Summary: The team talks Dave into romancing Penelope Garcia, whom is currently dating Kevin Lynch.
Disclaimer: I don't own them. I'm just playing with them.
Pairing: Garcia/Lynch, Garcia/Rossi
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The break room is filled with streamers and balloons. A banner reading HAPPY BIRTHDAY, hangs across the front of the cabinets. Penelope Garcia sits in the middle of the room surrounded by her friends and co-workers, a half eaten cake sits on the table next to her.
"You guys didn't have to do this," she beams.
"We wanted to," Hotch assures her. "You do so much for us, we wanted to return the favor."
"Well I am extremely grateful," she announces.
"Is it time for presents," Reid asks.
"Presents," Garcia squeals. "Yes! Bring on the presents."
Reid steps forward and hands her a carefully wrapped gift. It's secured in a bright pink ribbon. She carefully pulls off the ribbon then meticulously cuts each section of tape.
"At this rate, I'll be dead before she opens the first gift," Dave quips.
"Hush you," JJ admonishes. "It's her birthday, she can take as long as she wants."
Dave rolls his eyes. "I'll be back," he says to no one in particular. He leaves the breakroom, walking to his own office. Taking his time, he grabs a large, rectangular, wrapped package. He wanders back to the breakroom.
Penelope has finally opened the gift from Reid, a white box with the title Unstable Unicorn.
"It's a game," Reid proclaims. "With fighting unicorns."
"I love it," Penelope says as she gives him a hug.
She grabs another gift and begins opening it. It takes nearly half an hour for her to open all of the presents. From JJ, she receives a set of pajamas with skulls and crossbones on it. From Hotch, a scarf and mittens. Derek gives her a hat and t-shirt set that say Baby Girl on them and from Emily she gets a multitude of kitty-themed gifts; a calendar, pen, writing tablet and of course, a stuffed kitty.
Dave steps forward and hands her his gift.
"This is kind of heavy," she grunts. She begins to loosen the tape.
Dave steps to the side and watches her as she unwraps the gift. The back of a picture frame is revealed as she opens the wrapping paper. She turns the frame over and sucks in an excited gasp.
"Oh my God! Oh my God! Where did you find this?" She hugs the frame to her chest and stares at him with tears in her eyes. "Super Agent?"
He shrugs. "I know a guy."
"What is it," Emily asks.
"Yeah, what did he get you," JJ inquires.
Penelope turns the frame around to show the team.
Derek frowns. "A comic book?"
"Not just a comic book," Penelope says defensively. "It's Deadline #1. This came out in the U.K. in 1988 and was the first appearance of Tank Girl! It's also rare and very expensive! David!"
"It's what you wanted isn't it?"
"Yes," she replies meekly. She stands up and carefully lays the frame on the table. She crosses the space between her and Dave wrapping her arms around him in a tight hug. He gently hugs her back. She reaches up and kisses him directly on the mouth. Dave stiffens and drops his arms from her. "Thank you."
"You're welcome," he croaks. He backs up a step.
Penelope turns back to the group. "Thank you, all of you. This has been wonderful."
Dave slips away from the break room area.
"Alright guys," Hotch breaks in. "Let's get this place cleaned up and back in order. Penelope! Take your goodies and go away."
"I can help," she protests. Hotch grabs her shoulders.
"Today, you let us take care of things. Now go."
She smiles. "Yes, sir."
She carefully grabs her gifts and heads to her office as the team cleans up the break room.
After everyone goes back to work, Derek sits at his desk, he watches Dave through the window in his office.
"What are you staring at," Emily asks causing Derek to startle.
"Nothing really," he replies. "I'm just thinking."
"About what," JJ interrupts.
Derek looks at JJ, then Emily and Reid. He hesitates for a moment. "I think Dave has feelings for Penelope."
"Because of a comic book," Emily questions.
Derek shakes his head. "Did you see how he reacted when she kissed him?"
Reid answers. "He looked like he didn't want her to kiss him."
