Five O'clock rolled around and it was time for Garcia to go home, thank god! The day had been rough. After slowing the pills she got a moment of solace; however that was abruptly broken when JJ came in to talk about a case. She had to look at horrible pictures of murdered women. After an hour and a half JJ left and Garcia could breath. She'd been concentrating on keeping up appearances. She got her purse and swallowed 4 more pills. She prayed for the day to end; however one after one the members of her team had come in to ask her to look up one horrible crime after another. It didn't matter how many pills she took, it was still suffocating her.
Garcia turned her babies of and grabbed her jacket. She didn't want to meet the group tonight. Maybe she could sneak out without them noticing it, maybe if she took the stairs. She walked fast and was almost at the door when Morgan called out "I'll pick you up at 8, sugar". Pen took a breath and turned around gave him a nod and then left.
Garcia got down to the garage and almost ran to her car. She couldn't breathe; she needed to get out of there fast! She opened the car door and quickly got in and drove Esther out of the building. She drove to the nearest liquorstore and bought three bottles of vodka. She needed to feel numb tonight.
She drove home. Once in her apartment she opened the first bottle and chugged it down. She opened her purse and popped 4 more bills. She cried, she didn't want to feel. How much did they expect her to cope with? She wanted them all to go away. The feeling of Battle never goes away. She tried scrubbing him off but it didn't help. She tried sleeping pills but they didn't work…nothing worked. She just wanted to feel normal again.
The anger took over and her hand reached out for the lamp on the table. She took it and threw it with all her might against the wall. Then her mind went blank. She was in rage; she picked up the next thing and threw it and then the next. With every throw another memory of Battle surfaced. She needed the demon to go away. When there was nothing less to throw she slumped down on the couch and opened the next bottle.
After a while she looked at the clock. It was 7.30. She knew Morgan was coming soon. She didn't want him in the apartment. She couldn't let him see this mess. She got off the couch and stumbled to the bedroom. She got into the shower and did her makeup. She picked out an outfit. At 7.55 she was done. She looked in the mirror. She saw the Penelope she used to be with one exception, her spark was gone.
She got out to the street just as Morgan pulled up. She smiled and got in the car.
"Woman, are you drunk?"
"Yea, sorry, I started a little early. I just felt like taking a drink when I was getting ready, I guess I got too much"
"Ok, let's go to the bar the others are already there"
Once they got to the bar, they got out of the car. Derek always the gentleman opened the door to the bar. He took her jacket and handed them both in. Garcia looked over at the table where the group was sitting. How was she going to cope tonight? She felt Morgan's hand on her back; he was guiding her to the table.
She got to the table and got second thoughts "I'm going to the bar, anybody want anything?" she asked in a hurry and left.
"What can I get you?" the bartender asked.
"Vodka on the rocks and keep'em coming". She got the drink and swallowed it fast and signaled the bartender for one more. Maybe she could just sit at the bar and drink all night?
"slow you roll, babygirl" ….or maybe not.
