Author's Note: Here is your update, my lovelies! Big hugs and kisses to everyone who r&r's this story and favorites it as well. I've been co-writing another project with my bestie Mus4u or her LJ handle momma_66 for quite some time now. It will also be posted on here, after preggers!Spencer is finished. I hope that you all will show it as much love as you have shown preggers!Spencer. I also have a multi-fandom staringout batch I've been working on. I've been reinspired and it feels awesome! But I'll shut up now! Enjoy, dahlin's! Reviews are like Garcia's wonderful nicknames!
Topetine's Entry:
Emily Prentiss sat at the conference table trying to concentrate on the case, but the Queen of Compartmentalization had a few walls of her neat little boxes leaking into the common space of her brain. She sighed and thought back earlier, how Garcia had called her instead of Derek, and the thought was just a bit exciting, until she learned that it was because she and Derek were having a tiff. After extracting the full story (although Garcia was spilling before she even finished asking what had happened), she couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy. She recalled that Garcia had met someone in a cafe that morning, and apparently Derek had expressed anything but positivity. She'd told him, as a piece of friendly advice, when a girl tells you about something like that, she wants your approval, not your opinion. She couldn't help but worry, feeling something wasn't right; not because she didn't think that Garcia could land a gorgeous man, but in how the pieces had seemed to fall in place so easily. It just seemed so convenient.
She flinched when a cup of coffee was placed in front of her, Derek sitting beside her heavily.
"You look about as shitty as I feel." He sighed, leaning on the table to eye the war wall. "What a pair we make, huh?"
She took the coffee and took a grateful sip, shrugging.
"You okay?" He asked as she smiled, and nodded.
"Fine."
Emily sighed as she shoved the Unsub into the car, caught before he could harm his latest victim, who was being herded into an Ambulance by JJ. Exhaustion was starting to take its toll and she nodded and shook an officer's hand, transferring him to his custody. Within an hour they were packed up and on the jet and she was curled up in a seat by herself until Derek flopped down opposite her and rested his feet on the edge of her seat. She curled up, headphones plugged in, blocking out the world with Matson Jones' Into My Arms, nodding off until Hotch's presence loomed over them and it was enough to tear her from sleep and shook Morgan's foot.
"Sir?" She said, pulling out her headphones, Morgan doing the same, rubbing a bit of sleep from his eyes.
"Garcia's been shot." Was all he said as slowly the scene sank back in, and Emily could see JJ on the phone, talking rapidly, Rossi making a call as well.
"What?" Morgan demanded as Emily tried to focus.
"I need you two to go to her apartment, see if you can see anything the police are missing, fill in the blanks."
"Yes, sir." Emily said, robotic, shutting off her iPod, and shoving it into her pocket.
"We'll be landing in twenty minutes." Hotch told them before picking up his ringing cell.
Derek's hands were balled into fists, shaking his head rapidly. "That fucking guy, I knew something was wrong." He said as Emily pushed back her hair and tried to keep calm.
Spencer took a cab to the hospital, packing his messenger bag full of snacks and books to try and keep sane in the waiting room. Already he was starting to panic. He picked up his cell and dialed Derek, still in the back of the cab. After four rings, he picked up.
"Morgan."
"Derek, it's me-are you okay?"
"Yeah, look I can't talk, I'm on my way to Garcia's."
"Okay, I'm going to the hospital, I'll let you know when I know something."
"Thanks."
Spencer couldn't help but feel distant and removed from Derek, and fought back frightened tears.
Morgan and Prentiss worked the scene like any other, or tried to, but it was hard to forget that the puddle of blood on the steps was your good friend's. They put together what information they knew and decided it wasn't much. No one had seen her arrive home, her landlord had heard the shot and came down a few moments later. And now Penelope's life hung in the balance.
"This is all my fault." Derek said quietly as they wandered through her apartment, looking for clues.
"Morgan, Garcia is a grown woman, she makes her own decisions. We didn't know that this was going to happen." She rationalized, sitting softly on Penelope's bed, rubbing her temples.
"She only went out with this fucker because I disproved. She was hesitant herself, and I fucked up, so she went for it."
