I do not own Criminal Minds...Sadly
Curly-Melinda and Rascal-Kasey are from my imagination and so unfortunately is Topper-Henderson, Peterson and the evil Lucy.
Penelope opened her eyes and looked over to see Derek still sleeping. She thought about Kasey and everything Derek and she had discussed the night before. He was right, there was no way anyone would ever give them custody of Kasey. First off they weren't married.Their jobs demanded long work hours and Derek spent most of his time away. That wouldn't be a proper environment to raise a child. She had to talk to Kasey as soon as she got back from the Doctor. She wanted to be able to explain to Kasey in her own words what would be happening and why they wouldn't be able to keep her.
Penelope got out of bed slowly so as to not wake up Derek. She needed to get ready and get to the Doctors office early so she could get back home before they had to call Social Services. She was ready and out of the house before Derek woke up.
Derek was awakened by a knock on the door."Come in" he said groggily.
Kasey stood at the door with a cup of coffee for Derek. Her hair still had that just got out of bed look to it and she was still wearing her pajamas. "I have something for you" she said.
"Did you make this all by yourself?" Derek asked
"No, Curly made the coffee, I only served it. She says I'm too little still to make it myself." Kasey said. "Do you want to watch cartoons with me Mr. Der...? I mean Derek?" She asked.
Derek smiled and patted the empty space on the bed. "I would love to!" He said. "Do you know where Penelope is?" he asked.
"Curly said she went to the doctor"
They both sat on the bed watching cartoons while Derek drank his coffee. Occasionally Kasey would giggle and Derek would look over at her. It amazed him that with everything she had gone through, she still had that childlike innocence about her. She was a resilient little girl he thought to himself. Just then Penelope walked into the room.
"Hey Baby, what did the Doctor say?" Derek asked as he got up from bed and walked over to her to place a kiss on her cheek.
"He said I was fine, gave me some meds and told me to come back in two weeks. What are you two doing? She asked with a smile.
"Watching cartoons Whiz want to join us?" Kasey said excitedly.
"Aw Peanut I'd love to but Derek and I have some things we have to take care of today." Penelope said. "Did you have breakfast?" she asked Kasey.
"Yea, Curly made it for me. She even helped me make Derek some coffee! She said all proud of herself. "Can we watch cartoons together tomorrow Whiz?" Kasey asked.
Penelope and Derek looked at each other but neither one of them knew how to tell Kasey that she wouldn't be there with them tomorrow.
"Sweetheart, Derek and I have some things we need to talk about, adult things; do you think you could go out there with Curly for a little while?" Penelope said trying to change the subject.
"It's about me isn't it" Kasey said looking down. "I have to go back already don't I?"
Derek walked over to Kasey and knelt in front of her. "Little one, Penelope and I are going to talk to Social Services today. As much as we'd like for you to stay with us, that's not possible. My boss spoke to them yesterday and they gave special permission for you to stay with us one night but we had to promise that we'd bring you there today." He said as he looked into her eyes.
"Please understand that it's not that we don't want to keep you, it's just that they won't let us. We have to follow the rules and the rules say you have to go back. Penelope and I are going to talk to them and make sure that everything goes smooth and that you're ok."
Kasey placed her small hands on Derek's cheeks and smiled. "Mr. Derek please don't be sad I knew I had to go back." She said. "Do you promise to come see me?" she asked.
Derek smiled and placed his arms around Kasey. "I promise we will do everything we can to see you." He said.
"Clooney too?" she asked.
"Clooney too" Derek said chuckling. "You need to get dressed and while Penelope and I are gone, you and Clooney can have some play time. How does that sound?" he said.
"Am I leaving today?" she asked.
Penelope seeing that Derek was struggling with all this stepped up to them and said "Peanut, we still don't really know. We'll know more after we speak to them. We'll do our best to get all the information we can."
Derek stood up as Kasey left the room and started to pace. Penelope was all too familiar with this reaction. She knew he was frustrated and angry and when he got this way, it was best to let him be. He lashed out at the wall with the side of fist and turned to Penelope. He didn't need to say a word. He was full of hurt and his eyes said it all. She walked over to him and wrapped him in her arms.
"I need to call Hotch. There has to be something we can do. The system already failed her once. I'm not willing to take another chance." Derek said. He flipped open his phone and hit speed dial.
After what seemed like an eternity Derek ran back into the house. "Baby girl?" he yelled. "I have something I need to take care of; can you meet me at Social Services at exactly 11:30am?"
"Where you going?" she asked
"I don't have time to explain" he said hurriedly and gave her a quick peck on the lips. "Just meet me there OK?" he said but before she could answer, he was out the door.
Penelope watched Derek jump into the car and drive away. She knew he was up to something and it had to do with his conversation with Hotch. She had an hour before she had to leave and decided she'd spend that time with Kasey.
Penelope arrived at Social Services with 5 minutes to spare. She walked towards the building and saw her team standing next to the garden on the side of the building.
"What's going on? Why is everyone here?" Penelope asked.
Derek stepped out from the group and walked towards Penelope. "Baby we only have a few minutes so I'll try to explain it quick. When I spoke to Hotch this morning I asked him what our chances would be to keep Kasey. He said we have several obstacles but the two main obstacles are our job and the fact that you and I aren't married. He said there are a lot of analysts that work from home. They've been set up with everything they need and he thought that you could be set up that way. He knows he can get that approved immediately. I know it's a lot to ask, but with you home, they can't say that Kasey wouldn't have enough supervision or parental guidance. You could work at the office while Kasey's in school and finish the day out at home when she's home." Derek explained.