"Not quite, but close," Derek praised. "I think he was scared that he was about to let his feelings show. I've seen the women Dave has shown interest in and they all have the same shape as Penelope."
"You think Dave likes curvy girl," Emily inquires.
Derek makes an hourglass shape with his hands. "Pin up girls. Women like Marilyn Monroe, Betty Page and Jayne Mansfield."
"So Dave likes curvy girls," Emily continues. "What's it to you?"
"Did you notice who wasn't here today," Derek changes the subject.
"Kevin," Reid supplies.
"Exactly," Derek acknowledges. "Kevin is a nice guy and he treats her well most of the time, but where the hell is he? I think he might not be the right guy for her. He's safe. He may try a few things to make her happy but he won't initiate anything outside his comfort zone. And that's okay. But that's not going to be enough for Baby Girl in years to come. She's going to get sucked into the safe zone and she'll be happy for a while but it will drag on her and bring her down. And one day, she'll be living but she won't be alive. She needs someone who will make her feel alive everyday."
"And you think that man is Dave?" Emily inquires.
"I do."
"Okay, so now what," JJ queries.
Derek stands. "Now I have to convince Dave."
"Are you serious," Emily laughs. "You're going to talk to Dave and tell him to pursue Penelope?"
"Yep."
"This I have to see." JJ and Reid get up and follow them to Dave's office.
The group enters Dave's office without knocking. Dave glances up when Derek enters then looks up when the rest of the team enters and JJ closes the door.
"What's up?" Dave asks.
"We've come to talk to you about Penelope," Derek states.
"What about her?"
"That was some gift you gave her," Emily points out.
Dave shrugs. "It was something she wanted."
"Yeah, but how did you know that she wanted it?" JJ inquires.
"She told me," Dave replies blandly. He fusses with the file on his desk before looking up at their expectant faces. "What?"
They continue to stare in silence.
He sighs. "Remember when she gave that seminar in Pittsburgh? I was also talking to the local leo's? It was raining and raining and raining. It was so bad that the airport shut down, so I rented a car and we drove home. It was six hours, because of the rain. She was petrified. You know what happens when she gets scared - she talks. In this particular trip, she decided to regale me with her favorite movie, Tank Girl. I think she recited the entire movie word for word. That was kind of hard to forget."
"It was a nice present," JJ admits.
"Thanks," Dave acknowledges. "Are we done?"
Everyone looks at Derek, who is watching Dave. "You like her," Derek states rather than asks.
He doesn't let Dave respond. "You're attracted to her. You have been since you first laid eyes on her."
Dave doesn't reply. He and Derek are now locked in a staring contest. "What I don't understand is why you haven't gone after her."
"What makes you think that I haven't?"
Derek smirks. "Because, if you had, she wouldn't be with Kevin Lynch."
Dave nods. "If I put my hands on her, I would never let her go," he admits.
"So why don't you?" Derek inquires.
"You said it yourself, she's with Kevin Lynch."
Derek laughs. "If she knew you wanted her, Kevin would be ancient history."
Dave sits back in his chair and seriously examines Derek and the others. "Are you here because you think I should go after Penelope?"
The team nods. A knock at the door startles all of them. The door opens and Hotch sticks his head in. "Was there a memo that I missed?"
"Come in and close the door," Dave encourages.
Hotch complies. "What's going on?"
It's Dave's turn to laugh. "The team here, thinks that I should give Kevin Lynch a run for his money and ask Penelope out."
Hotch nods thoughtfully. "I concur."
The team celebrates with high fives and fist pumps.
"Seriously?" Dave responds.
"Kevin Lynch isn't the right guy for her. He's nice and everything…"
"That's what I said," Derek cuts in. "She needs a real man."
"Why don't you go after her," Dave asks.
Derek shakes his head. "I'm not the guy she needs. I'm not the guy who needs her."
Dave leans back again. "If she breaks my heart, I will kill every single one of you."
"Let's get back to work," Hotch orders. "Give Dave some time to let all of this sink in."
