Premise- A look at the special moments that could have led to Derek and Penelope's bond, before the first episode of Criminal Minds ever aired. The first scene comes from the episode during season three. It flashbacks to one year before Criminal Minds started.

Game Changer

Chapter One

2004

Day One

"Hey, what's that new tech girl's name?"

"Uh..." Reid answered "Gomez, I think."

"Excuse me, Gomez." When he got no answer and she started to move away from him he changed it to "Hey, baby girl."

She slowly turned around. "Baby girl?" she asked, cocking an eyebrow and challenging him.

He quickly backtracked. "Uh, forgive me, I just didn't know the real-"

Her lips quirked into a small, teasing smile. "I've been called worse."

He simply stared back at her- glad she wasn't making a big deal out of his harmless, playful banter at her.

Her eyebrow cocked again and she moved toward him, her smile growing just a little, as she asked "What can I do for you?"

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Day Two

"Hey," he asked her as he was fixing coffee in the break area "could you hand me some sugar?"

She paused and looked him over from head to toe.

He sure felt like he was getting the same kind of treatment that he gave women every time he went to a club. That she was looking him over like all he was good for was what was between his legs. Not that he minded it a bit.

It was a nice change to see a woman around there actually admit that he was a good looking man. He knew they all saw it but they pretended like he wasn't half as hot as he was. Even flirting with most of them barely got him a smile.

Some women around the FBI were tough as nails with not a bit of softness in them. Morgan could respect them but he also liked to treat women like women. He didn't like to pretend everyone was the same under their suits. It made life a hell of a lot more fun when there was someone around to flirt with but the FBI didn't offer too many women like that. They are were in military mode. It was drilled into them for years now: no fraternizing.

"Sure thing, sugar," she answered as she passed it to him, with just a hint of teasing in her tone letting him know the term sugar was to describe how sweet he looked and not the product in question.

"Thanks...uh....you know what I didn't catch your name yesterday. I'm Derek Morgan and you are?"

She turned toward him more fully. Her eyes shone with all this light and he found it a nice switch to have someone around there be bubbly.

"I would be the tech Goddess who is going to make your life and the life of all the people around this unit so much better for having known me."

He smirked. "Is that right?"

She nodded, her eyebrows doing that cute quirking thing again and her mouth teasing him.

He chuckled. "That's a little long for a name. What can I call you?"

"Technical Analyst Penelope Garcia, if you want to be boring about it."

He smiled. "Okay. Good to know." Derek walked off.

She didn't really linger on his mind, not at first, but every time he saw her walk by or ran into her in the hall or she sat in on a briefing he would suddenly remember: oh yeah, she's fun.

Then they caught a case. He had to call her and then he realized just how much fun she could truly be.

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Day Five

Derek was standing in front of an abandoned building, feeling stressed out that the lead hadn't panned out and they didn't find their missing person or the unsub. He felt like he was chasing his damn tail on this case.

Gideon told him to call the tech girl so Derek had stepped outside to do that. Rubbing the back of his neck he waited for her to answer.

"This is the office of Penelope Garcia, technical Goddess at your service. Speak and be acknowledged."

"Its Morgan." He gave her the request.

"On it." A second passed and she squealed "Ohhhh, this is so uber exciting and kick ass!"

He smiled slightly. "Is it?"

"My first official phone request for information as a member of this unit. It makes my form all warm and tingly."

He chuckled, instantly feeling better. "Glad I can be of assistance."

She gave him the information he needed.

He startled. "That was quick. I thought you'd have to call me back. That's what used to always happen with the person who had your job before you."

"And that is why I am superior in every way to that mere mortal." She paused and her voice got insecure. "Oops! Sorry! Is said mortal like your best friend or something?"

"No," he laughed. "You're good, girl."

"No," she purred "I'm not a good girl."

His mouth opened a little. He was surprised by that but he liked it. "I'm catching on to that fact. Later, Garcia."

"Miss me." Click.

He looked at his phone. She was totally crazy. She dressed quirky and she wore funky jewelry. Her laugh was infectious. Her eyes roamed over his body like he was a candy bar and her banter was just too much fun to resist.

Derek could get used to working with this new member of their team. He could really get used to having her around. He walked back over to the team with a smile on his face.

Hotch asked "You get anything?"

"Yeah, Garcia said that....." They all thought he was glad for a lead not that the new girl at work was the cause of his mood improving. They would all soon learn just how much having Penelope around changed up Derek's whole attitude.

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Day Nine

He walked off the elevator to find a group of co-workers standing there talking. He noticed JJ, Hotch and the new tech girl, Garcia.

With a smirk on his lips he decided to mess with her. Give her back a little of the flirting she had been throwing at him since he went on that last case. Whenever she was on the phone she was pretty damn bold.

In person she was just all eyes, sexy painted red mouth pursed at him, and a word or two spoken in a tone that let him know: yeah, you're hot and yeah I like that.

Derek walked up behind them and leaned close to Penelope. He stuck his mouth by her ear and said "Morning, princess."

She startled and turned around. Her face went a little red. He crossed his arms over his chest and smirked at her in a way that said: You aren't so bold in person, are you, sexy?

Seeing the challenge in his eyes she answered "I'll show you a good morning, Hot Stuff."

Derek sputtered, coughing and laughing all at once, especially when he saw Hotch's face. Hotch shook his head slightly, in confusion and shock at this kind of office decorum, and walked off.

JJ had a small, amused smile on her lips. She told Penelope "See you at lunch, okay?"

"Sounds great!" Penelope cried, excited that she was getting close with someone at work already.

Once they were alone Derek studied this new woman in his world. "You, Garcia, are an original."

She smiled at him. "I know," she said in this super cute voice before she walked toward the doors of the BAU.

Derek hurried to open it for her. "After you, princess."