It's the end of the world as we know it
Disclaimer – I own nothing but the ideas
This is a gift for Flashpenguin who has been beta'ing for me since the start of the year and whose birthday I recently missed. Thank you for all your help. Also thank you to Nebula2 who looked over this for me so I could surprise Flashpenguin.
The prompts – donuts, a broken coffee machine and a rainstorm
. . .
Penelope Garcia flew into the kitchenette like a whirlwind, not caring who or what she destroyed in her path.
"I need something strong, black and sweet," she announced, "now!"
"Anytime, baby, you only have to ask," Derek smiled from the spot on the counter he was leaning against.
Pen looked up at her favourite profiler and smiled, genuinely, back at him.
"Hot stuff, though you are normally the answer to every possible dream I have, right now I need something, much," Pen had closed in on him, "much more than you."
She finished her sentence with a gentle tap on the middle of his broad chest.
"Well if it's not me you want, my guess is you are about to be very disappointed."
"How so, Hunny?" Pen had grabbed the largest mug she could find in the cupboard and had turned to fill it from the coffee pot. Pulling out the pot, she noticed it was empty, "Typical, can no-one fill this up when they finish? Was it you? 'Coz you are not beyond a spank if it was."
Derek moaned, teasing, though the thought that flitted through his mind right then was not one you should be having at 9am on a Monday morning. He leant towards Pen, a huge grin on his face as he pointed out an 'Out of Order' sign.
Pen's eyes widened, in horror.
"Nooooo," she cried, "this is so not funny."
"I can see why you do theatre now," Derek smirked, until Pen batted his arm playfully, "Anyway what's with the black coffee? You usually like it white."
Pen looked at him, "I forget you're rarely here when I go into full blown caffeine fix. The more I need it, the stronger it gets, and right now this girl is in need of jet black and sickly sweet. Caffeine and sugar, the perfect fix to everything."
"Ok, I get that theory, but why so needy on a Monday morning?"
"You really want to know?" she slumped, trying to figure out how she was going obtain her caffeine fix.
"Hey, what better waste of time, can I think of, then you?"
"Are you calling me a waste of time?" Pen punched him lightly on the arm, "Gee, thanks. If you have to know I had a very late night due to some creep thinking he could worm his way into my files."
"Please tell me that is not a tech euphemism. I can be a very jealous man."
"Whatever it is it sounds interesting," Em added, dripping wet and arriving in the kitchen area with several Starbucks cups. Putting the tray down she passed one to Derek.
"Please God tell me one of those has my name on it."
"Sure does," Em said passing it over.
"I love you, I truly do."
"No worries, but the next round is on Derek, and he is going out there to get it. I'm soaked," Em shook as if to make her point, "Is everyone else in yet?"
"Hotch and JJ are hard at work as per usual, Rossi's in his office but working – well you never know with him," Derek chuckled, "But now you mention it Reid is missing."
"I'll deliver these in a moment," Emily attempted a sip from her steaming cup, "let's hear about the guy in your files first."
"Oh it's nothing really," Pen waved her free hand, "Just some jumped up little cyber geek that had the audacity to think he could hack Penelope Garcia."
Both Derek and Emily raised their eyebrows in unison.
"The annoying thing was how long it took me to pin him down; I was up all night kicking his nerdy ass."
Derek shook his head, "And if we didn't know it already this is why you never take on Penelope Garcia."
"Amen to that," Emily added, picking up the coffees and making her rounds.
"So, you're ok, aren't you? Nothing I need to worry about?" Derek asked concern evident in his tone.
As much as I love the idea of you being my knight in shining armour, this damsel is not in distress, and the dragon is totally slayed."
"Good," Derek said, giving her a little hug, as he left to make his way to his office and finally start work.
Walking past Reid's empty desk Derek paused.
"He still not in?" Derek asked a still overtly soggy Emily.
"No, actually in his sideline of science magic Reid has discovered the ability of invisibility and is sitting right there next to you." Prentiss answered with more than a hint of sarcasm.
"Ha, ha, Princess, I'm concerned, Reid doesn't do late. Beside what made you in such a bad mood? You've got your coffee now."
"Precisely I'VE got my coffee, while you 'gentlemen' stayed here in the nice warm office; I was out in the pouring rain. One of you lot could have of offered to go."
Derek sauntered over and perched on the edge of Emily's desk.
"What?" she asked, unnerved slightly by his presence.
"I thought you were one of those 'I can do anything men can do types'. Normally I'd of stepped right up, but didn't want to offend your feminist side."
"Derek Morgan you are treading a very thin line, if you are not careful you will fall and I'll make sure it hurts," Emily glared at him as she spoke.
Standing up he started the path to his office once more, turning he added;
"Thanks for the coffee, but you might want to try waterproof mascara next time, not a good look."
Picking up a blank sheet of paper, Emily screwed it up tightly, throwing it in Derek's direction.
Once in his office Derek unclipped his phone and dialled. Listening to it ring, he began to flick through the files on his desk, wondering how many he could get away with adding to Reid's desk before he arrived.
"Hey Kid," he spoke as soon as Reid answered, "You're late."
"Have we got a case?" Reid asked, trying to block out the noise of everyone else on the subway.
"No, no case; I was just checking that you were okay."
"I'm fine, just stuck, well not now, but I was," Reid tried to explain, "The storm is causing all sorts of transit problems – flash floods and power cuts. I have recalculated my route to try and avoid all the major problems in the area, making adjustments to allow for addition personnel, like me, and average train speeds, stop times and punctuality records and . . ."
"Yeah, ok, I get it, you'll be here soon," Derek butted in.
"In thirty-one minutes to be precise."
"I won't hold you to that," Derek laughed, "as I have a little task for you. The coffee machine is broken and Prentiss has already done the first coffee house run, how about you bring the next round in with you?"
"No coffee!" Reid spluttered, "Add another eighteen minutes to my arrival time."
. . .