The team files out of Dave's office, leaving the door open. Dave stares out the door not really seeing anything.
Thirty minutes later, Dave rises from his seat and exits his office. He can feel the eyes of the team on him but he purposely ignores them. He knocks on the technical analysts' door. Hearing her welcome call, he enters.
"Happy birthday, beautiful," he greets her.
She smiles at him, a soft blush stains her cheeks.
"Thank you. I can't believe you got me this." She looks at the framed comic sitting propped on her desk. "It's too much."
"Nonsense. You deserve to have the things you want," he tells her. "What are you and Kevin doing tonight?"
She sighs and avoids eye contact. "We don't have anything planned. He has a standing commitment on Wednesday nights."
"He can't miss one night? It's your birthday!"
She shrugs and gives him a half smile. "It's okay. We'll do something this weekend."
"So what are you doing tonight," he presses. "Going out with the girls? Derek?"
She shakes her head.
"Well, you can't just sit around at home in your pj's watching movies," he muses. "I'd like to make dinner for you."
The blush on her cheeks deepens. "Oh no. You don't have to do that."
"I don't have to do anything," he agrees. "I want to. Let me show you how birthdays are meant to be celebrated. Please?"
It was the "please" that hooked her. He could see it in her eyes.
"Okay," she whispered.
"Be at my place no later or earlier than seven. Oh, and bring that movie with you." He gestures towards the comic book.
He turns and starts for the door.
"David."
He stops and swivels back to her. She's all sunshine and happiness and he can't believe how looking at her makes his heart swell.
"Thank you," she says softly.
He nods, afraid that if he speaks his voice will crack. As he leaves the room, he silently vows to make all her dreams come true.
He quickly crosses the bullpen, up the stairs and into his office, closing the door before anyone on the team could stop him. Dropping into his chair he allows a goofy grin to spread on his face. He pulls out his cell phone and makes a quick call.
An hour later, one of the guards from the front desk comes in carrying a potted plant with a pink ribbon around it and a handful of birthday balloons. JJ is the first to spot the man.
"Hey George, whatcha got there," she asks.
The rest of the team looks over.
"Delivery for Miss Garcia," he replies.
"Let me call her out here for you," JJ states. She picks up the phone and tells Garcia to come out to the bullpen.
Several seconds later, the whirlwind that is Penelope Garcia appears in the bullpen. She slows when she sees the balloons and the flowers.
"Those are for me," she asks in awe.
"That's what the card says," George tells her. "Can I put this down? It's kind of heavy."
Derek stands and takes the plant out of his hands as Penelope grabs the balloons and swipes the card from the plant.
"Happy birthday," George states as he heads back out the glass doors.
"Who sent you all this, Baby Girl?"
She opens the envelope and pulls out the card. She grins and blushes once more as she reads the note.
"Well," JJ questions. Emily and Reid have joined the group as well.
"Did you know that white lilies typically symbolize a new beginning and modesty," Reid quips.
"That's awesome," Emily cuts in. "But who are they from? And what does the card say?"
"It says," Dave begins as he makes his way through the group. "That all women deserve flowers on their special day."
He stops in front of Penelope. "This really is too much."
He shrugs. "Lilies need lots of light so you should put that in my office next to the window. You'll have to come in and care for it because I am shit at keeping flowers alive."
He takes the plant out of Derek's hands and heads in the direction of his office. "Come on. I'll help you find a good spot."
Penelope wordlessly follows him dragging the clutch of balloons with her. The team watches as they disappear into Dave's office.
"Damn," JJ mutters. "The pursuit of Penelope Garcia is in full swing."
"You can say that again," Derek acquiesced.
"Are you sure she's going to be safe," Emily asks.
"She'll be fine," Hotch states from the raised walkway. "It's the rest of us that I'm worried about. All that charm and romance in the air, is bound to hit someone else too."
Inside Dave's office, he sets the plant into the window sill closest to his desk.
