A.N: next part ready to go. Just a bit of a warning this chapter was kind of hard for me to write. There is a second part to this chapter cause it was just growing to long so that will be posted hopefully some time tomorrow night. I do hope everyone likes it and let me know what you think. Thank you to everyone who reviewed, alerted and added as favorites it means a lot to me.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Chapter three

May 2009

She couldn't believe they had come so close to loosing Reid today, her nerves were still, so frazzled. Her mind jumbled with so many thoughts she couldn't think strait. All she did know was that the time for a change had arrived. With this anthrax scare her whole world almost came to an end, the people she cared for that she loved like a family had been in danger and so close to home.

She looked around her office at the many screens that littered her desk top, at the TV's that lined the walls, and all her little nick knacks that were suppose to help brighten her day. They were failing her this time. Not even the pictures tacked to her cork broad could bring a smile to her face. Memories of a happier time that held so much meaning yet didn't help quell the turmoil within her soul.

Slowly she returned to her main computer and began typing finishing up last minute searches, closing off other programs and projects she'd had going on, before pulling up a Word© document and starting to type away, tears building in her eyes with each passing word.

When finished, she pulled her bag from under her deck and started to pack up, grabbing a few extra trinkets as she went. She looked over spotting the CD for Diane and took it with her when she exited the room.

Briefly she stopped at Reid's desk, took a stick note and jotted down a quick note, before slipping the recording into his top draw. Rising to her full height Penelope took one long look around the bullpen memories flooding her mind. She remembered the day Hotch's brother came to see him, meeting Elle for the first time, Reid's twenty four birthday party. But the one memory that would forever haunt her was the first time Derek Morgan had called her baby girl.

For now they didn't even speak. He never told her about his new girlfriend and she never asked. But then she never told him, she broke it off with Lynch either. They were a shadow of their former selves. Yet in her heart she still cared, still loved him no matter what would happen between them she would always hang on to the last five years, memories to be cherished for the rest of her life.

A deep sigh left her lips as she walked out of the BAU's glass doors, never knowing that one man had been watching her. A chill settling over him, he knew something was going to change he could feel it coming and it wouldn't be something he was going to like.

Monday morning dawned bright and clear as Penelope Garcia made her way into work that warm spring day. She held herself high like nothing bothered her and everything was right with the world. Her first stop, she knocked softly on JJ's door waiting for the "Come in."

"Morning Pen," JJ greeted looking up from her paperwork to glance at the blonde standing before her.

"Morning cup cake how's that handsome Godson of mine?" Pen asked trying to keep things as normal as she could.

A smile lights her face, "Really good he's getting so big. You should come by tonight if we don't get a case that is."

"I'll let you know sugar," Penelope responded then pointed at the file in her friend's hand, "New cases?"

"Yea not looking forward to choosing which one we go to," JJ breathed looking down at the papers littering her desk.

"It never gets any easier does it Jayje?"

"Unfortunately it doesn't."

Penelope stood there a minute studying her friend's face, seeing the happiness in her soft blue eyes, the slight smile that graced her lips every time those same eyes settled on the picture of Henry in front of her.

"You…" Pen paused clearing her throat, "You give that little man of mine a hug when you get home you hear."

Puzzled JJ looked closer at Penelope trying to decipher her words, a slight shake of her head telling herself that she was hearing things in Penelope's voice that just wasn't there. "I will Pen. You let me know when you're coming to see him, we'll make a day of it."

"I will kitten, it sounds wonderful," Penelope answered smiling though it never quiet reached her eyes.

She waved a quick goodbye, taking one last look at her friend before leaving. She headed for the break room, running into Emily who was pouring herself a cup of coffee.

"Hey Pen, you're here early," Emily exclaimed pouring some sugar into her cup.

"To many things to do," she returned grabbed her own mug.

"I hear ya. It's going to be a long day mountain of paperwork and all."

Penelope just nodded as she considered the woman beside her. The words slipped out before she could stop them. "You're a good egg Emily Prentiss don't ever let anyone tell you differently. You've brought something to this team that made it whole."

Awkwardly Emily shifted from one foot to the other, "Uh thanks Pen. You feeling all right?"

"Right as rain, apple dumpling just didn't get much sleep last night," Penelope replied, though it hadn't been a total lie.

"All right then, I guess I'll see you later?" Emily asked with an arched eyebrow.

"Of course later," she returned walking away coffee forgotten.

Two hours later Penelope had everything finished up. All the open searches, she hadn't finished last Friday, the programs that needed updating were already half way done and she even managed to pack up a few more pieces.

A knock brought her out of her thoughts. She spun around not expecting to see David Rossi pushing the door open.

"I hope I'm not interrupting anything."

"No of course not Sir. What can I do for you?" she asked a pad of paper and pen in her hands.

"Look up James Michaels, Damon Winters and Lucy Midland for me and put a file together on each," he answered eyes roaming her office. He noticed that several nick knacks were missing, that pictures had been taken down and that the woman sitting in front of him had lost her luster. "Garcia is everything all right?"

Her eyes flew to his dark brown orbs and she shook her head, "I hate profilers."

A low chuckle left his lips, "I know, so…" he left it hang open.

Though they got off on the wrong foot when he first returned, David Rossi came to see Penelope as the life blood of their little team/family dynamic. She kept them laughing and smiling when the cases got just too much to bear. She was also the one who he thought hid behind her colorful clothes and outrageous personality to protect herself. Despite all that he had came to respect the woman she was and even cared about her as a daughter he never had.

"It's nothing sir, just a lot on my mind right now," Penelope answered looking away from those probing eyes.

