A/N: Okay just to let you guys know, Strauss pretty much comes as far out of character as possible in this one. I do realise this. Here it goes... (ps. I don't own CM or it's awesome characters. Or Strauss, lol)
Chapter Seven -
Morgan and Garcia sat back and watched as the evidence of their final prank, the pizza boxes, were crushed and shoved into the garbage.
"What a pleasant week." Garcia said dreamily recalling each of their wonderful practical jokes.
"And it ended on a prefect note." Morgan added, rubbing his now pizza-stuffed stomach.
"Too bad it's all over now."
"Yeah. But can you believe that for the first time in our history, we didn't get some sort of lecture from Hotch, or have any of our pranks backfire? We must be getting really good." The two friends shook hands, congratulating one another on a perfect week.
Just then, one of the young new agents, who had been something of a lap dog for Strauss the past couple weeks walked over.
"Agent Morgan?" He asked. Morgan gave him a nod. "Chief Strauss wants to see you in her office."
Morgan and Garcia exchanged anxious looks. Strauss was never involved in prank week. No one took it seriously enough to go to her. Not even Hotch.
Morgan reluctantly got up from his desk, and Garcia gave him a sad look. He walked out of the office, and down the hallway to Strauss's door. He straightened and cleared his throat before knocking.
"Come in." Her voice said from inside. Morgan walked in.
Strauss stood up upon his entry.
"Derek. Please, have a seat." She offered. He eyed her suspiciously. Use of his first name was never a good sign. He sat down.
"Ma'am, what is this all about?" He asked.
"It has recently come to my attention, that over the past month, you have exchanged over 100 text messages with Penelope Garcia, and less than half of that with any other member of your team. You've also made 98 phone calls to her. Bureau computer records show that you also spend much of your time on instant messaging with her."
"Chief, I am never behind on my work. These communications are made purely during my own time, or if it's about something pertaining to the case. That's it." Morgan insisted defensively.
"That wasn't my concern, Agent Morgan." Strauss said. "It seems to me, that the two of you... are romantically involved."
Morgan felt his jaw drop.
"Wait." He said "What!?"
"It's quite obvious to me, Agent Morgan. The pet names you have for one another. Baby girl? Hot stuff?" She read from a list.
"Chief, this is a mistake!" Morgan protested. But she held her hand up to stop him.
"I've already made up my mind. Penelope Garcia will be transferred to another unit first thing next week. We can't have people who are emotionally involved with one another on the same team. It can be dangerous."
"Why are you doing this?" Morgan asked, upset and frustrated.
"Because." She snapped. Then her expression softened. "There is something you don't know. Ever since you joined the FBI... I have had certain...feelings for you."
Morgan looked at her, eyes wide, and then said, "WHAT!?"
Strauss stood up and walked around front of her desk, and then sat down on the edge.
"I can't stand to see her with you any more. The way you talk to her... I just can't stand it. I can't hide my feelings any longer, Derek." She said, not once breaking into a smile.
Morgan could feel the colour draining from his face with every word. "Ma'am, I- I..." He stammered. But he was lost for words.
" You don't have to say anything. By tomorrow, it won't be a problem. Penelope Garcia will be part of another unit."
Morgan couldn't believe what he was hearing.
*********
On the floor above, Garcia was sitting in Rossi's office, and the exact same thoughts were going through her mind.
"Sir, I'm afraid I don't understand." She told him. And that was an understatement.
"Love is a complicated thing." Rossi told her. "But not to worry. As soon as I have Morgan placed in another unit, things will become much more clear." He smiled at her, and she stared back, gaping.
"You can't do this! Morgan is... he's..." She couldn't think of anything to say.
"Look Penelope. It's obvious. He spends so much time in your room upstairs, and you are always calling him before the rest of us when you find out something. I can't bear to see the two of you so close. This may be an act of jealousy, but..." He sat on his desk, and clasped her hands in his.
"Are you seriously telling me you don't feel anything right now?" Rossi asked softly.
Garcia pulled away, and ran around and hid behind her chair.
"Sir, I'm very flattered. But if this is about the pranks, I'll stop. We both will." She promised.
***********
" -- because if that's what this is about, we'll stop! I swear!" Morgan told the chief.
"Those pranks showed me what was going on, Morgan. They helped me see the light." She explained.
"Ma'am, please don't do this! Prank week is just some dumb thing we do to liven up the office on slow days. But I swear. This was the last prank week ever! Just don't transfer Garcia!"
But Strauss wasn't listening to him anymore. She glanced over at her closet. Suddenly the door opened.
Reid stepped forward, holding a video camera. He closed the screen, and then grinned at Morgan.
"Wh-what's going on here?" Morgan demanded, confused.
"Well, Agent Morgan, this tape has enough blackmail material to last me quite a long time. The look on your face during the whole thing...priceless. In addition to that, we have you promising to NEVER prank us again." Reid smiled, pleased with himself.
Morgan was stunned. He tried to think of some sort of come back, but he failed.
"Now if you'll excuse us. We have to go see how the girls faired down in Rossi's office." Reid hurried out into the hallway. Then Hotch emerged from the closet. He straightened his tie.
"Chief Strauss." He acknowledged with a nod. Then he pointed at Morgan, and said "Ha-ha!" And he hurried after Reid.
Upstairs, Rossi was chasing Garcia around his office.
"Just one little kiss? Please!" He called. She climbed over his desk, and he followed. Suddenly the door opened.
"Reid!" She gasped. "Thank goodness!" She got behind him, and used him a human shield.
"JJ! Emily! You guys can come out now!" The two female agents came out from behind Rossi's filing cabinets. Emily walked over and they switched video cameras.
"Nice!" She said.
"You too! Good use of threatened kiss, Rossi." Reid complimented.
"Thank you." Rossi said as he straightened up the mess that had been made on his desk top.
"Um, would someone please explain what is going on here?" Garcia said.
"Allow me." Morgan walked into Rossi's office. "They got us, baby girl. This whole thing was a set up. Strauss did the same thing to me."
"Strauss!?" Garcia exclaimed.
Morgan nodded. "And now they have it on film. I'm afraid the days of annual prank week have come to an end."
Reid, having successfully completed his mission, shook hands with Morgan.
"It was fun while it lasted." Reid admitted.
"See! You enjoyed it too! Maybe we could --"
"Nope. Sorry Morgan. You promised." He held up the video camera, to remind him.
Morgan sighed. The rest of the team went back to work at Hotch's order, and Garcia turned to her partner in crime.
"What now? We're just never going to prank them again?"
"Actually, I promised to never do another prank WEEK again. I didn't really promise to stop altogether."
"I think Reid will see that as the same thing, sweetie." Garcia sighed. She hugged him tightly.
"Well we'll have to test that theory, won't we." Morgan said, smiling down at her, devilishly.
A/N - I'm really sorry about the long wait. The Olympics are in town, so I've been kind of busy. That also means I don't have any school next week, so I'll be able to put the last chapter up much more quickly.
