Like much that I write these days this was a commentfic prompt given by ravenspear, He had a good teacher.
These are four connecting ficlet/drabble-ish stories spanning the years leading up to Criminal Minds-canon. Assumes a lot about both Hardison and Garcia's past.
Penelope rolled up her sleeves and laced her fingers to crack her knuckles. She really loved these places and sent a special thanks to Wayne Gregori for his wonderful idea. Internet Cafes the new boom and breeding ground for someone like her. All she needed to do was sneak in, get the little piece of code and ghost her way out. Easy-peasy. And so many unsecured networks to weave herself through before she even got to the one she wanted. A real challenge. Hadn't had one like this since she went exploring in the White House's systems.
Now if the kid across from her would stop staring everything would be gravy. She looked up giving him one of her good "get your eyeballs back in your head before your nuts join them" glares but the kid just looked away blushing a moment before returning his gaze. "Do you have a problem?" she asked really slowly. Punk was probably fifteen, at best.
"No," he stuck his chin out. "You?"
Penelope's glare melted, "aw, you're adorable."
The kid pouted, "am not."
"Are too," she teasingly replied.
"You've been in here everyday for a week." The kid pointed out.
"Uh-huh," Penelope arched one brow. "Your point?"
"Never seen you around before..." The kid shrugged his shoulders, "new in town?"
"Passing through." She was doing this job, get herself a little cash and live easy for a while. Maybe even get herself a real apartment, with a lease.
"How long?" Kid was persistant.
If today went right... "should be hitting the road by sunset."
The kid looked to his right then his left before leaning over the counter and saying very quietly, "how do you do it?" She tilted her head, for the first time wondering about the kid's sanity. He looked at her computer, then to her and back again.
Her eyes grew wide, "how do you..?" she hissed.
"I've been watching you...through the computer."
Penelope smacked her forehead, how could she have been so careless. But wait how, "you...hacked me?"
The kid shrugged his shoulders, "well..."
"Wow," she was really impressed. "Who taught you?" Another shrug, "no one?" She shook her head, way too much potential to pass up. "Wanna learn more?" The bright eyed, wide smile was answer enough.
0o0
They were playing Alec's favorite game. Alec chased Penelope around systems trying to stop her hack. He almost had her this time, he was certain of it. "I've got you now baby," he bit the inside of his cheek.
"Mmhm," she was smirking and it only made Alec work harder. "Getting close Alec-san."
"Yeah, that's right." He grinned, adding, "Sensei," a little mockingly. Alec didn't quite like the nickname Penelope had given him. Karate Kid wasn't, like, the most amazing movie or anything. Not like Jurassic Park, Alec grinned. Sick special effects in that movie.
Penelope only smirked, wetting her lips, eyes flicking to his for a brief moment. Alec, feeling more confident now, let his fingers fly over the board.
"I got you," he tapped a few keys. "I got you..." Alec was to wrapped up in his near win to pay attention to where exactly he was following her and...
His screen went black.
"What the hell!?" Alec clicked uselessly at the keys, "what the hell was that?" He glared at her from his computer desk.
"Walked right into that rabbit hole," she shook her head sadly. "Thought I was teaching you better than that, Alec." Clicking her tongue once she stood up, "c'mon, gotta get you home. Think about where you went wrong and will try that one again...later, when you're more prepared.
Alec wanted to protest and demand that she show him right now where he went wrong, but she was giving him that easy smile, and really? Who was he to complain.
o0o
"I'm not sure about this," Alec rubbed at the back of his neck. "I don't know how Nana is gonna like you." He scuffed his shoe against the sidewalk looking every where but at Penelope.
Penelope put a hand on her hip and gave Alec a look. "You said Nana didn't want you going out any more because she thinks you're getting into a gang." Penelope twirled her wrist around and smirked, "you really think Nana isn't going to like me?" Alec stepped up to her and tugged a piece of purple hair. "Oh c'mon, Nana sounds like an awesome broad. I doubt she is going to be put-off by some purple and black hair."
"Um," Alec searched for another reason. "You're a lot older than me?"
