Disclaimer—I own nothing.
Monday started off being one of those days, she was late and her hair wouldn't do what she told it too. She ran into the 10 am meeting, late and disheveled. When she sat down her coffee spilt on her cardigan causing her to say fuck underneath her breath. Before she could think it- Derek swooped down and gave her a few napkins.
"Thanks," she said
"Sorry I'm late," she said to the room.
"The Director has given us 3 weeks bereavement starting tomorrow. Let's wrap up our paperwork and head out as early as we can today if possible. If any would like to talk to someone please contact Leslie Mann she is the therapist that will be handling our psych evaluations - How is everyone holding up?" Hotch asked.
Everyone gave their own variation of good before we stared discussing where we would go with our time off.
"I'm going to visit my mom in Vegas an maybe meet up with JJ and Will in New Orleans," Reid said
"Do you want to go to Rehoboth Beach?" Derek asked Penelope.
"No can do sugar bear, I am going to get chocolate wasted in the city of lights?"
Rossi smiled, "chocolate wasted—only our kitten."
"How are you going to get chocolate wasted with out your Adonis?"
She smiled, "it will be hard but I will persevere, hot stuff. I have to change my ticket though maybe I can go tomorrow—I will check with Em. I promise to return with gifts"
JJ, "you better."
As they were dismissed, Penelope patted the stain on her cardigan. She stood up and walked towards the counter for more napkins.
"Hey you," he said walking over to her
"Hey handsome," she said still patting out the stain.
He raised her chin with his pointer finger and said "Penelope, are we good?"
Whenever he used her first name she knew it was serious or he was annoyed with her. "We are great," she replied, "I'm sorry for going all seductress meets high school Penelope on you. You will always be my best friend and I'm sorry for crossing the line—I blame Rossi and the wine." She said smiling squeezing herself into her imaginary happy girl hat.
"So how did I not know about Paris, baby girl? I think you may need a chaperone," he said as he put his arm around her shoulder and headed out the door.
"Emily is on the job, she suggested the trip when were skyping yesterday and then I found a deal I could not refuse," she said doing a really bad Marlon Brando impersonation.
"Ok, Crazy lady."
"I'm crazy you're the one going to the beach to work on a house. "
"Come on now. The last time we were there we had so much fun. We painted the porch and finished the back rooms of the bungalow."
"What's on the agenda this time?"
"I'm going to take it easy this time and read" he said poking her in the ribs, "You promised to do the kitchen and that is all we have left so… I'm waiting on you."
"I think your using me for cheap labor, I mean who else could you pay with wine and lobster."
"When you come back… we have a date in my kitchen."
"Deal," she said turning to him in front of the coffee area in the bull pen.
"When is your flight?" he asked standing a bit too closer to her
"Tuesday at 8pm,"she said his cologne was intoxicating and his smile was inviting her to take a walk down a road she promised never to venture to again. She took a step back.
"There is going to be a lot of traffic—I'll pick you up at 515 or 530," he said taking a step towards her diminishing the space she created.
"You don't have to," she protested.
He closed her mouth with his thumb and pointer finger.
"5pm to be safe—we might get stuck in traffic," he persisted.
"But—"
He gave her a chastising look, y'know the I dare you to say something else Ms. Penelope Garcia look.
"Thank you handsome"
She smiled and said see you later as she walked to her lair. He watched her walk way. Her hips swayed to a melody he never heard before. It was as if she wasn't touching the ground. She had a bright purple flower in her hair and it matched the flowers on her skirt. A bright green cardigan and a plain yellow shirt. She looked so beautiful today, well she looked beautiful everyday. When she kissed him that night he was in shock, he always felt out of her league—he had a reputation that preceded him and was damaged. He never let women in and when one wanted to get in - he would leave with the rising sun never to be seen again or so he hoped. The problem was she was already in. She was in his thoughts, heart, and head...
