I am so sorry, dear readers! Life has been very busy and still is, but I finally got through the last part of this chapter. I am terribly sorry for my very long absence. Consider this a Thanksgiving gift, which really only makes sense for my American readers, but anyways... ;)
I was headed in a completely different direction, but my muse told me otherwise, so here is the newest installment in my little story. I hope you like it! :D
"I'm beginning to hate elevators," Penelope grumbled as Derek helped her through the doors.
"Oh, yeah? Why's that, babygirl?" Derek smirked, knowing that a sassy, slightly grumpy answer was sure to follow.
"Yes, they take people places quicker and easier, but they also give heavily pregnant women the worst dizzy spells," Penelope replied quickly in typical, agitated-Penelope fashion, leaning more heavily on Derek's supportive arm.
There was another ding of an elevator behind them. "You know, you should go see your doctor about that; it could be a sign that you aren't resting or eating sufficiently for yourself and the baby." Dr. Spencer Reid appeared by Penelope's side, one hand on his leather bag's strap, as usual, while he began to spout information like a fountain, as usual. "Do you know how many pregnant women are prescribed bedrest every year? Nearly seven hundred thousand. That's probably what the doctor would prescribe you, too, since there's so much stress in your profession here in the BAU, and- ow!" Derek had reached up behind Penelope's back and smacked the back of the young genius' head. It hurt, even though Reid had, once again, grown out his hair, simply because he just didn't care enough to get it cut. He had better things to do, like read Russian encyclopedias in two hours and complete case files because JJ always gave him hers to do. The blonde woman happened to be walking by at that very moment. Reid pointed at a yet-again smirking Derek as she passed. "JJ, he hit me again!"
Jennifer Jareau tossed her head over her shoulder to respond with the words that had become a running joke within their team: "Boys, behave, or I will ground you both." She stopped to walk alongside the other members of her team, nudging Reid aside to tap Penelope's hand with slim fingers. "How are you feeling this morning, baby mama?"
"Ask again later," Penelope groaned, putting her hand to her stomach. JJ, sympathetic to her cause, as she'd been there before, reached ahead and opened the glass doors to the main office for her, and Derek gently towed her through. As usual, it was alive and bustling with activity. The BAU was always busy, working to keep the country safe in its own way. With a sympathetic look to Garcia, JJ stopped as the small group passed her desk, dropping a load of papers on top and sitting down.
The others continued, Reid babbling about things that could help Penelope feel better while Morgan focused on getting Penelope to her office. When they reached the technology-laden room, Penelope sat in her chair slowly, settling into the familiar space that was undeniably, uniquely hers. She unconsciously lay a hand on her stomach, trying to calm the sea of nausea and the baby, who was kicking and flipping like crazy within her. "Derek," she groaned, but he didn't know what to do.
"Garcia, what exactly are you feeling?" Reid asked, leaning forward with his cup of coffee. His hair fell into his eyes as he peered a little anxiously into his friend's face.
Penelope rattled off the symptoms: headache, dizziness, nausea. Reid frowned. "This stuff should have passed, for the most part, after your first trimester. You should go see your doctor."
"Reid, I know you're smart and everything, but Garcia's had enough doctors to last a lifetime," Morgan said to the young genius.
"No, he's right," Penelope interjected. "I should. I'm eight months pregnant. I shouldn't be feeling this way everyday." Morgan shot her a look. "I'll just do a little work here and then I'll go."
"I don't want you going without me," Derek tried to start, but Penelope raised a hand gingerly.
"And I don't want you abandoning your team. Don't worry. I'll be fine." She smiled at him, and eventually, he smiled back. She nudged him with the hand that wasn't resting on her belly. "Go on, honey. I'll be fine." And with a trademark Penelope Garcia wink, she turned on her system and began working away. Derek pressed a kiss to her temple before leaving her office with Reid, heading to the briefing room where the rest of their team was waiting.
