On The Job

Note- During this chapter is the last scene from Exit Wounds where Penelope and Derek are outside the hotel. I did not want to re-write it word for word so just assume it takes place in the middle of this chapter. If anyone needs a transcript of what was said PM me.

Chapter Five

May 2010

Derek was laying on his back next to Penelope in bed. One of his arms was behind his head. When she rolled onto her side and said his name he rolled onto his side and looked deep into her eyes. His hand rose and caressed her cheek.

She said "I'm sorry I worried you. I know you must have freaked to hear me screaming for help and I feel bad that I put you through that."

"I couldn't help you the night that you were shot. I thought it was happening all over again last night."

"I know you'd do anything you could to protect me. Even give your life for mine."

"I would, Penelope."

"And I'd give mine in a heartbeat if it could save you."

"I'd never let you."

"You could never stop me."

"God, you're hard headed," he said tenderly.

"Uh-huh," she agreed, murmuring the words.

"Baby girl, you are the strongest person I know. Last night will not change that. Nothing can change that, just so you know. You only get stronger as the days go on and I'm gonna stick around and make sure you always keep getting stronger and your life keeps getting better."

She gave him a sweet smile. "Good because I'm gonna be doing the same thing for you."

He pulled her close and they fell asleep holding each other with tender, relaxed looks on their faces.

XXXXXXXXXX

Penelope woke up the next morning to find herself alone in the bed. She made a sound of protest as her hand searched the bed for Derek but came up empty.

Before opening her eyes she heard him laughing and then say "You're out of luck, Garcia. No morning snuggle for you today. Get that sexy rump up and dressed. We're wheels up in a couple of hours and I don't know about you but I wanna go get some breakfast first.'

She propped herself up on one arm, opened her eyes and squinted at his fuzzy image. Putting on her glasses she saw that Derek was standing there in just a white towel, his back to her, rifling around his go-bag. She cooed "What a sight to wake up to. Hold on, let me get my camera."

"Silly girl," he said, tenderly, before grabbing some clothes and heading towards the bathroom.

Penelope said "Wrong direction, Hot Stuff. Drop that towel and come to mama."

He gave her a raised eyebrow. She vamped and fluffed her hair and then lay there in a sexy pose, crooking her finger at him.

He chuckled. "You're crazy, woman. That's not about to happen."

She pouted.

Derek asked "Do you know I heard Reid talking in his sleep through the wall last night? That tells you right there that these walls are not thick enough for anything you have running through that dirty mind of yours right now. But its otherwise not a half bad idea, baby girl. You're lucky that I like privacy or else you might just get what you keep joking about." With a smile playing on his lips he went into the bathroom.

She lay back on the bed with a dreamy look on her face. "I wish!"

"I heard that," he called through the bathroom door and then started laughing. Penelope lay in bed blushing with a very gorgeous expression on her face: full of love, happiness and desire.

XXXXXXXXX

"Good morning, princess," Derek said on the next day that they were back to work.

Turning to meet his eyes she then walked very near him and purred "I'll show you a good morning, Hot Stuff." Her voice was even sexier than usual for their morning banter and the look in her eyes even more come hither.

His eyes went dark with heat. "How are you doing? Are you sleeping okay?"

"Did your phone ring in the middle of the night?"

"Nah."

She smiled. "Then I must be sleeping okay."

He smiled at her. "Glad to hear it, girl."

"I do keep thinking about Alaska though."

A serious expression came to his face. He touched her arm. "It will get easier in time, Penelope."

"I think I'll always remember watching him leave this life. Its something I need to do for him: remember him and honor his memory, even if the only time our lives intersected was at the end of his. But that's not what is stuck in my mind constantly about our last case."

"Oh, yeah, so what is?"

"How you told me you'd protect me for everyday of the rest of your life."

A soft smile came to his face. "I meant it, too."

"I liked that."

"Good."

"So what do you say with protecting me tonight at the movies? Maybe from an onscreen monster or something. I could really use a big, sexy stud like you to watch my back."

Happiness and surprise came into his eyes. "To an offer like that I'd have to say...."

"Don't tease, Morgan," she murmured in the sweetest way.

He leaned closer to her and waggled his head. "What took you so long, Garcia?"

Smiling she said "Need I remind you that we have gone to the movies before."

He wrapped an arm around her back and started to lead her toward the break room to get there morning coffee. "But this will be a movie date," he said, with tons of attitude and flirting in his tone as he gazed down at her lovingly.

She joked "Did I say that? Or are you just trying to backdoor your way into a relationship with this gorgeous Goddess? Cause I don't remembering saying this would be a date."

With a huge, confident grin on his face he said "I'm saying that, mama, and I don't wanna hear no lip from you about it. You asked me out on a date and you know it and I know it."

She joked "I know no such thing. I think you wish I had asked you out on a date."

"Woman, do not make me tickle a confession out of you right here in front of the whole bullpen."

They shared a flirty look. Joy rested in both their eyes and in the smiles they gave each other. Sleeping in the same bed together had made Penelope long to always feel his arms holding her as she slept. So she screwed up her courage, dusted off her old dreams and gave Derek one more chance to be her happy ever after prince.

And this time the prince was ready to say yes.

THE END