"If you need to talk, I may not be the best person for that, but I will lend an ear and try to provide what help I can."

"Thank you Dave that means a lot to me," she replied her eyes meeting his and conveying what she couldn't say in words.

He tried to come off as a tough old man with no feelings in his heart, but Penelope had seen better than that. After all he reminded her so much of a dear uncle she had while growing up.

"You know where to find me Penelope," he said turning around to go.

Hours later she looked at her watch, then stood and stretched her back muscles trying to work the kinks out from sitting so long in one place. Some unfinished business still called her name, as she grabbed the envelope off the corner of her now clean and clutter free desk. She took a deep breath and left.

Out in the bull pen Reid sat with his back to the doors, head bent going over a few last minute files when a soft voice spoke.

"How you feeling sugar?"

He spun around finding Garcia standing there arms at her side. "Good… good the doctors gave me a clean bill of health."

She smiled, "Good to hear honey. You'll be back at busting the badie and stealing women's hearts in no time."

A bubble of disbelieving laughter left his lips, "Busting bad guys yes, but stealing women's hearts I would never do."

"Oh Spencer you don't know what power you'd have over any woman who saw though your defenses. You'd capture her heart and never let go. Just remember to love and don't let the insecurities rule your life."

"I'll try not to," he responded perplexed by her words.

"By the way I left something for you in your top draw, have a good day junior G-man," Penelope said ruffling his brown mop of hair, before starting for Hotch's office.

Knocking she waited, "Come."

Penelope stepped inside and closed the door, her nerves getting the better of her now as she stood in front of the one man she never wanted to disappoint.

Looking up from his paper work Hotch sighed, he knew why she'd come, "What can I do for you Garcia?"

She handed him the envelope and took the seat in front of his desk. She watched as he pulled the letter opener though the top and paused.

"Are you sure?"

"As sure as I can be Hotch."

He nodded and took out the piece of paper, quickly scanning the resignation in his hands.

"Can I ask?"

"Why?"

He nodded and waited for her to go on.

Taking a deep breath she began, "Because I can't watch you put your lives in danger anymore. I can't watch those horrible videos and look at the gruesome pictures anymore. The nightmares are just getting too much to bear."

"Is that the only reasons?" he asked cocking an eye brow.

"The only reasons I can give you Hotch," she replied lowering her head.

His voice was deep and full of regret, "He's a damn stupid fool, but then maybe this is for the best. You get the fresh start you need away from us, from him. Just don't regret making this decision Penelope."

She nodded tears gathering behind her eyes, but she willed them not to fall. "I'll try not to Aaron and thank you for your friendship and support all these years. Kiss Jack for me and tell him I'm sorry, maybe once I'm settled I'll try to come visit."

Hotch nodded and stood from his desk, walked around and stopped in front of her. When she stood he pulled her into an unexpected warm hug.

"He's a fool to let you go," he whispered into her ear.

She nodded into his chest before pulling back and fishing through her bag for her badge, pass codes and bureau cell phone handing them over to Hotch.

"You take care of your self Charles Brown you're a good man," she whispered back rushing out of his office.

Quickly she grabbed her things, and made for the elevator, only to have a deep voice stop her.

"Pump those brakes woman wheres the…" he trailed off seeing the box in her arms. Looking up into her eyes, he noticed that she wouldn't meet his. "You going some where Penelope?'

She kept her eyes from locking with his as she answered, "You could say that Morgan."

He approached her slowly, watching as she backed away from him, "Tell me where."

She shook her head refusing to speak more words to him than needed.

"Damn it Penelope speak to me," he belted out, his voice hard and demanding.

"We would never have worked out in the first place. We're too different. They would have all just laughed at us. Good thing nothing ever came about hu."

"Stop the crypt bull shit and tell me where you're going."

"You know I always figured you'd walk away from me one day, when you'd find that special someone, that you'd stop seeing me as anything but a co-worker. But what really hurt was that you couldn't even tell me. So this is it Morgan, you have a good life, lots of love and grandbabies for your mamma you hear. Just file me away in some dark corner where you won't look for me again." With those words she backed into the waiting elevator and was gone before he could do anything about it.

His feet rooted to the spot for a second before taking off to Hotch's office.

He slammed the door in, "Where's she going?"

"Afternoon to you to Morgan knock next time," Hotch replied stoically not bothering to even look up and meet his agent's eyes.

"Damn it Hotch I don't have time for games where is Penelope going?"

"She's leaving Morgan, resigned not twenty minutes ago," Hotch answered anger flashing in his dark eyes.

"She what?" he asked disbelief flooding his mind and heart.

"Gone, resigned, is no longer working here, because of you," he accused vehemently. Hotch wasn't one to let his emotions or personal feelings cloud his judgment, but not this time. Not when he was losing one of the best friends he'd ever had just because the other man couldn't get his head out of his ass. Hotch went to say as such when the other man pelted back out the way he came.

Morgan didn't pay much attention to Hotch's words he was already out the door and to the stairs his heart beating in his chest so rapidly that he wondered why it hadn't jumped out of his chest. He jumped into his SVU in record time and flew down the road towards Penelope apartment.

Tires screeched to a halt and he jumped out running as if the devil was chasing him. Standing in front of her door, he pounded on the hard wood getting no response he tried his key. With the door unlocked he flung it open and his heart dropped to his feet. Bare walls, white with not spot of purple in sight, empty like the spot growing in his heart. Nothing remained of his baby girl, except a box sitting in the middle of what was once her living room his name scrolled on the side.