I think Claire and I are now friends. I gotta say I like this girl. As always, let me know what you think. And let me know if I lose anyone on anything. I know not everyone is a sports fan or watches the classic TV like I do (well, actually I'm old enough to have watched it before it was classic)-J

"At work I just take time
And all through my coffee break time
I say a little prayer for you."-Dionne Warwick 'I Say a Little Prayer'

Morgan and Claire were headed back to her home from their walk when his phone rang. He quickly looked at the caller ID and took a few steps away from Claire as he answered. She could tell from the expression on his face that he wasn't getting news he wanted. It was a brief conversation and when he ended the call he was frowning.

"Is everything okay?"

"I have to go, the team has a case."

"Can you call me at all?"

"Yes and I will."

He took a moment to give her one more kiss of the sort that made her want to drag him back into her house and not let him out of bed for days. Then he was getting into his car and driving away leaving Claire to contemplate her feelings and if she could handle this part of things. She had seen Maggie go through this, had seen the worry and even knew a little of the danger the team could be in while away. She entered her home to hear her phone ringing.

"Hello."

"Hey Claire bear!"

It was Penelope Garcia on the other end.

"Penelope, it's good to hear from you."

"Stop with the show of strength. How are you doing?"

"I don't-"

"Your boyfriend just scooted off to parts unknown for the first time since things have gotten really serious. And no, he didn't come in kissing and telling. I just know that man better than nearly anyone except maybe his own mama. I also keep a pretty good bead on my babies and I know that he hasn't been to his own house a lot lately."

Claire felt the heat and moisture in her eyes.

"Oh God, I love him, Penelope! How does Maggie do this? How do you? How does anyone?"

"Take a breath sweetie. You are going to get through this. Derek is among the most careful on the team. I have only ever had to smack him over the head for stupidity on a couple of occasions. Now that Spencer Reid that our buddy went and married ought to have brain damage by now for the times I have had to try to knock sense into him."

In spite of herself, Claire found a smile taking over her lips. This woman was magic, what was it Derek had said about her? That's right, she was his God given solace. It wasn't hard to see why. For not being a profiler herself, Penelope Garcia had a rather innate understanding of people and their psyches.

"Are you feeling a little better?"

"Yeah, I guess I am."

"Good, now did you tell him you love him?"

"I did but he beat me to it. Hell he beat me to even realizing it."

"Derek Morgan said 'I love you'? And he said it first? Wow! You have no idea how special you are."

"Can I tell you something?"

"You can tell me anything and as long as it won't hurt any of my babies, I'll keep your confidence."

"I was crying when he said it but then I got an image that almost made me bust up laughing. Remember on Happy Days when the Fonz would try to say 'I love you'? And he'd stumble all over it? I actually had a vision of Derek in a leather jacket trying the same way to get those words out. He just had seemed the kind that would get tripped up by it. Am I evil?"

Garcia was almost howling with laughter.

"You mean he didn't stumble and say 'I Loooov, lah, loh-ve'? Really, I would have guessed that too."

Claire understood now why Maggie and Pen had gotten to be such fast friends. Really if there was anyone anywhere who couldn't adore her at nearly first meeting, Claire didn't want to know that person at all.

"So why were you crying, hon? He didn't upset you, did he?"

"No, it was nothing like that. We were talking about my divorce and it's not the marriage or the guy that upsets me but there are things from that time in my life that are very hard to deal with remembering. Derek is a very comforting man."

"Whoops, I have to get some info to the team. You call me anytime at all if you need to talk and I'll be touching base with you as well. Try not to worry too much about him. He's usually the one rescuing the others."

It was the next day before Claire heard from Derek again. She knew that if there had been anything wrong with him, she would have been notified. Garcia surely would have seen to that. It didn't stop her worry or her heart from nearly stopping when her phone rang. It helped when she saw that it was Derek's phone calling her.

"Derek?"

"Yes, sweetheart, it's me. How are you holding up?"

"Better now that I can hear your voice. Are you okay?"

"Yeah, it's a tough case. They always are when they involve kids. I think we'll have this wrapped up pretty soon."

"I can't wait. I miss you so much."

"I miss you too. I need to get back to work but I wanted to hear your voice and remind you that I love you."

"I love you too."

Claire worked on grading papers and finishing the end of the school year things that needed to be done and this all helped to distract her for the next day while she waited for word. Derek had called again at night just to talk. He sounded so tired and not just tired from a lack of sleep. He sounded deep down tired. All Claire wanted to do was hold him in her arms and listen and let him fall asleep safe from the monsters that hurt the most vulnerable among us.

She came home from work and went to her kitchen to start something for dinner and froze when her phone rang. There was a wave of panic when she saw that it was Garcia calling. She didn't want to pick up the phone for fear of what she might hear but she answered anyway.

"You want the good news or the better news first my dear?"

"What?"

"Well, the good news darling Claire bear is that the evil doer has been apprehended by our team of super heroes. The even better news is that your lover boy is on his way home right now. I've already contacted his neighbor to continue keeping an eye on Clooney so Derek can come straight to you. And he will. That man is in love something fierce."

Tears were running down Claire's face although she wasn't aware of when she had started crying. The relief was so great, she wasn't sure if she would fall down or float away from it.

"Thank you so much Penelope! Thank you!"

"Don't thank me. Just dry your eyes and put on something sexy to greet him with."