If Anyone Objects – Morgan and Garcia (Side Shot)
[A/N: This is a little diddy about the Morgan/Garcia relationship. It's set before Morgan comes back to work. No spoilers. I hope you like it. I don't own CM. I only borrow.]
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"Okay, let's get started. We've all been reviewing cold cases. Has anyone found any new evidence we could pursue in order to help the local LEOs?" Rossi asked.
Morgan sat at the table looking at the ten folders in front of him. He'd had a hard time profiling the crimes based on the lacking information in the files, but he'd done his best. He'd provided a profile of the victimology and the UnSub. Garcia had helped him with searching for information which wasn't available when the crimes were committed and when Nick slept, Morgan worked.
He had a lot of things running through his mind he was having problems reconciling. The work he'd brought home helped him settle things. Garcia made sure he had food to eat and the baby had food. She got the two of them on a schedule when they'd returned from Chicago, and Morgan was grateful. She stopped by his house every day to check on them, but she left every evening. That was the problem.
He wanted…desperately…to convince her he was serious about his feelings for her. Unfortunately, she laughed him off at every turn. She told him he was firing on her because he was club-deprived. It didn't matter how much he told her she was wrong. She had a comeback and would then leave to go to her own apartment. It was frustrating.
Morgan had time to profile the situation…and her, if he was being honest. She'd lost her parents when she was eighteen, and she was lost for a period of time before Hotch coerced her into working for the FBI. There were a lot of insecurities imbedded deeply in her psyche which would be a high hurdle for Morgan to jump.
Years of flirting between the two of them and his randy lifestyle…about which he'd been reminded too many times, especially from Reid…had only reinforced the gap Penelope perceived between them. Not once in the entire time they'd known each other had the woman asked him what type of woman attracted him. By the same token, he'd never volunteered it because they were co-workers, and for many years, that was a bridge Derek Morgan was unwilling to cross.
That was until Garcia was there for him when he desperately needed someone. The way in which she took care of him and his son? It opened his eyes to the truth right in front of him.
Penelope Garcia was a beautiful woman with a personality he adored. She loved him, he was certain…based on the fact she'd worn black to the wedding…and she stepped in when he needed someone to help him make sense of the disaster his life had become in the aftermath of Magret. If he had to spend his dying breath convincing Garcia he was in love with her, then so be it.
"Hotch and I've been looking at a case…" Reid began.
Morgan tuned out the rest until he heard Hotch state, "The father gave up on them, and the police weren't motivated. We believe the two females left the restaurant after it closed, but neither the mother, nor the daughter, turned up anywhere. We think someone helped them with their escape. We've searched for an accomplice to the mother, but we've run into a dead end," Hotch described.
"Resolution would require a trip to Detroit and Chicago to retrace the case. We don't have any new leads to go on to justify the trip, but I'd say it's worth contacting locals and providing the updated information," Reid explained.
Hotch took over. "I agree. Maybe they'd be willing to look at the case again and invite us to visit. The father, Chris Hall, is still alive. I'm sure he'd like to know what happened to his daughter."
Morgan listened to the two men speak, noticing how close they seemed to be. They seemed to move in tandem, nodding in support of each other as the information was delivered in somewhat tag-team fashion. At the end of the briefing, Morgan was jealous.
He was certain there was more to the relationship between Hotch and Reid, but they weren't talking about it, though they did give each other more than just passing glances. Morgan would have given anything to have the same relationship with Garcia, but she wasn't having any of it. She was definitely holding him at arms-length while providing his son with all the love she had inside her. It was frustrating.
As Morgan was about to say he believed it was worth the pursuit of the Hall cold case, his phone vibrated in his pocket. He discreetly pulled it out while Rossi quizzed Reid and Hotch regarding the profile they were ready to put forth. Morgan saw a message from Garcia, which brought a smile.
I was thinking about getting Chinese take-out for lunch and bringing Nicky up to the lair from daycare. I'd bet he could have some veggie fried rice. You want in? PG…and it's only my initials ; )
'There's that flirting I've been missing,' Morgan thought as he listened to the team pick through another case.