Penelope was speechless. She couldn't believe he had gone to such lengths to keep Kasey. "Derek?" Penelope said but Derek stopped her. He got on one knee and pulled a small jewelry box from his pocket and opened the lid. Inside was the most beautiful ring set she'd ever seen.
"Baby girl, this isn't how I pictured myself doing this. I wanted this moment to be special for you and I'm hoping you'll forgive me for not giving you the story book proposal but" Derek took a deep breath and said "I love you Penelope. I've always loved you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?" he said and swallowed hard.
Penelope looked at Derek and managed a smile through the tears that were now rolling down her cheeks. She couldn't manage words but she managed to nod her head rapidly saying yes. Derek placed the ring on her finger and quickly jumped up to hug her. The team gathered around them to congratulate them.
"Baby, Emily pulled a favor and got us a license. Hotch says he'll marry us now and JJ and Reid can be our witnesses. I promise Baby girl you'll get the wedding of your dreams. We can plan it and do this right after we get Kasey." Derek said.
"The only thing I've ever wanted for my wedding I just got. I don't need the white dress or the fancy church all I need is you." She said.
Derek gave her that smile that she loved so much. The smile that made the butterflies in her stomach flutter. "Let's do this!" he said.
Hotch performed the ceremony right in the garden. JJ and Reid stood in as Best Man and Maid of Honor and signed the marriage license as witnesses.
"With the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife." Hotch said. And before he could say anything else, Derek and Penelope kissed.
"I think you're supposed to wait for him to tell you to kiss her" Reid said.
JJ nudged Reid "Do you think he's listening to ANYTHING you're saying right now??" she said
"We need to get going, we have 5 minutes before we meet with the case worker" Hotch said.
The office was cold and unwelcoming. The furniture all made of wood and dulled over the years. The team entered and Ellen Smyth rose from her chair and walked around the desk to welcome them in.
"Aaron, it's been years! How are you?" she asked extending her hand to shake Hotch's.
"I'm good thanks for asking, you haven't changed a bit" Hotch said
"Flattery will get you nowhere Agent Hotchner" she said as she laughed.
"Ellen, this is my team, Dr. Reid, Jennifer Jareau, Emily Prentiss and the two people I was talking to you about, Agent Derek Morgan and Penelope Garcia" Hotch said.
"Morgan, Penelope Morgan" Penelope said with a huge smile.
"It's very nice to meet you all. I'm sure Hotch has already filled you in on our conversation. I understand that you two would like to Foster Kasey, but approval for fostering requires many background checks, home visits and more paperwork than I can describe. Not to mention time. I could probably make some exceptions but there are obstacles that aren't so easy to look past." Ellen said.
"We know there is a protocol you have to follow. I would never ask that you bypass that protocol. From what I understand Penelope and I are facing two major obstacles and I think we have successfully taken care of that. Hotch said he would approve Penelope telecommuting. She can be set up at home to work as if she were present in the office. A lot of the analysts do this. She could be home when Kasey is and work around Kasey's schedule. I also know you were concerned because of our marital status, but we are now married." Derek said.
"How? I spoke to Aaron early this morning and …"
"You're not the only one with protocol work-a-rounds" Hotch said to Ellen with a smile. "I married them outside in the gardens. We got a license and had two witnesses, it's all legal."
"How can I be sure this marriage isn't just for the purpose of approval?" Ellen asked.
"Trust me Ellen; these two have been dancing around each other ever since I can remember. If they weren't both so damn stubborn, they would been married years ago. Neither one of them was willing to admit to themselves much less admit to the other what they were feeling. I swear it took all we had as a team not to lock them up in a closet." Hotch said
"Hey now, we ARE standing right here you know?" Penelope said in mock protest. She knew her boss was right though.
"Ms. Smyth, I don't have all the answers you looking for. But I do know that Kasey belongs with us. That little girl is only 9 and she's already been through numerous homes in the system and she's seen more than any one person should be allowed to. She doesn't trust anyone much less men and yet I can't begin to explain what it does to me when she wraps her little hands on my face and looks at me. I know that takes a lot for her and yet she asks for nothing in return from me. It's unconditional. She knew we were coming here today and she knew she had to leave yet her first thought was for us not to worry. SHE was reassuring us. I have no doubt in my mind that Penelope is going to make a wonderful mother. She loves Kasey and will do anything to protect her. She's already proven that. If you look at her references, they are all references from leaders of groups that help children, women that have been victims of crimes, families that have lost loved ones, the list goes on. Please all we ask is that we're given a fair chance." Derek said pleading as he spoke.
Ellen Smyth scratched her forehead. She knew cases like this were hard to sell. "OK, let's do this; I'll extend her stay with you two under one condition. You two need to stay in the county. I'll need a couple of days to review all this and discuss it with the caseworker and the head of my department. I'm not making any promises but I will try."
They all breathed a sigh of relief. "I know there are no guarantees but I'm grateful for any help you can give us." Penelope said.
They all said good-bye to Ellen and walked out of her office. Hotch was the last to head for the door and he turned around to look at Ellen. "You really haven't changed a bit." He said with a smile. "Thank you"
"Aaron, what do you think is best?" she asked
"Do what you can. She couldn't have picked a better set of parents. You may want to see her interact with them. It's truly amazing not to mention that she's managed to turn my strongest agent into mush" Hotch said laughing.
"No promises, remember" Ellen said.