A/N: please remember that this story is completely AU. I was told that Garcia was not an agent that she was only support staff. I made her an agent for this story because in a past episode JJ called her an agent when getting permission from a family so that Garcia could get access to a photo account. I think that was the episode. As for my OC Cassandra is what she is, a beautiful woman that could charm her way into his life and bed. So please don't like don't read. That is why it is called fan fiction.
"I'm sorry?" she asks after locking the door.
"Cold, why is it cold in here?"
"I haven't turned the heat up yet. I usually keep it low when I'm not here."
"Please turn it up, I'm old and cold."
"You're not that old Agent Rossi."
" I came to apologize to you. It's my fault that you got suspended."
"I accept your apology." She tells him with a quick smile. "Now would you like something to eat? I can whip up some omelets."
He can't get over just how forgiving she is, but he needs to make things up to her some how.
"Thank you. How about you change and I take you out to eat there is a place that just opened that I've been wanting to try. And while we are eating you can give me the name of a good P.I., deal?"
"Sound good, I just need a few minutes."
She returned to work the following Monday. She did smile when she opened her office door and found a large cup of tea and a muffin waiting for her on the side table. With a note. Thank you, Kitten.
It surprised everyone that Cassandra was still around and from the looks of things she wasn't going anywhere. JJ, Alex and, Penelope's voice could be heard coming from the round table. Morgan tells Cassandra to go in that he would follow with their lunch and bottled water. She smiled as she enters the room then pulls out a chair to join them at the table. Saying hello to everyone she listens to the conversation waiting for Derek to return..
After greeting Cassandra, Alex looks at the resort brochure that Penelope had brought in for her to see. Having learned to read upside years ago in boarding school she had no problem reading the brochure for Penelope's vacation.
"This place looks nice." Cassandra remarks trying to join in.
"It is nice. I go there every year. I go once the season is over. I get a discount, even more if I pay fully in advance. I only stay one week but its nice quiet, hardly anyone there at the end of the season."
"They let you book your vacation this far in advance?" Alex asks.
"Only the one week. I've been doing it for years, besides no one else wants the first week of September."
"And your other week? Where do you go for that week?" Alex asks
"She take a the last week in March." Rossi answers as he enters the room with his take out container in hand. "And to answer your second question we don't know and she won't say."
"Nice to have you back Garcia, I missed you. Well we all missed you." Reid says as joins them at the table.
"Thank you, I missed you too Dr. Reid."
"I thought you had your vacation in March and September?" Cassandra asks innocently.
"I was suspended for a week. For refusing to follow an order from a supervisor." Garcia tells her with a shrug of her shoulders.
"Penelope, glad you're back, the tech they sent us was horrible." Morgan tells her as he sits next Cassandra.
She nodded her head. "Sorry about that sir. I'll try not to get suspended again."
Morgan looks at her and frowns, but the look on Cassandra's face is one of pure pride hearing her call Derek sir, in a purely professional manor. Cassandra had been worried for a long time about what Penelope had told her. But after watching and listening to them she came to the conclusion that Derek could never love someone like Penelope, if he ever said it, it was out of pity and friendship nothing more.
"That's good to hear Garcia" Hotch tells as he comes into the room.
"Who's order did you refuse?" Reid asks.
"That would be mine, young doctor Reid and it is a need to know. Any more questions from any of you?" Rossi asks daring the members of the team to ask.
"Kitten I need to see you in my office at two." Rossi says just as he leaves.
"Yes sir."
Once back in her office she plows through a lot of the backload of requests that she waiting that she still had left from the morning.
Leaving her office at a quarter to two she goes to the loo first before she goes to see Rossi. Wondering the whole time why he wants to see her. He already apologized to her and as far as she was concerned it was forgotten.
She smoothed out her skirt before she knocks on the door.
"Come in Kitten." He calls out to her.
"Sir you wanted to see me?" She asks after closing the door.
"Actually it was me, Miss Garcia. Agent Rossi told me what happened, I wanted to tell you that I have removed the reprimand from your file. And put one in his for using Bureau resources for personal reasons." Chief Strauss tells her as she stands turning to look at the units tech.
"Thank you ma'am that makes me feel a lot better."
"I'm sorry I can't replace your lost wages but you didn't work and I can't swing it."
"I understand, thank you for trying."
"That is one thing I can fix Kitten. Here take this check it will make up for your weeks pay. No argument Kitten please."
"Thank you sir." She says softly as she accepts the check. She slips into her skirt pocket without even looking at it.
"I need to talk with Agent Rossi."
"I understand, thank you Chief Strauss." Penelope responds then quickly leaves.
Strauss waits until Garcia leaves before she turns he attention toward Rossi.
"You pull a stunt like that again Dave and I'll have your balls."
"Now that sounds like the Erin Strauss we all know and fear." He quips back to her.
It was the single firm knock that made her turn around and look to see who wanted her.
"Penelope?"
"Can I help you, Agent Morgan ?"
Sighing he closes his eyes then hands her some folders. "I need this information as fast as you can get it for me."
"Will do, is there anything else?"
"No, that's it. I'm glad you're back baby girl." he says softly as he leaves.
She knows that he misses their flirting and banter, as much as she does. But a promise is a promise. She might be able to lie to everyone else about not having any feeling for him, but she can't lie to herself. Yes she loves him very much but she knows that nothing will come from it, nothing at all. His Achilles heel is just to strong for him to love back a true meaningful love.