Disclaimer: We sadly do not own Criminal Minds!

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'But why?' Garcia asked with a shaky voice as his words registered.

'I just don't think we should see each other anymore.'

'Why not?' She asked as his words went around her head once more.

'I just...'Kevin started. 'I just...I don't love you anymore.' He almost blurted out.

The words felt like daggers to her heart as they registered. He was breaking up with her. Kevin Lynch was breaking up with her.

'W-what?' She asked, her voice soft and wavering as the tears threatened to fall. But she would not let them.

Even as he answered with those same words again and again: 'I don't love you anymore.' She refused to let the tears fall, refused to let him see her break.

When he left she finally let the tears fall, let herself break down as the reality set in: she was alone once more. And this time it was because she just wasn't enough.

The next day heading into work her make-up was flawless, her clothes were as colourful as ever but her eyes told the story. Her eyes told them all that something was not ok and although she batted out her words with a normal tone the profilers that they were picked up on the underlying tone.

She pottered about, for once praying for a case that would take them far away, she didn't want to play charades on a daily basis as the raw wounds of Kevin's dagger like words kept cutting in deeper and deeper. She got the case, just not the location, they didn't need to fly out and as much as her head told her that was good, they were still safe, she just wanted to shy away from them and only a case in another state would allow that. She overloaded herself with work, did more than she was supposed to and hardly left, she was preoccupying herself from the pain of Kevin leaving her. Essentially she was making up for the hole Kevin had filled and now, left her with. The only problem was when she got home, there was no work and there was no preoccupation. It was just her, an empty bed and loneliness and that was when she broke the most. When no one had to hear her cry, no one had to see the immediate redness and puffiness from the tears, when no one had to listen to her sob story.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

'Something's not right with Garcia.' Hotch said as he and Rossi sat in his office late that Friday night. 'I think everyone's noticing.'

'Well when I was coming in here, she was only just leaving.'

'Only now?' Rossi nodded back. 'The others left over 3 hours ago.'

'She had files with her, she's over working.' Rossi told him and took a sip of his drink. 'You don't think Lynch left her do you?'

'What makes you say that?'

'Well he hasn't been on our floor or coming up a fortnight now.' Rossi replied with evident observation. 'She's not flinging Morgan banter like she's feeding him out of her hand; she's just lacking something about her now.'

'Strauss.' Both the men said and knowing the ice queen would still be in they left, only to return with significant knowledge, they finished their drinks and went home for the weekend, devising a plan to intervene.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

'Oh look Morgan's on a roll this time.' Emily teased and as Derek looked at the mountain of envelopes, all multi-coloured, he slumped down groaning. 'You outgrown the attention?' She teased more.

'No, I just strongly dislike valentine's day.' He said aloud. 'Not when I can't have my own valentine.'

'Aw! Morgan's a big softy... so who would be your valentine?'

'She'd know before you would.'

'Oh secretive.' She then turned to Reid. 'So genius, how many you get?'

'2. You and JJ, I liked it thanks.'

'Well will you be my valentines?' JJ said as she escaped her office and came towards them, it was then they heard paperwork get dropped, they looked to see Penelope stare before dropping and picking it all up rushed.

'Hey baby girl, what's up?' Derek said launching from his chair to help her, seeing her paled face as she looked in horror.

'N-nothings up.'

'Sure?'

'Perfectly, I'm going to go and sort this out.' She said clutching the papers to her chest.

'Use my desk.' Derek said, slightly concerned at her eyes, as they welled.

'No, it looks a little full.' She muttered almost bitterly and left the room, as soon as her back was turned the tears spilt and she near enough ran from the room.

'That was strange.' JJ commented when the door was closed. 'Wonder what that was about.'

'Something's not been right with her for weeks now.'

'You noticed it too?' Derek asked hoping he wasn't going crazy and misreading things, he got nods of confirmation. 'Right, I'll be right back.' He told them and headed in the direction of Penelope's office. He stood at her door, contemplating to knock or not, he did once and then headed in. He felt spooked as he looked at the floor and saw the paperwork on it. He then heard the harsh sobbing from behind the door and stepped in fully to find Penelope sitting on the floor in the corner crying. 'Baby what's the matter?' He asked alarmed. 'Are you hurt?'

'Just leave me alone... please.' She sobbed heartbrokenly.

'No can do, not when you're like this.'

'Please.' Penelope near enough begged him. 'You don't need this.'

'Let me be the judge of that. I'll ask again, what's the matter?'

'It's stupid.'

'I can deal with stupid.' He implored praying it would make her tell her. 'Better out than in.'

'He left.'

'He left?' He repeated confused and it clicked with him. 'Is he completely stupid?' He sat next her, arm around her, her head on his chest as she cried more, she just shrugged her response. 'Why?'

'It doesn't matter.'

'Yes it does, so why?'

'He just upped and left... for... for a new job.'

He knew that was lie but he'd let it lie for the moment. 'And he didn't want you with him?' He looked down as she shook her head vigorously in another silent response. It was then Derek knew to halt all conversation, to let her cry with the comfort she needed, to let her break down in the presence of someone that loved her. And it was also then that he realised a couple of things and decided upon a few others.

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Author's Notes: Well... I have the pleasure of writing with Emzypemzy, who works wonders for keeping me on track with many a things! And as a result, some new joint stories have been born!

Much like this one! So we hope you enjoy and review and let us know!