Agony and Ecstacy

[Dr. Spencer Reid]

Reid was glade when the blonde got what he was saying. He knew he had scared her to death by the way that she looked as she raced out of the place, but really he had saved her from something, even if she wouldn't have known it. He was proud of himself and was ready to go home. That was enough for today. At least he had done some good. Slipping his ID back into his pocket he was ready to go before Oliver got back. But it turned out he had seen, or at least knew, that Reid had done something.

Reid jumped and his eyes became wide when he ruffly grabbed his arm. It hurt but Reid wasn't focused on the pain. He was more worried what he was going to do to him. Once out side Reid found himself up against the brick wall, which kind of hurt. Reid didn't answer his question though. The smartest thing was to stay quite as long as he could because anything he said would just make the other man more anger. Yes what Spencer had done was stupid, but he didn't care. He wasn't afraid any more, even though now was the time he should be worried. After all he was in a alley with a much stronger man every anger at him. And, as it turned out, he didn't have his gun, that being the messenger bag still hanging on the back of his chair in the restaurant. But Reid knew there wasn't much Oliver could do and get away with back here.

"Well! Fucking say something!" This time he hit the wall harder. Taking a big breath Reid decided it was time to start talking. "I saved that girl." He said simple, not going to lie. He knew Oliver knew it had been him. There was no reason to deny it. The truth was the only thing he could say. Though it wasn't going to make his much happier. Looking around the dark alley Reid tried to think of an escape plan. Not seeing a soul anywhere he looked back at Oliver, looking him in the eyes. Which reminded him of all the people that had said they had looked their attackers in the eyes so if they killed them they would have to watch them die. Some how that seemed to apply in this situation as well.

[Krys Robin]

"I saved that girl."

"Fuck man!" He used his left hand to roughly push Reid up against the wall again. Red in the face he suddenly found himself lost for words, in utter disbelief of what Spencer had the balls to do. Balls Oliver didn't think he had. "Fuck." He repeated breathless before looking right at the man's face as his phone vibrated loudly in his pocket. Oliver seemed to think on the notion for a long few moments before finally he took a step back, releasing Spencer and picking up the phone.

"Hey luv. Sorry I had to hang up.. Something.. Came up..." His dark eyes momentarily looked to Spencer by the wall before bringing his hand up to rub the back of his neck as Krys spoke on the other line. "No. I didn't know that koalas could do that." Oh god to be stuck in the most awkward of positions. With a slight guilty look he glanced to Spencer. All the boy would have to do was to open his mouth and yet Oliver hoped that he wouldn't. Spencer didn't understand the whole story.

Oliver liked Krys but Krys barely let him touch her. In fact their 'dates' were spent talking. True he liked talking but he needed more. He needed to feel like he was important to her too. And yet she didn't seem to feel the same way about him that he felt about her. But Spencer would never know that, and deep down Oliver knew that it was no excuse. "Really?" He was barely listening to her now, his mind preoccupied as he looked to Spencer, surprisingly defeated. "Listen, when you come back we need to talk." A pause and Krys' social misunderstanding became apparently by Oliver's response. "I know that we're talking now.. I just mean in person... No Kryssy, this isn't in person." Oliver couldn't help but chuckle softly and shake his head.

His eyes moved toward Spencer at the wall before saying something he knew he would regret. But he didn't want to be a bully, and from the outside looking in (like he was now) judging by the worried look on Spencer's face, that's exactly what he was. "Hey... Someone's here that you might want to talk to..." And with that, without looking at Spencer he side handed the phone.

[Dr. Spencer Reid]

Reid hit the wall ruffly again. He was just glade that all it was was a push. Sure there might be a bruise or two on his back, it seemed like the young man bruised really easy, but at least one could see those. If he punched him in the face then there would be some explaining to do that he didn't want to. Not to mention that it would hurt a lot more than a push into a wall. Maybe Oliver had some sense after all. If he did punch Reid then he would have some explaining to do as well. Something that Reid knew he didn't want to do. His words were just as harsh, but Spencer payed them no attention, foil language didn't mean anything.

