Thank you to everyone who nominated me in the 2012 Profiles Choice Criminal Minds Awards as "Best New Author" found on the "Chit Chat on Authors Corner" forum.

If you would like to vote, simply send your ballot as a PM to "2012 Profilers Choice Awards" page. (Again found on the CCOAC forum) =D

Thank you again for voting!

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As the voices became louder and the banging on David's hand-carved and imported cherry-mahogany double front doors became more intense, so did Rossi's irritation.

"KEEP YOUR HAIR ON!" He bellowed from the guest room, blindly trying to find his pajama pants in the darkness while Penelope simply gave a small squeal and hid herself deeper in the feather comforter.

"Pen, get dressed honey, it's the team." He located his pants and sans underwear hopped on one foot to wriggle into them.

"The… team?" Penelope lifted her head out of the blankets just long enough to see the evil smirk on David's face before he half-ran out of the room to get the door.

Oh God, oh god… oh god oh god… Penelope ran to the guest room door to slam it shut and turn on the light, trying desperately to find her clothing. Spotting a bathrobe on the closet door after getting her shirt and pants on, she threw it around her shoulders for good measure. Where is my bra?! Her thoughts were in a scrambled panic. The TEAM? Now?! After she'd just been in bed with David Fucking Rossi?! This was not happening…

"Where is she?!" Derek shoved his way past David's exasperated stance as soon as the door opened.

"Please, Derek, come on in." he replied dryly, moving aside to let the whole motley crew in.

"What the hell happened?" Emily cornered him first.

"And how did you get to her first?" Spencer asked with a quizzical look and more patient tone.

"She's okay, then, you didn't call paramedics?" JJ rushed out.

David closed his eyes and looked at the ceiling as if for strength from the saints, but Hotch wasn't having it. Eyeing his shirtless body clad only in pajama pants and knowing his best friends reputation better than he cared to, he turned a steely look on him when the rest of the team had filed into the wide open kitchen, greeting Penelope with hugs as she timidly emerged from the guest room, trying her damndest not to look as guilty as she felt.

"What do you think you're doing?" Hotch stepped forward into his personal space, but David, in typical Rossi-fashion didn't even flinch, or even take a step back, as a wiser man might have.

"Making sure someone I care about is taken care of…" Rossi met his glare with his own famous one, and continued in a higher voice so as to get everyone's attention. "Care for a glass of wine, Hotch? Anyone?" He looked around the faces of his team, knowing full well they'd all been drug out of bed, judging from the mis-matching ensemble they were all wearing.

Several nods later, David was pulling down crystal wine glasses from his custom made cabinets and pulling the cork on a very good year merlot, he had the feeling some major schmoozing would be in order to win the team over and to keep their attention off of Penelope's bizarre outfit. She isn't wearing a bra…David painfully mused, entranced at her large breasts for a moment. He was feeling ready to take her back into the room, and finish what he started. Penelope caught his obsidian eyes burning into her, and flushed deep red for a moment, guessing at what he was thinking about. When their eyes met for a moment, he simply winked and gave her an almost imperceptible smile. It made her insides turn to jelly, seeing all the smoldering in his eyes, seeing all their new secrets there.

"So, let me get this straight… a spark out of the wall-plug in caught the drapes on fire?" Morgan asked skeptically, tipping his glass of fine wine to his mouth and nodding an appreciative thanks to David.

"Yes, that's what I said. They are Persian silk, it's really flammable…" Penelope weakly defended, taking the glass out of David's hand he had been extending to JJ. She needed some liquid courage right now, more than ever. David smirked to himself when he turned to grab another glass to fill, but Hotch had seen it.

"And again, how did Dave get there so fast?" Derek continued, still intensely focused on Penelope, one free hand on her arm. He wasn't going anywhere until he could relax and know his baby girl was safe.

"I had the police scanner on, Morgan. I recognized her address. I didn't think to call anyone, my main focus was on making sure she was still alive." David leveled his stare at Derek's equally serious one, and Hotch could feel the tension between the two like an electrical current.

"In 30 plus years on the job, calling for back up didn't occur to you?" Derek's voice was lowered to a dangerous and doubtful hiss.

"That's what I said." David sipped his own wine, feigning non chalance as best he could. He'd really like to sock Derek one right now, how dare he question him?

"I'm just glad you're okay, Pen…" JJ put an arm around Penelope's shoulders and shot a warning look to Hotch. If someone didn't do something quick, Derek and David might have a shoot out, right here.

"Penny, you have some clothes at my house from our girls night back a few months ago…" Emily tentatively offered, having a very distinct feeling Penelope wanted nothing more than to be left alone and out of the limelight.

"Thank you Emily, I can get them in the morning." Penelope smiled gratefully at Emily, she had wondered what she would be doing for clothing come morning.

"Okay…" Emily shook her head and glanced around the faces now in Rossi's kitchen. The awkward silence was just starting. She made eye contact with Dave who nodded imperceptibly. Having worked closely with David for years she seemed to understand the wordless motion as a "This needs to be over now."

"Are you okay here mama? Would you like to be somewhere more familiar? I still got that comfy Egyptian Cotton blanket you like so much…" Derek had officially turned on the flirt, complete with melting charm smile. Penelope felt momentarily trapped in it.

"I was almost asleep when you all showed up… I'm fine here until morning." Penelope tore her eyes away from the statuesque Morgan to plead with Emily.

"Of course, then we'll all be going now." JJ announced, placing her empty glass on the marble island.

"I'll bring the clothes first thing in the morning, Pen." Emily bent to kiss her friends cheek and whispered so only the two of them could here. "And I'll want a full report, before breakfast." Leaving Penelope with a half open mouth and stammering into her wine glass, Hotch finally began to usher everyone out, but not before glaring something fierce at Rossi.

"Alright team, Penelope is fine. We need to let her rest now."

Derek looked at Penelope with a question in his eyes, an obvious treason and pain etched on his face. Penelope had never turned down a sleepover at his house… They had always had so much fun, watching scary movies and cuddling in her favorite blanket, with ice cream Sundays… "Mama…" he began, as the team began filing out the front door.

To quiet him before it hurt her to hear what he had to say, Penelope stood on tip toes and kissed his cheek. "Thank you for coming to make sure I'm okay. I need to sleep now. Go. I'll be fine." And then she couldn't look into his eyes again, because he would see her own pain and confusion that mirrored his own. She was feeling guilty and she couldn't face him right now.

It was always going to be Derek… if I ever slept with someone on the team it was going to be Derek… She thought miserably as she headed back towards the guest room, existing feelings for Derek mingling uncomfortably for these new ones for David.

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