Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds
When he had announced he was leaving, Garcia felt her heart break in to millions of pieces. She had plastered a smile on her face, hugged him, wished him well and congratulated him on his success. She had pecked him on her cheek and said work was calling. When she had shut the door she slid down it and sobbed, how would she cope without him, without their chats, their movie nights, their endless banter? She had so much to say but she couldn't tell him, and ruin his future.
She pulled herself together, sat back at her babies and got to work. She worked consistently for the hours leading up to the end of the day and slipped out the back way to avoid any confrontations with anyone.
He had finished his last piece of paperwork just as he was approached by the team.
'Drinks are in order we think.' Hotch said.
'Yeah, sounds great, I'll go get Garcia.' Derek said standing up.
'She's gone home already, we don't know why but she's not in her office.' Emily added.
He rubbed his hands over his head. 'She's angry isn't she?'
'What makes you think that?'
'Well I'm leaving everything, not just my life here but hers.'
'Morgan, she loves you enough to know you dreams and she will step aside and let you get them regardless.'
He sighed and nodded. 'You're right. Let's go, I need to get away and relax.'
She had got in and dropped her bag on the armchair, she walked over to the fridge and without even a simple bit of hesitance she got the wine bottle out and got herself a glass. When she had finished her first glass she had another, she walked to the bathroom and put the bath on. When it had run deep and hot she was on her 3rd glass and she didn't plan to stop anytime soon. She wanted to feel numb, to forget. Laying in the bath, she left every call to go to voicemail; the world outside her bathroom could wait for her to be ready. She drained her glass of wine off and couldn't hold back anymore, she cried and she knew the two people to comfort her were unavailable. One had been unavailable since she was 18 and the other couldn't because the tears were over him.
She got out of the bath and changed; she then laid on her bed and cried a little more. She guessed that if she cried all the night through, she might never have to cry again, of course she realised that that was the alcohol talking. She sat up and decided more wine was in order. Topping her glass up she walked over to the phone and saw she had 4 voicemails. Clicking play she slumped down and listened in anticipation.
'You have 4 new messages. First new message received today at 7:54pm. 'Hey Pen, just me Emily. Seeing if you want to come for drinks at the usual, you're obviously not in so not to worry. Call me later; I think we need to have a girls night, just you me and JJ.'
Next new message received today at 8:09pm. 'Hey Baby girl. It's me just ringing to see if you want to join us but it seems you're still not home. I'm sorry if the news was too soon and everything is happening to fast... I'm sorry I didn't mean to hurt you.' (The exhale of a sigh was heard.) 'Well I better get back, talk to you later.'
Next new message received today at 8:36pm. 'Hello, this Zara Miskin, just following up on the job request we offered, there is no rush but if you have any questions just send me an email or give me a call. Hope to hear from you soon. Goodbye.'
Next new message received today at 9:47pm. 'Hey it's me again. We're worried, you're still not picking up. We've all rang but only me and Emily have left messages. We are still having drinks if you want to join. I would love for you to come; it's just no fun without you. Well I suppose if we don't see you tonight, we will see you at work. Good night baby, sweet dreams.'
End of messages.
It's just no fun without you
'What the hell does that mean? If it's no fun without me why are you leaving?' Garcia sat confused, by the words used by Derek and the wine. Again she cried; she didn't know what to do, what to think, what to feel. All that was with her at the moment was dread, wine and loneliness.
She sat staring and when she looked at the clock and saw it said 0:36am she realised she wasted nearly 3 hours just letting her thoughts roll around in her alcohol filled mind. She picked herself up and walked to her bed. She wrapped herself up, putting her alarm on and then vowed to be her normal self around the team. Sleep came easily but of course she was aided by tears and the lasting effects of the wine.
Next Day
Walking in earlier she noticed that not everyone was in, she sighed with relief and walked into her office. Sitting down in her chair she thought how one obstacle was gone, just many more to go. Her next one was to see Derek; otherwise she would avoid him like the plague.