Then his phone buzzed again. Reid looked down at his pocket wondering if he was going to get it or not. When he answered it he knew who it was right away. Krys. It was the only person that he would have answered the phone for in that moment, much like before. Though it didn't make much sense to Reid. As he talked Reid noticed a change in his behavior. He seemed sad, maybe even sorry. Even though Oliver had stepped away from Spencer he hadn't moved. It was like the whole situation had finally hit him, and he realized what he had done. He seemed sorry, and that's why Reid didn't move and didn't say anything. This wasn't his battle any more. If Oliver wanted to do the right thing then he could. And by the way he was talking it seemed he wanted to. "We need to talk." He had said, and even the awkward genius knew what that meant. What ever had changed the other man's mind had made him decided that this wasn't worth it. It kind of made Reid sad because he could tell that Oliver still felt something for Krys, even if he was a jerk, he still had feelings.

Then he did something that Reid hadn't expected. He held the phone out for him to take. At first Reid did nothing, not sure if it was a trick or not. And even if it wasn't what was he going to say? What could he say? Taking the phone he decided that he wouldn't say anything until Oliver and her had their talk. If he really wanted to do the right thing then Reid would let him do it. Placing the phone to his ear Reid cleared his throat hoping his voice would sound normal. "Hey Krys..." He said looked at Oliver with slightly confused eyes. Why had he given the phone to him in the first place? That would probably always be a mystery.

[Krys Robin]

"Hey Krys..."

"Spence!?" Came an excited voice from the other end of the line that was clearly Krys. Unlike Spencer she seemed to not understand what Oliver had meant about 'needing to talk' because she sounded bright as ever... Wherever she was. "Guess where I am... Guess!" She prodded though the odds of Spencer knowing her routine and dayplanner were pretty farfetched, even if Krys was socially awkward this was painfully obvious even to the slowest of individuals.

"San Francisco." Oliver murmured, now leaning against the wall deliberately avoiding eye contact with Spencer though a hint of a smirk spread on his lips. Sure his pride was a bit bruised especially when he took notice of how much happier Krys' tone sounded when she was talking to her friend as opposed to talking to him. Some things were just out of your control and no matter how Oliver felt no amount of money would change it. Krys wasn't like regular girls. Perhaps that's why he liked her so much... Because she *didn't* like him.

Looking up he blinked, bringing himself back to reality and finally looking upon the agent. "She's at the San Francisco Zoo." Another weak smile as he looked to his expensive shoes and fixed his collar. "She's been giving me facts all day."

"The San Francisco Zoo!" Krys exclaimed obviously not hearing what was going on on the other end or even wondering why the two of them were 'hanging out'. "Spence there's koalas and kangaroos.. I've never seen a kangaroo up close before. Did you know that baby kangaroos when they're born aren't much bigger than your thumb and grow up in pouches?" Meanwhile she was practically hanging over the railing of the exhibit, trying to get a closer look. After this little field trip she would definitely win the next little fact war with Spencer.

Oliver quietly reached out and took the phone. Hearing any more of this would hurt and he would have regretted his situation. "Listen Kryssy... I gotta go. I'll see you when you get back okay?" Krys kept on rambling right until the point where Oliver clicked his phone shut. As if it contained the weight of the world he slid it into his pocket and, after a long while, looked to Spencer.

"Does she know?" His face had suddenly turned serious as he looked at the young man. It was painfully obvious as to what he was referring to.

[Dr. Spencer Reid]

Krys' cheerful voice came over the speakers and Reid couldn't help but smile at her oblivious self. It was a great break from the conversation him and Oliver had been having. Even on a normal day she made him smile. he knew that the smile wasn't going to help Oliver's mood get any better, but he couldn't help it. When she asked where she was he had no idea and wasn't about to guess. Then Oliver said where it was, but he still didn't say it, he knew it wasn't right he had cheated. So he just said, "I don't know." A second later she said what Oliver had. And also like he had said she went off with some facts. Reid couldn't get his voice to work though to try and give her back any. Some how he found this conversation very painful. Maybe it was the sudden realization that he liked her more than he was letting on, or maybe it was Oliver, the man who was dating her, standing next to him.

