A prerequisite for being in the BAU is the utter refusal to listen to doctors.

[leftinbasketforfbi]

Reid wasn't exactly mad. He was more resigned. He had known that Rossi would probably leave before the doctors okay'd his departure, but he was still somewhat frustrated by the stubborn Italian. Would it kill the man to just take care of himself? (He wondered if that was how Hotch felt every time one of them were gravely wounded and then showed up to work two days afterwards.)

Reid drove up Rossi's driveway, but he had to pause at the wheel after he stopped, swallowing hard. The last time he had done this, he had ended up having to shoot a man and keep Rossi from bleeding out before paramedics arrived.

He took a deep breath, then opened the car door, stepping out and shutting it behind him. It wouldn't help anyone if he dwelt on that experience.

Reid knocked on Rossi's front door. Even if Rossi wouldn't take care of himself, Reid could make sure he was alright.


(Continued from here.)

Comments

[leftinbasketforfbi]

Reid gasped softly as the kiss was broken and Rossi drifted down his neck. His pulse raced, pounding in his throat, and he couldn't help but smile ruefully when Rossi pulled away.

"Yeah. I don't know about you, but I didn't exactly like calling in the paramedics and I'd prefer to not have to do that again." His smile became more genuine and he reached up, holding Rossi's hand to his face. "Something to look forward to, right?"

The butterflies receded, becoming calm and warm. He felt safe. He very, very rarely felt safe.

[hell_ofa_thing]

"Once is enough," he said. They could both agree to that. It gave him time, as well, to plan the proper date he'd spoken of earlier: homemade pasta, a dessert Reid could appreciate, music, the same closeness they were experiencing now, only taken further. The prospect of what was to come was also a good incentive to take it easy, not try to push beyond his limits, lest he injure himself further and delay the recovery process.

He leaned back, pulling Reid closer, though careful not to aggravate his stitches.

"I've already got plans," he promised, with a smile.

[leftinbasketforfbi]

Reid would really like that. A night of old-fashioned romance and intimacy, both emotional and physical. The kind of night he never thought would happen to an awkward guy like him.

Reid lay back next to him, tucking his head in the crook of Rossi's neck and keeping his hands well away from the older agent's stitches.

"Should I be scared?" he joked, barely noticing that they were halfway through the movie now.

[hell_ofa_thing]

At this point, the movie was more like white noise than anything to actually be paid attention to. He didn't feel the need to turn it off, though, because the background noise was nice, and they had the option of watching it again if they wanted, even if the movie was mostly over.

He reached out to intertwine their fingers again. "Terrified. I'm gonna make you eat food and listen to Sinatra." He wouldn't go into more detail than that; he wanted some of it to be a surprise.

[leftinbasketforfbi]

Reid allowed Rossi to lace their fingers together, smiling. "Sounds like torture," he joked, resting his free hand on Rossi's chest.

He nuzzled Rossi's neck. He was excited and nervous at the same time, but somehow, Rossi's presence soothed him. He wasn't entirely sure how the older agent managed it, but he always got him to feel calm. Yet, out of curiosity... "How long have you been planning on telling me about this?"

Maaaaan it was killing me that I couldn't tag this at work :3

[hell_ofa_thing]

"A week," he laughed. "Seeing you there when I woke up in the hospital -- I don't know, everything clicked. I wasn't gonna say anything while I was still walking around in that ugly gown, confined to a bed."

It was a conversation far too important to have in the hospital, of all places, and especially since he couldn't be entirely sure how the confession would be received. They both needed and deserved some privacy.

He turned his head a little, enough to kiss Reid's forehead.

Yay! You're back! 83

[leftinbasketforfbi]

"I'm glad I decided to stick with you in the hospital, then." He smiled, closing his eyes and savoring the feeling of safety and warmth. He had that feeling precious few times, so he enjoyed it when he did. "This makes me wish I had the guts to approach you a while ago."

He had never dreamed his feelings were returned, but in retrospect, it really shouldn't have taken a stalker nearly killing Rossi for either of them to decide on acting on their affection. (And even then, it had been Rossi acting on it; it still hadn't occurred to Reid to do it.)

Yes! Too busy to take a lunch break today, I was dying. And that icon is so cute!

[hell_ofa_thing]

When those feelings had first started to become recognizable as being more than friendship, he'd known even then that he would have to approach first. And while he hadn't known for sure whether or not Reid would reciprocate, there had been some subtle hints over time that led him to believe it wouldn't be the biggest mistake of his life to suddenly give those feelings life.

"So we'll make up for lost time," he shrugged a little, smiling and ruffling Reid's hair affectionately.