Home of Penelope Garcia – Morning

Penelope felt like hell. Frozen waffles and sausage were last night's dinner and now as she ran toward the bathroom, she cursed her poor decision. Her head ached too, and her sides and, well everything ached, especially her heart. She couldn't remember the last time she had a decent meal and she cursed herself again as she leaned into the toilet holding on for dear life.

Hotch had given the team the weekend off and for that she was grateful. After a few more false alarms which were nothing more than dry heaves, Penelope pulled herself to her feet and began running the water for a hot bath. That's what she needed a nice hot bath.

Home of Tamara Barnes –

He wasn't Derek Morgan, but Sam would have to do, and Tamara had to admit, it was better than spending another night alone in her cold empty bed. Sam had a few surprises that had her wanting more. She smiled as he began to stir next to her, his hands lazily roaming her body as if he had read her mind.

"Good morning." He moaned.

Tamara smiled against his touches and light kisses. She loved being touched by a man even Sam; a poor second to her daydreams of Derek.

"Good Morning." Tamara moaned encouraging him to continue his work on her. "Did last night really happen?"

"Yes, it did, and it looks like this beautiful lady wants a replay." Sam replied confidently.

"Yes, she does! So don't keep me waiting." She smiled.

Sam never expected to be satisfied with a woman other than Penelope, but Tamara was beautiful, self-assured, and insanely motivated which both scared him and turned him on. He loved Penelope and still had dreams of spending his life with her, but if he couldn't have her back then Tamara would help him pass the time in a most pleasurable way.

Just before the two began again, Tamara's phone rang; it was Derek. Sam looking over her shoulder saw Derek's name on her screen and moaned in frustration.

"Damn, that man is always in my way!"

"Now, now lover, remember why we're doing all of this." She grinned reaching for her phone just as it rang again.

"Right, right."

Sam rolled off Tamara and got out of bed. He knew that the woman had already forgotten that he was there.

"Good morning, Derek."

"Hey Tamara, sorry I didn't call last night, after finishing up our files I was wiped."

"No problems, I can only imagine what it must be like doing what you do."

"Thanks for understanding. It was a pretty rough case but at least we're off for the weekend."

"I'm free this afternoon, how about you let me buy you lunch?" Tamara asked hopefully.

"I don't know..."

"Come on, you just said you were off work and unless you have already made plans..." She pressed.

"Okay, why not, let's do it but under one condition."

"And what's that?"

"You let me buy you lunch."

"It's a date!" She replied joyfully.

Without looking back at Sam, Tamara jumped out of bed gleefully and headed toward the bathroom. Sam stopped her in her tracks, pulling her against his body.

"So now what?" He asked mournfully.

"Now I meet Derek for lunch."

"Just like that?"

"Yes, Sam just like that!" She noticed his disappointment. "Ah come on, we both know what this is!"

"No tell me what, this is?"

"We're two people with a bigger agenda to win the people we love! I like you Sam, you're a great guy and surprisingly you're pretty good in the sheets, but I hope you know that that's all we'll ever be."

"What, a rumble in the hay?" He was pouting now.

"You are such a dork! No one says, rumble in the hay, anymore!"

Then without another word, Tamara turned out of his arms and escaped into the bathroom, closing the door behind her. For good measure, Sam tried the door hoping that she was just kidding but the door was locked. The running water became the period on their time together.

Derek wasn't ready to give up on a life with Penelope, but he had to keep living; time alone was hard because every idle moment was spent thinking about the love of his life. He'd tried and tried to figure out how things had suddenly crumbled into a million pieces. He hadn't cheated, yet there was evidence that he had, and he wouldn't rest until he learned how and who was responsible for destroying his life. In the meantime, he would spend a few hours with a good friend whom he had neglected over the last few years.

Kendall's Burgers and Things – Afternoon

Derek found a booth near the window and waited. It was a beautiful day, yet he felt as if a boulder was sitting in the pit of his stomach. Tamara was a good friend, she'd been there for him during a tough time in his life and career and her supportive, quiet nature had been what he needed. It was a time before he had confessed or even admitted that he was in love with Penelope, and he often wondered what things would look like had he not realized his truth.

Tamara was beautiful, smart, successful and everything any man would want. He'd spent time with her as a friend nothing more and she'd made no demands for more either and Derek had grown to appreciate their friendship. So why as he sat waiting for her to arrive, did he feel as if he were betraying Penelope somehow.

"A penny for your thoughts."

Derek turned to see Tamara standing next to him. He hadn't heard her come in.

"Oh, uh hello. I'm sorry I didn't even see..."

"No worries, no worries." Then. "It's good seeing you. Thanks for meeting me for lunch."

"I'm not sure how great of company I'll be."

"Leave it to me, I'll make you forget all your woes." She promised.

Home of Penelope Garcia –

Penelope's day had only gotten worse and now here she stood in the middle of her bathroom with her mouth open in shock and her mind going in a million directions. Had the last five weeks of her life not happened, she would be insanely happy but now, things couldn't be more confusing and terrifying.

She'd made plans to hang out with JJ since Will was taking the boys to a car show with Hotch and Jack, so the sound of the doorbell was no surprise. Her knees were wobbly and her stomach queasy, Penelope prayed that she'd make it to the door without turning back toward the bathroom.

She opened the door; she could hear Derek's voice chastising her for not looking through the peephole first.

"Hey Pen!"

"Sam?"

"Surprise!"

"Now is not a good time, Sam."

"I just wanted to see you, that's all. I know that you and Derek..."

"Me and Derek are not your business, and it still doesn't change anything between you and I."

"All I want is five minutes, that's all. I'm not here to talk you into giving me another chance or to say, I told you so." Just five minutes, please."

Now Penelope was curious and so reluctantly she stepped aside and let him in. It wasn't until she closed the door that she saw the flowers appearing from behind his back.

"Sam, I thought this wasn't about..."

"It's not, I promise but I saw these and I know they're your favorite and I couldn't help myself."

Penelope took the flowers and set them on the table nearby.

"Thank you for the flowers and you have four minutes."

"Ouch." Sam flinched.

"Well, it was your idea that we split..." She reminded him.

"Take a break is what I said, Penelope."

"You were accusing me of having feelings for Derek."

"And I was right!"

"You didn't fight for me, or us Sam! I hadn't even admitted to myself how I felt about Derek, you didn't fight."

"I just thought that with some time apart, you would see that you and I made more sense than some fantasy with Derek Morgan."

"Fantasy, fantasy? What are you saying that Derek Morgan is too good for me, that he would never, could never love me?"

"No, no that's not what I'm saying at all! It's just that I, I always felt that there was something, someone blocking us. I want you, wanted you, all of you but even when things with us were really good, he was in the middle of us."

Penelope took a deep breath and reached for the door.

"Goodbye Sam."

"Penelope."

"You need to leave. There's no future for us. No matter what happens between Derek and I, Sam you and I are done. I think you are an amazing man, but I know where my heart is and it's not with you."

Sam felt crushed he saw the truth in her statement and in her eyes. There was no anger just honesty and if Penelope was anything, she was honest. So, with his tail tucked firmly between his legs, Sam nodded at Penelope and left. Just as he got to the sidewalk, he stopped for a moment as he pulled a small bronze key from his pocket twirling it between his fingers as he thought to himself.

"I was going to return you, but I think I'll hold onto you a little while longer."

Sam crossed the street, got in his car, and started the engine. Then taking one more look toward Penelope's apartment, whispered to himself.

"I'm tired of losing to Derek Morgan."