A/N: Told you I would make it. =) And since my internal clock is confused - it is actually 4am for me Europe time, but here in Minnesota it's just 10p - I porbably spent half the night writing on some new stuff. LOL Well, there are always advantages to everything.


Penelope had been hiding in the bathroom first, before deciding this was rather pathetic. And so Hollywood. All she needed now were the tears and him to come running in, apologizing and feeling all sorry and miserable. Since that would never happen, she also could save herself the tears. She was running more from herself then from him or what he said. She couldn't care less what he had said, but what she cared about was her own actions. Penelope Garcia had never been much of a girl of dramatic actions, and slapping a guy across his face in the middle of her own office officially counted as dramatic. And she didn't even know what brought it on.

After looking at her own reflection in the mirror for way too long she decided she needed a change in scenery for a moment and left the restrooms, making her way to the elevators, and then outside. Maybe a bit of fresh air would help clear her mind and the confusion that was fogging it right now. What was it with this guy, who made her all so screwed up and act so irrational. She usually was rather well able to control herself and her feelings, but every time Derek Morgan was around or near Penelope seemed to lose her cool. A fact that rather irritated her, the longer she thought about it. She took a few deep breaths, trying to calm herself down a bit, when her eyes fell on someone familiar walking up the stairs to the entrance. And of course it would be Kevin Lynch. The universe wasn't that gentle to spare her one day from extra humiliation when opportunity was given. On his arm hung his pregnant girlfriend, who now was a brunette.

Thinking about her options for a moment, Penelope decided that she would endure Derek Morgan's company any given day of the week over seeing Kevin Lynch with his misses. It wasn't as if there was envy or jealousy involved. No, Penelope knew she certainly wasn't jealous or envious, at least not of that chick having Kevin Lynch for a boyfriend. After all Penelope dated him for over two years, she knew what it felt like to be Kevin Lynch's girlfriend. Letting out a sigh, knowing sooner or later she had to get back inside anyway, she turned on her heel, not even acknowledging Kevin's presence and went back inside, where she ran into Derek Morgan's arms. Literally.

"We have to stop meeting like that," he said to her, his voice rather neutral.

"We sure do," she agreed.

They stood opposite of each other for a moment, no one saying a word, just looking at each other.

"I think I should…" both started at the same time, looking at each other with surprise. it seemed like neither one expected the other one to speak.

Penelope made a motion for him to continue. She was expecting all sort of thing he could say to her now, starting from reading her the riot act for her action before. She certainly wasn't ready for what he actually did say.

"For what it's worth…. I'm sorry for earlier. What I said … should maybe have been phrased differently or maybe not said at all, I just … thought … it was just the whole situation that kind of took over," he rambled and Penelope was knocked speechless for a moment. Did Derek Morgan really just apologize to her?

"It's okay. I guess we both were … not acting appropriately. I'm sorry for what I did. It hasn't been exactly the easiest week for me," she started and saw him look up, which made her quickly continue. "Not that ... this is an excuse for anything. I … my mind has just have been all over the place lately and I guess the earlier conversation didn't help either of us or our professional relationship in any way. And neither did me … um … slapping you," she admitted, chewing on her lower lip. Derek Morgan made her nervous. She didn't even know why, couldn't explain it. And the fact that he looked at her in this weird way didn't help either. She was about to say something else when she heard a voice behind them.

"Ah, the first lover's spat?" she heard by an oh-so-familiar voice. Kevin Lynch, of course. Who else? Exactly what she needed now.

Turning on her heel, she put on her best fake smile she could and said to him "Get lost," before turning around on her heel again, and started walking away.

"I see … you … later," she said to Morgan when passing him rather halting. And why she said that now was a mystery to her. Maybe it was just the whole situation with Lynch all of a sudden watching, that she wanted to keep up appearance of them actually going out. Maybe it was something else.

"Yeah I'll see you later, babe," she heard coming from Morgan. And she certainly hadn't expected an answer, nevertheless this one.

A few hours after her apology to Morgan, JJ and Emily came by her office, picking her up for their lunch.

One look at her best friends and she knew they hadn't gotten anything out of Derek as they had hoped last night. Of course they wouldn't, Penelope thought. Why should he volunteer information on something he wanted to forget as soon as possible and declare as never happened?

They argued for a moment on where to get lunch, before it was decided to go to a small place they hadn't been in ages.

