reid, hurried off in search of Penelope and found her sitting between Kevin and Derek on the leather couch.

"Garcia. Kitchen. Now." and he was off again.

"What was that all about baby girl?" Morgan said, watching Reid strut to the kitchen, his gait more powerful than usual. 

"Yeah what about it Plum-Sauce?" Kevin asked, pointedly looking at Morgan. 

"I'm sot sure, but I'm off to find out."

Garcia walked into the kitchen and was met with a pacing Reid, his hands moving frantically through his long brown locks.

"What's up, Wonder-Boy?" Garcia said, pulling up a bar stool to the counter.  

"Why did you want me to meet Curtis?" Reid asked, bracing the counter.

"Because I thought you two would get along. Why is he being an ass?" Penelope said, getting up. 

"No, no, no. He's fine. A little TOO fine actually." 

After a moment, Garcia's face lit up like a Christmas tree and he mouth crept into the widest smile Reid has ever seen. 

"Spencer Reid. You like Curtis!! Oh my god you like Curtis!" She started chanting 'Spen-Cer Likes Cur-Tis! Spen-Cer Likes Cur-Tis!' and clapping along. Then she suddlenly stopped. "Wait, Spence. You're gay?"

"No! At least I didn't think so. But I mean, have you seen or heard him? His voice just, does something to me." Spencer said, pacing again.

"So you like him. Okay. But do you like, want to kiss him?" Garcia asked, sitting down again.

"No...maybe? I don't know!" Spencer said, coming around and sitting next to her. "Kind of...? A lot actually. So yes. Yes I do." 

"So go do it then, dumbass." Garcia said, playfully punching the stupid genius in the arm.

Smirking, Spencer said, "But what if he doesn't want to kiss me?"

"Mistletoe. Get him under there."

"But it's half way across the room."

"So dance over to it. Duh."

"Have you seen my dancing? I'll scare him away three steps in."

"Better to have tried and failed to never have tried at all." 

"That's misquoted. The actual quote is, -"

"WHO CARES! Now go out here and get your minute man! You only have like two minutes left before the ball drops."

"Alright. Thanks Gar-...Penny."

Maneuvering back to his original spot by Curtis's side, Spencer spotted three sprigs of mistletoe, the closest to them being around ten feet away. 

"Hey, there you are Doctor. Now, where were we?" Curtis asked as he placed his drink on a side table. 

"We were, uhm. We were...just about to dance." Spencer said, looking to Garcia. 

"Were we? Well, if you say so." Curtis said with a shrug and moved in closer to Reid. 

Spencer began to heat up as he moved back toward the mistletoe. He was within inches as the crowd began to count down from ten.

"Ten!" It's right there.

"Nine!" Get out of the way!

"Eight!" Don't stop touching my neck.

"Seven!" A couple more inches.

"Six!" Come on.

"Five!" Come on!

"Four!" Almost there!

"Three!" So close!

"Two!" Ahh fuck it!

"One! Happy New Year!" And their lips crashed together as Reid swung Curtis right underneath the mistletoe in an elegant dip. 

When they came apart for air, he sighed out, "And a happy new me."