"Morning," Emily Prentiss greeted them, barely looking up from the case file she held. Her recent return to the BAU had left everyone overjoyed and confused, and although it had been a month, they were still having trouble adjusting to her suddenly-back-to-normal presence. Derek had adjusted better after some time spent alone with her, talking it over to try and understand what had happened and why. Reid, on the other hand, was still experiencing a lot of difficulty readjusting to her return. As she greeted him, his eyes twitched momentarily, and he turned his head slightly away. He knew she wasn't looking.
David Rossi paused in the doorway just as Derek was settling into his chair. "Good morning!" he greeted the room cheerfully, a white mug in his hand. He strolled into the room, sitting between Morgan and Prentiss. He turned to Derek. "How's Garcia doing?"
Derek exhaled. "She's not feeling so well right now, even though she felt alright this morning. She said she's going to the doctor later."
At that moment, JJ and Aaron Hotchner- Hotch- strode in. Hotch crossed the room and swiftly took a seat without saying anything but a short "hello" to the team. JJ stood at the front of the room beside the projector screen. She began to tell them about the case, but Derek wasn't really paying much attention. He was thinking about Garcia and their child, thinking about their health and how they were feeling. It was only when JJ said "Cincinnati" that he snapped out of it. "Cincinnati? What?"
JJ looked at him, confused. "Yes. Cincinnati. That's where the murders are happening. We're going to leave today; the police really need us." Derek looked panic-stricken.
"Are you feeling alright?" Emily asked, the case file forgotten as she stared at her friend.
Hotch rose from his chair. "Wheels up in twenty," he said, moving to leave.
"Wait a minute." Their leader turned back around to the table, where Derek still sat. "Garcia's sick. She's going to the doctor later. I have to be with her; I can't just leave."
"You can, and you will. She can call you after her appointment. We need you on this case, Morgan. It's important," Hotch replied, no change in his expression.
There was a pause. "I'm not going," Derek said quietly, looking Hotch in the eye. He was quiet, but not soft in his words. He was firm, and it was clear to everyone that he would not budge from his decision.
"Then you're on probation until we get back." Leaving a silent, stunned team in his wake, Aaron Hotchner turned almost coldly on his heel and stormed out of the room. JJ caught Prentiss' eye, and the two of them followed after him.
Derek sat at the table, silently fuming, but also slightly saddened. Hotch had never acted this way toward him before, and it was very strange that he would out of the blue. As he was a profiler, he knew there had to be a reason why Hotch's behavior had changed so drastically. Rossi looked contemplative, and Reid wore the look on his face that always appeared before he voiced something important.
"I've been waiting for something like that to happen for five months," the young man finally proclaimed quietly. Rossi and Morgan turned to look at him, shocked. "He's been getting exceedingly colder to you for a while. He hasn't called you by your first name in over two months, and he doesn't change expression when he looks at you." Reid paused for a moment, then continued with his observations at the same rapid-fire speed at which he normally spoke. "He hasn't spoken to Garcia in four months. He avoids her office at all costs, and if we need information on someone, he makes someone else call her. He doesn't mention her name at all, even though he used to." He allowed those words to sink in for a moment, and then, in an instant, they all understood.
"How did I not see it before?" asked Rossi, looking at his two team mates in awe. "It's been right in front of us for months!"
Derek couldn't speak or acknowledge either of them, even though they waited in silence for him to speak, as was his right. He couldn't believe how clear the signs had been and how stupid he had to have been to not notice. No, not stupid, his mind corrected him. Distracted.
Reid opened his mouth to speak again when someone appeared in the doorway, a bright purple dress and a neon yellow sweater obscuring the view of the office. "What's going on?" asked Penelope Garcia, one hand on her stomach.
Did anyone get the bedrest line reference? If you did, one thousand Internet points and a steaming tray of cookies to you! If not, ask a big Criminal Minds fan- they should be able to explain it to you. :)
Before Hotch fans descend upon me in anger, I promise that all is not as it seems. You will see in the next installment. Please review if you can- thank you very much!