The next day and Gubler was up against Marco again. Except now, Matt needed an extra fifteen minuted in makeup to help hide the massive bags beneath his eyes and to wait for the tylenol to kick in and help with his hangover. Of course, Marco only took 5 minuites, because he walked in naturally gorgeous, the jerk.

Matt had reviewed the script for the scene and knew it well. The next scene took up where the last one ended, in a small, quiet lunch café that was mostly empty except for a few out of focus patrons in the background. He was going to have kiss Alec this time, it was writen. He had spent a few good minutes that morning talking himself into it via the mirror but now he was a jittery wreck again.

Alec was all wide smiles, his pray just arm's length before him, at the small, round table, munching on a ciabatta that was all lettuce and taking note`s of the important parts of their conversation. "How long are you going to be in the area?"

"Until the case is solved. Did you see anything unusual at all? Maybe Mrs. Foster's tone was different when you picked Muffins up?"

"Nothing. And Muffins is a big dog, a guard dog. I think whoever did this knew I walked him, waited for me to pick him up. It'd be the smart thing anyhow. How often do you come by this area?"

"Whenever there's a case. That's a very observant idea. I agree with it. In fact, there's been some evidence that our un-sub stalked the other two victims as well. So try to think past just today, you said you've been doing this for two months now, have you seen any strangers in the area? Maybe cars parked for long periods of time, maybe someone who didn't fit the normal bill of that neighborhood?"

Alec paused and gave it genuine thought. "I'd love to be useful to you Dr. Reid, but I can't say that I have. Unfortunately I can be a little unobservant in this job, I'm, going to school and this job is just means to an end."

"I see." He set his pen down momentarily as Reid's curiosity got the better of him, "What are you going to school for?"

Alec noticed, "Veterinarian technician. Do you like animals?"

He sat forward with a shrug, "Sure, but I'm more of cat person than— Oh, you are good." He smiled.

"What, you don't like talking about yourself?" even though his tone was innocent, Alec grinned mischievously as he leaned on the table top.

"I'm just not a people person, I guess." Matthew accidently looked at Marco's lips, he couldn't rember his next line, all he could think about was that in the next few seconds Rouix was going to try to kiss him again. He leaned back quickly even though he was supposed to lean in and managed to knock his prop soda onto his shirt.

"Shit!"

"Cut" the director called.

He looked up at Marco, severly pissed off. Pissed at the situation, at the poll and the fans, and at himself for acting so nervous and unproffestional. Marco's face only held concern and sympathy, which made Matt feel even dumber.

The director for today approached. "Matthew—"

"I know. I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry. I spoke with Deb and she told me they didn't have you two do any cold scenes, which, in this case, seems a little irresponsible. Unfortunately, I don't have the time today to do that, and we'll be severely off schedule if I wait until tomorrow. So I'm gonna break for 10, get cleaned off and run it through Mr. uh—." He checked his notes. "Rouix, quickly, so we can get through it. Okay?"

"Yes." He sighed, feeling more than a little embarrassed.

"Marco, will come with me to wardrobe?"

"Sure."

Marco followed Gubler in silence, walking briskly as there was a time constraint.

When they reached the men's wardrobe room Matt stripped off his shirt, feeling to pissed to be embarrassed. "Hey Brandon" he greeted the lackey attending the room. I need a shirt that looks just like this one, minus the Coke stain. Thanks." Brandon took the shirt and scurried off to find a match.

He grabbed a jacket from the rack in the mean while and turned his attention to his coworker. "Okay, kiss me."

"What?" Rouix turned his head, thinking he had misheard him.

"Listen, we don't have a lot of time here." Gubler threw his hand up in frustration. "I obviously can't hold my shit together long enough for Reid to be 'surprised' by the kiss. I'm too nervous, and I know it's coming, and I can't handle it. If you kiss me now, then on camera and out there in front of 200 crewmen and a million viewers I won't look spastic! Got it?"

Rouix shook his head. "Lower your voice, Gubler. If you hadn't been acting so childish yesterday, we wouldn't be in this mess."

"How's that?"

"We could have built a working relationship, it wouldn't have taken that long, and then you would have felt comfortable with something as menial as the peck I was trying to give you out there. Now you want a crash course? And Reid, he's gonna be kissing Alec an awful lot. You're going to jump every time, get used to nick-names like 'popcorn', Mr. Gubler."

