all the pretty girls - KALEO

"I wonder how Davis is doing with Bailey," Prentiss asked absently toward the end of dinner. The team, minus Davis, had ended up at an Italian restaurant. Four empty pizza plates were on the table, assorted styles reduced to the same bare metal. The check had been paid a few minutes ago. Hotch and Rossi were chatting calmly in the corner. They weren't likely to get wrapped up in the gossip.

"Bowchicka wowwow," Morgan offered as an answer. Prentiss and JJ laughed, but Reid stiffened, catching Morgan's eye.

"He seemed nice," JJ said.

"What do you think, Reid?" Morgan asked.

"About what?"

"Bailey and Davis."

"Good for them," Reid said flatly. JJ and Prentiss trades looks.

"Okay," Morgan said to the table, "I think I'm going to hit the bar across the street. Any takers?" He sat up and put on his jacket which had been draped over the back of the chair.

"No thanks, I'm exhausted," Prentiss declined.

"I'm good," JJ seconded.

"It's the mini bar for me," Rossi joked and began similar preparations to leave.

"I'll go," said Reid. The was slight pause, everyone at the table freezing for just a moment in surprise.

"Okay," Morgan said, "Let's go."

"Wheels up in at 0830," Hotch reminded, "Have a good night."

Morgan has naturally planned to go to the bar and find a beautiful woman with which to spend the night, but Reid's gloomy mood took precedence. The pair sat down at the bar and Morgan signaled the bartender in practiced fashion to bring them two beers.

"So, kid, Maya?"

"What about her?" Reid asked, half sneer. He pushed his hair behind his ears and placed his hands back on the table at which point they because the focus of his distant stare.

"You like her," Morgan said.

"I don't."

"Then why were you being so aggressive toward Bailey?"

"He's stuck up. And mediocre," Reid said to his hands.

"Cmon Reid, give it up, it's obvious," Morgan pressed and pushed on of the beers placed in front oh him toward Reid. Reid looked up, took it, and drank.

"Great, so everyone knows?"

"I think the only one who doesn't is Maya."

"What makes you think that?"

"If she knew, she wouldn't have gone out with that tacky San Diego guy," Morgan posited and took a deep gulp from his glass.

"You don't have to do that," Reid said quietly.

"What?"

"Make fun of him for me." Morgan smiled.

"I didn't like him. He's too alpha male."

"You're an alpha male," Reid shot back, a smile creeping onto his lips. Morgan shrugged and downed the rest of his beer.

"What do you think their doing? Maya and him?" Reid asked.

"I don't know. Why don't we get drunk and forget about it?" Morgan said, more command than question. Around them the noise of the bar was picking up; the regular crowd seemed to trickle in.

"Wheels up is at 8:30 am."

"Reid, you've got to learn a couple of things. One of them is this: everything has a price. A good night costs a hangover. That's just how it is." Reid rolled his eyes, but kept drinking.

At a quarter past ten, a few shots later, Reid was certifiably tipsy. Morgan, though barely feeling anything, was endlessly entertained by the genius's ramblings. Only Reid would discuss the failings of modern nuclear physics while drunk. Just as Morgan finished his third beer, Reid's phone rang on the bar counter.

"Maya Davis," declared the screen. Reid went to reach for it, but Morgan was quicker.

"Morgan!" Reid complained.

"Nuh uh." Morgan stopped him with a hand.

"Pick up!"

"Not yet. You gotta make her wait for it," Morgan said calmly. After one more ring he picked up. Reid glared at him so much force that a passerby would be surprised Morgan's shaved head didn't burst into flame.

"No, babygirl, just me," Morgan said into the phone.

"What does she want?" Reid mouthed.
Morgan waived him off and said "He isn't currently available. Can I take a message?" By now Reid himself was on the verge of combusting with nervous energy, his fate entire in Morgan's hands. He leaned forward too far trying to hear and almost fell off his chair.

"He's perfect," Morgan said, suppressing laughter. He winked at Reid. She must of asked how I am, thought Reid.

Then there was a moment of silence. Reid started to say something but Morgan put out a hand, signaling him to shut up.

"See ya, Davis," Morgan said and hung up.

"So?" Reid asked immediately.

"So?" Morgan played dumb.

"Cmon, Morgan. What did she want?"

"She was just calling to see if you were okay."

"What? That's not good."

"Sure it is. She's checking in on you," Morgan said. He let the bartender know they were ready for the check.

"Like a babysitter," Reid groaned. Morgan laughed, though not unkindly.

"She called you at ten p.m. to ask how you were. That's good in my books," Morgan told him.

"Did she say anything about Bailey? Like how he was rude and horrible and she never wants to see him again," Reid asked hopefully. With a smirk, Morgan shook his head.

"She didn't say anything about him. Cmon, kid, let's get you back to the hotel. You're going to need some sleep." After tipping the bartender, Morgan shepherded Reid out of the establishment, Reid complaining all the while about the detrimental effects of the antiquated system of tipping in the United States.