Reclamation

A/N: Rounding the bend in this fic. there will prolly be only one or two more chaps. This one is kinda short I know but it's lots of fluff. Thanks as always to Berryblue_girl for her inspiration and support. Love ya lots babydoll.

FEEDBACK is what I crave, feed me.

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Chapter 10

Garcia was fussing and putting the finishing touches on the spread of snacks. Emily laughed and shook her head.

"Relax, Pen. It's Sasha, you know if it's junk food, she'll love it." she said and handed the blonde a drink. "I know you are stressing, but if you keep it up she will read it and that will make the whole night a waste." she advised softly. Garcia nodded her head and took a sip from the glass.

"I know. I just want everything to be perfect. I want Sasha to feel ...normal." she said the last word coming out a pained whisper. Emily nodded her dark head solemnly.

"Me too." she said and then turned away to hide the emotion she hated to express. The action was interrupted by a knock on the door.

"That will be JJ and Reid." Penelope said brightening and scurrying to the door.

The greetings were loud and warm. Garcia enveloping the thin woman in a tight hug, before letting her go to hug JJ.

Sasha was looking very well. Her golden eyes bright and filled with mischief. She ambled into the room and got a quick hug from Emily before making a beeline for the snack table.

"This is amazing, Pen." she called out, stuffing a mini cupcake in her mouth. JJ laughed and handed her a napkin while Garcia set about getting them drinks.

They soon settled into the comfortable furniture of Garcia's flat. Sasha sat in the seat of honor as Penny called it. The futon chair was one of those round basket types with a detached base. She sat in the middle of the bright purple pillow with her feet tucked under her. The cosmo in her hand was just being refilled, when Emily pipped up with the question that had been burning in all three of their minds for months now.

"So Sash, you and Derek. How long has that been going?" she asked and her eyes flash mirth at the blush that spread over the pretty girl's cheeks. Sasha smiled and bit her bottom lip.

"Oh, yeah..ummm well...it's kinda weird." she said as Garcia took her seat and beamed with joy. JJ watched the genius with affection, and a little worry that this subject could get too close to the one they all avoided.

"Yeah weird that Rossi was the only one who caught on." JJ said and sipped her drink. Sasha giggled and nodded.

"Yeah that was weird but that isn't what I meant." The young profiler leaned forward a bit and began to talk with her free hand. "I mean weird at how it happened." she smiled shyly and then took a fortifying sip. Garcia let out a squeal and clapped her hands.

"I think it's divine intervention. You and my chocolate thunder were made for each other." Her enthusiasm was over flowing. Reid chuckled and leaned back once more.

"It started after...Chicago." she said softly. There was a fleeting chilled moment and then she moved on. "We started meeting at this diner by my place. When we couldn't sleep or the case had been hard. Usually around 2 or 3 in the morning." She blushed again at the beaming faces.

"We just kept meeting and talking and Derek would insist on walking me the three blocks home." She stopped when Garcia made another excited sound. They all laughed and teased her for a minute. Reid was warmed by her friend's interest in her story.

"So, you two were having secret rendezvous after hours. Very romantic." JJ said and winked at Sasha. The genius shrugged and smiled wider.

"He was different, more open. And then there was that case with the kids and he was so torn up by it. We bonded over ice cream and I just knew I wanted things between us to be more." her voice was deep and throaty. They all seemed to be holding their breath.

"When he walked me to my door, I kissed him." she said and ducked her head with a bright flush. The three women erupted in hoots and hollers.

"Way to go, Reid!" Emily said and saluted with her drink.

"I never would have guessed you were the instigator, Sash." JJ said and grinned like a little girl.

Garcia was practically wiggling with glee. She clapped her hands again and jumped up to refresh everyone's drinks.

"A toast!" she shouted, raising her glass and standing next to Sasha's chair. "To Sasha Reid, the woman with the ovaries to make the first move on Derek Morgan!" There was a round of here here's and they all drank.

Laughter and giggles as they pressed her for details as to how serious the relationship was. Shash shifted a little and her smile grew crooked.