"What do you think of Derek Morgan?" Emily asked the moment they were seated in the little restaurant around the corner.

"Excuse me?" Penelope asked surprised whereas JJ looked at Emily quizzically.

"What do you think of Derek Morgan? As a guy I mean. Not your general 'I can't stand him'."

Penelope looked at her friend for a moment, not sure where this was going or whether there was any point with this. Was this just another of her tried to fish for information?

"I can't stand him," Penelope just smiled at Emily for a moment, getting a rolling of eyes from her friend.

"We know that much," she commented. "But I mean, as a guy. You have to admit he does look good…" she emphasized 'good'.

"If you dig the whole hunky, bulky, shallow and superficial thing," Penelope replied, taking a sip from her coke they had ordered when sitting down.

"For a guy you can't stand you sure seem to use a lot of words of describing him," JJ laughed.

"Yes, using words that are not in the least positive. What is this sudden interest in him anyway? You wanna have a go at him? Be my guest."

"Hmm… I was thinking more like maybe you should have that go at him," Emily bluntly said, making Penelope cough on her coke for a moment.

"What?" she asked shocked, once she composed herself again. "Are you insane? Me and him? We would probably end up killing each other within the first few days."

"Well, they say opposites attract," JJ admitted, making Penelope turn towards her friend and looking at her stunned.

"Before I date Derek Morgan, hell freezes over. Trust me, that will never happen. Ever. I don't even understand what gives you that idea. Has he … mentioned something?" Penelope wondered.

"Should he?" Emily asked interested.

"What do I know? All I know is that he is a jerk. The further away he stays from me the better. My life doesn't need that sort of drama."

"Maybe you are wrong. Maybe he is exactly what your life is missing," Emily smiled at her, making her wonder what was going on? When had they decided on playing matchmaker? Well, that certainly was a lost cause.

"Why? The drama and trouble I have already isn't enough? I need him to add to it? Interesting theory, but I think you better get your head checked. You are talking kind of weird. What has you lately so obsessed with him anyway? Maybe it is you who needs him in her life," Penelope figured.

"Well, I admit, I have to agree with the point that dating him would certainly be … interesting, to say the least," JJ laughed, not sure what Emily had planned with this.

"You now as well?" Penelope asked JJ surprised. This got better any minute. "I am not going to date Derek Morgan. Ever. I mean … we don't even like each other. We hate each other's guts. Don't you think that could be a slight obstacle?"

Emily just shrugged at that question, before answering. "Well, I don't see much problem with that. As long as you keep the fights clean, and the sex dirty," she smirked at her friend and Penelope just started at her for a moment.

"Oh my, I can't believe you just said that. This was the last thing I needed to imagine…" Penelope whined, seeing JJ laugh.

"Well at least we know that's something you wouldn't have to worry with him."

"What?" Penelope looked at JJ. "Fights?"

"No, the sex. Especially the dirty part," she laughed back and Penelope was sure that everyone now was against her.

"That at least explains why he has so many girls flocking him. Because he is so good at that," Emily laughed as well, making JJ laugh even more.

"Can we please change the topic?" Penelope nearly pleaded. She didn't really like where this conversation was going.

"I have to agree with JJ here," Emily nodded towards their friend. "That's the one thing you wouldn't have to worry about with Derek Morgan. Because if only half the stories about him are true, there is no way you'll leave his – or your – bed unsatisfied. The actual opposite to Lynch. And how you managed to stick around that guy for so long is still beyond me," Emily shock her head in wonder.

"Sex is certainly not everything in a relationship," Penelope argued, seeing both JJ and Emily look at her surprised.

"No, it's not, but it certainly is an important part. And when it comes to sex I somehow have my doubts that Kevin Lynch is your man. He looks like he barely is able to walk straight…" Emily started, and saw JJ looking at her shocked. "What? That guy cheated on our girl. I think that qualifies for me being allowed to trash-talk about him. And don't play Little Miss Innocent here, JJ. You were never going to be become member of his fan club anytime soon either. Anyway … I'm just say that Morgan is probably a lot more into that sort of … nightly entertainment than Lynch ever was. And probably has no problem with high frequency either," Emily laughed, making Penelope wish to be somewhere else right now.

"Can we please just stop talking about Derek Morgan and … that?" she asked kind of desperately and just a moment later she heard his voice.

"Did someone mention my name?"

Crap.