Disclaimer - All recognisable characters belong to their original owners. I do not make a profit from writing this; I simply do it for my own amusement. No copyright infringement intended.

Love

"Will you stop?" Luke asked as Penelope fluffed the cushion behind him for what felt like the hundredth time.

"No," she simply said, continuing to fluff the cushion before perching on the arm of the couch. "What can I get you?"

"Nothing—I'm fine." He understood her concern, he really did, but it was now bordering on obsessive.

Simon chose that moment to jump up on the back of the couch and nudge Luke's shoulder with his soft face.

"No!" Penelope cried, reaching out and wrapping her arms around the cat. She brought him to her chest, peppering his face with kisses as she spoke quietly. "You can't do that. Luke's hurt."

His eyes met hers and the vulnerability evident in them touched his heart.

Reaching out, Luke placed his hand on her knee and squeezed. "It's really not that bad."

Her beautiful green eyes watered. "You needed stitches."

Luke held out his good arm.

Penelope placed Simon on the floor and moved to Luke's side, snuggling in.

"It really scared me," she whispered quietly. "When I heard that you'd been hurt."

Gently, Luke stroked her blonde hair, his fingers running through the light tresses.

She buried her face against his bicep, breathing in his scent and letting it calm her.

"I'm not going anywhere," he told her quietly. "I'd never leave you."

His words made her heart skip a beat, and she had to take a deep breath. Her nostrils flared, and tears threatened to spill from her eyes. Not because she was sad, but because she felt so… dare she say it? Loved.

Not wanting to get caught up in the moment. Penelope didn't want to think about the feelings that were bubbling up inside her, so she ignored them. "You better not."

Luke pressed his face against the top of her head, and she felt his lips curve upwards into a smile.

"I still can't believe she played us like that." The whole thing had been a shock. Grace being Everett Lynch's daughter, their relationship—all of it. It was a huge surprise. And something that was going to challenge the team. Penelope could feel it deep in her bones.

She wasn't a profiler, but she'd been around them long enough to know that Grace's actions indicated someone who didn't care. To hurt someone like that, an FBI agent? Sure, it hadn't been life-threatening. Thank God. And Luke was going to be okay, as long as he followed the doctor's instructions. But she hadn't paused. She hadn't stopped to think about her actions. She was dangerous.

Penelope's phone rang out from the coffee table. Reluctantly, she leaned forward, not liking how her side went cold when she was away from Luke.

A small smile fell across her face when she saw the name lighting up the screen.

"Hey, Lisa," she said, watching as Luke let his head fall back against the couch and closed his eyes.

"How is the walking wounded?"

Penelope had text Lisa after Luke had been injured. She'd been so worried, and it had only been Lisa's expert opinion that had helped calm her down.

"Luke's doing alright."

"I'm fine!" Luke said loudly, making Lisa giggle down the other end of the phone.

"I'll listen to you," Lisa told her. "Don't let him overdo it. As much as he's going to want to, he needs to take it easy and make sure that he gives himself time to heal."

As Penelope looked at Luke, she could already imagine him trying to do things before he was ready. When he'd gotten off the plane, arm in a sling, the first thing he'd gone to do was get the girls and take them for a walk…

Two strong dogs, with one arm. They might be well behaved—most of the time, but that didn't mean they didn't have their moments. Lou had heard a dog barking on the television, and she'd gone crazy.

Penelope had to tell him that either she would walk the girls or the sitter could.

He'd even put off having the pain meds that the doctor gave him, saying he didn't want his head to be 'muddled'. Luke had eventually given in when Penelope had threatened to have Matt come and sit on him as she shoved one down his throat. It was either that or hide one in his food—she'd had plenty of experience doing that at the rescue, and she wasn't afraid to draw on that expertise.

"I'll handcuff him to the bed if I have to."

Penelope knew that Luke was listening to the conversation as the corner of his mouth tipped upwards in a smile.

"I'd probably refrain from sex for the time being." Penelope blushed at her words. "Unless you're doing all the work."

"Lisa!" Penelope admonished.

Lisa just laughed down the phone before she became serious. "I'm here if either of you needs me, Pen. Ring me, day or night."

"I will. Thanks, Lisa."

Penelope hung up the phone, and when she turned her attention to Luke, his body was more relaxed than before, his chest moving up and down in even breaths.

He was asleep.

Before waking him to move him into her bedroom where it would be more comfortable, Penelope took the time to look at him. His hair was dark, jet black—even though there was some debate over whether hair could be black or just dark brown—and his skin was tanned. She loved seeing her hands run over his skin and the contrast between them; she was a pasty white, often resembling a piece of paper in colour. But Luke seemed to always glow. Then there were his facial features; his round eyes that crinkled at the corners, his high cheekbones and defined jaw that Penelope longed to kiss, and his lips— the bottom one fuller than the top.

He was so handsome. And kind and intelligent and funny. She was so lucky.

Penelope stood and gently stroked Luke's face until he sleepily opened his eyes, his gaze clouded.

"Time for bed," she whispered.

Without any argument, Luke nodded and stood, swaying on his feet slightly.

Penelope wrapped an arm around his waist, and they slowly walked to the bedroom.

Luke flopped on the bed, his entire body lax. Penelope knew that she would have to undress him on her own.

First, she pulled off his socks, tossing them into the hamper and away from Lou—she had a habit of taking and hiding them. Then she unbuckled his belt and took his jeans off, stopping for just a second to admire his strong legs and muscular thighs.

Choosing to leave him in his boxers and tank top, Penelope got dressed for bed and got on beside him. Since Luke was asleep on top of the covers, she pulled out a throw she had crocheted and used it to cover them.

Her heart melted when she snuggled into his side, and Luke rested his head against hers.

"Love you," he whispered.

On instinct and without even thinking, Penelope responded. "Love you, too."

There we have it! They finally said it. Probably not as either of them would have wanted, but it happened.

Stay tuned for next week when Penelope's octopus mug will make an appearance!

Finally, thank you for the 74 reviews this story has reached. It's amazing that for such a small fandom, so many of you like my story. I'd be so pleased if we could get to 80 reviews before we reach chapter 40.

I lied. That isn't it. I've reached over 200 followers over on Tumblr, and I'm doing a 'story giveaway'. Simply comment on the post with an idea for a one-shot or short story (Twilight or Garvez only). Whichever one I like the most, I'll write, with the original poster acting as a beta and pre-reader for me.

Okay, I am actually finished now: see you next week.