When he took the phone Reid suddenly wished he could have told Krys good bye but didn't ask to get the phone back. He wasn't going to do anything to put Oliver back over the end again, which Reid was sure was only a very small point until he was back pushing him against the wall. It was like he was standing next to a totally different person than before. This one wasn't a monster, he was lost and confused, about to loss the girl that he claimed to love. But something told Reid that he didn't care for Krys as much as he did. And even if he did she didn't like him even a little.

"Does she know?" This question only made it harder for Reid to find his voice through the frog in his throat. He wasn't sure why it was so hard. He should have been happy right? He was starting to realize his feelings for her, yet something about it made him feel like the monster. Or at least it scared him. The answer to the question was the true hard thing. He didn't know what to say. After a long pause he was finally able to say, "I don't think so." In truth it was more like a flat no, but Reid wasn't good at all this stuff. "I barely know..." He added looking at the ground afraid to look at Oliver. Not so much that he was afraid of him any more. It was the fact that he was telling him stuff that he hadn't told anyone else. Stuff that he wasn't even sure of, and that was saying something. Reid could deal with serial killers, and profiles and books, but he didn't know anything about love.

[Krys Robin]

"I barely know..."

Oliver looked up suddenly, his eyes a tad widened from the realization of Spencer's words. "How do you not know?" True it was an odd situation, he liked Krys and here he was trying to get this kid to admit that he liked her too. It was made even more odd by the previous fight the two of them had and all of the awful things that the rich boy had said to the agent and yet, here he was talking about it, even pushing the matter. Oliver knew that he could have any girl he wanted except Krys because she was odd... Well this Spencer was odd too. And lucky for Oliver he wasn't in love with Krys, he simply liked her... But this poor boy, still by the wall, actually seemed to have feelings for her. And yet he was denying them!

"No offense agent, but for being such a genius you really are very stupid." Oliver chuckled. He could be quite blunt but at least right now he wasn't pummelling the poor guy. In fact they were actually having a rather civil conversation which was a strong contrast to what they had been doing earlier. Deliberately pushing one another's buttons, ruining each other's day and plans, trying to hurt one another through various tactics. But now, something about the alley had changed and there was a new mood to it all.

"People like you don't do what you did to people like me." Oliver shook his head again, running his hand over the back of his neck. "No offense but it's true. You just don't do something like that unless you..." Oliver cast a sideways glance on the agent studying him for a moment as he sucked his cheeks inward in momentary thought. Maybe the very 'L' word would frighten him off and honestly, that wasn't what Oliver wanted to do. They had tog et to the bottom of this... One way or another.

"You have to know. It's just one of those things that you automatically know." Oliver attempted to explain, shifting against the wall he crossed his arms over his chest. Looks like he'd have to drag the response out of him. Finally, appearing thoughtful, he came up with a way. "Say she disappeared off the face of the planet tomorrow, or she went off and got married, or if you knew you would never see her again..." Oliver shot his glance toward Spencer. This would be the tell all. But why was he helping him!? He didn't even know the answer.

[Dr. Spencer Reid]

The change in Oliver was almost to much. Suddenly it was like the two were buddies, even though a moment before they had wanted to kill each other. Reid could actually see himself being friends with this Oliver, but he also knew that the other Oliver was still somewhere deep down under the surface. maybe this was the guy Krys say when she was out with him? Maybe that was why she liked him. Reid had to force himself from giving to much to the other man, he was still a womanizing jerk who had earlier said he was going to make love to Krys one way or another, at the same time as being on a date with another women.

Reid couldn't explain to Oliver how he felt. And why he didn't know. it was like he knew, but he didn't know. It was confusing to even think about. He had just hoped that Oliver and taken the answer and left it, but instead he tried to get it out of him. Reid didn't really want to talk to him about it, he didn't want to talk to anyone about it. What did it matter anyway? He wasn't even sure if Krys felt the same way about him. And if she didn't and he brought it up then what would that do to their friendship? She was his best friend, he wasn't sure what he would do with out her. He couldn't even seem to remember a time when he hadn't known her.