Spencer sat in the waiting room, holding himself, nerves rattling. He hadn't even bothered to change, wearing an old T-Shirt of Derek's under the borrowed/stolen Northwestern Hoodie that hid his baby bump well.
"Dr. Reid." He heard and looked up to see Rossi coming down the hall.
"Does anyone know anything?" He asked, looking up at him desperately as Dave sat down, shaking his head.
"Only that we think she was targeted by the man she met."
"I should have tried to talk her out of it..." He said softly, shaking his head.
"Reid, you didn't know this would happen, and Morgan is already kicking himself enough for the both of you." He said, resting a compassionate hand on his shoulder.
"She's still in surgery..." He said softly as Dave nodded.
"I know. We're going to wait until we hear something, okay?"
After an hour or so, the entire team was assembling in the waiting room. Hotch stood against the wall, JJ was blatantly ignoring the no cell phone rule as she conferred with local police and the Bureau, and Emily paced quietly. Derek returned from harassing the doctors for an update on her status without luck and Spencer got up, going to him for what felt the first time that night.
"Any word?" He asked as Derek shook his head and Spencer leaned up against him shyly, wrapping him up in a warm embrace, kissing his temple. "It's okay, it's going to be okay." He said, holding him until he pulled away, leading them to a stretch of seats.
Garcia awoke in a morphine and pain laced haze, feeling so incredibly stupid. Part of her wished she had died for being so foolish, so trusting, so naive, that she deserved it. She squeezed her eyes shut, warm tears escaping out of the corners of her eyes. Soon a nurse was checking on her, bothering her, saying there were people here to see her. They crowded around the foot of the hospital bed and she forced a smile. "Hey, the gang's all here, that means it's party time; who brought the booze?"
A few soft laughs echoed in the drab room as Derek moved beside her, taking her hand. "How are you feeling, baby-girl?" He asked, his voice low, shaky even.
"Uh, the good news is, they gave me morphine, the bad news, it's wearing off."
Spencer fitted himself to Derek's side and put his hand over theirs. Emily cleared her throat and stepped up on the other side. "Garcia...we need to ask you some questions."
"Yeah...I figured..." She said softly, closing her eyes.
"Did you see who did this to you?"
"Y-yeah. It was...Colby. The guy..."
"Where did you go to dinner, Garcia?" She asked as Garcia sniffled and shook her head.
"This is all my fault." She said as Emily took her other hand and squeezed.
"Garcia, this is not your fault." She told her firmly. "Now, where did you go for dinner?"
"Um...Caesar's? That french-italian fusion fancy place." She said, shaking her head. "God, I'm so sorry."
"What did you talk about? Did you talk about your job?"
"Yeah, but nothing specific." She said, sniffling more.
"It's going to be okay..." She told her softly, letting go of her hand. "I'm going back to the Bureau, see if I can snag a tech to find his trail."
Rossi nodded. "I'll cover the restaurant."
Derek and Spencer stayed with Penelope all night, and kept themselves informed of what was happening, which unfortunately was dead end after dead end. He'd paid in cash, and there were no paper-trails or electronic breadcrumbs popping up on "James Colby Baylor". They were increasingly agitated and uneasy with him being in the wind, especially when Garcia demanded to go home when the doctors cleared her.
"I am not going to be scared out of my own home, Derek." She protested, adjusting the colorful wrap that Emily had brought her in the bag of clothes.
"At least come home with us," Spencer sighed as she shook her head.
"Guys, I appreciate the concern, but I have to go home, I mean, my poor fish are probably floaters by now." She teased as Spencer smiled and held her hand.
"They're alive and well, they're betas. Besides, Emily fed them for you."
"Aw, I'll have to name my next one Emily, in honor of their guardian angel." She smiled and gave Derek the eye. "Hot stuff, go find me a doctor and get me the hell out of here? I hate hospitals."
Of course, Garcia did not expect privacy, she knew that her apartment would be crashed by a slew of FBI agents. She was awful glad she'd changed the sheets and tidied up before all this happened. Emily was already in her apartment when they arrived, sitting on the couch wearily.
"Emily..." She said, frowning. "You need to rest, you look awful."
