Disclaimer: I own nothing but the little plot bunny that is this fic...
A/N: For Emma (aka Emzypemzy), this idea stemmed out after we watched Episode 8 together... one little conversation and BAM we resulted in this... Just a little fun...little angst...whole lotta love!
May be rated M at a later stage... let's see how it goes...
So I hope you all enjoy =)
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- You In Different Colours -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
"I believe humanity was born from conflict. Maybe that's why in all of us lives a dark side. Some of us embrace it. Some have no choice. The rest of us fight it. In the end, it's as natural as the air we breathe. At some point, we're forced to face the truth. Ourselves."
The lights went out, and Penelope was in darkness, she could see the team, as they sat dead centre watching her and she realised that her nerves were for absolutely nothing, she hadn't done too bad considering her toughest critics were watching.
She stood and walked to the side, to get ready to go out for the big finale bow with her co-star and met him with a big grin.
"As good as ever, Pen." He told her with a grin, "You nailed it."
"So did you, Nick," She mused back at him with a coy smile. "Most nerve wracking performance."
"You might have been nervous but it didn't show, so now I think it's time to go out there and take your claim to fame."
Penelope thought about that for a moment, after the last case, the last thing she wanted was fame, not like that, but she did want something from it. That look she had, the blonde hair, the Marilyn Monroe inspired make up, it made her feel like a million dollars, and, lastly, she wanted Derek's reaction when she left that bathroom again.
He'd waited and the one thing she heard from him was a soft muttered 'wow', and it said it all as she reclaimed her bag and went to get the rest of herself ready. She felt like she could take him on, challenge more than ever, it was something about that look.
For a moment, she'd firmly believed she'd gotten her best friend to be putty in her hand.
"Let's go take our bow, Penelope." Nick told her and took her hand and they went out towards the spotlight that was ready for them.
Together they took their bow and as she looked up her eyes caught Derek's and he winked and grinned his large boyish grin at her and clapped the hardest.
That in itself made her feel like what she did outside of the job wasn't pathetic or worthless.
Derek watched her as she stood there in her element, black haired bob still in place, her character very much still emulating on the stage, but it was that smile she gave him that showed that whatever hair style she had, she was still Penelope.
He loved watching the reaction his Baby Girl, loved seeing her look of worth and achievement illuminate her face and then he watched her co-star kiss her cheek, hard and adoringly, and he felt a wave of jealous wash through him, catching him unaware.
He covered up, keeping the smile and the clapping going.
He then watched the light go out and Hotch nudged him and they walked out and made their way to the bar where Penelope was going for post-play drinks.
When Penelope walked in with Nick she was laughing hard, but the moment she saw the team she pulled him over excitedly.
"There's our superstar." Derek gushed as he laced his arm around her waist, pulled her close and kissed her temple.
"Aw, thank you Handsome, but I'm not the only star in that play." She said as Derek reluctantly let her go and she grabbed Nick's sleeve. "Guys, this is Nick Clarkson, or to you first Clarence." She said as she nudged him in the side playfully. "My fabulous co-star."
"It's nice to meet the man that's been stealing our girl's time." Rossi said as he stepped forward and Penelope watched the flood of introductions happen, Derek hesitating a little, eying the man up and down slightly.
When it was over, he realised that Penelope was working with a good guy, "How about a drink?" He asked as he put his arm around Nick's shoulder, "Wanna come help me?"
Penelope cocked an eyebrow, but smiled through, "Handsome, you know what I like." She told Derek with a smile.
"A slow screw?" He asked her teasingly and Penelope shot him a look and instantly blushed, "Bahama Mamma with an umbrella." He told her as he walked away.
"She's a great woman." Nick commented as the stood at the bar moments later, "she's been a great help with really getting the emotion into that play."
"Yeah she's one of a kind."
"So are you by the sounds of it," Nick told him and smiled, "she talks nonstop about you."
Derek looked shocked, "more about her boyfriend I bet."
"Nope, we met Kevin once, I met him alone with Penelope, just like I did you guys back there and he was downright rude, tried to get her to go home ten minutes later." Nick could see Derek's confusion at that, "he doesn't like her taking more time out from him, but Penelope needs this as much as her job with you. It gives her something back."
