A.N: back again this chapter was both fun and hard to write so I do hope you like it. Thank you to everyone who reviewed, alerted and added to favorites you guys rock hard. And now on with the show.
Disclaimer: I own nothing well except Kristine, and Jacob other than that I just love playing with them.
Chapter eleven
Present April 2011
"Pen," Emily and JJ squealed in union as they rushed forward enveloping her into a bone crushing hug. Granted it'd only been six weeks since their last girl's weekend, but life hadn't really been the same since she left.
"Missed you to my lovelies," Pen exclaimed returning the hug with equal force, eyes still firmly placed on the tall drink of water standing stiff as a broad not far away.
Her heart clinched tight in her chest when he turned without so much as a nod and walked away, 'What'd you think would happen Penelope that he'd just come rushing over and crush you into his arms. Not bloody likely you left remember.' Those bitter words ran through her head. In truth she didn't know what to expect from him, but the cold silence destroyed any hope that had laid in her heart. She knew now what both JJ and Emily had been saying the last two years were true that her leaving without an explanation had torn something inside him, with that one deep probing look into his eyes, before the window into his soul closed, a realization hit home. But how could she have explained what her heart wanted to a man who didn't want her.
Closing those thoughts off she pulled back from the two women catching a brief look of anger that flashed across JJ's face. No time to dwell on what might have been's and regrets they had a case to close and then she'd return home to New York.
"Garcia," Rossi stated seeing the brief exchange between her and Morgan, he'd watched the younger man turn away in anger and all but stomp back up towards the conference room. Mentally he shook his head and stuck his hand out towards Mac, "David Rossi."
Mac took the offered hand, "Mac Taylor it's good to finally put a face to the name after hearing about all of you for the last two years."
A slight blush crept up her cheeks at his mention, "Zip it Taylor," she admonished, with a light tap to his shoulder.
"Thanks for bring her down, I'm sure she put up quiet a huff about that one," David said a slight gleam in his dark brown eyes.
"No problem, wanted to keep her safe," Mac responded momentarily looking around adsorbing everything.
"And over protective to," Penelope shot back, "it's good to see your still in one piece Rossi," she tossed at him watching a slight nod of his head.
"To keep this bunch of misfits in line someone has to."
"Speak for yourself Dave," JJ stated from Penelope right, "I'm no misfit and as for keeping us in line, when hell freezes over."
"To right," Emily tossed in behind her statement catching sight of Reid walking forward.
His quite voice spoke, "Welcome back Garcia," he muttered shifting from one foot to the next unsure of what he should do.
"I see you still need a hair cut boy genius," Penelope commented, watching a slight blush color his cheeks, "So you going to just stand there or are you gonna give me hug?"
Shuffling forward he let her wrap her arms around him tightly, and returned the embrace grateful that she'd returned even if for just a short while. "I've missed you Garcia," he whispered hoarsely into her ear not waiting anyone to hear him.
Truth be told he'd missed her greatly over the past two years, granted there had been times when she's visit the girls and he'd been invited, but just like those to far and in between weekends they were not enough and not the same as having her near. Initially he'd been disappointed that she's chickened out and snuck away like the thief in the night, but in the end he'd come to realize she'd done it to keep herself sane. And while he knew JJ and Emily both blamed Morgan, JJ admittedly more, so, Reid just felt sorry for the once outgoing man.
"Back at ya junior G-man," Penelope said tears burning the back of her eyes.
She'd promised herself that she'd hold her emotions in check that they wouldn't overwhelm her, but this, his soft admission had tore a hole in her heart.
"Back to work people the reunion can wait," came Morgan's deep gruff voice.
JJ whorled around anger flashing in her pale blue eyes, but stilled her harsh words when Rossi's strong warm hand on the small of her back.
Penelope, out of the corner of her eye caught the simple gesture and tried to hide the smile from her lips. She'd known for sometime that their dark brooding celebrity profiler had developed something of a crush on the petite media liaison though he'd never do anything to endanger her career even if it meant giving up on what would be the best thing in his life. A slight shake of her head, thinking that both Rossi and JJ were just a bit foolish, 'then again weren't you just as foolish for not following your own heart,' a small voice in her head admonished tauntingly.
Pushing those thoughts aside her glaze turned up towards the conference room to find him staring at her, an involuntary shiver ran down her spine at the cold look in his eyes, "Sorry peaches," she stated, turning her eyes away, hiding the hurt that built with every look. 'Harden it Penelope, things have changed.'
Clearing his throat Reid offered, "I'll show you to your old office."
Emily's head whipped around a knowing smile lighting her features, "Yea I bet you do, Reid. Just don't get to tongue tied around her."
"I… no that's not it… I mean," Spencer sputtered face flaming a deep crimson.
Penelope's eyebrows shot up, "Oh do tell Prentiss, who has my little lambkins all flustered."
"You'll see Pen," Emily responded a wicked gleam in her eyes.
"Now I am intrigued, come on Spencer show us the way," Penelope teased grabbing his hand, "Mac you want to join us?"
