A/N: So no Kevin Lynch-fanclubs? LOL
It felt like hours that Penelope sat in her office, starring after Kevin Lynch. She never had seen him act like this before. Not once in the last four years. And the fact that her ex-boyfriend -who constantly argued about the inappropriateness of her and Morgan's relationship – was now more or less giving them his blessing certainly didn't go without irony. And it also did something for her.
Yes, Emily and JJ had been preaching that Morgan wanted more for years now. But JJ and Emily weren't just her friends and Morgan's for that matter, but also her co-workers. Maybe they just saw what they wanted to see and kept telling her what they thought was going on. Kevin Lynch on the other hand had no motive for seeing anything between her and Morgan. After all just a week ago they had still dated. And now he told her to have a go at Morgan since apparently Derek Morgan was in love with her. He didn't seem like he was out for revenge and when he spoke to her earlier it seemed genuine and kind. And maybe he had been right all along. Maybe there really had been something that should have him worried all these years. Not that she had seen any of what everyone told her was supposed to be between her and Morgan. But maybe then again others had some perspective she was still searching for.
She wouldn't agree with Kevin. She didn't take a risk with him. Quite the opposite actually come to think of it. He was the safe option to go for. Someone she didn't need to think about for long and try to get through the labyrinth that her emotions seemed to be. He wanted her, he was the safe option, the guy she knew what she had and could have with. Derek Morgan on the other hand was the temptation, her best friend, the 'maybe'. It could have been right, or not. Who knew?
Penelope had always thought she had the crush on Morgan under control, which she somehow managed to get over it. Or not as it turned out now and as last week Friday had proven. Who knew the subconscious mind had such a loud voice? She knew avoiding Morgan for a week was stupid, but she wasn't really sure whether she was ready for that conversation. Obviously your best friend telling you she was madly, deeply in love with you was never such a good thing if you intended to keep it a secret. Of course there were several options now. Morgan could just pretend this didn't mean anything – which was the by far most worrying one. This could also play out just like Penelope had hoped – which somehow seemed a bit frightening as well. Because this would be new territory. And who could tell them just because they worked well as friends the same could be applied for them becoming lovers? She had seen enough people that decided on moving from friendship to more and things failed miserably. What if she and Morgan were destined to end the same way? Maybe there was only one way to find out, but before she could finish her thought on how to find out exactly she saw Emily approaching her office.
"You know… it's Friday again," she heard her friend more or less laugh. "And you know what that means…"
"Margarita's at Joe's as well as buckets of unhealthy, fatty and greasy food," Penelope answered, smiling at her friend. It was some sort of a tradition for JJ, Emily and Penelope. Every Friday for more or less the last few years the three of them would go out, for plenty of cocktails and easy, greasy food – usually nachos and wings. They would go out, get tipsy from the alcohol, get high on fast food and intoxicated on gossip – it was the perfect girls night. If the team was in town, the three of them would be out and about, no guys allowed. No exceptions to be made. Ever. Except for an occasional night out with the whole team. But that was it. Friday's were reserved for JJ and Emily. Thursday's were Morgan's.
"Yes," Emily almost beamed, which Penelope found slightly strange. Sure, they always had a good time, but Emily seemed a little bit too excited for Penelope's taste. "I know usually we meet at 8, but JJ and me feel after this week we really need a lot of alcohol sooner than the usual time. Does 7 work for you?"
"Sure, shouldn't be a problem. I just get home quickly, get changed and then head over to meet you guys. Our usual table?" she asked and Emily just nodded. Yes, it was a bar, a bar that didn't assign tables to its guests and yet JJ, Emily and Penelope got one assigned. That's how often they were there.
"Great, we see you then there," Emily exclaimed and gone she was again, leaving Penelope to her paperwork and updates for the rest of the rather quiet night.
At 7 on the dot Penelope walked into their usual bar, dressed in a pair of jeans, a sparkly shirt and some heels. They usually never dressed up much, after all it was just supposed to be them and some food and drinks. They never really did anything else than that. Not talking to guys, not trying to get phone numbers. They usually only talked about guys really. Sitting down at their usual table, the waitress already knew her by name and asked whether she wanted the usual. Penelope figured since she was the first here, she could as well go ahead and order for the three of them. Would save them time later.
She got through her first Margarita and was still waiting for her friends, which was unusual, since they normally never really were late. Especially after Emily announced they needed more alcohol sooner after the week they had. And just then Penelope realized, all the team had been doing all week was paperwork. There was no case, and as far as she was aware Emily hated paperwork, but it usually didn't justify for her getting really drunk. Penelope was just fishing for her cell in her purse, wanting to call JJ and Emily to check where they were when she saw it. She saw Derek Morgan walk through the door.
