Disclaimer: I don't own a thing! *sobs*
A/N:Now to take it up a little level...Or a big level, depends how you look at it!
(Just the break the tension for a moment... IT'S SNOWING... well where I am in the UK anyway =P Shouldn't be this excited lol)
Moving onwards...
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- This Time Won't You Save Me? -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
"Derek," Penelope near enough growled out down the phone, "you cannot be doing that!"
"I'm sorry, Baby Girl, it won't happen again."
"Yeah it better not, or I swear to God, I will come back and haunt you." She threatened as she ran a hand over her forehead, it hadn't even been two days and now Derek was assigned desk work because of carelessness, and his new found duty of being a liability to the team.
"I couldn't think of a better apparition," he mused as he headed to the airstrip to come back.
"I won't be the good type of haunting, I'll make you wished you'd never known me," she told him sternly, "and don't think I'm joking. You can't be ruining your life, what are you gonna do when I'm gone? Be stuck at the desk?"
She heard him sigh.
"Yeah, I didn't think so, so you need to buck up your idea's sonny Jim, and realise that there are more people than just little ole me that need your help. You're a superhero, Handsome, not a paper pusher."
"Voice of reason," Derek mumbled, he knew she was right, he was meant to live for adrenaline, but right now being across the country wasn't making him think straight, he couldn't work, because all he kept doing was thinking of Penelope and it was distracting.
He was weakening under it all.
"Derek, you can't let this kill you too."
"It's getting hard." He told her and then he sucked in a deep breath, "right, I'm here, I'll be home before you leave tonight, and you are leaving because Hotch says so, can you listen to him please?"
"Yes," she relented hesitantly.
"I'm looking after you." He told her and she heard him step out of the car and into the windy airstrip.
"I knew as much, just keep your chin up and I'll have a big cup of coffee and a huge hug waiting for you when you get back in," she promised him.
"Looking forward to it already." He told her and he smiled briefly, "I love you, P, I'll see you soon."
"I love you too," Penelope said tearfully and put the phone down; she looked back at her searches and saw they were still running so she just paused for a moment.
She could hear that Derek was slowly drowning, she hated this, she was seeing his demise and that was hurting her more than the prospect of the imminent future. She had to cover bases; she had to make sure that her best friend, her lover, the man she loved so whole heartedly was looked after when she was gone.
She needed the reassurance that someone was always going to be there for him, she had no problem believing the team was there, but she needed those special extra measures ensured, she'd deal with one side later, for now she had other ideas and so she minimised the search and pulled up a new page and began to delve.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- This Time Won't You Save Me? -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Penelope plotted what to say, she spoke it into the silence of her office, she played with words, tried to find ways to mask her ever erupting emotions and just tried to be natural.
But now with phone ringing out her mind went blank and she couldn't remember a word of what she was going to say. She couldn't remember her little cues she'd thought of or ways to avoid breaking down. She'd lost it all.
Penelope was going to be making this up on the spot.
"Hello, Morgan house," A little boys voice came over the line.
"Oh," Penelope said somewhat shocked, she wasn't expecting anyone but Derek's mom to answer, "Is it possible to talk to Fran Morgan please?" She asked politely.
"Hang on," she heard and then distant running, "Grandma!"
That made Penelope's heart clench tightly in her chest, taking all viable air away from her completely. She always imagined what it'd feel like to have grandchildren to spoil, to be the best grandma anyone could have. She'd like to hope she'd have been cool, and still as awesome as she was now.
"Hello," Penelope now heard a different voice.
"Oh, Hi, is this Fran?"
"Yes, may I ask who's calling please?"
"My name is Penelope Garcia; I'm calling about your son, Derek."
She heard a gasp, "Derek? Is everything okay? I mean is he hurt?"
Penelope's eyes watered at the panic that hit this mom's tone, "he's fine, sorry, I didn't mean to alarm you, I just needed to discuss with you something, ask for a favour even."