"Stop makin' excuses and lets go meet the woman." Penelope hooked her arm with Alec's and took off toward Nana's. "She just wants to know you are happy and safe, Alec. Trust me," Penelope's voice went soft, "all parents want is for us to be happy." Alec wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close.
"Yeah, you're right." Alec pressed a kiss onto her hair, "sorry, I'm being a basket case." Penelope shook her head and he knew she was rolling her eyes. She twisted her arm around his waist and snuggled closer to his side.
Alec opened the door and called, "Nana?"
"Baby, I thought you said you'd be out all day?" Nana's voice called from the kitchen. "Good thing you're back," she came in wiping her hands on a towel, "I just made a big pot of Chili... Oh, you've brought a friend." Alec could see it in her eyes, the little frown.
"Hi," Penelope, never wasting time, stepped forward and stuck out her hand. "I'm Penelope Garcia."
Nana's eyes soften, "it's nice to meet such a polite girl." She took her hand, "how long have you known my Alec?"
"About a year now, ma'am." Penelope smiled, "I've been helping him with his computer skills."
Nana's eyes went wide with a smile. "You're the reason all those schools have been wanting my baby?"
"Oh, well," Penelope blushed. "Alec's the reason they-"
Nana cut her off, "well come in you two, make yourselves comfortable." Penelope tossed Alec a smirk when Nana turned her back and Alec rolled his eyes.
o0o
Penelope covered her mouth watching her Alec cross the stage to receive his diploma. Nana was sitting next to her and both of them shared looks of proud Mama-bears.
"Oh, baby," Nana squeezed her arm, "thank you." She patted it and moved to take Penelope's hand. "Without you I just..."
Penelope stopped her with a smile. "Alec means the world to me, Nana. I'll be here for a long time, as long as he needs me." The smile Nana gave her startled Penelope. It was that smile that hoped for Grandbabies.
"I know baby, and I thank you for that too." They both turned back and Penelope found Alec's eye, the silly mile-wide smile on his face making her own light up.
After the ceremony Penelope and Nana pushed their way to find Alec. Proud families every were greeting their graduates.
"Nana!" Alec shouted over the din, "Penelope!" He pushed his way to them and wrapped long arms around them. "You see me?" he whispered in awe. "That was awesome." Penelope was almost embarrassed with how proud she felt for Alec.
Penelope rested her head on Alec's shoulder. "You looked great up there Alec," she kissed his cheek. Nana got that grin again.
"Oh, my baby," Nana put a hand on either side of his face. "You made me proud." Alec blushed and scuffed his toe before realizing what he was doing and stood up straight, chest puffed out a bit.
0o0
Penelope glared at Alec, "you can't just run off Alec."
"You did," he fired back.
"I had no where else to go. You have a lot of opportunity ahead of you." Penelope said evenly, she had to get the kid to see. "Look, me quitting Caltech was a big mistake. I would have a legit job."
Alec crossed his arms stubbornly. "I don't want to work for the Man. I don't want anyone telling me how to use my skills, when to use, and where to use them. What we do is fun. Learning, getting a degree. That's going to take all the fun out of it."
"In the long run it's going to help you." Penelope kept on.
"Why'd you even teach me, huh? If you wanted me to use it for legal reasons, why even show me all that I could do with it." Alec was yelling, more pissed off then she'd ever seen him.
Penelope sighed, "what's this really about Alec?"
Alec looked away and she knew from two years of watching him in all sorts of moods that he was blushing. "I don't want you to go off without me Penelope. You're going to go and hack the world and I'll be stuck here with my only aspiration being that I've got a ride to Caltech."
Penelope's entire face shifted, "aw, baby, I'm not leaving you. Like I've taught you half of what you need to know," she joked, hoping for a smile and not getting disappointed. "I'll be right here. Your own personal cheerleader."
Alec perked up, eyes lighting with mischief, "it's getting close to Halloween...can we get you a little cheer-"
"Finish that sentence dove and see what happens to your hard drive while you are sleeping." She threaten with the sweetest smile on her face. Alec grinned back and she shook her head. Silly boy, thinking she was done with him.
Disclaimer: Neither belong to me, Criminal Minds an Leverage have their own owners