A/N: So I thought, what if Spencer was the cool, confident He-Man and Derek was the awkward genius? This happened and I think I might have to work some more in this verse at some time, because it could be all sorts of fun!

Reverse'verse

The music was loud and thumping, the bass reverberating in Derek's inside, making him dizzy and nauseous. JJ and Emily was sitting on the other side of the table, heads close together and giggling amongst themselves while glancing around the bar at the men eying them curiously, waiting for Penny to return from the bar with a refill on their drinks.

Hotch was glaring at a glass of beer, probably wondering why he had let his subordinates talk him into attending their social gathering. Derek felt certain Hotch was also more than just a bit jealous of how Rossi hadn't let the girls talk him into doing something he didn't want to.

Derek was jealous of him anyway. He found it more than impossible to deny their requests, no matter how ridiculous, and they had pulled the big guns and made Spencer ask him personally.

Spencer.

Spencer, who was busy at another table, trying to sweet talk some random girl into whatever. Derek didn't care.

Only a lot.

He wanted Spencer's casual confidence around women – and men if the desire hit him. Spencer could walk up to a complete stranger and smile and they introduced themselves and then they were talking and Spencer was halfway to where he wanted to end.

A place Derek didn't want to think about.

He just wanted to be the one going there with Spencer, a thing he would never in his life experience.

It made his heart ache thinking about that.

He knew he was a lost case, deeply infatuated with his best friend, the Lothario of the FBI.

"You look moody, Der-Bear," Penelope said, and Derek almost jumped in his seat from surprise.

"I'm sorry," he said and looked down at his half empty glass of beer. "I guess I'm not really in the mood for drinking anyway. I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize, you gorgeous hunk of a brain trust. And don't be sad, be happy! And go introduce yourself to one of those pretty ladies making eyes at you from over there." Derek looked in the indicated direction and blushed when he met the eyes of a very pretty young woman.

"I don't feel like getting shot down," he said quietly.

"You're not going to get shot down, she's one strawberry daiquiri away from coming over here and ripping your clothes of!" So, apparently he hadn't been quiet enough.

"I don't feel like hooking up with anybody tonight." He really just wanted to be left alone so he could brood in peace while watching Spencer charm another person-who-wasn't-him into coming home with him.

Maybe if Derek changed his wardrobe, Spencer would me more inclined to see Derek as a viable sexual acquaintance instead of the dorky best friend. His closet did have other things beside sweater vests anyway, he could spice up his regular outfits easily.

Spencer rose from the chair and held his hand out for the woman who accepted it gratefully and rose. They exchanged a few words before Spencer nodded and walked back to the team's table, making Derek straighten his slouch and perk up quite a bit.

"So, I'm going to head out," Spencer announced and grabbed his coat from the chair he had occupied however briefly. "How's it going over here?"

"Well," Derek started all to happy with meeting Spencer's gaze, but was interrupted by Penelope.

"I've almost got Derek talked into approaching the lovely lady over there," she said gleefully and Spencer looked over a slight frown marring his wonderful face.

"Oh. Well, good luck with that, man," he said and smiled tightly before turning and meeting the woman from before and leading her outside the bar.

Derek stared after them, feeling his heart sink in his chest, just like all the other times he had witnessed the sight.

"So, are you going or are you... Oh, Derek," Penelope said beside him, making Derek force his eyes from the door and down on his empty beer.

Still half empty.

"What?" he asked.

"I... I never knew, why didn't you tell me?" He looked up from his beer, finding Penny's gaze on him warm and compassionate.

"I," he tried, but the words grew too big in his chest, refused to be uttered.

"Oh, baby. And I've sent you on date after date and you were never really interested in any of them. Is it men in general or just...?" she asked softly, reaching out and caressing his hand on the table.

"Just," Derek clarified and felt a sob burn in the back of his throat at her compassion. "Just Spencer."