"It's over!" She shouted.
Garcia struggled to wiggle the diamond off of her finger and slammed it on his desk. He was speechless; everything was perfect this morning now he watched the fire dance in her eyes and the tears stream down her porcelain skin as she returned the ring he'd given her less than forty-eight hours before.
"Garcia, what's going on?" He stammered. "What are you doing?"
"I know everything, Derek! Did you think I was a fool?"
"No-no…Baby, talk to me, please!"
"There's nothing to talk about! You almost had me believing that you'd changed! You promised you'd never break my heart…that…that…you loved me and only me! You're nothing but a two-timing jerk!"
"Penelope, I don't know what you're talking about! Talk to me!"
She turned and bolted for the door of his office but he jumped up and somehow caught her arm before she reached the hallway. She stiffened at his touch and jerked away from his grasp.
"Don't do this, Baby Girl! We need to talk! If you ever loved me, you'd tell me what's going on! You need to trust me and give me a chance to…"
"To what? To what, Derek, give you a chance to lie your way out of this? Well, not this time. We're over and I don't want to talk to you, or see you or, or, marry you! Ever!"
Then she left him standing in the doorway stunned and speechless. The rapid clicking of her heels said her goodbye as she rushed away without looking back. His heart sped up then nearly stopped as he watched her walk away.
He wondered what had happened in the four hours since they had arrived? He'd only proposed Friday evening, he'd surprised her with a romantic dinner and a ring and she was happier than he'd ever seen her. They were going to tell the team today, Monday, the beginning of their working together as an engaged couple but just as fast as she'd agreed to marry him, she quickly took it back. It was obvious that she believed that he'd done something unforgivable what he didn't know. He didn't know what to do or say…to be accused, found guilty and sentenced by the one person that he loved more than life itself was devastating. He rubbed both hands over his head resting them on his neck as he closed the door and began pacing the floor.
Then his phone rang and a message appeared across the screen. They had a case.
Milley's Café – 1 hour ago…
"I can't believe we actually got a table in this place!"
JJ looked around the crowded café as she slid into the booth. Garcia took the seat across from her and smiled as she took the menu from the hostess.
"Yeah especially during the lunch hour. I've been wanting to come here since they opened."
"According to Will, they have the best burgers and garlic fries."
"No cow for me, thank you but what I will have is…"
The loud laughter from the booth behind them interrupted their conversation. Both women recognized the voice of Jordan Todd as she and her dining companion seemed to be enjoying themselves at the expense of everyone around them.
"Jordon Todd?" They mouthed silently to each other.
Curious, JJ and Penelope couldn't help but listen as they placed their order with the waitress who stood smirking over the loud goings on with the slightly tipsy women at the next booth.
"Okay, okay, so go ahead and finish telling me about your night with the man of your dreams." The other woman demanded.
"So, my doorbell rings, and when I opened the door there he was in all his chocolate loveliness!"
Penelope smirked as she looked across the table. Jordan had worked with the team a few years ago and since then had set her sights on Derek. Penelope had threatened to erase her on several occasions but Morgan had managed to talk her out of it.
"Girrrrlllllll he was on my porch shirtless, tats and abs just looking ready to ravish!"
"OMG, Jordan…give it up!"
"What? I'm telling you…that's what happened!"
"Okay, go on…continue…"
"So he steps inside, scoops me up in his arms and carries me to the bed."
"Jordan as beautiful as you are I can't believe you still have a thing for this man!"
"Hey, the way he made love to me Saturday night; I'll always be his!"
"Earth to Jordan! Derek Morgan does not want you!"
"That's not what he said the other night…and the other nights he stopped by my place!"
JJ's jaw dropped as she looked up into the teary shocked face of Penelope Garcia. Her friends face was drained of all color and she had no words to comfort her in that moment. All that was heard was the loud drunken giggles of the women on the other side of the booth who were totally unaware of their presence.
Suddenly, it was as if the air had been sucked out of the room as Penelope grabbed her purse and began scooting out of the booth.
"Pen!" JJ whispered.
"I-I've got to go!"
"Penelope! Don't leave!"
"No JJ…I'll meet you back at the office."
And with that a hysterical Penelope Garcia bolted through the crowd and out the door. JJ sat stunned still trying to process what had just happened. All she wanted to do was to strangle the life out of the women behind her who were having a great time at her best friend's expense. The next words she heard, however, stopped her from fulfilling that desire.
"Jordan you really need to get out. That's a sad way to spend a Saturday evening; dreaming about a man that is hopelessly in love with another woman!"
"Yeah I hear you and your right! I had my chance and I blew it."
"You got that right, my friend!"
"I have to admit, I'm actually happy for them. I don't understand it but I'm happy for them."
"So does that mean you're going to stop dreaming about another woman's man?"
"If that man is Derek Morgan…hell no!"
With that, the two women burst into laughter again and ordered another round of drinks with the waitress who'd just arrived with their food. JJ was too stunned to move; Penelope had just run out of the restaurant thinking that Derek had cheated on her. She knew Penelope's explosive temper she knew how much she loved Derek and how afraid that he'd one day break her heart. It had taken countless girl's nights to convince her to give him a chance and to trust that he really loved her. Now armed with half of a drunken overheard conversation she was off and running; no doubt to confront Derek who would never see it coming.
Quickly she motioned for the waitress. She had to stop the train wreck that was about to happen before irreparable damage was done. She and the others had worked too hard to get those two together for it all to be washed down the drain now.
As the waitress brought over her and Garcia's boxed up order JJ stood and headed toward the door. She was just about to drive away when her phone sounded.
"Damn!" She said to herself.
They had a case.
BAU Headquarters- Present –
The rest of the team had already arrived when she stepped into the conference room. JJ realized that she was too late. The air in the room was thick enough to cut and Morgan looked as if someone had pushed him in front of a train. Garcia sat on the opposite side and end of the table and refused to look his way. Everyone knew something was up as Hotch outlined the case.
After the briefing, Garcia bolted from the room with JJ fast on her heels. Morgan watched as the love of his life left without so much as a goodbye. He hated leaving like this; in their line of work coming back home was never a guarantee. Knowing that she was there waiting for him made his time away easier. She was his lifeline and he knew without her this job would be impossible for him. He had to talk to her and find out what had happened but she had made it perfectly clear that she was done with him. He wasn't going to let her go that easy not without having a chance to find out what had made her change her mind. For now, the best thing was to leave her alone and let her cool off. Besides, maybe JJ could find out what had upset her so much that would make her end their engagement.
"Garcia! Wait!" JJ yelled after her.
"Not now, JJ!"
Garcia picked up her speed as she nearly ran to her lair.
"JJ, we've got to leave now!"
Hotch's voice behind her stopped her as she turned and headed in the opposite direction just as the broken-hearted Derek walked out into the hallway.
Garcia slammed the door and allowed her body to collapse against it as her body shook hysterically. Her life and her heart were shattered and her worse nightmare had come true. How did she ever think that Derek Morgan could possibly want a life with her?
"I'm such a fool! What was I thinking?"
The more tears she wiped away the more brand new ones came to replace the old. She was thankful that the team would be away for awhile she needed to be away from him to erase his presence from her life.
"If I never see you again, Derek Morgan, it will be too soon!"
