A/N: well... summer has finally caught up with Irleand, which kind of screws up my priorities slightly. Sorry about the not as frequent updates as usual, but I think one chapter every two days is more than okay LOL

When Penelope made it into the office the next morning Emily was already ready and waiting.

"So how did your date go? Was it as good as I predicted? Or even better?" her friend asked hopeful.

Penelope just looked at her for a moment without saying anything.

"How much do you hate me?" she finally asked, at which Emily looked at her confused.

"Why? Did anything happen?"

"You mean apart from him ordering food for me before I even was there? And the food was exactly what I don't like? And that he didn't show much or no interest at all in me? And seemed disappointed I had no idea who his parents are? Apart from him not liking California and being so busy he needs like two or three dates a week with different people? No, nothing really happened apart from that…" Penelope huffed. She still couldn't believe Emily would set her up with a guy like this Jackson character.

"He did that?" Emily asked. "Damn, I told him to not do any of that…"

"You knew?" Penelope asked shocked. "And yet, you still sent me on a date with him?"

"I … you need to know, he is a really great guy. Really funny and such. He just… gets nervous…"

"He orders food when he gets nervous?" Penelope asked doubtfully.

"Well… no. He just does that all the time. He is kind of … dominating when it comes to that, but…" Emily started, but saw Penelope's expression and knew that this battle was lost. "Okay, I have another friend who would…"

"Don't-" she interrupted Emily, holding up a finger. "Just … don't."

Emily looked at her friend for a moment, but didn't say anything else.

All of a sudden she heard a clasp of hands and shortly after JJ's voice.

"That means it's my turn," she smiled at Penelope and Emily.

Penelope was close to rolling her eyes. Why again did she agree to this? She knew it was not a good idea, and yet her friends somehow had managed to get her to agree.

"Connor is practically made for you. You two are so similar, you'll have so many things to talk about, trust me. He is funny and kind, educated and a really great guy in general. Oh and he also works in IT," JJ smiled and Penelope just raised an eyebrow at her friend. IT? She hated stereotypes, but Penelope yet had to meet someone who didn't look the part. One look at her male colleagues in the FBI's tech pool would only confirm that.

"Okay," was all Penelope really said to her friend, knowing that arguing would be useless. They all had made up their mind, and they all were set on sending Penelope off on a date with one of their friends.

JJ disappeared, looking extremely pleased and happy and about 20 minutes later came to Penelope's office.

"So, you guys are all set for tonight at 8. That works for you, right?" JJ asked and Penelope just nodded. She didn't really have any plans apart from getting home and making her way slowly through all of the 148 channels her TV had to offer.

"Great," her friend chirped. "There is this little restaurant just a few blocks from where you live. Will and I just discovered it the other day, it is really good and pretty casual. You gonna have so much fun," JJ kept talking and gave Penelope the address shortly before she left.

A few minutes to 8 Penelope was making her way into the restaurant JJ suggested, hoping this night would not be as much of a disappointment then the previous date, but didn't want to get her hopes to high either. She was led to a table and a tall, dark and rather handsome looking guy got up, smiling at her in what Penelope would describe as cute.

Cute was also the word that sprang to Penelope's mind when looking at him closer. Yes, he was attractive, but more in a cute manner. He seemed more from a first look-over like a best friend, rather than a lover kind of guy. The way he presented himself, he looked good, but there was something in the way he presented himself. But of course she could have been wrong.

Connor was an absolute gentleman, helping her out of her coat, seeming genuinely interested in what she had to say, and even more importantly, letting her choose her food. Never had she thought she'd be happy about something that simple.

"So how long have you known JJ then?" Penelope asked.

"Oh, we meet in college, tried dating for a short while, but it somehow never … worked. But we've become really good friends instead. And then we both ended up here in D.C. , which was great. At least we already knew someone here and wouldn't start right from the scratch," Connor smiled at her.

"Yeah, I can imagine," she agreed. "JJ told me you work in IT as well?"

"Yeah, she did tell you that, huh? I always think it must sound absolutely boring as well of raising certain … um… stereotypes."

Penelope needed to laugh a bit, remembering just how she actually herself fell for it, wondering just how hard it must be for him to meet women.

"And probably most of them are right. I don't have the most exciting job. 9 to 5 basically. I consult companies on their software so it isn't too exciting. But then again it makes good money, as you yourself probably know as well…"

"Um … yeah, I actually do. And hey, not all of us can chase online after bad guys. Some of us need to do the less exciting jobs," Penelope smiled at Connor, who returned her smile.

The evening went on smoothly and Penelope had a really good time. They talked about almost everything, but Penelope felt more like she was meeting an old friend, rather than being on a date. She felt really comfortable around him, but not in regards of a dating-kind of feeling. And maybe that was the initial problem between him and JJ as well. That her friend just saw Connor as a big brother, rather than a lover.

She couldn't put her finger on it, but there was just something about him, something that was not attracting her at all. It certainly weren't his looks, because he was incredible handsome, but something else.

And it wasn't their surrounding or the atmosphere either. They were literally perfect, especially for a first date, with plenty of candle light and such, but somehow nothing seemed to move. Eventually even Connor had to admit defeat, after he tried for what seemed a good hour, or two.

"I guess some things just … aren't working as hoped. Here our friend thought put two IT-guys together and they are the perfect fit, and we… don't seem to fit that well…" Connor admitted, making Penelope laugh for a moment.

"Non-sense. We do fit good. Just not that way. And well… I guess it happens more often than you'd think. But … I had a great time."

At that Connor laughed for a moment. "Oh, I wish I'd get a dime each time I hear that line."

"That bad then?" Penelope asked, at which he shook his head for a moment.

"You have no idea. Sometimes I wonder whether women actually see anything like that in me. All I always seem to be is the best friend. Even my ex said that when we split. Story of my life…"

"I'm sorry," Penelope said, knowing how he might feel. Covering his hand with hers, she looked straight at him. "I'm sure you'll find her. Just a matter of time."

They left the restaurant just a little while later, with him calling her a cab and even paying the driver in advance. But that was that. The end of their first and also last date.

So JJ's choice it wasn't either.