"Yeah, I can see why, allows her to vent." Derek told him as he remembered their talk a couple of days ago, he looked up as the bartender stood before him, he ordered their drinks, he knew full well what they all drunk while out, he just liked to tease Penelope.
"She's something special to you isn't she?" Nick asked after a couple of minutes of silence.
"Has been for the best part of 6, nearly 7 years," Derek said as he ran a hand over his head, "I mean, she's my best friend, the best as well."
"Yeah, she loves you a lot." Nick told him, "Don't think I've heard a bad word about you, Derek. I'm happy to get to put a face to name."
"Thanks, I'm happy she shared this part of her life with me." Derek smiled as it said that.
"Yeah I don't think she was thinking that the way she was downing Pepto-Bismol," Nick laughed a little, "It's the most nervous she's ever felt, and it as all because of you more than anyone." Nick stood then, and put his hands on some drink, "I've got the beers, I'll come back for Emily's, you take Penelope's and speak to her, tell her just how good she did."
"Oh don't worry, that was my plan anyway." Derek told him a smirk and watched Nick walk away, "Hey Nick," he called and the other man turned around, "thank you for looking after her."
"No worries Derek." He called back and turned back to the group and left Derek completely.
Derek walked towards Penelope and she looked up, in a fit of laughter. Her eyes were bright with the happiness and it found it strange how now she was red when no more than an hour ago she was raven haired.
"For you, Baby Girl," he told her as he handed over the drink and Penelope took it eagerly.
"Why thank you, Hot Stuff." Penelope told him lively and took a sip through the straw, "as delicious as always."
"Much like other things," Derek joked again and Penelope giggled, the rosy colour going to her cheeks again, "Hey P, can we go somewhere and talk?"
Penelope looked at him perplexed and looked to the team and Nick, Nick prompting her instantly, "Oh, erm, yeah sure, what's up?"
"I just wanna talk, that's all." Derek told her and she obliged and headed for the outside area upstairs.
She knew that it'd be empty on a Sunday evening, so she wasn't surprised to find one or two punters upstairs smoking or just generally getting some fresh air away from the low beats of music and hustle and bustle of any bar.
"What's up?"
"Like I said nothing, Baby Girl," he told her with smirk, "I've just be enjoying alone time with you lately, it just seems nonexistent."
"That's because it is," she teased him lightly, "but now you have my entire attention, so shoot."
Derek grinned at her, his eyes capturing hers in the half light, "You were spectacular out there tonight, I just don't get why Lynch isn't sitting up, dead centre front row every night. I know I would be if you were my girl."
"I'm always your girl," Penelope quipped as him as she fiddled with the umbrella in her drink, "I'm your Baby Girl."
She watched him laugh and nod his head in agreement.
"Plus, he saw it once and didn't like the story line."
"Why not?"
Penelope shrugged, "too much like my work, too predictable and apparently once you've seen it once you've seen it a billion times." Penelope looked up and smiled though, there wasn't a hint of sadness about that fact, "I only accepted to do it because I felt that a part of it reflected me perfectly." She saw he knew slightly what she was going on about, "and plus, this last case made me face up to myself, I had to tell you all once Hotch let that cat out of the bag."
"And I'm glad you did, Baby." Derek told her proudly, "Would've been a wasted talent had I not seen it."
"Ah shucks Handsome you're really out to make me blush tonight." Penelope laughed a little and sat back in her chair, putting the straw to her lips and drinking leisurely, "so, should we be getting back?"
"Nope, I like it up here for a moment, just you and me."
Penelope properly laughed at that, the idea of him keeping her hostage on the bar's balcony was a funny image.
"I love being able to make you laugh at the drop of a hat." He told her as took a swig of his beer.
Penelope sat forward, her arms resting on her lap, "well, my hunk of burning love, if you can make a girl laugh, you can make her do anything."
She patted his knee and stood up, "C'mon, my Love, there's more than just us here and," she bent down, her breath tickling his ear almost instantly, "I want a dance with my main man." She backed up a little, "and I don't mean Clarence or Nick."
Derek sat as he heard her heels on the flooring before he stood and hurried after her.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- You In Different Colours -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
A.N: So who wants more?