"I can help you take it home later if you like," he offers.
"It looks pretty good right there," she muses. "And if I leave it here, I can actually enjoy it more than if I take it home."
"True," Dave agrees.
"I can't believe how nice you're being to me," she says thoughtfully.
"I'm always nice to you," he defends.
"Yeah," she smiles. She raises on her toes and kisses his cheek. "I'll see you at dinner."
Dave holds his breath as she sweeps out of the room. Loving Garcia was easy, he had fallen for her years was the fear of losing her that had stopped him from pursuing her in the first place. Now, he had started something and there was no going back to the way things had been.
The hour is close to seven and Dave is busy in the kitchen preparing a feast to remember. He has changed into a crisp, white button down shirt and a pair of black slacks. Nothing too dressy but enough to mark this as a special occasion. He checks the oven as the doorbell rings. A quick look at the clock confirms that Penelope is exactly on time.
He hustles down the hallway to the front door.
"Hello," he says warmly as he opens the door. He takes in the red, low-cut dress, black silk stockings and high heels. "You are right on time."
"I've been sitting in my car in front of the neighbors house for twenty minutes," she admits as she steps through the doorway. "I didn't want to be late so I left my house early and then I remembered you said not to be early either so I pulled over to wait."
Dave chuckles and shakes his head. "Well, I'm glad that you are here now. I poured you a drink. You will find it on the coffee table in the sitting room."
He directs her to the room. "You wait here. Dinner is nearly ready. I will come get you. No peeking at anything."
"Yes, sir," she replies playfully. She sits on the couch and picks up the glass of red wine he had left for her. She takes a deep sniff and enjoys the bouquet. She sits back and listens to the sounds of Dave in the kitchen preparing their meal.
True to his word, he returns several minutes later. "Your feast awaits, my Queen," he says formally.
She giggles at his theatrics. Grabbing her glass she rises and follows him to the closed door of the dining room. He stops her at the door. "Are you ready?"
She pauses, wondering what is on the other side of the door. Was the whole team there? Was this an elaborate surprise party? She looks at him and nods. Dave reaches pst her and turns off the lights in the hallway. He then opens the door.
The soft glow of clear Christmas lights and candles fill the room. The table set for two is intimate and inviting. Dave holds out the chair at the end of the table for her. She sits and he scoots the chair closer to the table before sliding into the seat directly to her right.
"This is amazing," she whispers. A large bouquet of multicolored roses sits in the center of the table.
"Wait until you try the food," he smiles.
She looks at her plate of eggplant parmigiana and spaghetti. "This looks delicious."
She takes a bite. An expression of delight fills her face. "It's better than it looks."
Dave grins. He reaches over and grabs her hand. "I'm glad you like it."
"I love it," she admits. "You've made me feel so special today."
"You are special, Penelope," he says earnestly. "I care for you very much."
She takes in the serious look on his face and puts her fork down. "I care for you too."
He scrutinizes her face for several seconds. "I know you have a boyfriend but I'm putting you on notice, Kitten. I'm coming after you."
"What do you mean," she asks carefully.
"I mean, that I want to take Kevin's place. I'm tired of sitting on the sidelines and watching him treat you like your not good enough, like his game nights are more important than you. Nothing! Is more important than you," he explains. "It's taken me a long time to learn how a woman should be treated. I've broken a lot of hearts. But I promise, if you give me chance - the only heart in jeopardy of breaking will be mine."
She blinks at him for a moment.
"Say something. Please," he pleads.
"Kiss me," she commands softly.
He leans across the space between them and gently presses his lips to hers. He holds the kiss for several seconds, tasting her, gently outlining her lips with the tip of his tongue. He pulls back as both of them are breathless.
"Wow," she breathes.
"Is that a good wow, or a bad wow?"
She smiles shyly. "I think Kevin is going to be in a lot of trouble tomorrow when he finds out he has competition."
A slow grin forms on Dave's face. He squeezes her hand. "I can hardly wait to see his face."
End Chapter 1