Back to You

Chapter 1

-xx-

Derek Morgan could not help the grin crossing his face as he followed Penelope Garcia back to the table the BAU team had taken over. He could think of about fifty other things he would rather do on a Saturday night, but being with his second family was always a good time.

Galas and high profile events were not his cup of tea. He hated having to get all dressed up, but knowing a member from his team was being recognized this year was enough to get him in his nicest tux.

After all, they were a family, and they supported one another like a family. Even if it meant forking over for a hotel room to crash in after the Gala was over.

It was the FBI's Annual Holiday Gala and every year a few members of their local office were recognized either for their tenure or performance in the field. David Rossi was receiving an award for the prior. The Italian was in his fortieth year with the FBI.

Derek placed the handful of glasses on the table before taking a hold of his own. He preferred whiskey to wine, but he wasn't complaining when it was the only thing available at the open bar.

He took a seat at the table and sighed contently. This team had been through enough changes over the past few years.

Hotch leaving hit him hard, but he understood his former boss was only looking out for his son. Tara Lewis, Luke Alvez and Matt Simmons had become great additions to the team. It started with them filling in on certain cases; Reid would take more time off to visit his mother, and Rossi was mending relationships with his daughter and grandson.

Their numbers grew, and according to Penelope, it made for more people for her to adore. She was most definitely Mama Bear when it came to her team.

Emily Prentiss had stepped in and proven herself as an excellent Unit Chief. Derek felt less pressure with the new additions to the team; it had been Emily's call to permanently add to the team that they were used to. The loss of Hotch had put more on their plate and she could see her team getting burned out quickly.

"To Rossi," he heard the bubbly blonde next to his announce to the table after everyone's drinks were passed out. "Here's to an amazing career – it's not done yet," she added quickly causing a few laughs to escape from the team. "We love you!"

Cheers erupted from the table as everyone cheers'ed the Italian man. Derek took a hearty sip of the wine. Red was not his favorite, but it would do the trick tonight.

It would help settle his mind when he retired to his empty hotel room later that evening. They had learned years before to book rooms in the same hotel due to the open bar.

Derek caught the eye of the blonde sitting across the table from him. His best friend in the entire world. She offered a soft smile as she noted the look on his face. His expression screamed that he would prefer to be any where else at that moment, but Rossi appreciated them all being there for him.

Jennifer Jareau and Derek Morgan had established an unlikely friendship when she was sent to the State Department. They had met for a drink about a week after her new job started up. When she told him she liked it, he noticed the smile on her face never reached her eyes. She missed the BAU.

She missed her family.

They had all been there when her oldest son was born. They had all survived so much together and it made her sick how Strauss had no problem pulling her away from all of them.

She made it very clear to Derek that she planned to get back to their team. They would fit in training sessions at the gym when Derek was not in the field, and JJ was not in Afghanistan.

The blonde followed Derek's eyes as they scanned the ballroom. She could only shake her head as she knew what was going through Derek's mind.

The room was filled with all the local Bureaus and he had a whole room of eligible women to choose from. Someone to fill up the void in his hotel room later that night.

That was when he spotted the navy blue sequined gown from across the ballroom. JJ smirked as she noticed the flash of his eyes. His brow would lift just enough as he watched the brunette about six tables to their left.

Her back was to him, but he kept his eyes glued to how to fabric sparkled in the light of the ballroom. The dress fit her like a glove. It had been made for her.

JJ could barely contain her smug laugh as a man stepped to the mysterious woman's side and placed a kiss to her cheek. With her long brown locks down, her face was obstructed as she turned to the man to offer a smile.

Derek shook his head and finished off the glass of wine in his hand. He would be paying for the alcohol consumption tomorrow, but if he was going to bed by himself, it would be best to be three sheets to the wind.

-xx-

Derek smirked at the joke that just crawled out of Luke's mouth. Of the new additions, Luke and Derek became fast friends. They would spend their Friday and Saturday nights out of the office and in the bars.

"Do they have this every year?" Luke asked with a grown. His distaste grew as he turned to the near empty wine glass in his hand.

Derek nodded. "Sadly," he responded with a sigh. This whole shindig was taking too long. He could have easily found someone in his bar crawl to spend the evening with. He'd head back to her place and be gone by the time the sun came up. "I'm only here for Rossi."

Luke nodded before taking the last sip from his glass. "Same," he muttered.

He reached over to place his glass on the table but Derek intercepted and grabbed it from him. "We'll need a few more of these," he said with a laugh. "The speeches will start soon, and you want a good buzz going for those."

Luke smirked as Derek excused himself from the table. He grabbed a few more empty glasses on his way. The least they could do was make the open wine bar worth it. He was not playing around when the FBI picked up the tab for dinner and drinks.

Derek skirted his way through the crowd. He placed the empty glasses on a half full tray that was sitting by the bar to collect the empties.

After a quick pit stop to the restroom – a ploy to waste more time – Derek made his way towards the bar. He laughed in spite of himself as he saw the brunette in the navy dress at the bar.

Her back was still to him, but he could tell the conversation she was having with the brunette next to her was animated. Hands were going a mile an hour from both of them as they spoke.

She threw her head back as a laugh escaped her throat. Derek forced his hand in to a tight fist as his eyes traveled towards her rear end. He couldn't help it – he was a man, after all – and the way it fit her perfectly made it easy for checking out.

Every time she was move just a bit towards the bar, his eyes trailed up and down the length of her gown.

Derek groaned quietly as he stepped up to the bar to the bar. He grabbed a few bills from his pocket to place in to the basket for tips. He held up three fingers signifying the three glasses of wine he needed. JJ had pleaded with her eyes for a refill when he stood from their table.

Apparently he was at the bar too often as the barkeep knew exactly what he was talking about without having to say a word.

Derek tried his best to keep his eyes averted from the pair next to him but found it futile. This bartender had the slowest pour he had ever seen in his life. It was three glasses of wine; what was so difficult?

The brunette let out another hearty laugh, but this time her body shifted just enough to reach for the stack of napkins between herself and the man next to her. He watched, intrigued, as she turned to face the stack.

Her well manicured fingers wrapped around a few stark white napkins. Her face slowly turned to the man next to her as she felt his eyes on her. She offered a simple smile and turned back towards her friend.

Derek's brow lifted as he replayed the face he had just seen. He gently placed a hand to her bicep, causing her to turn back in his direction.

"Breezy?"

-xx-