Title: Finding Her Sweet Baboo Part 11
Author: Trista aka dustytiger
Rating: T (it's hard but it's staying T)
Disclaimer: I don't own Criminal minds. Pitty. I am a poor barista don't sue me. PS I also don't own Peanuts.
Timeline: Sometime in season one, before the season finale tho.
Summary: Garcia is feeling lonely and ends up at Reid's, where will it lead?
Notes: Where is Garcia? Sorry again for the cliffhanger. Here's the conclusion. I feel awful today reviews would make me happy. Enjoy!
He picked up his phone and called JJ first since she lived closest and he knew she would sometimes end up there for coffee. Normally she would call if she was going to be there for awhile but sometime the two women would lose track of time. He had already tried he Garcia's phone and was not getting an answer. She never let her phone go dead, he thought there must be something wrong as he waited for JJ to answer her phone.
"Spence it's late," JJ said with a yawn.
"I know, I appologise Penelope went for a walk a few hours ago. I lost track of time, and she's not home yet. I was hoping she might be there."
"I'm sorry she's not. I just got out of the shower. We'll find her."
"I should have gone with her instead doing research at home."
"You two can't be together every second you both are home, you know that Spence. You don't even know that she's in trouble. She could have called Morgan and she could be there watching movies."
"She's not answering her phone, it's off, her phone is never off, she knows how to hack around if she's in a dead zone. I know there is something wrong JJ I just know it."
"Spence I'll be over as soon as I can and we'll go look for her all right?"
"Okay." There was someone knocking on the door. "Call me when you're on your way. There's someone here."
"All right Spence."
Reid went to the door and was surprised to see Hotch standing there. He didn't like look that was on his boss' face. He knew that look it was the one he would get when he had to tell a victim something bad. Reid was terrified he was starting to feel guilty about not insisting upon going with her. He had done most of the research he had needed to do and could have gone with her. Even if she would get grumpy when he would try to profile the people she would talk to. He didn't mean to do it, it just came naturally to him, but she hated it. One of the things he loved about her was how she could still see the good in people despite all the vile things she saw. Now someone had hurt her, and he felt horrible.
"What's going on?" Reid asked.
"I got a call that Garcia was mugged tonight," Hotch explained.
"Why did you get the call?"
"The only piece of ID they could find on her was her badge. When they called the bureau they contacted me since I am her superior."
Reid still remembered the fight they had had about moving her credentials. She had kept everything in her purse, and one day he had commented about how long it would sometimes take her to find her badge. She argued that the she was just a tech and didn't need to have quick access to the identification as she didn't carry a weapon and never would. After a while she just got sick of listening to him and would carry it in her pocket when she had one in the dress or skirt she was wearing.
"Is she going to be all right?" Reid asked his voice higher than normal.
"They wouldn't give me a lot of information over the phone. From what I understand she has a head injury but that's all I know," Hotch explained. "How about we go see what we can find out at the hospital."
The two men went to the older man's car and went to the hospital. Reid felt like the whole ride was a blur. Hotch was talking to him, trying to be reassuring since he had beein hard situations with his wife before, but Reid barely heard him. He was in a world of his own worrying about Garcia. He couldn't help but wonder if she would have been hurt if he had gone with her. Hotch pulled up the hospital and took Reid a moment to realise they were there. They went inside; Reid was relieved that he wasn't alone having to this. He went right up the nurses' station.
"I'm looking for Penelope Garcia," Reid told the nurse.
"What's your relation to her?" she asked.
"She's my wi-" he had to stop himself, he had been calling her his wife for a long time now, but it still wasn't legal. "Legally speaking she's my fiancée."
The nurse directed him toward another floor, and when he got there he was greeted by a doctor. Reid knew that he was going to be receiving bad news. The doctor who greeted him was a neurologist who was telling him all about head injuries, trying to not to be too dire. But Reid already knew all about how the human brain could react to an injury and his mind was racing. Sometimes he hated how much information he could retain. Working the job he did gave him a vast array of scenarios of what could happen with a head injury. He nodded as the doctor spoke not saying very much until the doctor offered to let him into Garcia's room.
The two men walked into the room, and Reid's heart sank seeing her hooked up the machines. He gently ran his hand along her face. He smiled feeling her soft skin beneath his fingers. Normally when he would do that her would pop open and she would smile at him then tell him how much she loved him. He knew logically this was different but he still wanted to hear her reassuring voice. He realised there really was no other injuries other than the blow to the head. He knew that lacerations could heal better than some of the problems she might have when she woke up. There was no guarantee she would even remember him.
He was upset with himself for not interesting he go with her on her walk. Although she went on walks almost every night he never liked the idea that she would walk around alone. He had seen too much and usually when he was home he would go with her, but he had been so excited about doing some research without being interrupted. He took her hand in his and just sat there for a while.
Reid was sitting in Garcia's room, while Hotch was outside calling the rest of the team. He was worried because he knew that sometimes with head injuries anything could happen. Tears were falling down his cheeks he kept worrying that he was losing her. He let go of her hand for a moment, and then did something he hadn't done since he was about ten years old.
"Please," he whispered, his hands clamped together. "I know that I don't do this, ever, but please don't take her from me. I just found her she's the best thing that's ever happened in my life I can't lose her now. I need to know that she'll be all right, that she'll be herself. I love her so much if you take her form me I'll never recover."
Tears were falling down his face. He couldn't believe how worried he was about her. He took her hand again and felt her squeeze it back. His eyes grew wide. He was glad that she was regaining consciousness so soon. He knew that the sooner the person woke up the better their chances were of being the same person; but he knew that it also could be reflexes or wishful thinking that he was feeling her squeeze his hand. He was never one to be so hopeful but he knew the less time she was out he better she would be.