He just nodded enjoying the exchanged sensing that something's never change no matter how much time passed.
Once the small group rounded the corner, Emily said, "I'm going to," and hooked a thumb up to the conference room.
JJ nodded and walked away anger still boiling at the surface.
"Jen," Rossi called, watching as she stopped her progress.
"What," she yelled turning to glare at him.
Hands up in surrender "Cool your jets woman I come in peace."
"Yea and your not the enemy either hu," she retorted sarcastically.
"Damn strait, so point those fire balls somewhere else, I'm baking over here," he said closing in.
"Sorry," she mumbled and continued towards her office, throwing over her shoulder, "You comin',"
shaking his head, but following needing a few answers, "What's got you knickers all in a twist, cause damn if looks could kill, Morgan would be a pile of ash right now."
"More like a pile of ass if you ask me," she responded taking a seat heavily as her hands scrubbed her blonde locks back.
"JJ cut him some slack," he began taking the only unoccupied spot in her over flowing office.
"Cut him some slack you jest Dave," she glared up at him from her leaned back posture, "you mean that spineless, overbearing, not even man enough person we call a unit chief. He couldn't even be civil enough to greet her. Instead just throwing her dirty looks and scowling. The one who pushed so damn hard to get her here and then nothing not a damn word leaves his lips in her direction. So no Dave," she drew out his name, "I won't cut him any slack. It's his damn fault she left in the first place."
"You can't seriously blame him for Garcia leaving?" he asked incredulity.
"Hell yes I blame him. He couldn't get his head out of his ass long enough to see what was right in front of him the whole time. No he just had to think with his dick, like most damn men," she raged, flinging herself from her chair almost setting it backwards turning to face the small window looking out into the hallway.
"Jennifer," he damn near shouted trying to get her attention, when she turned towards him he spoke, "you do know that Garcia is partly to blame for things to she didn't play innocent in this." He held up his hand when she started to speak, "I know he didn't see, but she left him high and dry, no explanation nothing. I'm not taking sides here, but do see it from his point of view."
"So what you think his actions are spot on then, that she deserves the cold shoulder?"
He had so few ways to answer that question and anyway he didn't he'd be wrong, "No, but you can't expect anything less. Morgan didn't make Garcia leave, she choose that path, he just happened to be a factor. Blaming him won't help if anything it'll stoke the fire."
"Bull shit," JJ exclaimed brushing passed Rossi, "he didn't even try Dave not one damn time, he dropped the ball and let it lye. So tell me how I can not blame him for loosing my best friend to another city?"
He just shook his head unable to come up with any real reason, "Just don't start any shit woman, I don't need world war three here in this bull pen, between you and Morgan or any body for that matter. Let's let sleeping dogs lay."
"Scouts honor," she said, but her promise would prove false.
"You were never a scout unless you forget to tell me something, JJ," Rossi remarked following her out the door.
"Wouldn't you like to know," she shot back sarcastically.
Meanwhile, "Private meeting of one or can anybody join," Emily said, moving slowly into the room.
Her dark eyes took in the slump posture of Derek Morgan, who poured over the pictures once more. Without looking up, "Free country Prentiss do what ever you want."
"You know you're still a jack ass," Emily commented as if she was talking about the weather.
His head snapped up, eyes flashing, "Excuse me."
"You heard me, your ears aren't clogged. You're a genuine jackass."
"May be its best if you turn and leave the same way you came," Derek growled eyes flashing.
She knew she'd be pushing it, but damn it she wanted the team back not scattered to the four winds. "No I'm fine right here," she replied taking a seat opposite the brooding man. "Couldn't even bring yourself to say hello could you. Are you so bitter that your pride wouldn't allow for pleasantry?"
"Prentiss," he growled again anger boiling inside his veins.
"That's my name please don't wear it out," she responded sweetly, "You never answered my question by the way."
"Damn it Emily what do you want out of me, blood."
"No," she returned adamantly slamming a hand down on the hard wood table, "I want the truth. I've heard Penelope's side, know it like the back of my hand, now I want your side."
"Why do you care?" he asked, tiredness sipping into his voice.
Her eyes soften, "Because I want my family back damn it. I want what we had almost three years ago not this penny anny shit that I've had to live with. I want Pen back here, not that I don't like Kristine, but it's not the same. I want Hotch back," her voice hitched at his name, "we can't function this way much longer Morgan. It's getting to the point were we're falling apart."
"Doesn't look like it to me," he sneered, turning away from her.
"You damn stubborn fucker," she yelled having had enough, "damn your pride and self righteousness. You want to keep hurting fine then do, so. I was trying to extent that olive branch to you once again, but no you just have to break it in tiny pieces. Fine then you keep living life this way. I hope you choke on it."
"She left me," he said in a voice so small and soft she was sure she didn't hear things right.
"What," she asked turning back.
He looked up at her, heart open, and she could see the full extent of what Penelope leaving had done to him, "She left me."
End note: so what do you think need more Morgan angst a little explanation let me know