Oh, baby girl, I'm all in. I think Nick is ready to try a little rice, though he might spit it out, but we'll give it a shot. Please order me beef and broccoli. Have them call me when it comes in. I'll bring the food. You bring the drinks and the sass. Looking forward to it. M…and that's the rating for what I wanna do to you.
"…Morgan? You have a case?" Rossi asked.
Derek looked up and smiled. "I have ten, but I think its best if I send the info to the locals and let them look it over for themselves. I don't think us regurgitating it here would be helpful," he responded.
Hotch stood and grabbed Morgan by the shoulder. "May I speak with you?"
Morgan nodded and followed him up to his office, noticing a lot of boxes spread around the space. The two men sat, and Morgan saw Hotch take a deep breath. "I stepped down because I'm leaving the BAU.
"For reasons I won't go into, I'm transferring to White Collar. I'll be promoted, but it's hush-hush for now. I've recommended you for Unit Chief, Morgan. Rossi doesn't want it. He agreed to the 'acting' role as a favor to me. For personal reasons, he doesn't want the job," Hotch explained.
Morgan chuckled. "I feel him. I don't want it for personal reasons either because if my life works out the way I hope? I'm gonna have somebody helpin' me raise my boy. I just need to work out a few details."
When Hotch started laughing, Morgan was surprised. After he calmed, Morgan cocked an eyebrow at him. "Nobody wants the job because we're all going to be conflicted. The only one who wouldn't have a conflict is JJ and that's because she's married to a DC cop. What the hell are we going to do?" Hotch asked with an uncharacteristic smile. Morgan knew it had everything to do with Reid, though Hotch wouldn't admit it. The boy could make anyone smile.
Morgan stewed for a minute. "What about Reid? Look, the boy's young, but he's lived a million lifetimes. If you transfer, he doesn't have a conflict. Pen answers to him, just like me, and Rossi and Prentiss? Same deal. He's ready for it, Hotch. It might just be the pressure he needs to finally see what a great agent he really is. We'll all be here for him, and when he gets home at night, well…I'm sure he'll have someone to take care of him," Morgan teased with a wink.
The two men laughed and went back to the bullpen. "Can we break for lunch?" Morgan asked Rossi. The relief on the man's face brought a laugh to all in attendance.
After Hotch and Reid took off…not discreetly at all…Morgan called down to the front desk and alerted them he was waiting for carryout. When he hung up, he hurried to follow Rossi and Prentiss to the break room. "I need to talk to you."
Rossi nodded as he pulled out a plastic container and popped it into the microwave. Prentiss gathered paper plates and plastic utensils before sitting down at a table with two bottles of Snapple.
"Cop a squat. You want some lasagna? Rossi and I have a competition going regarding who's the best cook. You can be an impartial judge," Emily offered.
Morgan took her hand and kissed it. "I know about you and Rossi just like I know about Reid and Hotch. Just like you know about me and Garcia. Look, Hotch is transferring whether we like it or not. He wants to be home for Jack, so he's going to head up White Collar.
"I can stay in BAU because Penelope doesn't answer to me. If I take the job as Unit Chief, she and I can't have a relationship, just like if either of you take the job, you can't have a relationship. The only logical choice for all of us is for Reid to take over. He'll have no biases to any of us after Hotch transfers, and he's as equipped as any of us to take over, except for Rossi," Morgan suggested.
Rossi laughed. "Unit Chief is the last damn thing I want to do. I'm glad I came back, and I'm committed to doing the job, but I don't want the headache of being the guy in command.
"I'm not sure if Spencer is ready to handle it solo, so I'll stay in the position, but I want to bring him in as my second, and I don't want either of you to complain. If we want this to work out the way we'd all like, Spence needs a mentor. So?" Rossi asked.
"I'm in. I mean, I'd like the chance to head up a unit, but right now, I'm pretty happy where I am, and I have a lot of things on my plate," Prentiss said as she covertly winked at Rossi.
Morgan laughed. "I know Garcia will be on board. Who's gonna talk to JJ?"
