AN: I think there comes a point when you need to admit to yourself that maybe you reached the end of something for good. My muse seems to have died by now - I mean, I used to update daily, but by now I can hardly seem to be able to update weekly, if even that often. And maybe that should be my first clue. No worried, I will not vanish completely. I still have this story to finish (posting) and actually have another few stories on my laptop that are finished and could technically be posted. Maybe somewhere along my posting of them all Virginie (my muse's name - I know I'm strange, thank you for noticing only now :) ) will find her way back to me.

Morgan decided to follow them and realized pretty quickly that they didn't seem to have an actual plan of where to go. While Martin seemed to constantly try to pull her in and get a bit closer, Penelope seemed to constantly look around, trying to find something. Eventually they settled on a bar that Morgan knew from personal experiences. It was a popular bar, and there usually was quite a crowd. He was grateful that the bar wasn't some small, rarely visited place where he wouldn't have had any chance to mingle with the crowd and therefore stay unrecognized for as long as possible.

Following them inside, they seemed gone for a moment, so he walked further in, towards the back where things got a bit quieter. Morgan saw them settle into a booth with Martin ordering for them and then they got to talking. He himself decided to have a seat at the bar, where he was able to have a good look at them, but also wouldn't be spotted right away. Not that he had to really worry about that right now, judging by how Martin seemed to be all over Penelope and tried to get closer each passing moment. Penelope kept grinning – although a bit of an off one – and kept reaching for her drink.

Morgan was never the jealous kind of guy, and he certainly wasn't now, but there was something with watching Penelope and Martin that just didn't sit well with him. Penelope was a gorgeous looking woman, even if she herself didn't necessarily seem to see it like he did. He had to admit a few defeats she had to accept with men were probably anything but encouraging, but ending up with a guy like McCulkin? Maybe she just had a weakness for geeks – that certainly would explain Lynch, and now McCulkin. And pretty much eliminated his chances.

Penelope ended up spilling her drink a few times, making both of them almost jump back from each other –and maybe fate was on his side – but instead of offering her any kind of assistance or at least a napkin, McCulkin just looked taken aback for a moment, as if it was her fault. Idiot, Morgan thought to himself and continued watching Martin getting drunk and Penelope getting cozy – something he clearly didn't like to watch, but kind of had to. And maybe the two of them acted in collusion with each other. That definitely would explain a thing or two.

About an hour had passed with Morgan watching. Martin by now was pretty much drunk, Penelope still giggling, laughing and getting close and Morgan had gotten already a few very direct suggestions for the night. He knew he wouldn't, but there were a few moment where he just thought to hell with it and take a woman up on her offer, just to feel better. Maybe he should just follow Prentiss' advice and get laid. But he was on the job – and yes it sucked majorly right now – but this was his job right now, to watch Penelope and Martin. Usually he loved his job, but right now it majorly sucked.

They seemed to talk an awful lot and Morgan wondered what they possibly could talk about, topics they would find interesting. He remembered having read that Penelope was some sort of computer specialist as well, an Analyst of some sorts – probably that's how she met Kevin Lynch as well. He couldn't really imagine Penelope and Martin talking about their jobs, and if they did he felt really sorry for Penelope. There were a lot more interesting things to talk about than work, especially when it would probably end up being very technical. And there also were a lot more interesting things to do while at it. But Martin didn't strike him as a guy that even would know what to do with a woman.

And then… he learned that maybe he was wrong – and Martin did know a thing or two. Seeing Martin McCulkin kiss Penelope hurt more than it should have and for a moment Morgan honestly considered leaving – or at least turning away. But as quick as it started, as quick did it end. To his surprise Penelope did not look quite as happy as he would have thought she should. She actually looked rather taken aback – and not in a good way. And the fact that it had been her who had pushed him away gave him another indication that this wasn't a date.

Thinking back he realized that it was mainly Martin who got close – not Penelope – and she hardly had touched her drink – so spilling it certainly could not be blamed on alcohol. She actually only seemed to spill it when he got a lot closer. And just like that Morgan got a clue. This wasn't a date at all – although he wasn't entirely sure what it was right now. Maybe two friends going out and one of them wanting more than the other was willing to give.

Whatever it was, Morgan decided the look on Penelope's face was more than he ever needed as confirmation that she was in over her head with this. He paid for his drinks and walked over to them, determined to save her from this and maybe get a few answers in the process – and maybe a little bit more.

