Epilogue

She had finished powering down her babies and had packed up her belongings to leave for the day when a knock came to her office door. Garcia turned to find Luke's head peeking through the door.

"Hey, sorry to bother you," He said but still opened the door fully and stepped inside.

"I am never bothered by you Alvez," She stated. "Well, as least not as much anymore, newbie," She added teasingly with a smile that he quickly returned. He felt that he really needed that in that moment. "What did you need Luke?"

"Ah, I just wanted to come back and thank you again for offering to foster Lou and give you some things I picked up for him," Luke said as he lifted the bag he held and Garcia hadn't really noticed before. The mention of Lou brought to mind Phil who had been Alvez's longtime friend and someone Garcia had come to think of as a friend too, since being introduced to him through Luke. She somberly reached out and grasped the bag from Luke's hand.

"Lou can stay with me for as long as needed."

"Thank you," Alvez said with a nod of appreciation.

"Luke, I am really sorry about Phil. He was a great man and I really liked him," She offered.

"Thanks, and yeah he was the best," Luke agreed as he once again nodded his head. "And he really liked you too, Penelope," He added purposely leaving out just how much Phil was interested in her, because he knew that would open questions to why he had never told her, which was something he wasn't even quite sure of himself. "If you're heading down, I'll walk you out," He stated as he stepped to her and grasped the bag, he had given her back from her hand and also took the bag containing her laptop.

"Okay," Garcia replied with a smile welcoming his company and muscles to carry her stuff. They were silent as they left her office and made their way to the elevators. Hardly anyone was about except the janitors and security guards, all of whom Garcia knew by name and spoke to as they passed. Alvez watched her a bit in awe and a sudden swell of happiness filled him at knowing she was truly a kind and a wonderful person and that none of it was a front. Once they entered the elevators he spoke again.

"You are really amazing, you know that?"

"Shh-yeah," She tossed out playful around a smile as she prayed that he didn't notice that she was blushing. "I'm glad you realize it too."

"I'm really glad I have you as a friend, Penelope," Luke stated as he swallowed the emotional lump that had formed in his throat. She turned to regard him and her heart broke as she could see how distraught he was and had been since losing Phil and getting demoted at work.

"And I'm happy to have you as a friend too Luke, and if you need someone to talk to," She began to offer. "Or need a shoulder," She added with a knowing smile as she repeated an offer, he had made to her once upon a time. "I hope you know that I'm here and I have some pretty strong shoulders," The tears filled his eyes at her words and he smiled as he tried to sniff them back. Garcia's resolve broke at seeing the state Luke was in, "Oh, Sweetie, come here," She said softly as she turned and enveloped him into her embrace. He welcomed her closeness as he reached down and wrapped himself around her, and buried his face in the nook of her neck, and finally let his tears spill out to soak her.

They stood there silently for a few seconds with her offering solace and support and him greedily accepting it. The moment ended and the atmosphere in the small space changed the moment Garcia felt Luke's soft full lips place a gentle kiss on her exposed collarbone. Her grip on him tightened a bit, her eyes rolled closed, and mouth fell open a little to the shocking move and the sudden jolt of pleasure that shot through her. Taking the fact that she hadn't rebuffed him as an invitation, Luke then placed a kiss on her neck, then on her jaw line, her cheek, and finally he swooped in and captured her cherry lips. She hesitated for a mere fraction of a second before a sated sigh escaped her lips and she welcomed his tongue into her mouth. Luke lifted his hands from her supple and inviting body for fear he'd be too tempted to grope her, and he encased Garcia's face into his hands and held her into the kiss, which he began to deepen. They both held on to one another with tongues dueling while they relished the taste of each other the entire ride down to the parking garage. It had been the ding of the doors opening that had snapped Garcia back to reality and she snapped open her enlarged eyes and abruptly pulled from the kiss. Luke stared down at her with eyes that first held confusion that fast morphed into bereavement at their disconnection. Unable to face his gaze, she quickly stepped back, turned, and looked out into the virtually empty garage.

"We're here," She stated the obvious. Alvez stood with his mouth open as he continued to stare at her in longing and slight shock over what he had done. "Uh, thank you for walking me down," She spoke as she reached over and grasped back her belongings, all while still avoiding his gaze. "My car is right over there, so … yeah … I guess I'll see you tomorrow … Good night Luke," She stammered out as she hurried from the elevator. The quick paced clicking of her heels filled the space as she hurried along. Luke followed her with his eyes as he also stepped from the elevators, still a bit too stunned to react or respond at first, but snapped back into himself just as she had started up her car.

"Good Night, Garcia," He called out after her and although she had heard him, she didn't acknowledge him as she sped off.

More to come...