"People like you don't do what you did to people like me." He was right, and that was one of the reasons that Reid was starting to realize. He had never tried to get himself into a fight, but because he had been threatening Krys, or at least it seemed like he was threatening her, he had lost it. Reid still didn't say anything though. He could tell that Oliver was about to use that word, the one that Reid had never thought he would be so scared to think. He knew where he was going even if he wasn't all that good at relationships and all. And he didn't want to go there. He wanted his nice little world to stay where it was, and not open up any more.

It wasn't until Oliver said that you always knew right away that Reid actually started to think about what he was saying. He thought about the first time he had meet her. It was at the college during a class, he had helped her when a couple of students had been mean to her. He remember the feeling he got when he had seen her before the lecture the thought that she was cute and smart. Then the feeling when he say he being pushed. He had stood up to kids that he normally wouldn't have had the courage to say anything to, not that they took him seriously. Then they had gone to the arcade and had a blast playing video games, something Reid never did, and yet he thought it one of the funnest days of his life. The funnest thing was he felt like he had known her for years before that day. Maybe Oliver was right, maybe he had known from the beginning.

"Say she disappeared off the face of the planet tomorrow, or she went off and got married, or if you knew you would never see her again..." Reid swallowed hard with the situation. He had already come so close to that several times before. Like when he had gotten sick with the virus, in his world she would have been gone. Then there was the plane crash. Shaking those thoughts out of his head he looked over at Oliver for a second only to look back at the ground sheepishly. "I'd hate it if she was gone." He said not giving him what he wanted. He paused a long time not sure of what to say next. When he finally spoke his voice was soft, "When I saw her walking down those stairs at the Ball with you the only think I could think of was that it should have been me but I was to scared to ask her, even as a friend. Then when I saw you in there with that girl I was thinking, 'He already has the best girl in the world and yet he has to cheat on her?'" Tears welled up in his eyes, but he pushed the back, he wasn't going to cry, not in front of Oliver.

[Krys Robin]

Oliver let out a heavy sigh at Spencer's response. It felt as though someone had placed two hands on his chest and pushed hard with all of their might. For a second he couldn't even breathe, or just forgot to. This young man, this man he previously thought of as a worm who had no love but books and that was all, obviously cared very dearly for a young woman. But, unlike Oliver he didn't have the guts to voice his own opinion. Oliver was a big mouth, confidant, and shared his opinion with anyone because he felt entitled, but this Spencer seemed to shrink away from his own opinions, no matter how important they were, because they weren't based on book facts which was the area he was comfortable in.

"Agent.. Doctor..." God, how many titles did this young man have? "Reid." That was the only name he could remember off the top of his head besides 'Spence' but he deemed that inappropriate because the only reason he remembered it was because that's what Krys called him all of the time. "Good god man." Even during this tense moment he let out a bit of a tired laugh, once again rubbing the back of his neck choosing to ignore Spencer's wet eyes. Around guys, bros even, that was just uncomfortable.

"Isn't that enough to know? That, what you just said! It's so obvious." Already he felt exasperated, out of breath. Removing his back from the wall he shook his head and looked back to the young man pressingly. "You could have asked her. Hell, you should have asked her." Oliver exclaimed in disbelief, giving yet another shake of his head. Was this guy for real? He felt so strongly and yet said nothing? Oliver Davies couldn't live like that and he had no idea how Spencer Reid managed to.

"Reid... You're not in middleschool. You have to grow some balls and tell her before someone... Less understanding than me comes along." Oliver gave a faint little smirk hoping that the intelligent young man would catch the humor in that statement (as he was about to beat him up moments earlier). But he couldn't let the man go with just that thought, there was another thought in particular about Krys that bugged Oliver which had brought him to this very eatery with another woman.

"She can be a handful Reid. She's not like other girls." Oliver did his best to explain, looking down at the pavement as he pieced together the words. "I couldn't even kiss her or hug her without her tensing up..." His eyes darted up to the young man. He was smart. The smartest. Maybe he knew why.