"Sorry, what did you say your name was again?"
"Penelope, Ma'am, I'm Derek's best friend." Penelope told her calmly.
"Ah, alternatively known as the girl he called Baby Girl?"
Penelope's lip trembled, "Yeah, that's me." She said tearfully, "I'm not calling to concern you; I just really need to ask you to do something for me."
"I'm listening."
"I'll have tickets sent you when necessary, but can you be ready to fly here for him at any time?" Penelope asked.
"Of course, what is this about exactly?"
Penelope inhaled deeply, "I-I'm dying, and Derek's trying his hardest to be okay with it, but he's now been assigned to desk duty, I need to know that you can be here for him when I'm gone, more so. I wouldn't ask this for anyone else, but I love Derek so much, and I can see already that he needs as much more support than usual." Penelope wiped the tears away from her face, "I'm so sorry to drop this on you, but I really need to make sure I can trust that Derek won't be allowed to do something stupid."
"Does Derek know you're doing this Penelope?" Fran asked, crying herself.
"No, and I'd rather he didn't, he'd only try and stop it, he'll try and be brave for all this, but I know him more than anyone around right now, and I know he's not coping very well."
"How will you get the tickets to me?"
"Our boss, I'll make sure the money's ready, and our boss will get it all set up. Thank you Mrs Morgan, for this, it means a lot to me to know that he'll be looked after."
"Is there anything else you need me to do?"
"Just understand that I love your son with more than my heart, that he made my life worth living, and that you made your son into an amazing, charming, compassionate man. He's one of the best out there and I thank you for that. Thank you for letting me have him in my life, I'll be forever grateful for that," Now Penelope was really crying, "Thank you again, I need to go, my boss will be in contact."
Penelope ended the call and just hung her head.
"Penny," Kevin's voice came from the door and he watched her look up sharply, "everything okay?"
She wiped her face, "yeah, it is." She told him and turned to face him fully, "what's up?"
"I was wondering if you wanna go out for lunch?" He asked her and smiled sheepishly, "I have news."
"Oooh! Is that a hint of gossip I hear in your voice, superstar?" She asked as she grabbed her bag, she needed some tissues and her medication.
"Might be, so what do you say?" His voice trailed off somewhat as he watched her take the pills, "you sure you're feeling okay?"
Penelope nodded as she took a gulp of the bottled water.
"I'm fine Kev, just a headache again." She told him nonchalantly, "I can't go far, the team's out and Derek's being sent back for a being a bad boy."
Kevin fell against the door frame as Penelope sorted things to run throughout while she got food. "He's a mess ya know."
"I do know, and I'm just trying to make this a little easier on him." Penelope told Kevin and then stood up, grabbed her bag and threw it over her shoulder.
"No bag, my treat."
"Oh, how come?"
"Krysta wants to marry me." He blurted out and began to smile broadly.
"You asked her!" Penelope said and immediately pulled him into her arms, hugging his torso, their hugs weren't on any level of intimacy anymore, it was all about friends being with friends for them now. "Aw, congrats Sweetie." Penelope gushed, "You know I'd be there if I could."
"We're doing it for a month's time." Kevin told her and smiled, "I want you there, Pen, we have past and you mean so much to me, I want you and Derek to come together, seeing as his best man and you're maid of honour."
"Really?" Penelope asked tearfully, her emotions not so easily hidden today.
"Krysta wants you, I want Derek, so we thought, hmm, coordinate seeing as the bridesmaids and groomsmen are dating, you two are perfect."
"This means a lot, Kev."
"Living the best two months right?" He asked her took her hand, "we need to start doing that actually, we're lacking."
Penelope giggled, especially as their lunch was comprised of their favourite desserts, and one thing that made her even happier, was that Kevin left bacon donuts off the menu.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- This Time Won't You Save Me? -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
A/N: Bacon donuts... *shudders*
I'm trying to bring in some good stuff here =)
Here's hoping you're not back to blubbering messes!
