Disclaimer: I own nothing, sadly.
Penelope Garcia couldn't stare at the screen one more second or she feared her brain would explode. She took her pink 50's style glasses off and rubbed her eyes with a groan. Earlier that day, she had helped the team catch an UnSub in Minnesota and she was swamped with paperwork from that case and the previous two. The BAU was in such high demand these days that she barely had time to finish paperwork on one case before the team was asking for her help in another. For the past couple weeks, she had been about two or three cases behind at any given time.
It wasn't the increase in paperwork that really bothered her about the increase in cases. It was the amount of time the team spent away. One team member in particular, she thought with a smirk. She hadn't seen Morgan in over a week because of this case. She missed his special smile that he saved only for her, the smell of his cologne, the way his abs felt when she 'accidentally' brushed against them. She sighed unhappily; she was in love with her best friend and there was no way it was ever going to happen for them. She was frumpy and clumsy and not anywhere near his type. He was chiseled and gorgeous. A Greek god. A sexy chocolate Greek god, she mused to herself.
The high pitched ringing of her cell phone drew her out of her day dream. A quick glance at her caller ID brought a smile to her face, "Hello my chocolate god."
"Hey momma," Morgan's familiar voice called through her phone sending shivers down her spine. She absolutely adored when he called her pet names.
Penelope smiled and slowly began to swivel in her chair, "How can I serve you, my love?"
A deep chuckle rewarded her. "Mmm, I can think of quite a few ways," Morgan flirted, bringing a laugh from Penelope. "Listen, baby girl, I need a favor."
Figuring he was going to ask her to look something, or someone, up for him, she swiveled back to her computer. "Sure thing. What do you need?"
"You still got that spare set of keys I gave you, right?"
She frowned, "Oh course." Morgan had given her the keys after she had been shot. He had told her that they were for if she ever needed somewhere to feel safe, she remembered fondly.
"I'm gunna need you to bring them over to my place. I, uh, kinda lost mine."
She had to hold back a laugh, "No problem, I will be there in a jiff."
"Thanks and sorry for calling so late."
So late? Penelope glanced at her watch and gasped, "10:20? Already? Oh god, I need a life."
"Goddess, don't tell me you're still at work." The scold came through the phone clearly enough. Morgan was always on her about working herself too hard. She thought maybe he could take a little piece of his own advice but she kept her mouth shut.
"Work? Me?" She sighed knowing that he would obviously know she was lying. She could never keep anything from him, except of course her true feelings for him.
"Just get your sexy ass down here," Morgan said.
Penelope smiled, "Your wish is my command, my love." She hung up and smiled to herself. She was almost giddy at the thought that she was going to see Morgan, if only for a few minutes. She quickly shut off her systems and practically ran out the door.
It only took her twenty minutes to get to Morgan's house. She found him sitting on the steps in front of his house and he looked as delicious as ever. As soon as she got out of her car, she could see that his muscles bulged tantalizingly through his shirt as usual. The closer she got, she became more aware of the fact that he looked like he hadn't slept or shaved in days. Her heart went out to him. She knew how hard he had taken this last case. A couple of kids had died and she knew from his voice when he had called her from Minnesota that it had hit home.
"My savior," he said with a smile as she reached him. It was her special smile and she knew it. He pulled her into a hug and Penelope breathed deeply, taking in his smell; a melt-in-your-mouth combination of spicy man, a little bit of sweat, and the earthly cologne he was wearing. Just smelling him made the stress of the past few weeks dissolve. She pulled back reluctantly; unaware Morgan was doing the same thing and feeling the same way.
As she pulled back she noticed his eyes had darkened. A part of her wanted to believe from the same lust that she was feeling but she knew it was just from exhaustion. Penelope mentally shook herself and smiled cheerfully as she handed him the set of keys she had dug out of her purse. "Don't go and lose these ones," she chided playfully.
Morgan took them with a smile. "I can't believe you were still working when I called," he said as he unlocked the door.
Penelope shrugged, "It's not like I have anything special to come home to."
Morgan frowned as he leaned against his door, "You need a man who makes you want to come home every night."
A picture of Morgan in her bed every night ran through her mind and Penelope's heart ached for what could never be. A sly smile crossed her face, "Are you offering, sugar?" It was an honest question just as much as it was playful flirtation.
"Anytime," he said huskily. For a moment Penelope thought he was serious. There was something in his eyes and in his voice that seemed different tonight. Maybe, she thought, just maybe today was the day it was all going to change. She felt butterflies in her stomach and opened her mouth to respond when Morgan spoke again, "Hey, you hungry? I know you didn't eat anything good stuck at work."
She sighed inwardly knowing that he had taken her question as typical flirting. She was a fool think even for a moment that she would be able to find someone as perfect as Morgan to want frumpy ole her.
She shook her head and smiled brightly, "No, I'm gunna head home for the night." Usually she would take him up on his offer but she felt like a fool for getting her hopes up so easily. How long have you been doing this, she scolded herself; you know better. Morgan could so easily crush her heart and she didn't want to deal with that tonight.
Morgan noticed her change in attitude but didn't say anything. Instead he bent down and kissed her cheek, "Alright. Text me when you get home."
Penelope smiled, "As always." With one last smile, she turned and walked back to her car, fighting the urge to run away. She sighed as she realized the real reason she had been working so late. If she got home late enough, perhaps she would be tired enough to fall asleep without crying over Morgan. One day, she vowed, she was going to tell him the truth about her feelings.
Morgan frowned as he saw Garcia drive away. The entire flight home all he could think about was how Penelope would be perfect to help him forget the cold, lingering chill of a Minnesota winter. How he would wrap his arms around her and finally take that kiss on the lips he had been thinking about for seven years. How he would pull her on top of him and he would feel those sexy thighs wrap tight around him. How he would leave a trail of kisses all down her perfect breasts. And how he would squeeze that ass of hers.
He sighed and shook his head as he walked into his house. He flicked on the lights and he glanced around. It was the same as he had left it; clean, dull, and lifeless. Nothing like Penelope's apartment. Her place was filled to the brim with knick-knacks that screamed Penelope Garcia. A house just wasn't a home without a woman's touch, he thought. His woman's touch.
He had wanted to tell her tonight how he felt. That he couldn't live a day longer without her knowing she was his everything. That each night he fell asleep and each morning he woke up without her beside him drove him insane. But he hadn't. As usual.
There was a moment when he thought she had been serious; that maybe she had feelings for him. When she'd asked him if he was offering to be the man she needed, every part of his body had screamed that yes, yes he was offering to be her man but he froze. There was no way that someone as amazing as her could ever want to be with someone like him. She was perfect, a goddess, and he was not even worth her smile.
He frowned as he pulled his own set of keys from his pocket. Maybe one day he would finally have the courage to tell her how he felt. Definitely not today, but maybe someday.
A/N: So? What do you think? I haven't decided if I want this to be a short little ficlet or if I want to make it longer. Your reviews will help me decide!