Penelope Garcia was no behavioral analyst. She'd gotten better at it, from working at the team, but she would never trust herself enough to figure out who a killer was just by the way he or she acted.
But Derek, well, she felt pretty secure in what she knew about him. She knew he was strong, not just in body, but in mind, she knew he was smart, not crazy Reid smart he knew plenty, read more than he'd admit, and kept on top of his job. He was gorgeous, sweet, and funny, he'd rather be at the beach than at a museum, he'd rather watch a bad action movie than an awesome drama, and he'd rather not do something then do it half way.
And he took absolute pride in what he did, in the team, and in his abilities.
But today, today the team had no been successful, it was the first time, not the first time Derek had failed to catch someone, not the first time he didn't end well, but for this group it was the first time they'd let a killer free, the first time they had sent him off, possibly with another victim and no way off finding him.
It was hard and sad and painful, because Frank would kill again, there was no doubt in any of their minds and when he did, the members of the BAU would have to accept it as their responsibility and that guilt would eat away at them for the rest of their lives.
It would eat away at Derek.
"You want me to make you something to eat?" she asked as she collapsed on her couch.
He shrugged, "Not really hungry," then he glanced up, "And you can't cook."
She glared, "I can make things in the microwave, or…soup….grilled cheese," she said loudly, just remembering and enjoying his chuckle, "I could order you something."
He shook his head.
She stood there for a moment, unsure, and then sat next to him, "Is there anything I can do?"
He was silent for a while and then, very slowly, his arm lifted, moving around her shoulders and pulling her towards him. She went willingly, allowing him to enfold her in the warmth of his embrace, her hand on his knee as she snuggled in.
"Just this, mama, just this."
She nodded, her own arms sliding around him and holding him to her. This she could do….this she could do forever.