"Thanks." Emily said, dripping with sarcasm. "I arranged for a Uni to be stationed outside."
"Emily." Garcia sighed as she smiled.
"I'm fine."
"Baby-Girl, you're home now, go curl up in your bed and rest." Derek sighed before looking to Spencer, nudging him. "And you too." He kissed each of their cheeks and smiled. "Love you both."
Spencer smiled and took Penelope's arm, leading her behind the curtain of love-beads as Penelope whispered that they should make a pillow fort.
"She's right, you look like shit." Derek said as Emily frowned and reluctantly kicked off her shoes, curling up on the couch, grabbing a comic book off the table. "You're no use to anyone if you're passing out on your feet."
"And neither are you." She said, flipping through Daniel Clowes' Ghost World.
My Entry:
Spencer rolled his eyes at Penelope's silly suggestion, knowing she was merely deflecting from her fears with humor. He dragged her very comfortable-looking computer chair from her desk in the corner and ordered, "Climb into bed. You need to rest and let that wound settle."
She frowned as he set up shop next to her bed and propped his feet up on the end of her bed. She worried her bottom lip and protested, "I know the bed is small, but maybe-"
"Penelope, you don't want me in the bed with you right now," he explained with a smile. "The twins are kicking and that makes me toss and turn. I don't wait to run the risk of hitting your side. You and your injury are what's important."
She blushed and finally climbed under her covers, muttering, "I hate causing such a fuss."
He reached over to take her hand and dismissed softly, "Nonsense. You did the same for Derek and for me when I needed it. We all look after each other when the occasion arises. Now it's your turn to be taken care of."
She squeezed his hand tight and he saw a tear or two slide down her cheeks. He pulled her hand up and gave the back of it a light kiss. An idea hit him and he sat her hand back down on the bed, murmuring, "Hold on a second."
He shrugged his messenger bag onto his shoulder and headed back to the living room. Derek and Emily were busy playing a game of cards. Derek turned to him and admonished, "Spencer, go back-"
"I am not five years old, Derek Morgan," he replied shortly. He moved to Emily's side of the couch and, nudging her with his messenger bag, said, "I thought Penelope might want your company a little more than mine."
Emily actually gave him a grateful smile before standing and moving rather quickly toward Penelope's bedroom. As he sat down, he saw the wounded/annoyed look Derek flashed him. He sighed and said, "I apologize for my shortness. But I am still capable of staying up past my bedtime...especially if the occasion calls for it."
He sat his messenger bag on the cushion between them and pulled out a legal pad, a pen, and his gun. He began writing down all the details of the case thus far, from straight facts to what Penelope remembered. He figured the man had to be familiar with legal terminology, but the story he feed Penelope was full of holes. But the most important detail was still eluding him: Why Penelope? What was it about her that made their unsub target her? Before he could contemplate that question further, he was jerking from his thoughts by two loud gunshots. Derek jumped into action and hissed at him to get behind the couch. Spencer yelled at Emily to protect Penelope while he ran for cover behind the couch. He listened to Derek exchange with who he guess was the unsub. After the gunshots stopped, Derek yelled for him to call 911.
Before he did, he rushed to Penelope's room, where the blond was shaking and crying into Emily's neck. Spencer sat down on the end of the bed and said softly, "Once you calm her down, help her pack some clothes. She's coming to stay at our house."
Emily nodded and rubbed Penelope's back gently. Spencer went back into the living room to call the police.
Derek reluctantly left with Emily the next morning for Quantico. Spencer had finally consented to go to bed after Penelope was settled in the guest room. He was so exhausted that he didn't even stir when Derek kissed his forehead goodbye before he left. Derek and Emily quickly got through security and found the BAU bullpen in chaos. There were several unfamiliar people milling around with a couple emerging from Penelope's office. Derek went to Hotch's office and snapped, "Hotch, what the hell is going on here?"
"We've been ordered to cease our involvement in Garcia's case," he replied, his voice tight with anger. "There was an encrypted file on her computer and until Internal Affairs figures out what was on that file, she is suspended."
Derek felt rage boil throughout his body and he snapped, "She was almost killed and yet she's the one on trail! This is bullshit, Hotch!"