"Finally I found you, Baby Girl. When you told me you'd be at this place I wasn't expecting you to go for the spot the furthest in the back…" he said, walking towards the booth and sliding in next to her, kissing her neck softly. When he had decided to 'save' her the kissing itself wasn't really planned, but now he had slid in next to her, it just happened, felt so natural and before he really could stop himself, it was done. He felt Penelope stir softly under him and for a moment he worried that she was pulling away in panic over what he was doing, but instead he felt herself pushing rather towards him instead of away.

He took this as a good sign, some form of encouragement even and moved his lips softly over her silky soft skin, which had a scent of pears lingering on it.

"Who are you?" he all of a sudden heard a somewhat annoyed Martin asking. At first, Morgan didn't even realize there was a question and it was directed at him, he was way too absorbed into Penelope.

He knew he needed a quick answer, one that made sense. He didn't really know what Penelope had told him, so whatever he would say now, it was a risk that he'd contradict whatever she had mentioned.

"I'm Derek Morgan, Penelope's boyfriend. She told me she was meeting a friend here and to come by if I would manage time wise." It sounded logical, Morgan decided. And Martin didn't look suspicious, but he wasn't very happy looking either. Morgan probably wouldn't have been either, if he had been out with Penelope and some other guy came along and put an end to his game.

He noticed Penelope looking at Martin as well, surely trying to see whether he bought the story and Morgan couldn't help himself – he just felt like that moment … he needed her attention. And he wanted to put out a thing or two. So softly he pushed her to face him, having a finger or two resting under her chin.

"I missed you, momma," he smiled softly at her, not knowing why but nicknames for her came easily to him. Then he moved in for a soft, quick kiss. He knew it was a whole new story than a few moments ago, when he arrived at the table. Just because she didn't freak out a moment ago, didn't mean she would be okay with this, but at least before this all came to an end, he experienced how it felt to have Penelope Garcia's lips on his. And that alone had been worth it.

It was a quick kiss, a peck really, which came to an end when Martin finally put words to his anger.

"Boyfriend? You have a boyfriend?" Morgan heard the other man say angrily. Looked like his story was good enough for Martin to buy it. He noticed Penelope looking at Martin for a moment.

"I… um… yes. I… um… didn't I mention that?" she almost stuttered and Morgan found that even cuter. He noticed her searching for words and saw Martin look at both of them. Sliding his hand around her shoulders, he pulled her softly against his chest, being overcome by an intense feeling of wanting to protect her from whatever would come next.

"No you might have forgotten to mention that…" Martin said, looking annoyed. And Morgan could see a lot of the other man's anger was directed at him. Not that he blamed him.

"Hm… sorry about that," he heard her saying, sounding apologetic. A moment later he felt her reach for his arm that was round her shoulders, pushing the fabric of jacket and shirt back. Before Morgan could question what she was doing he heard her speak again. "Will you look at the time, Hot Stuff. I… think we should be going to... you know… that thing we had planned…" she said, making something up on the go. Morgan was certain if Martin wouldn't have been so drunk he probably even would have spotted the lie.

"You mean that thing at my place- in my bedroom?" he smirked at her. Oh he certainly could play that game, too. In all fairness he was rather glad she provided the excuse to leave, otherwise god knows how tonight would have ended. Getting up, he reached for her hands and pulled her towards him, right in his arms, which wrapped loosely around her just a moment later. "I can hardly wait for that … thing."

Penelope looked at him curiously, and Martin looked still pissed. He knew this would probably get him in even more trouble, but he had spent an entire hour watching some guy making a move on the girl that kept him awake for the past two nights and right now, all he really wanted was retribution. So before he could overthink this, he kissed her – but not like before, in a quick matter. No, this time he wanted the real thing. The feel of her lips was incredible – just like she herself. His tongue first tracing her lips before slipping past them and starting a wild game of Ping Pong with Penelope's tongue. There was a moment when he was worried this was a step to far, before he felt her tongue, before she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him in deeper.

When his lips left hers he noticed a soft blush tinting her cheeks. She turned her head slightly away from his eyes, but he still could see the blush creeping up on her cheeks. And then he thought he really screwed this up now – but she had pulled him in, hadn't she?

He turned towards Martin, who looked anything but pleased. "It was nice meeting you." A moment later he reached for her and pulled her slowly with him, wondering how exactly this conversation would go, once they left the bar and he would probably have to justify. Well, in a moment he'd find out.