Roses Are Red
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the ideas.
This is written for the CCOAC challenge. My pairing is Ashley Seaver and Penelope Garcia with roses as my flower.
I would just like to make a couple of points before we start.
Ashley Seaver – she should never have been in the BAU, however I am really intrigued by her background story and so wish the show had done something more interesting with it (which is why I pick her every so often). I do feel I have written her OOC in this but I am using the excuse that time and experience has changed her slightly.
Penelope Garcia – I LOVE Garcia! But I have never seen her and Seaver as friends, so getting this pairing threw me. I hope this works.
. . .
Penelope Garcia was never too keen on being loaned out to other teams within the FBI. She knew it was specified in her contract that she was to offer technical support to whomever should require it, but truly her heart was with her BAU superheroes. As she click-clacked her way along the grey-blue corridors, the only advantage she felt with her most recent assignment was that it gave her chance to catch up with Ashley Seaver. Long time no see.
Ashley had transferred to Andi Swann's Domestic trafficking task force after a short stint in the BAU two years ago. And from all that Penelope had heard, and she had a tendency to hear a lot around the corridors of Quantico, Ashley was doing well. She had found her particular calling and was impressing Andi along the way. However, all work and no play was making Ashley Seaver a dull playmate.
As Penelope tottered into the open plan home of Swann's team, she immediately noticed Ashley, head down and working hard as usual. Making a beeline for the familiar face, Pen chirped a friendly greeting, "Hello, Buttercup. I have something for you," waving a manila file in Seaver's direction.
Ashley glanced up at the approaching multicoloured ray of sunshine that was Penelope Garcia. She had enjoyed liaising with Garcia over the last few months, and her technical support had been invaluable. They had been tracking a gang who were grooming their victims online through various social media sites. It was a huge operation - the biggest Ashley had been involved in since she had joined the squad. The front runners had been proficient in selecting appropriate candidates for the abuse dealt out by their bosses. The gang had successfully seen through two attempted stings. However, third time lucky - and now with Garcia on board - the pair had created a successful online persona. Ashley, using her interest in profiling with Penelope's ability to create an online history, managed to make a fool-proof personality. Once they had cracked the shell, the task force moved in to take down the whole organisation. It was a total success.
Penelope perched on the edge of Seaver's desk, dropping the file on top of Ashley's paperwork.
Ashley looked over the contents, rapidly realising that Garcia had already completed her paperwork for the case. "You are a star."
"Shucks, I know," Penelope answered batting her hand as she spoke, modest as ever. "So, sweetheart, why is Cinderella still here when I know the Ugly Sisters are out having a ball?"
"Like you, I wanted to get my paperwork done," Ashley evaded – none too successfully.
Penelope's eyed narrowed as she examined the younger female. "Okay, spill; tell your Fairy Godmother what's going on."
Ashley's shoulders dropped, as she considered the friendly offer. "Nothing…really."
"Oh no, you don't." Penelope swung her legs round as she shuffled further onto the desk, pushing the files aside and blocking any opportunity for Ashley to escape back into the paperwork. As she did, she noticed some torn up photos on top of the trash in the bin. Reaching down, she grabbed them. "And what do we have here?"
Ashley blushed before burying her head in her hands. How could she get out of this one?
"Sweetie," Penelope looked concerned as she realised the photos were of Ashley and the guy she had brought to the FBI Christmas Party - what was his name?
Moaning slightly as she looked up at Garcia, Ashley winced. "That is the result of yet another failed relationship…if you can call it a relationship. Personally, I think that is an overstatement. And so did he," she gave a sarcastic snort.
"Oh, hunny bunny," Pen soothed, placing a comforting arm around her friend's shoulder as she scooted off the desk, "I know how that feels. Let's go get a drink and something to eat, and you can tell me all."
. . .
Seated opposite Ashley in a quiet booth, Pen had poured her a large glass of white wine from the bottle she had purchased for them to share.
"So, what went wrong with Reg?" Penelope asked after a sip of her cool beverage.
"Reg? You mean Rob," Ashley clarified, avoiding the question.
