BAU Headquarters - Morning
"Can we talk?"
Derek stared down at his cell phone for several seconds before it registered that it was from Penelope. She'd refused to talk to him for the last several weeks; he couldn't help but feel hopeful. He typed a short response back to her.
"Yes."
Their conversation would have to wait. The next call was from Hotch ordering them all to the conference room for a briefing.
One by one the team filed in with Derek and Penelope being the last to enter taking seats across from each other.
"I hope everyone had a good weekend." Hotch began. "Our services have been requested for a few separate cases."
Case files began circulating around the table with their names attached.
"As you can see, most of the cases can be handled from here. Garcia you should be able to support everyone without too much trouble."
"No problem, boss." Penelope replied.
"Morgan, Baltimore is requesting you in-person for a consult on what may be an obsessional murder case. If you leave now, you should be back by the end of today."
"On it."
Derek looked across the table as everyone filed out of the room headed towards their respective offices. Just as Penelope stepped into the hallway, Derek gently grabbed her arm.
"Hey, I know you wanted to talk, so do I..."
"I guess it'll have to wait since you'll be out of town for the day."
"Can we talk when I get back tonight if it's not too late?"
"Sure, I suppose so."
The silence between them was uncomfortable, both unable to move away from each other.
"O-okay, I guess I better get to work." Penelope stuttered pulling away from him.
"Yeah..."
Derek began to walk away then turned back.
"Penelope?"
"Yes?"
"No matter what happens, I love you; I'll always love you."
Fighting tears, Penelope nodded and quickly rushed away without saying a word.
Home of Derek Morgan – Evening –
Tamara was happy to see that Derek's car was not in the driveway. She parked across the street and quickly made her way to the front door. Exhaling to calm her nerves she adjusted the backpack on her shoulder and let herself inside.
She could smell his cologne as she made her way through the house stopping at the largest bedroom. Bit by bit she peeled her clothes off and let them drop to the floor. Tamara pulled the comforter back and climbed into bed to wait for Derek to come home.
Hotch was right, the consult in Maryland was routine and he was able to wrap things up in a few hours. Now he was on his way home, hopefully to talk to Penelope and get things straightened out between them. He was exhausted but it didn't matter, Penelope wanted to talk and that was enough to keep him awake and alert enough to get home. Derek started the engine and just before pulling into traffic, he sent Penelope a text.
"On my way home."
He smiled when she responded immediately.
"Be safe."
That was all he needed to make it home.
Sam was anxious. Tonight, was the night when everything would change. He pulled across from Penelope's apartment building and killed the engine. He had a perfect view; he'd be able to see her leave and return. Once she discovered Derek and Tamara together it wouldn't take her long to come back; she'd need a shoulder to cry on and he would just happen to be in the area.
"You'll see, Penelope...I told you so, Derek could never love you. You belong with me now and forever!"
Derek couldn't help but think about his conversation with Reid earlier. The thought of Tamara and Sam working together was crazy. He'd never been in a relationship with Tamara and Sam was the one who'd broken up with Penelope. Still, as a profiler he knew the human mind made people do unreasonable things. Anyone could be pushed beyond reason. He wanted to believe that his friends were wrong, in fact if Tamara had not confessed her feelings for him, he wouldn't believe it to be possible.
Penelope paced the floor, she knew Derek would be home soon and then...she had no idea where to begin, she had requested the conversation with him after weeks of him trying to convince her to give him a chance to explain. How was he supposed to explain the unexplainable, the sight of the pink panties was like a bright neon light in her memory mocking her and screaming, 'I told you so!' She wasn't sure when she would have ever spoken to him again had it not been for her conversation with JJ earlier.
Derek pulled into the driveway and killed the engine. Before getting out of the car, he dialed Penelope's number.
"Hey." He began.
"Derek?"
"Yes, Baby Girl, it's me."
"You sound exhausted."
"Not too exhausted to talk. I'm going to take a shower and then I'll come over if that's okay."
"Uh, yeah, sure...okay."
Derek closed his eyes and exhaled, thankful that she had not changed her mind.
"I should be there in about 45 minutes."
"I'll be waiting."
"Pen..."
"Not now, okay Derek. I'll see you when you get here."
It was hard hearing the call end. Derek had a lot of work to do, and he knew it. He prayed it wasn't too late for them.
Derek let himself in and headed toward his bedroom. He was anxious for a hot shower and anxious to be back on the road to Penelope's house. Flipping on the lights, he was stopped in his tracks.
"What the hell?"
Tamara had gotten comfortable and fallen asleep so, she didn't hear him come in.
"Tamara, what are you doing here?"
Slowly pulling herself to a sitting position she smiled sleepily at him.
"You're late, Sweetheart."
"How'd you get in?"
Cautiously, Derek approached the bed, still surprised by her presence. His eyes widened when she slowly dropped the blanket revealing her naked body.
"Join me?"
Derek looked at the clothes littering the floor then back at her in disbelief.
"Get up! Get dressed! This is not happening!" He ordered angrily.
"You know you want me, Derek! Let me show..."
"Tamara, what's going on? What the hell are you doing? I want you out of my bed, and out of my house now!"
Without waiting for her to respond, Derek stormed out of the room and headed back toward the front of the house. Then pulling his phone from his pocket, he dialed a friend.
Tamara quickly gathering her clothes, angry and humiliated. He'd rejected her in the most demeaning way. How could he say no to her, to what she was willing to give?
"No, I'm not kidding!" Derek whispered into the phone. "She was naked in my bed, asleep!"
"How'd she get in?" Reid asked.
"Hell if I know! Look man, I'm supposed to meet Pen in less than an hour and she's going to be pissed if I'm late!"
"Now you believe me, that Tamara and Sam are working together to keep you two apart?"
"All I know is that I've got to get her out of here!"
"Calm down, just calm down. I'll call Penelope and let her know what's going on."
"No, no, she needs to hear it from me. Thanks Pretty Boy."
"Okay, but I'm here if you need me."
"I know you are I know you are."
Derek ended the call and turned to see Tamara standing behind him.
She'd found one of his dress shirts and put it on.
"What...what are you doing with my shirt on?"
"Who were you talking to?"
"I want you dressed and out of here in five minutes, Tamara or I'm calling the police!"
"Let me guess, was it Penelope? How could you choose her over me, Derek?"
"Tamara, what did you think, that you could just show up and seduce me and then we'd be together? You need help and I can make sure you get that help, but you need to leave, now!"
"I can make you happy." She pleaded reaching for him.
Stepping away from her, Derek pulled his phone from his pocket again.
"I love Penelope, Tamara. Whether she takes me back or not, I'll always love her. You and I are nothing!"
"You don't mean that!"
"I mean it. Is it true that you and Sam are trying to keep Penelope apart?"
"Who is Sam?" She asked innocently.
"A friend saw the two of you together earlier. Answer me, are you two working together? Never mind, just leave, okay?"
Derek turned his back and walked away, trying to clear his head and calm down. Tamara was enraged, never had she been so hurt, so angry in her life. Everything was dark around her now and she wanted to hurt him, to make sure he didn't leave her. Then without thinking she saw the crystal ashtray sitting on the table nearby...and picked it up.