DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN CRIMINAL MINDS OR ANY COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL HERE IN... i merely play with fire sometimes..

Penelope stood in the entrance to the elevator a few extra minutes and made sure she had grabbed all of her notes and bags from ester. Once she was satisfied, she braved the dreaded walk through the main area to her office on the far side. It was like taking the plunge every morning, waiting and praying that no one would notice anything was amiss with her-

"hi Garcia!", Reid greeted cheerfully.

Penelope nearly jumped out of her skin. "holy crap, Reid! Way to sneak up on a lady!", she admonished, hand to her heart.

Reid gave her a puzzled look, "...but, you were staring right through me a minute ago.."

"was i? I'm sorry", Penelope apologized rather unnecessarily, "i was just thinking a little too hard i guess. Must stop doing that really.." geez, hold it together women or they'll find you out!

"that's okay..", Reid replied, now sounding rather suspicious and turning to exchange a look with Hotch.

"Garcia.. are you feeling alright?", Hotch asked, concerned and suspicious as well.

"yes, completely", she lied, trying to keep her face blank. Of course, when ever she tried to look innocent, that's usually when they guessed she was guilty. She needed to think of something, fast! Blast her completely readable emotions!

"are you sure?", he was not convinced.

Penelope mustered up the energy to crack a small smile, "nothing a bottle of red wine and a bubble bath can't fix, I'm sure." there were still questions in their eyes, so she added. "I'm fine, really guys. Save that stuff for the unsubs." she poked Reid playfully in the arm, and winked at Hotch, earning her smiles in return. "now, don't you have work to do?", she asked over her shoulder as she swayed out of the room.

As soon as she was out of site, their smiles faded.

"she's wearing sweaters again instead of blazers or jackets", Reid said, staring at the point of her exit.

"yup", answered Hotch, also staring at the same spot.

"which means she either is upset about a case, her and Kevin had a fight, or something else is really bothering her", Reid continued on his observation.

"yup", Hotch answered yet again.

Reid looked up at his boss from his seated position at his desk, "so when do you think she'll tell us what's wrong?"

"right before she's about to burst into tears", Hotch answered dryly.

"i was afraid you were going to say that..", Reid sighed, returning to his paperwork.

Hotch took that as his que, and left to find Rossi and give him some case files he'd asked for. But his mind was still burning with questions for their sullen tech. Whatever it was, it made the normally neon rainbow disco that was Garcia want to wear shades of grey.