"Baboo," she whispered her voice softer than he'd ever heard.
Garcia felt worse then the worst night of drinking of her life. Her head was pounding and it hurt to open her eyes. He throat was dry, and her whole body felt heavy. She knew she wasn't at home, and it took her a while to realise she was in a hospital bed. She was glad she could feel Reid's hand in hers. Garcia was sure she had heard his voice only moments before, but it hadn't been directed at her. She tried again to open her eyes, but it hurt to much. She felt him wiping her tears away.
"I'm right here Penelope," he reassured her, running his hands along her face and through her hair.
"Were you just-" she asked, realising he had been praying. "Baby, you don't believe in that."
"I know, but I was desperate. I thought I might lose you."
"Takes more than a broken head to keep me from my sweet baboo," she assured him.
"I'm glad. I love you."
"I love you too."
"You're still you, Penelope."
"Always. I'll never change."
He kissed her forehead softly. Her eyes slipped shut as soon as his lips touched her. Reid was relieved that se had woken up, but knew that she still needed her rest. A nurse had come in and checked her vital signs. When the nurse left he took her hand again, and kissed her again.
"I'm so sorry Penelope," he whispered. "This is all my fault. I should have gone with you and then you wouldn't have been hurt."
"We didn't know someone would hurt me. I wanted to go for my walk alone. This isn't your fault Spencer."
"I feel like I should have done something."
"That's how I feel when you're at work and something happens to you. It hurts like hell but at the end of the day we can't change it."
"I'm so sorry that I make you feel like this at all."
"What did he take?"
"Everything but your badge."
"My ring?"
He nodded. "I'm sorry." She began to cry. "I'll buy you a new one Penelope."
"I don't want a new one. It's not the same. I want my ring."
"I'm so sorry, I'll try to find it but we might have to accept that it's gone, Penelope."
He had moved onto the hospital bed with her and pulled her into his arms. He knew the doctors might not like it, but he knew that it was what she needed. Garcia curled right up into him, resting her head on his chest, listening to his heart as he gently wiped her tears away. She sighed a little and fell back asleep. Reid looked up when he heard he door open. He was glad to see it was the team coming inside. They were surprised to see her curled up to Reid, and Reid looking so comfortable to have her in his arms.
"She woke up," Reid told them, the relief evident in his face. "She's fine, she's still the same person. She's just tired."
"That's good to hear, kid," Morgan assured him, smiling.
Hotch came into the room. "They have a lead on who may have done this," he told them.
"That's good to hear," Reid said.
"Too loud," Garcia grumbled curling up to Reid.
"We wanted to make sure you were all right, baby girl," Morgan told her, his voice soft.
"I know and I love all of you, but I'm so super tired, and there's a drummer doing a solo in my brain."
Morgan leaned in and kissed her forehead. "Try to get your rest, we'll back to bug you in the morning.
JJ and Elle hugged their friend wishing her well, and even Hotch gave her a hug before he left the room. She then curled up into Reid again and fell asleep again. Reid was trying to fall asleep himself but it was too hard with the beeps of the machines and the nurses checking on Garcia the whole time. He was surprised when the door opened hours later and it was Morgan.
"Have you been here all night kid?" he asked.
"Yes, I have been, I didn't think she'd want to be alone."
"You got it so bad kid."
"That's why I plan on marrying her."
"Morning," Garcia said groggily. "Derek what are you doing here?"
"I want to see how you are feeling silly girl."
"I'm feeling better, but a little sad."
"Why are you sad sweetheart?"
"'Cause the guy who hurt me took my ring," she explained. "I know I should be relieved that I just needed to stay overnight but it's gotta be bad luck to not have your engagement ring."
"If anyone can beat the odds it's you and Reid, silly girl."
"Thank you Hot Stuff."
There was a knock at the door and then Hotch let himself in. He smiled when he saw that Garcia was up. Garcia smiled back at him, which filled the supervisor with a sense of relief. He had been worried since he had received the call the night before that technical analyst might not be the same person after what had happened to her. But looking at her, curled up with Reid, and joking with Morgan he knew that she was the same person she always was.
"How are you feeling?" he asked her.
"Better than yesterday," she replied.
"I might have something that will put that smile back on your face."
"Really?"
Hotch went over to Reid and put Garcia's ring in his hand. "I think it might be best if Reid gave it to you."
"Okay."
Reid went took her hand. "I hope that bump on your head didn't make you change your mind about marrying me." He slipped her ring back onto her finger.
"My ring!" she giggled.
"It's all that the locals were able to find."
"I don't care! I can replace my silly pieces of plastic, we can't replace this. Our marriage is still going to have good luck Baboo!"
"I always thought it would, Penelope." He kissed her forehead.
She moved so that their lips met. She wrapped his arms around him, needing him close. He carefully put an arm around her, not wanting to hurt her, and the other cupped her face. Neither of them heard the door opening again.
"I think we need carry water squirters with us," laughed JJ. "Even in the hospital they can't keep their hands off each other."
"It's kind of sickening sometimes, isn't it?" asked Elle. "It's good to see you up, and back to your usual self Garcia."
Garcia smiled. "I want my sweet baboo to know that guy didn't knock my love for him outta me! Look Hotch got my ring back!"
"That's great, Penelope. We have something for you, too, but it's not as great as getting the ring back."
"It wasn't easy," Hotch told her. "But I was happy to do it for you."
"Thank you."
The doctor came into the room and soon released Garcia. When she got home she was glad to be there. She and Reid went right up to their room, not even bothering to undress and climbed into their bed. They curled up together and caught up on the sleep they had both missed the night before in the hospital, leaving the last of the wedding planning for another day.
End Part 12
Notes: I fixed it! Hehe now for some fun!