Pen shrugged – a rose by any other name still stunk the same if it meant they had hurt her friend. "Just tell me the story," she encouraged.
"It's simple, really. Rob got fed up of us arranging to do things and me calling and cancelling. How can you have a relationship when most of the time there is only one of you in town? This job, Pen, it eats into everything."
Penelope nodded sympathetically. "At least Kevin understood the pressure of working for the FBI, though even he couldn't understand my dedication to the BAU. Plus, since I am not a profiler, I rarely get to fly out. Though he hated the hours I spent in my office waiting for my piece of the puzzle."
"Sorry, Pen." Ashley dipped her head before taking another sip of her wine. "I forgot you had split with Kevin. I don't know how you feel, but right now I just want to move on. As I said, it hadn't been much of a relationship, and I could really do with some fun. I just don't know how I am supposed to meet anyone. You aren't supposed to date colleagues, yet when are we supposed to meet others?"
"Well, you see, I may have the solution to that little quandary for you," Penelope smiled as she begun fishing around in her large glittery purse, before she pulled out her tablet. With a few taps she passed the device over to Ashley.
Ashley looked at the screen that had been handed to her. The beautiful slanting script of the webpage was surrounded by delicate red roses. The page title was simple, 'The Red Rose Dating Agency'. Underneath was a short verse: 'Roses are Red. Violets are blue. Whoever you are looking for, we'll find them for you.'
She looked up, stunned, from the screen. "Really?! You cannot seriously be suggesting a dating agency!"
Pen nodded eagerly, her silver earrings jangling as she did so.
Ashley shook her head in disbelief, she wasn't this desperate. Yet! And honestly couldn't believe that Pen was, either.
Pen wasn't surprised by the young agent's reaction. It was why she had kind of kept her current dating situation to herself. It wasn't that she was ashamed - it was just there was a certain stigma attached to online dating. "I know what you are thinking, but really it's ideal for young professionals like us."
"Is that a direct quote from the blurb about the company?" Ashley asked with a giggle as she noticed the way Penelope had pulled herself upright.
Penelope had to smile. "Kind of, but it's true. Look, I've learnt my lesson about the whole dating a colleague thing. Kevin and I ended relatively amicably, but it's still awkward at work. I haven't got the time or the inclination to do the bars and clubs, and besides when we go out as a group, Morgan scares any possible suitor of - usually before I have even got their name. So this, well, it made things easy. You know you are meeting someone with the same interests as you."
"Penelope, doing the job you do, I am surprised. Do I need to remind you there are guys out there who prey on women like you? This is really dangerous," the warning tone clear in her voice as she spoke.
"So is meeting strangers in a bar. Oh, and don't talk to me about coffee shops," Penelope leaned in as she spoke her arms waving wildly. "It is not even safe to assume that you will be fine dating someone from the emergency services. In fact, the one thing I have learnt doing this job is that anyone from any walk of life can be a serial killer, and if I am going to let that worry me, then I might as well pack up my bags and find the nearest convent now."
The thought of the vivid Penelope Garcia in a convent made Ashley laugh out loud. Did habits come in fuchsia pink?
"Besides," Pen continued, ignoring her friend's outburst as she jabbed her finger into the same spot on the table to make her point, "I have completed full background checks on each of the men I have considered meeting."
At this Ashley near choked on her wine. "Penelope, you can't do that! It's misuse of company time or resources or something. What if you get caught?"
Penelope waved off her friend's concern. "Trust me, hunny bunny, this is a lot cheaper than a full scale investigation after the event. Besides, I created half the systems in the FBI, who is going to find me doing my thing in them?"
With a complete look of disbelief, Ashley handed back the tablet to her friend. "Sorry, Pen, but I don't think so."
Penelope tucked the tablet back in her bag and looked back at Ashley. "I have a possible solution. As well as online matchmaking, they sponsor speed dating events. I haven't been to one, as they don't let you have the names before hand to check out, but the two of us together can't get into too much trouble, can we?"
Ashley scrunched up her nose, before finishing her glass of wine.
"Pretty please," Pen pouted. "What could possibly go wrong?"