"Who's gonna talk to JJ about what? Morgan, the guard called me. Your food is here. What's going on? I'm tired of being in the dark," the blond complained, bringing a laugh to everyone. After the explanations were given, JJ was on board with the plan.
##
Morgan left the break room to go pay for the food and meet Garcia and Nicky in her office. He stopped in the break room to grab plates, napkins, and silverware. When he knocked on Garcia's door, he heard a giggle that enticed him to open the door.
What he saw when he entered the room made him grin. The woman he was in love with was holding his son on her lap while she blew raspberries on his fat neck. Nicky laughed so hard, Morgan couldn't help but join him.
"Daddy's got the food," he announced as he produced the bag.
"OOOH! This is going to be so good, baby boy," Garcia gushed as she moved over to the couch where Morgan had taken a seat.
He watched as she quickly opened the container with the fried rice and picked up the chopsticks. She loaded a few grains of rice and held it to Nicky's mouth. He opened it, because the boy wasn't a shy eater, and they watched him smush it around his mouth a few times before he spit out a few grains. She passed the baby to Morgan and stood next to him.
"Ah, not yet a fan of Chinese? Well, little man, Auntie Penny has something you'll like just as well," Morgan heard as Garcia went to the little fridge in her office.
She pulled out a container with mushed-up something and a tiny spoon from a bag on top. She hurried out of the room and returned a few minutes later with the container. Morgan watched her fill the spoon and put it to her lips, not tasting…just testing.
"How about you try this, big boy? Auntie Pen has been testing out recipes for you. This is chicken and rice. I think you might like it," she cooed at the boy before she held the spoon up to his mouth.
Morgan smelled it and he was ready to take the spoon. It smelled incredible. When Nicky took it into his mouth without any protest, the smile on Garcia's face sealed the deal. "Penelope, I love you," Morgan told her.
When she laughed, he knew the message hadn't hit home. "Aw, that's sweet. I love you as well, my Granite Adonis. I'll drop off the bigger container of this for him. I promise you, it's healthy. I've tried a few things that even I wouldn't eat, and we both know I'm not that selective about what I eat, obviously," she began.
Morgan took the spoon from her and placed it in the dish on the little table in front of her couch. "No, Pen, listen to me. I love you. There's nothing about you that's not right up my ally, baby girl. I want us to spend more time together," he suggested.
Garcia laughed. "Derek, I know you're confused right now. After what that skinny…what Magret did to you, you're entitled to be confused. It'll take time for you to work through it, and if you want to talk to a counselor about it, I'll do for you what Reid did for Hotch. I'll keep it under the radar. I'll watch Nicky for you, and I won't say anything to anyone. I'll make sure you have the best therapist I can find.
"You need time to get over that bi…woman, and I'll be right there with you. I'm your friend, Derek. I don't expect anything more than the love we've always felt for each other. I'm grateful for what I can get," she explained.
Derek Morgan had a decision to make. He held his tongue while Garcia fed Nicky the organic baby food she'd made and offered him the organic apple juice she'd bought in the sippy cup she'd bought. It had a green frog on it, and it made Derek smile.
He was weening his son from the bottle as the pediatrician had suggested, and Garcia had been supporting him in the endeavor. It wasn't always pretty because the boy was attached to the bottle, but with patience and love, he'd finally agreed to let it go. Morgan credited Garcia's persistence. She was never one to give up, and he was grateful. She'd saved him from a fate worse than death, and he'd fallen in love with her in the process. Once the walls were down regarding the workplace, Morgan knew what he wanted. He'd almost died, and one person had been persistent in finding him. Those facts were indisputable.
Once Garcia finished feeding the boy, Morgan took Nicky to the men's room and changed his diaper before he returned him to the daycare center. He knew Garcia would keep the boy with her all afternoon, but Morgan had things he needed to make clear. Things that couldn't wait.
"Say good-bye to Auntie Pen," Morgan stated as he walked back into her lady cave.