"We are very close. He loves me. he tells me all the time. And he is so patient with me." she spoke slowly and fidgeted with her sleeve. "I don't know what I would have done without him these past two months." she smiled up at her friends with glassy eyes. They all looked back with sympathy that didn't bother her for once. This was a time she could take it for the love that inspired it.

"I'm so in love with him it scares me some times." she confessed and was immediately enveloped in a hug from Penelope.

"You are much loved, Sasha." Garcia whispered and then pulled back as they smiled at each other with tears in their eyes.

Once the mushy moment had passed, JJ declared that a chick flick was in order. Penny put in Steel Magnolias and mixed up another pitcher of cosmos for them. They all settled in and continued to drink and gossip and watch the movie.

Sahsa felt more like her self than she had in months. She laughed and cried with her friends in all the same places. Her heart was filled and brimming and she just knew. In her heart, in her soul, she was ready to rejoin her life. Ready to go back into the world without cringing and fleeing.

In all, the night was a success and when Garcia hugged her goodbye, Sasha hugged back just as hard.

"Thanks, Pen. I love you." she whispered.

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Sasha had been on medical leave for just over two months. She was beyond restless. When Derek and the others were called away on yet another case, she felt enough was enough. She determined that when the team returned, she was going to tell Hotch she was ready to come back to work.

First, she had to convince the therapist that she was ready. It was tricky, she had spent so much time convincing the woman that she was anything but sane.

Sasha stifled the inner voice that told her she 'was' crazy. The voice had been much quieter since the bath she and Derek had shared. Her cheeks warmed at the memory. His hands on her, his breath in her ear. The warmth bubbled in her belly and she shifted in her seat. The bus rolled to her stop and she jumped to exit. The day was cold but bright. January in DC was not cheery yet Sasha saw only optimism in the day.

Sighing to herself, she walked into the FBI building and headed up to Strauss' office. She had the release from her therapist in her hand. Once she had the proper requirements filled, there was no way Hotch could say no.

It was a little odd being back after such a long absence. Other agents waved and greeted her warmly. She smiled easily and returned their hellos. Anderson looked like he was going to faint when she walked into the bull pen.

"Reid! I-I didn't know you were back." he said, his voice cracking. Sasha smiled and patted him on the shoulder.

"Just getting my papers straight with Strauss." she smiled and moved on. He called out a belated welcome back and she waved over her shoulder.

The meeting with Strauss went about as she thought it would. She hated that the woman looked at her like she was a bug. The false concern for her well being made the young genius slightly ill. But her papers were in order and she answered the questions correctly. Strauss conceded that when the team returned, she could return to active duty.

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Derek stood with his arms crossed and his face serious. He knew it was his own over protective nature that was making him stubborn.

"Baby, are you sure you don't want to take another few weeks?" he asked. Sasha shook her head and walked up to her tense lover.

"Derek, I'm ready." she said gently. Her large eyes looking at him with open vulnerability and deep trust. "I love that you are worried about me. But you don't have to be about this. I know it isn't going to be easy at first." she sounded rational and sober.

He knew she was right but he couldn't help the wiggling fear in his gut. Fear that if she went back to work, in the field she could get hurt...again. He took a deep breath and pulled her small body to his.

"OK. If that is what you want." he sounded a little defeated. Sasha smiled against his chest and then looked up with a glint in her eyes.

"I do, Derek." She whispered and then reached one slender hand up to caress his cheek. "Like I said..." she caught his eyes and gazed seriously. "I'm ready."

Derek fell into the honey hazel of her eyes and the full meaning of her words swept over him.

"Pretty Girl, you mean..." he stuttered over the words. He couldn't believe it. He had wondered if they were ever going to get back to that point. The point they were robbed of by a sick sadistic man.

Since the bath, they had been bolder in their affection and attention to each to her. But they hadn't gone beyond touching and making out. Not that it wasn't spectacular. It was, but there was more he longed to share with her.

Now she was standing here, in his arms with such love in her big eyes, God how he was a sucker for those eyes. Telling him she was ready. Ready to go further. To consummate their love in a manner they had yet to try. Derek was humbled by her trust and the depth of love he saw in her eyes.

He had set out to help her heal her wounds and in return she had helped him with his own.

TBC...