Mathew was appalled at the idea, but Rouix was right, "Fuck."

"Well, why don't we just stick with the kiss for now?"

He laughed, "I mean, you're right. I wasn't just being unprofessional, I was unduly rude to you. I'm sorry. But I'm straight, I've never kissed a man in that way and I needed sulking time—it's no excuse, but if you forgive me, I'm ready to build a work relationship with," he pointed at Marco, "Alec. But, since we don't have time for it. It does have to be the crash course. So start calling me Matt, and kiss me, before Brandon comes back with that damned shirt."

"Okay, Matt. Ready?" He stepped forward and leaned down, getting in Matt's way personal space.

Matt leaned back a little unconsciously.

Marco put his arms out, wrapping one around Gubler's middle to stop him backing up.

Feeling shaky, Matt closed his eyes and nodded, "Yes."

Marco took his mouth roughly. It was not the same kiss Shamar had given him, or his brothers, or any man ever should ever give to another man, it was forceful and domineering, and Matt jumped out of his own skin. Too bad Marco had him trapped by the waist, pulling him tighter against his body at the movement. Matt reached up grabbed the man's shoulders, not pushing away but gripping with nerves, his heart pounding. Marco palmed at the back of Matt's skull and pulled at his hair gently, it felt nice-which instantly pissed Matt off. He opened his mouth to say so, but his co-actor took it as an invitation, and then there was tongue in his first gay kiss. Not just any tongue, ridiculously skilled tongue, Matt felt dizzy and lost to a moment of insanity, he participated. He turned his head up, relaxed his body to stop fighting his co-worker, told the tiny voice in the back of his mind he had asked for this and wrapped one arm around the taller man's neck, deepening the kiss and getting drunk on the sparks running down his spine. Marco moaned low, and pulled his mouth away, turning his face from his coworker. Thankfully he hadn't let Matt go, or he'd probably have lost balance a little.

Marco laughed, "Is that the kiss you were looking for?"

"No, no that was not." He steadied himself and pulled away. "Well, at least now I probably won't flinch at peck."

"Good to hear." Marco acknowledge, not making eye contact.

An uncomfortable silence overtook them, for a few more moments until Gubler broke it with a shout, "Brandon where hell is my shirt!?"

"Ok, I'm going to go tell the director we're just waiting on your shirt and you'll be back when it's done."

"Thank you."

10 minutes later, and in a shirt that looked nothing like the first shirt, they were directed to begin almost where they left off.

"What, you don't like talking about yourself?" even though his tone was innocent, Alec grinned mischievously as he leaned on the table top.

"I'm just not a people person, I guess." Reid didn't even realize how close they were until Alec leaned just a few inches farther across the small table and kissed him again, softly. He was surprised but didn't pull away for long moment. "I'm sorry…" He looked down at the floor, unable to meet Alec's eyes, "but I can't do this."

"I won't force you to do anything you don't want to," He spoke in a soothing low tone, "but from what you've told me about the nature of your work with the B.A.U., time is short, so you're going to have to decide what you want pretty quickly, babe."

Reid loved pet names. Loved them. And he looked back up at the man, truly considering him. After a moment he chose full disclosure, Alec needed to know what he was getting into. "My last lover was murdered by a psychopath who thought she loved me. She held us hostage and killed her in front of me."

Alec blinked but slowly nodded, "Thanks for the warning. But I'm not going to let some psycho -trollop scare me off."

He wrapped his arms around Alec and crushed his lips to his own. It wasn't in the script, it was all Reid's will. But it didn't last long, and he pulled away to hold back tears as he thought of Maeve.

Alec was blown away by the sudden emotion, and he realized that this man was different, special. He had the potential to be someone very important. "I can tell you're a man who wants to save the world, but you're so delicate. Maybe what you need is someone to protect you, so that you can protect the world?" he asked while petting away a small tear that had fallen from those beautiful blue eyes.

Shyly and slowly Dr. Reid nodded.

Note: So, I had spent long hours working on this chapter and then lost all of it to the dredded Microsoft crash. Now my spell check wont work and everthing is riddled with spelling errors, sorry about that. Personally I think the first verstion was better but, what can I do? Its 10:48 AM and I havnt slept a wink, so you get what you get, or you'd get nothing—and you better be thankful and comment. I'm going to bed!