Disclaimer: See part 1

A/N: I want to say thank you so much. It's really making my days that so many of you are enjoying this story and actually letting me know what you think. I appreciate it more than I can say.

Penelope never expected to be good at being a third baseman anymore than she had expected to enjoy a win her first night. She got both.

By the time they had reached the field where the game was to take place, Derek had calmed down. As he tossed and hit the ball to her from various angles, the tension seemed to melt from his body. Now as they were headed to his truck after a 6 to 2 win, he had his arm slung over her shoulders.

" I knew you'd be a natural."

"Glad one of us did," Penelope retorted, but softened it with a smile. "I had fun."

"Yeah, me, too. Ready for your first celebratory dinner?"

"Sure, hot stuff. You still planning on being the designated?"

"For you, baby girl, sure," Derek said, wagging his eyebrows at her.

Once they arrived at the sports bar, they had dinner and then moved from beer to ordering shooters.

"Hey Pen, you want a shooter," Paul one of their teammates asked, as the waitress took their order.

"Definitely. I'll take a pair of tequila please."

"You go, Mama," Derek commented.

"What? You think I can't handle it?"

He shook his head. "Nope! Just enjoying being proven right."

"Meaning?" Penelope shifted in her spot beside Derek so she could see his face better.

"You, the gang, perfect mesh. One of the boys, as I said."

Penelope stiffened. That damn phrase again.

The waitress arrived with the shooters just as she was contemplating drinking Derek's half finished beer instead. Grabbing one from the tray, she searched briefly for the salt. Both shakers were already in use, but inspiration struck. She turned back to Derek, leaned in real close, and licked the side of his face from jaw to ear. Then she downed her shooter, popped a piece of lime between her teeth, and sucked, hard.

"Garcia?"

"Yes, Hot Stuff?" she replied, once she'd removed the lime from her mouth. It was obvious her little stunt had gotten Derek's attention.

"What the hell was that?"

"The perfect complement to my tequila. Do you mind turning so I can have the other?"

Derek reached out and snatched the shaker out of Mike's hand, shoving it into hers. "Use this instead." His breathing sounded a bit labored again.

"Problem, Sweetness?"

"No. Thought you might prefer the real thing."

"I prefer natural ingredients myself," Penelope shot back. She held his gaze as she licked her wrist, added a dash of salt, and gulped the second shooter. "See, not nearly as enjoyable as the first," she said, before having more lime.

Derek looked shocked at her response; that struck Penelope as hilarious. At first it was just a giggle, but in short order it became an out and out laugh.

"Pen, you okay?"

It took a moment to get back under control so she could respond, "Yeah, hot stuff I think I am."

"You sure? We can head home if the Ta-kill-ya has gone to your head."

She smirked at his reasoning. "Sweetness, just because tequila sells you short, doesn't mean I'm the same. We should get going though, I need my beauty sleep."

It didn't take them long to wish the other members of the team goodnight. Once they were on their way, Penelope considered asking Derek about his rather unusual behavior all evening and then thought better of it. Instead, she leaned back against the headrest and shut her eyes.

TBC…