Disclaimer: I don't own Criminal Minds for if I did Derek and Penelope would be having one heck of a New Year's celebration tonight.

A/N: I promised a happy Christmas story, which I kinda did deliver with KricketWilliams but now that we're working on the sequel I have realized I owe Derek and Penelope an angst free story, too. I have this posted as a one shot but if you all want a sequel I already have the idea floating around in my head. You guys tell me whether this will continue or not. Until then have a happy and safe New Year. Harlie

One Monday Morning

Arriving at the Bureau Monday morning all Penelope could think was, she wished it were the Friday afternoon before a weekend the team was guaranteed to be off. Clutching her extra large black coffee with a double shot of espresso she prayed it would be enough to see her through. Whenever the team had a chance to take a break, she'd run out for more. As much as she loved having the team home for this case, it made her feel twice as guilty when she went home last night and not all of them followed suit.

As if on cue, Derek stepped into her path. He looked exhausted but he'd managed to change clothing. Likely he'd gone down to the locker room and had a quick shower at some point during the night. "Hey baby girl, morning."

"Morning, yourself, hot stuff," she mumbled. As much as she wanted to flirt with him she just couldn't muster up the strength.

"Pen?"

"I'm sorry, hon. I'll have to promise to show you a good morning on a day that should you decide to take me up on it I won't disappoint."

"Okay. You had me worried for a moment there. If it helps at all, we think we have a really good handle on the UNSUB. I was just headed to see if you were in yet. Think you can manage a few searches yet or should I give you time to finish that?" He tapped the top of her coffee cup.

"Follow me, handsome. I can type one handed until my caffeine tank is topped up."

"I'll personally buy you coffee for a week if any of these searches pan out, sweetness."

"You're such a smooth talker, you."

Penelope sipped her coffee while she fired up her babies. She wasn't paying attention to Derek since he'd perched his gorgeous butt on the edge of one corner of her desk so she yelped when she felt his fingers brush a lock of hair behind her ears.

"Relax, goddess. Did you even sleep at all last night?"

She shook her head. "I felt so guilty about going home I basically tossed and turned for a couple of hours then gave up, got ready and headed back here."

Wordlessly, Derek moved behind her chair, took the coffee from her, placing it aside and began to work on the tense muscles of her neck and shoulders. Penelope lasted about a minute and a half before the first low moan escaped her lips. "Starting to feel less guilt, baby girl?"

"Mmmhmmm"

"What was that?"

"Yes! Oh yes!"

"Want me to stop?"

"No! More." Right then Derek's thumbs simultaneously hit on an especially tender spot and she let out a long low groan of appreciation. "Awwww."

"What the hell is going on in here?"

Derek's hands stilled on her shoulders but he didn't lift them. "Just helping out Garcia with our latest search, Chief Strauss." He addressed her without turning around.

"You expect me to believe all that moaning and groaning I've been following down this hallway is for the sake of Bureau business?"

Penelope made to stand but Derek tightened his hands on her shoulders. It was then she clued in; he hadn't turned to speak to their boss because he didn't dare. As much as she longed to look up and confirm her suspicions she didn't. Instead, she slowly spun her chair taking Derek along for the ride, so they were both facing their section chief's wrath head on. "Excuse me, ma'am but are you accusing Agent Morgan and I of fraternization?"

"Frankly, yes. I've had my concerns about the two of you for some time. After this display it's obvious action has to be taken."

"Meaning?" Derek's voice was low but Penelope recognized the menacing undercurrent even if their section chief had yet to notice or react.

"Meaning, one of you has to voluntarily leave the BAU or I'll initiate my ability to make it happen along with a formal reprimand in both your files."

"Erin, I see your knickers are in a knot already and it's only 7:45," Rossi said as he came into view behind Chief Strauss.

"Agent Rossi, as informally as you insist on addressing me I am still your boss. This is none of your concern. I am currently in the process of handling a situation with your teammates that's gone on far too long."

"You are my boss in title only and we are both very aware of it, Erin. Now why don't you lay off these two? You and I will go into my office and discuss this situation like rational adults."

"Agent Rossi, I don't appreciate you manhandling me in front of my subordinates."

"Interesting, Chief Strauss, I don't appreciate you throwing your position around simply for the sake of making others as bitter as you are. Now are you going to follow me willingly or do I need to go over your head?"

Penelope and Derek watched in awed silence as their section chief left. Rossi closed the door behind them as he followed Strauss but not before giving them a very mischievous wink.

As soon as the door was closed Penelope sprang from her chair and turned to face Derek. "Hot stuff, you alright?"

"Oddly, far more than I was before all that."

"What? I got concerned when you wouldn't let me stand and-" The remainder of her words were swallowed up in the kiss Derek delivered to Penelope's lips. Once she got over the initial shock of the reality of him kissing her, she shoved her chair out of the way and molded her body to his giving as good as she was getting.

Penelope had no idea how long they stood there lost in each other. By the time they had stopped memorizing the contours of each other's mouths with their tongues and had moved on to light pecks and breathless sighs, there was no question their friendship had morphed into something far more lovely and sensual.

"I'm going to have to send Chief Strauss a thank you note," Derek murmured.

"Why's that, my love."

"To thank her for confirming what I've known for years."

"And that would be," Penelope asked even as she continued to nip at Derek's jaw.

"That we're amazing together."

"But we weren't even doing anything. You were just giving me a massage."

"And getting very turned on in the process. Baby girl, had she arrived about a minute later she likely would have caught us doing far more."

"Oh. Well, I have been promising you a good morning."

"You didn't this morning, remember?"

"The searches!" Penelope moved out of his embrace and quickly retrieving her chair sat down and got back to work. Derek however had yet to move. "You, my hunk of molten chocolate need to get out of here so I can concentrate."

"Not until you promise me something."

"What's that, my love," she asked as she turned back around in her chair to face him.

"I'm going back out there and I'm going to do everything I can to ensure we catch this guy as soon as possible. Today, if we can mange it. Once that's over though, you and I, we're going to finish what we started here, properly."

"Okay."

"I'm serious, Penelope. For the first time, it's only you and I in this relationship. If I have anything to say about it this is how it's going to remain, permanently. Are you understanding me?"

Looking at the intensity in his eyes as he loomed over her, Penelope felt her heart thumping so hard in her chest she thought it might jump out and leave with Derek. "Yes, I understand. Come for me when you're ready."

He smiled then, the most wolfish, most lustful smile she had ever seen. "Only if you promise to do the same for me later." His parting kiss left Penelope with no doubt as to his intent and they were both smiling as he returned to his office and she to her research.

Finis or TBC?

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