[Dr. Spencer Reid]

Reid could tell that his story had startled Oliver. But what the other man didn't understand was that Reid was only figuring all this out now. He hadn't even thought that his relationship might have been more than it was. He hadn't noticed that the feeling he had felt when he had seen her with Oliver at the Ball were something that he should look into. Reid had just thought he was worried about her being he didn't like Oliver and that was true, but now that he looked back it was painfully obvious. He wondered if it was obvious enough that Krys had seen it. Reid tried to think back, to see if he could remember anything about her personality that had showed that she had understood what was going on. He came up blank. Could they both have missed it?Was he missing her hints that she liked him also? Reid had had never little luck with love in the past.

Another thing Oliver didn't know about Spencer was that he had never gotten the chance to learn what to do in a situation like this. He was a awkward little kid when he went to high school, and what was even more was he grew up with out a father to help him with girl troubles. And his mom wasn't always there to be of much help either, not that he would have felt comfortable to ask her for help. That wasn't something you asked you mom. Especailly not Spencer Reid.

"Reid... You're not in middle school. You have to grow some balls and tell her before someone... Less understanding than me comes along." Reid smiled at the small joke, actually getting it. But there wasn't anything in him to laugh. This just didn't seem like the moment a laugh should even go. He saw the wisdom in his words. But how does a guy he didn't even go to middle school know how to deal with girls. How was he suppose to talk to her? He could interview killers and rapist, granted he wasn't to comfortable with that either, but girls were a completely different thing. Sighing he asked, knowing that it was no where neat growing a pair, "How do I know she likes me back? I mean... if she doesn't and I tell her I do then that could ruin our friendship..." He knew it was petty and he had to sound like a middle schooler than, but he needed to know.

Oliver's voice suddenly changed as he explained how Krys wasn't like normal girls. Reid already knew that. He remembered on the island how when he hugged her to reassure her Matt and Kate would be okay she had tensed up. Or how she had acted with he had asked about her father. More recently, though, he remembered when he had told her about her birthday present and she had hugged him with the ease of a child. It was that hug that stayed in his mind. Oliver then asked why she was like that and Reid didn't know what to say. He knew the answer but he also knew that she had told him it with the most trust. She trusted that he wouldn't go around telling people something that she tried so hard to cover up. And Reid wasn't about to betray that trust just because Oliver wanted to know why she was so distant. If she wanted him to know she would have told him. Taking a long breath Reid knew he had to say something. "She hasn't had a very friendly life." He finally said figure that that should be good enough to keep Oliver at bay.

[Krys Robin]

"How do I know she likes me back? I mean... if she doesn't and I tell her I do then that could ruin our friendship..."

"Sometimes you just have to take that risk Agent Reid." Oliver lectured, moving to fix the collar of his nice clothes which, he had just noticed, had become a bit wrinkled in their earlier debacle. Still tending to his outfit he decided to assist a little bit more, though it would be through weaving somewhat well spoken words.

"Tell me, obviously you take risks in your line of work. You have to because the pros outweigh the cons. Am I right?" Stepping away from the alley wall he then moved to dust off his pant legs. "It's much the same in this situation." Leave it to Oliver to diminish a love to something as simple as an exchange or 'you snooze, you lose'. But that's how he viewed the world. He had been raised by his parents with so much dough that the entire world was in his hands and he often took much of what he did with confidence for granted, and expected others to do the same though it may have been out of character for them.

"It comes down to this Agent Reid." Oliver clicked his tongue against the top rim of his mouth thoughtfully before directing his gaze back on Spencer. "You either tell her or you spend the rest of your life wondering what could have been. Which would you honestly prefer?" Oliver Davies was actually interested in what the answer might be, whether or not if the agent would willingly give it. How could such a brilliant young man be so 'fish out of water' with what Oliver percieved as simple social matters? Were all of the employees in the Bureau like this? For his own safety Oliver hoped not.

With a bit of a sigh he rubbed the back of his neck again, messing up the collar that he had just recently tended to. "Admittedly, I don't know much about what goes on in that girl's head." Oliver went onto explain with a bit of a sigh and a weak smile though it was still very charming no matter what facial expression he took on. Oliver just had that charm naturally. Spencer got the brains, Oliver got the charm. Most of it was taught by his father, to be completely fair. "But I do know that Kryssy smiles whenever she talks about you, Agent Reid." It hurt his pride to admit it, but hey, going by his own philosophy 'you win some, you lose some'.

