TO BE LOVED
:: xvi, dead ends

Thomas eyes fluttered open as he quietly groaned. He reached for his phone off the nightstand and held it in front of his face. There was only a few messages asking where he is and whatnot. After a scroll or two, he reached over to the nightstand and placed his phone back down. As soon as his phone left from in front of his face, he found Chrissy leaning on his chest.

"Morning, you." She lightly smiled, "How's your head?"

He mustered a smile, "Raging."

Chrissy began getting up, off the bed, "I'll go get some Advil and water."

As soon as she left the room, his phone started ringing. He looked over and it was Jennifer calling him. He reached for it and pressed the green answer button before bringing it up to his ear.

"Jj, what's up?'

"Where are you? Checked your room this morning, you weren't there and Hotch has been asking about you."

"I'll be there soon. Cover for me?"

"Sure. Thomas, we caught a lead. I think Spencer's theory's right."

"It's not. Be there soon." He quickly hung up. His phone met the nightstand once again and Chrissy finally came back with Advil and water.

She got on top of him, straddling him as she passed him the Advil and water. He immediately gulped it down and placed the glass of water by his phone on the nightstand.

"Feel better?" Her hands rested on his bare chest.

"I'm sure it'll kick in soon."

"Do you remember anything from last night?" She looked dead in his eyes.

"Yeah, i do." He spoke softly, "And I meant every word." He sat all the way up, back against the wall as Chrissy continued to straddle him.

"Ask me again."

His hands were on her waist, "Chrissy Vanderbilt, will you marry me?"

"Yes, obviously." She smiled, leaning in for a kiss.

He cupped her face, placing a quite passionate kiss on her lips.

She pulled away happily, "I'll get us engagement rings later."

"Us?"

"Yeah, people need to know you're an engaged man." A smile spread across her lips.

He smiled back graciously, happy with the decision he made. Others might say he's rushing into things, but he's known Chrissy for a long time and well, things with Emily just didn't seem where he thought they were going. And jj, she's giving birth to someone else's child.

He wanted to do something for himself for a change.

• • •

Thomas finally walked into the station. Some of the team was out on different assignments of the case, while others huddled in a conference room. Luckily for him Hotch wasn't there, but Rossi was and the god father was growing concerned.

As soon as Thomas walked into the room, Rossi pulled him back out. The two walked over to the coffee machine and snack area.

"Where have you been?" Dave began pouring another cup of coffee.

Thomas watched as he did so, "I'm a grown man Dave, i handle my business."

"You're never late." He pointed out, "Is there anything I
should know?"

"Other than being an engaged man, no, not really." He patted Dave on the back before heading back to the room.

As soon as he walked in, the remaining team debriefed him on the sudden lead. It was a lead that Hotch, Morgan, and jj were currently chasing. However, back there, in that room, there was nothing. Emily nor Spencer had anything to go on. Penelope kept coming up with zip. Nothing made sense and everything was out of the ordinary.

It's like the killer hibernated and then came out for food to only go back into hibernation. This case was turning into a long haul and maybe, potentially a cold case.

As soon as everyone else returned, the rest were all filled in that the lead was a no go. Therefore, the team had nothing at that point. Soon, Strauss called and Hotch filled her in. He got to get one more day, then everyone had to fly back to Virginia.

Thomas mentioned to Rossi to not say anything of his engagement yet. Apparently he had some loose ends to take care of, meaning Emily and Jennifer.

Therefore, after working the case a little more, he pulled Jennifer to the side. He offered her a trip to the vending machine, which she happily accepted.

"Don't hate me." He began, "But im engaged."

Her eyes blinked a couple times in disbelief, "You're what?"

"It just happened. I asked and she said yes." Thomas elaborated, "Emily and I are just friends. You and Will are moving up. I just want not to be complicated anymore."

"Congratulations. Can i ask who?"

"Chrissy."

"Lucky girl." Jj lightly smiled.

"I really do want us to be friends, jj."

She took out her hand, "Friends and nothing more."

He nodded, shaking her hand, "Nothing more."

After his talk with Jenifer, he soon talked to Emily. She agreed they were just friends and all they were doing was hanging out. She was happy for him about the engagement and unlike jj, she didn't care who it was he was engaged to. She didn't care to ask. All she wanted for him was to succeed in life.

With everyone's mind on the Sherwood killer, Thomas lighten the mood a bit by announcing his engagement. Of course Rossi announced for a celebration but Thomas pushed back and wanted to do it another night. He wanted to get back to Chrissy as quick as possible.

• • •

Since thomas didn't have a key to her house, he rang the doorbell as soon as he got there. He waited a couple of seconds before the door swung open and there she stood, his beautiful fiancé.

She pulled him in, shutting the front door. His back hit, pinned against the door while her lips smashed into his. Just as his hands met her waist and he was sinking into the kiss, she pulled away with a smile.

"I got the rings."

He smiled eagerly, "Can i see?"

She took his hand and guided him to her bedroom. She pulled the small bag out her purse, then pulled out two small, velvet boxes. Chrissy proceed to hand one box to him, so they can both open them together.

As they did, Thomas held her ring and she held Thomas'. Each of them, slid the ring on one another, happily doing so.

Even though Thomas didn't want to be complicated anymore, he knew people would ask about their love story, like his brother or Dave. He plans on being honest, he doesn't love her at least not yet but he's willing to try.

He just doesn't know of all the turmoil he'll be facing once he says those three strong words.

As the night peaked, Thomas was fast asleep in her bed, wearing the engagement ring. He had an early morning so he wanted as mush rest as possible. As he slept, Chrissy was wide awake in the living room, on the phone with her brother.

"You're a wicked one, big sis."

She lightly chuckled into the phone, "I'll take that as a compliment. But just like we expected, they have no leads. Constant dead ends." She continued, "And now im about to have marriage confidentiality."

"If he finds out?"

"He won't, unless I tell him. Stop being paranoid jones." She finished, "Besides, we'll be just fine and if things do go awry, we'll take Thomas down with us." She concluded, "He will be my husband after all."

"You're right, he'll be your husband. But if things get out of hand, instead of taking him down with us —— we use him since he's an FBI agent."

"Blackmail?"

"Exactly. We just have to make sure we have something dirty on him."

"Oh, we will. Night, jones." She hung the call up and soon retreated back to the bedroom.

Thomas was still sound asleep as she climbed into bed, next to him. She placed a light kiss on his forehead before turning around, back against his and began to slowly fall asleep.

a/n:
y'all, shits about to get
wild. any predictions ?