Hotch stood and circled his desk, replying in kind, "Which is why we will go to DC police and see if we can find anything out, consequences be damned. Morgan, you're with me. Prentiss, go back to Morgan and Reid's house, wait for Garcia to wake up and try to figure out what was on that file!"
Emily sighed as she re-entered Derek and Spencer's house. She headed to the kitchen to down another cup of coffee. Her guts twisted with guilt and anger at the conversation she had to have with Penelope. She didn't need to deal with this shit, but her whole livelihood was at stake. Surprisingly, it took Penelope only an hour and a half after Emily arrived to wake up. She fixed Emily with a sleepy and confused look and yawned, "Whaa-aahhh-aat are you doing here? Shouldn't you be at the BAU?"
Emily steeled herself and patted the spot next to her, replying grimly, "We have to talk, Garcia."
Topetine's Entry:
Emily twisted her hands in her lap, uncharacteristically nervous as Garcia sat gingerly.
"What's wrong?"
"The encrypted files on your system. We need to know what's on them."
"What? Why does that matter?"
"You know why it matters, Garcia." She said flatly, exhaustion taking its toll. "The bureau has suspended you and is digging through all of your files. I need to know that there is nothing on there that is incriminating, or suspect."
"It's not!"
"Does it connect you to this Baylor guy?"
"No." She sighed, shaking her head. "After...after all that happened, when I got hacked, I just...It didn't sit right with me that your personal information was so unprotected."
"So, it's just that?" She asked, rubbing at her temples. "Garcia...I need to know everything you do when you're not working on a case."
"I...I volunteer? For a support group for families of victims of violent crime."
"What about when you're on the clock?"
"I...work." She shook her head in disbelief as Emily shook her head.
"Someone targeted you, Penelope, you had to have done something." She snapped, causing the blonde to flinch, and immediately she felt ill.
Garcia's lower lip quivered a little as she balled her hands into fists. "The families...they know what I do, so some of them ask me to look into their cases, and I do. I...I know I'm not supposed to, but, I just flag the files, so, you know, the police know the FBI is watching. Just a little motivation you know?"
Emily stared at her & hung her head in her hands after a moment, cursing quietly. "We need those files, and they are currently being torn apart by Internal Affairs." She got up and paced a few steps. "Can you get in?"
"Remotely?"
"Yes."
"Of course..." She wiped her cheeks hastily and got up slowly. "That's like...child's play." She said, trying to be upbeat. "My laptop is upstairs." She said, as Emily nodded and picked up her cell, dialing Derek to fill him in. Penelope took the stairs slowly, trying to ignore the pain in her torso and saw Spencer at the top of the stairs, rubbing his eyes sleepily.
"Hello, lovely." She cooed, making her way up to meet him.
"What are you doing up and about?" He asked, frowning, touching her arm as she hit the landing.
"Come and watch me work my magic." She sighed as his brows pinched in confusion and she headed to the guest-room to grab her macbook and charger. "I...tagged some files for victim's families...Emily thinks it's connected to..." She touched her side, not wanting to say it.
They wandered downstairs and set up on the comfy couch, Emily nursing a fresh cup of coffee anxiously. Morgan was keeping the IA supervisor busy while Garcia hacked into her own system. Spencer sat by her, sipping herbal tea and eating a twinkie.
"What?" She huffed, as Spencer and Emily stared. "He's trying to back-hack me."
"Will it work? Does that mean you can't get in?" Spencer asked as Garcia rolled her eyes.
"Do not underestimate me, just a setback." She said, her fingers clattering on the keys rapidly and laughed. "Success. It's in your inbox, dove."
After printing and reading the files, Prentiss shook her head. "I have the same first responder on three of the drive-bys, with the initials JCB." She said, tense and on edge. "Jason Clark Battle." She said as Garcia pulled up his file, going paler.
"T-that's him." She whispered as Spencer took the laptop from her, reading the file.
"It must be...an angel of death scenario. A hero complex gone wrong."
"I'm calling Morgan." Emily said, quietly, flipping open her cell.
