A HALLOWEEN NIGHTMARE

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN CRIMINAL MINDS OR ANY OF THE CHARACTERS. JUST THE CRAZY LITTLE PLOT BUNNIES MY MUSE DIRECTS ME TO WRITE

This story takes place immediately after THE GOOD EARTH episode and contains spoilers. It has been a really long time since my muse has been around and I have no idea where on earth she is taking me with this story other than it's definitely Morgan/Garcia and the muse is evidently going to put poor Penelope in trouble once again. I suspect there will be lots of angst and comfort to come in this one. I hope you'll join me for the ride. As always, reviews are greatly appreciated!

Also, I couldn't really tell what Penelope had dressed up as at the end of the episode so I'm taking the liberty of saying she was a cat. I can just see her all dressed up in some sexy cat outfit

The Behavioral Analysis Unit of the FBI was glad to be home from their case just in time for Halloween. The last case in Oregon had been a horrible one with a deranged mother who kidnapped men, fed them livestock feed, killed them and ground them up as fertilizer to use in her garden so she could feed the produce to her daughter. After the gruesomeness of this case, even the scariest of Halloween hijinks would pale in comparison.

Upon their return they were happy to hear that JJ's son, Henry, had decided to take part in Trick or Treating festivities after all since earlier he was too scared to do so. With a little convincing from JJ and costume assistance from Godmother Penelope, however, he had decided to dress as his favorite member of the team and fight the "monsters" with his awesome powers. Seeing Henry in his Spencer costume was just what the team needed to lift their spirits.

Soon, with their paperwork filed, the team began to head out to their prospective activities for the night. Penelope, already in full make-up and costume upon the team's return, would head out with JJ, Will and Henry for trick or treating; Alex was headed home to Skype with her ever-traveling boyfriend; Spencer said he had an important phone call to make himself; Hotch was off to pick up Beth and take Jack trick or treating ; and Rossi and Derek had decided to forego all the Halloween foolery and meet at their favorite local pub and have a meal and a few drinks.

As everyone was headed out the doors, Penelope hung behind telling JJ, "I'll meet up with you in the parking garage in just a minute."

"Okay, Pen, but don't be long. Henry's ready to get to trick or treating!", JJ smiled back as Henry began to tug her out the door.

Heading back towards the bullpen, Penelope quickly spotted who she had been looking for. "Hey Hotstuff", she purred as she walked up to Derek at his desk. "What's this I hear about all of your treats turning you down tonight?"

Penelope had overheard Derek telling just that very thing to Rossi a few minutes before.

"Nothing for you to worry your pretty little head about, Baby Girl", Morgan said as he reached over and tapped her on the tip of her nose.

"Well, I hate thinking of you being all alone on Halloween!", Penelope said with a concerned look on her face. "I can't have my best friend spending the greatest of all holidays alone!"

"I won't be alone, Baby Girl. Rossi and I are going to O'Malley's and have a few drinks. That's good enough for me. You know I'm not into all this Halloween stuff like you are, anyways. Don't worry, go and have fun with Henry. I'll be fine. I promise." Derek flashed her one of his killer smiles as he picked up his jacket from the back of his desk chair. "Now get out of here. You don't want to keep Henry waiting!"

"Derek Morgan, don't you lie to me!", Penelope said while pointing a finger in his face. "I once heard you say that Halloween was one of the best holidays because you liked getting a Halloween Honey and having them snuggle up during a scary movie."

"Damn, Baby Girl, have you had Reid teaching you some of his eidetic memory tricks? How long ago was that?"

"Never mind how long ago it was, Derek. I heard your say it. So here's what's going to happen. I'm going trick or treating with Henry and then I have just a few stops to make to say hi to some friends at a coupl e of parties and then I'm headed over to your place with a couple of scary movies. I'll be your Halloween Honey tonight." Penelope laid down the law to her best friend. "And don't you dare say no…I'll see you at 10:00!", Penelope interrupted Derek as she saw he was about to protest.

Throwing up his hands in resignation, Derek realized it would be impossible to argue with his hard-headed best friend. Anyways, she looked so darn cute all made up like a cat in her Halloween makeup, how could he say no to such an invitation. "Alright, alright. I surrender. But don't worry about the movies, I have several I keep at home."

"I just bet you do, Hot Stuff" Penelope giggled with a wink as she turned to go. "See you at 10:00. And have the popcorn ready!"

Derek chuckled as he watched her leave the BAU bullpen in a flourish of blonde hair, Halloween makeup and laughter. He never could say no to Penelope. She was his best friend and the one who kept him sane during all of the horrifying things the team had to deal with on a daily basis. While they never dated, they were both insatiable flirts and loved spending time with one another. While everyone around them realized they would make the perfect couple the two of them seemed content with the close friendship they had developed. Even so, everyone knew, you didn't mess with Penelope if you didn't want to have to deal with Derek Morgan. He was her self-appointed protector and guardian from all things evil. And she paid him back in spades by being his God-Given Solace, as he once called her. Penelope had even just ended a 5 year long relationship with her boyfriend when the subject of marriage arose. She would never admit it, but buried in the back of her mind, she knew her feelings for Derek had something to do with it. Derek, if asked, would also insist he was more like Penelope's big brother than anything else yet In spite of himself Derek smiled as he headed towards his vehicle in the parking garage. "Well, maybe, this isn't going to be such a lonely Halloween after all!", he thought.

Little did he, or anyone else, know the horrors this night would hold before it was all over.