"Aw, bye baby. I'll make sure your daddy gets the rest of that chicken rice thing, and I'll keep testing recipes. I found a site…well, you don't care. As long as it tastes good," she whispered as she kissed the little boys full cheeks.
She smiled at him with love in her eyes, and it was enough for Derek to make up his mind. "I'll be back. Don't go anywhere."
Garcia gave him a curious glance, but she nodded. He returned a sleeping Nicky to the daycare center and then took the back stairs up to Garcia's end of the hallway.
He knocked twice before he opened the door and stepped inside without invitation. He locked the door and turned to look at the bank of computers the woman used on a daily basis. "Do any of these broadcast out?" he asked as he walked over to her and stood behind her chair.
Garcia giggled. "God no. I'm tracking about a…" she began. He reached into her hair and pulled out the clip that held it up in a chignon. He also pulled out the flowery barrette she had clipped on the side over her left ear.
"Good. Do you have any assignments from Rossi you need to finish?" he whispered into her ear.
He felt the tremor when it began, but he wasn't going to stop. "Baby girl? Is anyone waiting for anything from you?" he whispered again as he brushed his lips against the shell of her left ear. He saw the goosebumps on her neck, and he knew he was getting to her.
"Um, I promised Reid I'd," she began before she took a deep breath.
"I'm pretty sure Reid won't give a tinker's damn about anything you promised him. I, however, have a case I need help on. You game?" he asked as he knelt down behind her chair and began kissing her neck gently.
When she gasped at the sensation, he smiled into her neck. "This place soundproof?" he asked as he gently sucked on the skin behind her left ear before kissing his way to the right side of her neck.
"It, um, it's soundproof and bullet proof. It has reinforced steel walls of…" she began as Morgan settled his lips against her carotid artery, feeling the beat pick up.
"Mama, I don't care how thick the walls are. I wanna show you how much you mean to me, and I don't want an audience," he whispered into her ear as he kissed up and down her neck, moving her long blond and pink hair over her left shoulder.
"Derek, please don't be cruel," she gasped as she pushed her chair away from the desk, knocking him on his ass. She wheeled on him, and he could see how pissed off she was at him, but he didn't know why.
"HOW DARE YOU! HOW DARE YOU TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE…" she began before he could get up off the floor.
He pulled her up from the chair and picked her up, carrying her to the couch and sitting with her on his lap. "Now, don't get all hateful. This is supposed to be the best time of our lives. We're falling in love, and we can't be away from each other. You beatin' on me isn't exactly the way I want us to start out. I'm not trying to take advantage of anything, Pen. I'm trying like hell to get you to see that I know you love me, and I feel the same.
"It's not because you saved me from that shit in Florida. It's because of all the little things you do and it's because you've shown me what love means. You know how fucked up I am because of what happened to me when I was a kid, and you still show me love.
"You don't hold my promiscuity against me, and you love me in spite of all my bad shit. I'm so damn happy to have finally woken up to see what's been right here all along. Please, give me a chance," Derek requested. He hoped he'd pled his case well because he wasn't sure what he'd do if she dismissed him.
When she struggled to get up from his lap, he held her tighter. "Don't try to get away," he warned with a smile.
He didn't expect her to pinch his inner thigh which caused him to release Garcia from his grasp. She stood and stared him down. "We both know, Derek, we're not meant to be together. Don't make this more than it is. I'm happy to help with Nicky, but I won't be made a fool. Please go," Garcia ordered.
Derek rose from the couch and walked to the door, stopping to turn around. "I'll go now because you need to do some thinkin', but baby girl, you're mine. You've known it longer than me, but I know it now, and I don't give up. Take your time, but don't take too much because I'm not the most patient man. But then, you know that about me.
"I'll be in touch," Derek told her as he left the room. He wasn't sure where to go from there, but he wasn't giving up. It wasn't in his personality to back down. The woman already knew it. How long it would take for her to realize it, he wasn't sure, but he'd wait. What else could he do?
If anyone objected to them being a mixed race couple? Oh, they could rot in hell.
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[E/N: Hope you'll give me some feedback. Thank you for reading]