It was just then that Kevin Lynch, the mysterious back-hacker, opened a mirror of Penelope's laptop, seeing the files and connected the dots immediately. He got up quickly and went to inform her superiors, but was stopped in the bullpen to assist Fuchs with some files and found himself eye-to-eye with Battle himself. He sat down at the terminal and thought quickly, sending Garcia a coded message to accept his transmission.
Spencer frowned as something popped up, Garcia taking it back. "That little twit..." She sighed, shaking her head. "He's trying to access me to transfer a connection."
"It could be a trap." Emily said, arms crossed.
"If he's a true hacker, we have a code." She sighed as Spencer leaned against her shoulder.
"Trust your gut."
She allowed him access and typed furiously as the security camera feed of the bullpen, and behind the man at the computer was Battle.
"Oh my god." Garcia squeaked as Emily began dialing Morgan.
"Derek, he's in the bullpen."
"What?" They all heard through the phone's speaker, followed by a string of curses.
"Derek, be careful." Spencer said, gripping his mug tightly.
They watched helplessly as Hotch, Rossi and Morgan confronted Battle slowly, stealthily, methodically. As they closed in Battle sensed that the game was over and grabbed Fuchs, using him as a shield as he drew his service weapon and held it to the trembling man's temple. None of them had a clear shot.
"JJ." Spencer said, "Where's JJ? Get the feed from her office." She typed quickly and was granted the feed. Emily was already on it, calling JJ, leaving the living room and heading through the French Doors in the living room onto the patio. Garcia and Spencer gripped each other's hands as they watched the scene unfold, and Garcia let out a scream as blood erupted from Battle's head, crumpling to the floor.
Garcia insisted on going to the BAU to inspect the scene, needing some convincing that she was truly safe. She leaned into JJ, who was sitting on Morgan's desk, looking drained.
"Thank you." She whispered, sniffling. "I'm so sorry you had to do this."
JJ shook her head and nudged her affectionately, taking her hand. "You do what you have to to protect your family." She said, as Kevin Lynch stepped up shyly and actually bowed.
"Ms. Garcia? I just wanted to say...that you are like, officially, my hero."
"Ah, thanks." She smiled and sighed gently.
"Come on," Prentiss said, taking her arm. "Everything will be fixed by the time you're ready to be back. You need to get your rest now."
"Go." JJ said, kissing her cheek as Derek nodded.
"I'll bring over your stuff, baby-girl." He said as she finally nodded.
"Okay."
Garcia sat in the passenger's seat of Emily's BMW sedan, Billie Holiday on low, feeling strangely relaxed, though not comfortable or happy.
"Are you okay?" Emily asked quietly as she pulled up in front of Garcia's place, receiving a shrug. "Come on, I'll walk you up."
She followed Emily up the stairs and unlocked the door for her, letting her walk around and make sure there were no baddies lurking behind the love-beads or in the closets.
"Garcia...I..." She sighed finally and stood by her. "I'm sorry I was so hard on you."
The blonde shook her head and smiled. "It's okay, you were doing your job." She took her hand and squeezed gently. "Thank you for not treating me differently. I needed to feel like...I wasn't broken, you know?" She said as Emily nodded softly. "I've always been a firm believer of everything happening for a reason..." She took a deep breath and looked her in the eye. "My flagging those files got answers for those families."
"It also got you shot." Emily said as she shrugged, with a wince.
"I'm trying to be positive here." She said as Emily nodded, feeling like an ass. "Thank you for being here for me."
"Of course...you know I'm always here."
"My hero." She smiled and eased onto her tiptoes, pressing a kiss onto her cheek, catching Emily's blush. She didn't draw away, almost nose to nose with the taller agent, but flinched at the sound of a knock on the door. Emily moved back and looked through the peephole, still looking sheepish and opened the door.
"Hey, Baby-Girl, I got your things." Derek said as Emily smiled.
"I'll leave you two then." She said, shooting Garcia a shy smile. "I'll check up on you tomorrow, okay?"
"Sure." Garcia said, smiling sweetly. "Goodnight, Emily."
A/N: And there you have it, folks! All's well that ends well. Thank you all again for reading and stay tuned for the next update!