BAU HEADQUARTERS – Morning

"Houston PD is requesting our help on a serial murder case." Hotch began.

Morgan had gotten his wish. The team sat around the large conference table studying the case files in front of them while pictures of victims were displayed on the screen in front of them. Penelope sat across the table from Derek with her eyes glued to her laptop. Pictures of dead innocents made her stomach turn; the sight of her ex-lover and friend made her feel even worse.

The others pretended not to see or feel the shift in the atmosphere and dynamics in the room. Rossi was worried and Hotch was not pleased. The team leader dreaded this day. There were reasons the bureau frowned on relationships between members of the same team.

"Three women, all between the ages of 30 and 40, were abducted two weeks apart. Their bodies were found in shallow graves near Houston City College." Hotch continued.

"Lots of rage, here!" Reid began.

"All of the victims were raped, tortured and then strangled." JJ added.

"These were personal." Morgan noted looking across the table.

Morgan couldn't help but notice that each woman looked like Garcia.

"Why do they always have to be blonde?" Penelope whispered as if reading his thoughts.

"Garcia, I want you to go with us on this one."

"Hotch?" Morgan began.

Hotch shot a glare towards Morgan which caught everyone's attention.

"Wheels up in thirty." He ordered.

One by one the team exited the room. Just before Morgan left, he glanced at Garcia hoping to get her attention.

"Baby..."

"Not now, Derek."

Garcia grabbed her things and quickly left the room.

"Morgan." Hotch began preventing him from leaving. "We need to talk."

"Look Hotch, I'm sorry that my...that our personal drama has spilled over into the office, but I assure you..."

"New York has once again requested you to run their office."

"What?"

"Why are you surprised, you're good at your job even when your, personal drama spills into the office."

"I just don't think..."

"The job is yours if you want it." Hotch interrupted.

Without waiting for Derek's answer, Hotch was gone. Derek headed toward Penelope's office; he knew she'd probably not want to talk but he wasn't leaving for this case without talking to her first.

Penelope slid her laptops into their cases, one by one. The door to her lair opened and without turning around, she knew it was him. She wanted to run past him, but he'd closed the door.

"Penelope, we need to talk."

"I don't want to talk to you."

"All that we've been through, I can't believe you're willing to throw it all away."

"I didn't throw it away, Derek you did!"

"I didn't cheat on you, Penelope! You have to believe me!"

"So, I suppose those size 2 panties just fell through the ceiling and found their way half-way under your bed, is that what you want me to believe?"

"Look, I know it sounds crazy, but I didn't cheat, I would never cheat on you...I l-"

"What, you love me? Is that what you were going to say?"

Derek stepped closer reaching for her. Penelope quickly moved out of his reach.

"Don't do this, Baby Girl, please!"

"Do what, Derek?" She began to cry which made her angrier. "Just leave me alone, we're done."

Penelope turned her back as he stood there speechless. She needed space, time and she needed to be alone. She turned to face him again.

"I love you, Penelope."

"Well, I don't love you, Derek; not anymore."

Derek heard his heart break, and he swore she heard it too. Now he needed space, but he couldn't move.

"You don't mean that, I know you don't, Penelope."

Penelope looked at him she wanted to take back the words, but it was too late, and she was too stubborn and proud to do so. Instead, she grabbed her bags and brushed passed him leaving him alone in the room.

Derek managed to get himself out of the office and to his office. Her words ringing in his ears and sending sharp daggers through his heart. He was foolish to think that he and Penelope ever had a chance. He knew that he had not cheated and especially in the bed that he shared with Penelope.

Then his cell phone rang; it was Tamara.

"Hey Tamara!"

"Hello, I didn't want to bother you, but I was wondering how your morning was going, you were so down last night I thought I'd call and check on my friend."

"I appreciate the call, Tamara. I'm okay I guess."

"Hmm, are you sure?"

"I'm sure, pretty lady. We're headed to Houston on a case. I'll call you when we get back, okay?"

"You better." She chuckled. "Derek?"

"Yes?"

"Be careful, I don't know what I would do if something happened to you."

"Trust me, I'm always careful." Then as an afterthought. "Thank you."

Tamara smiled as she ended the call. She couldn't help but wonder what things would've been like now if they had gotten together. He sounded so sad and so far away. Tamara wondered if it wasn't too late for her and Derek to have a life together after all.

The next two weeks went painfully slow, and Derek and Penelope did everything they could to stay away from each other. The others watched their friends suffering and it made them sad too. Everyone knew that Derek and Penelope belonged together and the notion that Derek had cheated on Penelope just didn't make sense to any of them.

It was time to go home, it had been a hard case but thankfully it had come to an end with no other victims and none of them injured in the process. One by one they all boarded the jet with Derek and Penelope again pretending that the other didn't exist.

"So, you think Derek will take the job in New York?" Dave asked as he got settled in his seat.

"There's not much left for him in Quantico. I can't say I'd blame him if he did. It would make things a lot easier." Hotch responded.

"Easier, Hotch those two are miserable and being in two different states is not going to change that."

"Maybe not, but it will at least allow the team to find a new normal and get back to the business of solving crime."

"Yikes, when did you get so cynical, Aaron?"

Hotch looked across at his friend, he had gotten cynical perhaps, but he'd learned the hard way that relationships were distractions and love gave the enemy something to use against them. He wanted to believe that Derek and Penelope would be better off in the end.

"Look Dave, I..." Hotch began.

"Excuse me, Hotch..." Derek interrupted.

"What's up, Morgan?" Hotch beckoned for him to take the seat next to him.

"I've been thinking about the offer to run the New York office and..."

"And what?"

"I'd like to take the job if it's still open."

Hotch glanced over at Dave before responding.

"I'll inform them of your decision on Monday."

"Thanks, Hotch and I'm sorry for..."

"No apologies needed, just...I think the move is for the best."

"Yeah, I guess you're right."

Without another word, Derek quickly got up and returned to his seat at the rear of the plane. Penelope watched his reflection in the window as he passed. She had gotten good at pretending not to notice him, but her heart knew better. Nothing would change the fact that she still loved him, she missed him and wondered how she would ever live without him.

Derek placed his headphones on over his ears like he did on every other trip home. He needed a distraction more than ever. He'd inhaled her vanilla rose perfume just as he passed her, and his heart broke again. Maybe the transfer would help him get over her. He didn't want to get over her though. He'd promised to protect her from everything, but he failed in the most hurtful way possible.

Maybe Hotch was right, the transfer to New York was for the best...for everyone.