[Dr. Spencer Reid]

Oliver's words reminded Reid of ecumenics. You have to weigh the risks with your benefits, and make the decision that you think will be the best for you. Also you have to be a risk takers, else you would get no where in life. It all sounded so easy, yet Reid knew that it wasn't. This was a win lose situation. And he wasn't sure what he would do if he didn't win. What would he do if Krys didn't like him and admitting that he did forced her way from him? He wasn't sure if he could live with out her around. And what if she didn't push him away but still didn't feel the same about him? There would be the odd knowing that would drive a wedge through them. Everyday Reid knowing that they could never to together. But at the same time he would hate himself for not trying, just like Oliver said.

He wondered if it as easy for Oliver as he said it was? If he could take the chance and live with the consequences. Maybe it was, but for him he could get any girl he wanted. He was rich, handsome and very charming. What was Reid? Too smart, and just cute. He wasn't the best catch in the world. So if he lost Krys now then who else would there be? He wouldn't have the guts to ask any others out, what if this was his last chance and he could do it? He sighed and looked at the dark ground, suddenly aware of just how dark it was. He felt alone in the alley, even if Oliver was standing less then three feet away from him. He felt like he had always been alone, and he would always be. He did feel so alone with his team, but he still a one of the kind person, no one could know what he was thinking, feeling. Not even Morgan. But with Krys he felt more normal. Like he wasn't just a genius good for throwing out facts when they were needed. He knew his team didn't just see him as a tool to get the job done, but he also knew that some times he was. With Krys he was just a person, though.

"But I do know that Kryssy smiles whenever she talks about you, Agent Reid." Reid wasn't sure how Oliver could be so sure. That he could tell that she was smiling about him, and not at him. That she actually seemed to like him. How did someone come to be like this man, so confident in everything that he did? Reid envied him, knowing that it was one of his major fails, being self-conscious. Looking over at the other man he said, "I don't think it's that easy...." He looked back at the ground before adding. "I'm not like you, I've dealt with rejection my whole life, I've come to expect it, by I'm not sure if I could take it coming from Krys..." he Hated being so venerable, spilling his guts to a man that no more than fifteen minutes before had meant to kick the crap out of him. But he needed to talk to someone, someone he knew wouldn't go spreading his feeling around the office so everyone could take a whack at making him feel better.

[Krys Robin]

"I never said it was going to be easy, but it doesn't have to be so incredibly hard either." Oliver sighed with another chuckle. Talking to Spencer was kind of like speaking to a thirteen year old no matter how brilliant his mind was he seemed behind in other ways that Oliver had taken for granted. Gesturing with his hands he felt himself become a bit frusterated with the young man. How could he feel so strongly about Krys and do nothing about it? Oliver was the sort to always act on instinct no matter how farfetched because he always had some chance to get it.

"Agent Reid, everybody is going to tell you that rejection is the worst feeling. It's not. Really. It's not." His eyes shot up from the ground to fall on the young agent. Biting down on his lower lip he wet it in thought, before inhaling. "Life will move on. Yes or no. The worse that could happen is a no. So what? Then you know. If you don't ask for the rest of your days you'll be wondering why you didn't even try..." How could he not get it? Wasn't this man supposed to be a genius? Right now he seemed to be anything but because to Oliver, this was the most obvious thing in the entire world.

"You don't need to be like me Agent Reid. In fact I think by being the complete opposite of me you'll have more success." Oliver let out a sigh, once again leaning against the wall in the alley. Crossing his arms over his chest he looked to the opposite wall of the other building across from them. It was dark but he could still make out the grafitti and indentations. He couldn't force this kid to do anything. He could beat him up like before, but what would that really accomplish? Not much at all.

"Either way, it's up to you." Giving up he shook his head and pushed himself away from the wall and he began to fix his clothes before he started to walk away. "Nobody needs to know." And with that he left, turning the corner to make his way toward his town car.