Disclaimer: I don't, as ever, own a single thing but the plot bunny that hops here!

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"James Mitchell." Penelope said as she dug into the past of her real father. They all watched as the screen morphed into cords and images.

"Well you definitely got his... ow!" Reid said as JJ flung her arm into his to stop him before he got any further. To them, the man in front of them looked nothing like Penelope. There was a subtle thing here and there that showed it, but not a whole lot more.

"How can we be sure that he is your real dad?"

Penelope merely held up a photo she had. They all looked from the photo to the screen. It was definitely him.

"So what's your next action Garcia?"

"I have a number, I guess I ring it." They saw her hesitate. "I want to do this, but I feel there's a reason my mom didn't talk about him."

"You won't know unless you go for this PG." Emily told her. "We can all go with you, just not with you."

Penelope nodded at that she got the logic to it. She also knew if there was anyone she wanted, it was Derek.

"We'll leave you to it." Hotch said and squeezed Penelope's shoulder before heading out of her office, the others all following in quick pursuit. Derek remained lingering.

"You want me to stick around or do you want some privacy?" Penelope thought about it, she wanted some privacy but she wanted Derek's support. "I'll stand in the hallway, how's that sound?"

"Sounds good." Penelope told him and Derek left her. Gathering a calming breath Penelope picked her cell up and punched the number in it and then clicked call.

Each ring just upped her nerves.

"Mitchell." She heard someone answer. The voice was gruff and matured something she hadn't expected.

"Oh, erm, hi. Am I talking to James?"

"Yeah."

The disinterest was off putting to say the least. "Oh, it's Penelope Garcia here."

"Penny." The voice gasped, the tone less angered, less rough. "Is it really you?"

"Yeah it's really me."

"I didn't think you'd call!" She heard him exclaim loudly and she melted into a smile. She had never, ever had this type of reaction on someone. Be it her dad or not.

"I thought you deserved a chance." Penelope told him with a genuine smile. "I was wondering if you'd like dinner tonight with me?"

"Oh yeah, sure, name a place and time and I'll be there." Penelope handed over the details, bar one. She didn't tell him Derek would be with her. She was, in no way, shape or form, going alone to a man she hadn't seen for the last 29 years of her life.

Derek, having heard the phone call end, went back into the office and saw Penelope staring off. "What's up?"

"Did you know I was my parent's sordid little secret?" She asked him and looked at him, the light just glistening a little. "I was a bastard child. My mom was 19 when she had me. It didn't go down very well and my grandparents sent my mom, and with her my dad, away until I was born. Coming back home, my grandmother raised me as hers but then my mom and dad fled with me. Four years later my mother was sleeping around and voila, Penelope's now a Garcia."

"I didn't know that Baby Girl, I'm glad you could share that with me."

"Ah Mon Cheri, there is a lot more I could share with you, but not until the times right." She looked at him as he came down to crouch in front of her. "Gonna be my wing man in this?"

"If that's how you want me." Derek told her with a self assured smile. He kissed her forehead and stood up. "Now can I get you back home?"

"I want to do just one more thing." Penelope said and sat up and pulled herself towards her babies. Derek merely watched her type away at sonic speed.

Derek felt a little unsettled for Penelope as he watched clown's flood the page. The last one being a banner for Bobo the clown.

"Baby..."

"It needs to be done." Penelope told him and he could hear her voice shake. "Bobo's been on the go since 1974. If it's him in the circus then he's been on the go for a good 36 years."

"If he started young he could easily have another 20 years in him." Derek agreed as they went through all the information, occasionally he looked at her and he could see she was forcing herself. At one point he saw her close her eyes and give herself a steadying breath but even he could tell she was reaching her breaking point. "Right Sweetheart, we're now getting you home. Hotch has another tech up and waiting to do this, but this is not the right thing to do."

"I'm compromising my own ability."

"For once, it's allowed." He said and he watched the doubt she was allowing to exude her. "Turn them off; we're going out to get you a stiff drink, before we meet your dad and then you're having an early night."

"Yes Sire." Penelope responded and then got rid of all the photo's on the screen, slowly the screens turned off and blacked out and then she turned, ready to get a stiff drink. "I'm thinking straight jack, or straight vodka." She told him thoughtfully as they went for the elevator. "Or both."

