"Maybe we lived our lives in chains, maybe we never were just friends. And the days go by, and you wonder why, you're still holding up the sky." Kalan Porter

Garcia's eyes were a mixture of shock and an emotion Derek couldn't quite place.

"Derek Morgan, are you trying to ask me to be your girlfriend?" she asked, eyes dancing behind her thin framed glasses.

"Umm, well," his voice faltered, causing him to probably sound more like Spencer than he cared to talk about. He stopped and taking a deep breath, found his voice again. "Yes, I'm asking if you and I could try dating," he said firmly, glad his voice had come out with most of its normal confidence this time.

"I didn't think you did the relationship thing," she laughed.

He silently cursed her for making this so difficult.

"I don't with most women, but in case you haven't noticed, you, Penelope Garcia, are not most women." he said with his typical grin. "Besides, there are exceptions to every rule, and you just happen to be mine."

He could feel the conversation falling back into their easy, bantering style.

"Alright, we'll give it a try. Consider yourself lucky though, because I'm very picky about the guys I date." she quipped, with a flirty smile.

"Uh-huh, well I'll try not to worry too much, besides I think I can measure up," he said with a wink, getting out of the car and going around to open her door.

The evening air had grown chilly, and he quickly slipped out of his coat and placed it around her shoulders before heading up the two flights of stairs to their rooms. Stopping in front of her room, he leaned down to give her a gentle kiss goodnight, or at least it was supposed to be gentle. As soon as their lips touched it was like someone had sent a surge of electricity through them, and he could feel the kiss intensify as she pulled herself closer to him. He wound his hand through her hair, letting himself become as consumed in the kiss as she was. After several minutes, he pulled away and ran his hand down the side of her face.

"Good night, Garcia," he said with a smile, before turning to go to his room.

"Derek," she called, causing him to turn back, "You could stay if you wanted," her eyes were blazing but her voice seemed shy almost.

"Not tonight, baby girl, I would love to, but I'm not going to rush this,"

"Okay," she replied, surprised.

Waiting was not something Derek would have typically suggested, but something about this time, about being with Garcia was different. They flew back to Quantico the next day and were back at work Monday morning. He planned to ask Garcia on a first, official date for that weekend. His only problem was that they went to clubs, movies and such all the time and he wanted this one to be different.

He sat back in his desk chair, trying to come up with something brilliant. Laughter interrupted his thoughts, and he looked up to see the person who just may be the answer to his problems. Spencer and Liz were standing just by the doors, holding hands and talking. They were adorable, there really was no other word for it. Never in his life, however, had he seen himself going to Spencer for dating advice. He didn't even want to think about his reaction when he found out he and Garcia were dating, ultimate payback for all the hell he'd given him.