She wasn't like the rest of the team. Oh, she knew she was part of the team, that they needed her, and that what she did was important. She didn't need affirmation of that, well except occasionally from Gideon.

But still, she was almost always here, in Quantico, in her inner sanctum with her lucky beanie baby Phil next to her, Chinese food only a call away, and generally only peripheral contact with the horrors of the cases the rest of the team faced head on.

Not today. Today she'd sat in horror watching an explosion on the television and praying with every ounce of her being that Derek wasn't in there.

She hadn't even realized she'd been holding her breath until she heard him call her baby girl. She couldn't have stopped the tears if she'd tried and when JJ had gone to talk to the press she'd give in and let herself cry again until she felt bone tired and empty.

She hadn't stayed long after the case was closed up. She'd done her usual check, shut everything down and was now heading for her car. She had to be out of there, had to be home, had to sleep this day away.

"Garcia," she heard her name, heard his voice and she spun around almost so fast she almost lost her balance.

"Derek."

"Hey, baby girl, JJ said you ran out like something was chasing you I just wanted to see if you were all right…umphf," he finished as she threw herself at him, wrapped her arms around him and sobbed into his shoulder.

"Shh, shhh Pen, it's okay, it's all right."

"I thought you were in there. When I saw the explosion, I…"

"I know, sweetness, but I'm okay, hey…" he pulled back, cupping her face in his hands and smiling at her, "Don't I look okay? Still all in one hot piece."

She laughed, "Absolutely gorgeous."

"There's that smile I like to see."

He gathered her back against him, letting her rest her head on his shoulder as he continued to soothe her.

When she finally got herself under control she pulled away slightly. Then, feeling slightly embarrassed she moved out of his arms and began rubbing her eyes, "I must look like a crazy person," she let out a laugh that sounded more like a gasp of pain, "Crying all over you like this, and after the day you've had."

"Hey," he said, his hands coming up to hold her face, "Don't worry about any of that." His fingers brushed the skin under her eyes with the softest of touches. Her eyes shut in response and she sighed.

"Besides," he continued, "I like it when you're crazy."

She really did laugh this time.

"You good now?" he asked.

She nodded, "Yeah, I'm glad you came after me. I don't think I would have been able to sleep if I hadn't seen you."

The fingers that had been brushing the remnants of her tears away stopped moving. He seemed to stop breathing, so still he looked like some sort of gorgeous Greek statue.

Then he was moving. His hands tightened on her face as he kissed her. She was so shocked she did little more than stand there, but his mouth was insistent against hers, his tongue sliding along her lips demanding more than asking for entrance. On a moan she opened her mouth to him, her lips softening under his. She didn't resist as his hand traveled down her back and pulled her against him.

She melted into him, putting everything she had into the kiss. His arms were firm around her, pulling her tighter until she every part of their bodies were touching. It was clique, but as she stood there in his arms everything else faded away. There was nothing but Derek.