I own nothing, I make no money from this.
Criminal Minds.
Having heard enough of their grumbling and complaining Hotch took a deep breath before he spoke to his team.
" Garcia asked for this day off four months ago. Don't worry I already called her she said that she would be tonight. Now everyone go back to what you were doing." Hotch tells them as he rubs his temples.
When he got the call in his hotel room a little past nine that she had arrived pulling two suitcases as well as her ever present purse. The desk sergeant explained that after she showed them her credentials she asked to be pointed to the room that the team was using. After being shown the way she was asked if she needed anything. The only reply was a nice cup of hot chocolate would be wonderful as it was raining and she was feeling chilly.
The sergeant laughed when he told Hotch what he saw when he came back to the room. She had put her hair up into a bun held in place with pens and pencils, she had shed her shoes and her skirt pockets had computer wires hanging out of them. What surprised him the most was the four laptops that she had up and running each one of them doing something but he could not make heads or tail out of it.
He opened the door to the office an hour later, he smiled then he sighed at what is was seeing, all the laptops were off and there was a stack of folders laying on the table labeled for each agent. Then he looked at her she was wearing FBI sweats top and bottoms with a sweater draped over her shoulders he wondered how she could sleep in two of the office chairs placed against the wall. Until he remembered that she told him that she had to learn to sleep lightly and everywhere when she was underground. A skill that she still found useful only now a days she slept a little deeper.
With care he walked closer and touched her hand. It only took a touch and his voice calling her name for her to awaken. She smiled at him before she spoke.
"You called, I came, my Captain."
"Why are you sleeping here?"
"No room at he Inn, JJ and Emily share, Reid and Morgan share, Rossi and you don't share being the bosses has its privileges."
It only takes one look and an offered hand to help her stand up. In no time at all they are in his hotel room.
"It's a queen size bed Penelope we will share." He takes the files that he was working on off of the bed and disappears into the bathroom taking his go bag with him giving her the privacy she need to change into her pajamas when he come out of the bathroom ten minutes later he finds her on the side furthest from the door on her back with her eyes closed. The blankets folded just at her breast line he can see a pajama top with small flowers scattered on it.
He knows that she is not sleeping just from her breathing pattern. He climbs into bed and lays quietly on his back staring at the ceiling with only the small light from the bathroom breaking the darkness in the room.
"How was it?" He asked softly.
"Nice, it was very nice, she was the valedictorian. She is going Cal-tech next year."
"I know."
"How?"
"When you told me why it was so important that you have this day off I did a little snooping of my own."
"You don't play fair."
"I'm the boss remember? "
"I remember all to well thank you."
"Penelope how did you? " He started to say.
"It was a closed adoption, a sealed file I wanted it that way. I still do in fact."
"But you found it and did your thing I take it?"
"Of course, I had to make sure that she was well taken care of."
"And is she?"
"They are the perfect parents they love her and gave her a good home a better home than I could have ever given her."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be I got to hold her when she was born and just before I gave her away I kissed her and held her one last time. Some things aren't meant to be."
"Penelope you're still young enough to have children you and Kevin."
"Not going to happen Kevin asked me to marry him and move away to a farm. I told him no. That was three months ago he is seeing someone else now I hope he finds the happiness that he is looking for."
"What about your happiness?" He asks as he turns and looks at her he can see the trail of tears staining her face.
"I have found peace in my solitude, I can't hurt anyone and no one can hurt me. But I do thank you for keeping me secret." she whispers.
"I saw her picture you know, she is beautiful, just like her mother, I'll keep your secret Penelope always. But I'll never give up hope that you won't find someone to spend your life with, trust me I know how lonely an empty life, heart and bed is." he tells her as he gently takes her into his arm and holds her as she cries for all that she has lost.
"You're a guy Aaron, the best in fact. And I do love you even if you are my boss."
"Go to sleep Garcia we have work to do in the morning."
"Yes sir, thank you sir."
Stroking her hair and holding her in his arms he wishes he could tell her he loves her too, just as easily as she tells him. For he does very much.