She relaxed and continued her work, once she had all the information she got up braced herself and left her lair.
She walked down the hall, smiling, dropping the files in Emily's inbox and had a little chat; next she went to JJ and gave her the bulk, leaving the office she gave Reid what he wanted. Building her courage she made her way to Morgan. He looked up and leaned back running his hands over his head and smiling.
'Morning baby girl, we missed you last night'
'He missed me! How can he say that when he's leaving!' Garcia's thought were driving her crazy.
'I'm sorry handsome, I was at home relaxing.'
'You were at home? How come, you didn't answer the phone?'
'I was in the bath when all the calls were made and I didn't really want to talk to anyone, I just wanted a night in with some wine.'
'Anything you want to talk about?'
'No, I'm okay. Now here's your stuff you requested from the oracle of all known and unknown and now the oracle must be leaving to finish her work.'
And like that she was gone, without another word.
The next day the team had to go away on a case, they were away for a week before they caught the Unsub and when they got back Morgan only had 2 days left on the team before his probationary period in New York began.
'Let's go for a drink tomorrow night, as a goodbye and good luck kind of thing.' The team agreed with Hotch.
Garcia said she would be delighted. She was only going to show her support of his choice and share the moment with the team as a whole.
Later that day, when she knew that most of them were out for lunch she made her way to Hotch's office, knocking she waited to be allowed in. When she entered she shut the door hesitantly behind her.
'Sir, I would like to hand in my resignation.'
'What! Why?'
'I just want some change.'
'Is it because Morgan is leaving?'
'No! Why would this be about Derek? Of course he is leaving but I have been thinking about this for a while.'
'And Derek leaving was the final straw?'
'This is why I hate profilers.'
'That was not my profiler skills, Garcia. That was my taking note of what is obvious skills.'
'Still, I want to leave.'
'I understand, I see you will be leaving the same day as Morgan.'
'Yes, but I don't want anyone apart from you to know. I just need to leave and get away. If you'll have me I may come back but only when I am ready.'
'I understand Garcia.'
She gets up and leaves, going back in to her office she cries all over. She should have felt better now that that was over and cleared up, but she felt worse. The only thing she could think of doing was to hide in her office and do her work.
The next day she gets all her work done and is shutting down her babies for the last time when a knock comes at the door.
'Come in.'
'Hey baby girl, thought I would come and get you, you ready to go?'
'Yup, all done.' She stands and picks up her bag.
At the bar, they get a round in and spend most of the evening like any other. A couple of hours later, Hotch raises his drink. 'To Derek, may you achieve everything in New York. The B.A.U. will miss you dearly.' They all agree and then Hotch keeps his glass in the air. 'And to Garcia, the biggest loss will be from you.' They all look at Garcia with pure shock and horror that the best person for their sanity is leaving and wasn't going to say anything.
The next thing they know she is up and gone. Morgan puts his drink down and rushes after her. When he finally catches up with her, she is crying.
'Baby girl, why?'
She doesn't say anything; she is completely silent as the tears roll down her face.
'Hey I'm confused here, why didn't you say you were leaving?'
'I don't want to talk about it. It' just something I have to do. I have to leave; I have to get away from everything.' She knew it was a lie but she guessed it was believable. She couldn't tell him that she hated the thought of life without him; she didn't want to snatch his future away from him just because she loves him.
She turns and begins to walk away, only to feel a hand, his hand, grab her wrist and turn her around. He pulls her back to where she was standing, looking into her eyes, she can see the sadness, the longing and something else. He can see lust. He looks at her completely confused; he wants to know why she is sad and why she is leaving. She had told him she was happy for him, proud eve that he had got where he had strived for so long to reach. Then it dawned on him, had she lied to him?
'I can't do this, I have to go.'
And just like that she was gone, he couldn't move himself from the spot in which he felt cemented. She was lying to him and all he could do is walk away, never knowing why. He was determined to find out thought, whether it took him years.