"I think both is allowed, but I refuse to take you home drunk, you need some decorum left to retain sanity."

"Ha! Sanity left my body the moment we had hardcore sex handsome. You blew sanity right out of my body."

Derek chuckled, the first night they discovered that sex with each other was their ultimate would be engrained in his mind for life. "Hmm, I think I'll continue to keep my standards high in that case."

Derek took Penelope to the bar that her dad was going to meet them at. He had a good hour to keep her calm and relaxed and if he hand it his way he would speak for her if she found herself getting too tongue tied.

Penelope refused to sit with her back to the door. She wanted a wall to have her back against; she didn't want to have anyone come up behind her. Not with the way that her nerves were wearing thin already.

James Mitchell walked into the bar, head held high, a respectful looking man, wealthy to hilt and damn proud of it. He walked in and looked around; he made it look as if he were looking for a blonde with curly hair. He knew his daughter was a red head now.

Penelope and he met eye contact and he smiled and went towards her. She stood and all he could see what her mother. She was an identical replica of that woman. He smiled as they hugged awkwardly and then they sat down.

"Do you want a drink?" Penelope asked as confidently as she could muster, she slipped her hand into Derek's. She needed his touch. Penelope guessed getting a new round would be a starting point.

"I'll go Goddess." Derek said and got out of his side of the booth and went over the bar.

"Well look at you." James said to her and she couldn't help to smile. "I knew my baby would grow up to be a beautiful woman but never did I expect this." He watched her blush and that was something he was glad had never changed. "I'm so happy I finally found you."

"Have you been looking then?"

"Ever since your mother left that night I have. She hid well Penny." James responded and he kept trace on every emotion Penelope was going through. "I think one drink for tonight. I know this had gotta be weird. I mean I'm a stranger."

"Not anymore." Penelope said as Derek came back and put the glasses down.

"I just got you a jack and coke like us, you looked the type."

"Thanks."

"James, this is my best friend Derek Morgan." Penelope said and James could see passed the over the top smile as she spoke. Penelope spoke with pride to introduce Derek. Something about it satisfied him immensely.

"It's good to meet you Derek. I hope my daughter's well looked after here. After all she's far from her mother and family." James looked at Penelope. "I bet the distance makes you miss her doesn't it?"

Penelope scratched her arm with uncertainty. "Erm, mom died about 15 years ago." Penelope said and the last word stuck in her throat some. "Car crash." Penelope shrugged. "The distance from there makes it more bearable."

"Oh Penny, I'm sorry Princess." James said and put his hand on Penelope's and Penelope looked at him. She knew that touch and she wasn't ready to feel it so she pulled her hand back. "Sorry, a little forthright of me."

"It's okay... so..." Penelope tried to kick start a whole new world of conversation. It worked. They spoke about his job, her job, Derek's job. Her father seemed impressed, if not somewhat bemused by her career route. He didn't need the God honest truth. He needed to skirt around the edge of her life for a while.

Penelope learnt that her father was a man into property development and immediately Derek was sucked in and the two men got on like a house on fire. Derek being shown that developing properties really was a gold mine and a half.

When it came to leaving, there was a hand shake between the two men and less awkward hug between father and daughter. As they left Penelope felt a new ease. She didn't worry about the whole dilemma her life was in. She didn't panic about the circus that was currently occupying their little town. She didn't ever think too much into anything but breathing at that moment.

Her and Derek worked down the street, she kept herself near enough wrapped around his arm. She was content to just be with him, even in silence. They made it about 5 minutes away from the bar when someone grabbed her hand and spun her round. She giggled until she came to a halt and was faced with a fidgety clown.

Derek was too late to stop it. To pull Penelope away from the situation.

"Bobo's coming!" The clown shouted humoured and bounded off after throwing poster's in the air.

Derek grabbed Penelope as the paper all flew to the floor. "Come on." Derek said as he felt her shake. It never thought he could see the breakdown of a person happen so fast. One minute she was happy and calm and enjoying herself and the next she was scared and timid and absolutely frozen. "You're okay Baby Girl" He whispered and kissed her and took her to the nearest cab and got her home.

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A/N: Bobo's coming guys!

I'm off out, so hence the earlier update, I'll be regular though! You'll get more soon! That's a promise!

Drop me a review and let me know what you thought!