Thank you for all of the alerts and reviews for the last chapter.
Tony rolled his shoulders as he walked to his car, it was a good work out but he missed Sam. They always enjoyed the coffee and muffin break afterwards it was the best way to cool down and catch up. He shook his head in disgust seeing who was standing next to his car waiting for him, Margret.
"Margret, what do you want?"
"My son. I want you to tell me where he is."
"I can't help you, he didn't tell me where he was going. I sent him an email awhile ago. He is fine, that's all you need to know."
"I don't believe you. I demand you tell me where he is."'
"First of all, you don't impress or intimidate me in the slightest, secondly you don't demand anything from me. Now that I've answered your question, leave. I have nothing further to say to you."
"I'll find out where he is one way or another. I bet that woman knows where he is."
"That woman, as you call her has a name it's Penelope. She doesn't know either, she hasn't spoken to Sam since the last time you dragged her into court."
"I want my son."
"Well I want a lot of things too, doesn't mean I'm going to get them. Come near me again and I'll file a restraining order on you. That is a promise. One more thing stay away from Penelope too."
He slipped into the BAU just after four in the that afternoon then sat quietly in one at the empty desk. He wasn't in the way, he could sit and grade papers quietly, he didn't bother anyone and no one seemed to mind. He didn't move for two hours as he went through the stack of papers he had to grade.
He saw him coming out of the corner of his eye, as the water bottle is placed next to him. "Thanks for the water agent Hotchner."
Hotch tips his head in acknowledgement. " It's Hotch while were in the office. You're here late."
"Grading papers, I had a run in with a crazy lady today at the gym, I had to ask a few favors from a few of the locals, an extra patrol around Penelope's place. So I'm behind on my work."
"Thanks for that."
"Not a problem, hell it's what friends do isn't it."
"You said something on Friday, about knowing who she was talking about, just what did you mean?" Hotch asks.
Tony put the bottle down then nodded. "Penelope told me what she misses most about not hearing is his laughter, that sometimes she would do things just to make him laugh. That he seemed so sad. She said she just can't go and touch his chest and throat to feel him laugh. She also told me that he arrested her and she called him J. Edgar, that she didn't get any reaction from him at all I think she found him a challenge someone so stoic. I also know she loves the guy. She didn't say so in so many words, but she does."
He didn't blink as Tony talked he looked at him with a blank expression. "I'm no profiler, but I don't to do badly reading people.
Hotch glared at him that in turn made Tony laugh all the more. "You could give a class on reading people Tony."
"In case you're wondering why she married Sam and never said anything to him. Is because she told me "If you can't have the one you want love the one you're with." Yes she loved him and she was happy but I don't think she was ever truly in love with him."
He let that sink as he packed his papers into his briefcase. Once he was finished he looks at Hotch. with a deadly serious expression on his face. "You know what I see? An SSA that sits in an office with so much responsibility that at times he forgets to love and live. I also see a tech analysis with almost as much responsibility that is too afraid to live, and truly love again."
"Do you know that my clearance wasn't pulled on account I teach here and NCIS. So tell me J. Edgar what are you going to do about it?"
Hotch didn't say anything in return, it has been a long time, a very long time since anyone challenged him about anything so personal. He just turned and walked away.
"She'll hate you." Rossi says as he walks up behind him.
"What is it, a Marine thing sneaking up on people? As for hating me, she'll forgive me. I want her happy and him too for that matter, they make a good pair."
"Pack it up, lets go eat."
"Are you cooking Dave?"
He watched her for a few seconds before he flicked the light switch on the wall. Turning she saw who it was and smiled. "Do you need help with something sir?" She asks remembering to control the timbre of her voice.
"We have a case and I'm sorry you need to come. So far three people are dead, two men and woman. All their computers had been hacked and viruses left, making it nearly impossible for anyone else to do anything with them."
She reached for the empty bag to pack. "When do we leave?"
He looks at his watch, before he texts her "Thirty minutes. One of us will be with you at all times."
"Please don't, You can't put the search for the unsub on hold just so you can baby-sit me. I'll be at the station or field office right? And if I have to go to a home, you'll leave me a LEO. I'll be fine, I need to get back into the action. What are the odds that another bomb is going to go off? Better ask Reid I bet he'll know."
A ghost of a smile graced his face for a moment, "Alright Garcia, pack it up and meet us in the bullpen."
She winked at him as she continued to pack, "You got it Boss."
Standing in the bullpen, Garcia became very aware of the fact that her entire team now signed when they spoke. Even if they weren't talking to her they did it, and for some reason, it made her very emotional. It made her feel like a part of the team not just a tag-a-long agent that specialized in computers and all things digital.
Reid approached her with a very serious expression. She needed to remind herself that he always looked that way, and she smiled bright. He signed and spoke "Garcia, did you already pack? That was fast. We are leaving for the airport in 15 minutes, the case is in Massachusetts."
Smiling to herself as she sat in the airplane she thinks It's apple season maybe I can slip away or at least get someone to go with me. Lots of apple orchards an little farm stands.
Feeling someone touch her shoulder she looks over seeing Rossi. "We need to brief, what were you thinking about?" He signs to her.
"Apples, fresh apples picked off a tree."
"I promise we'll get some even if I have to make a stink about it." She can't help but smile, because she knows he would too.
Hotch looks at her. "What do we know?"
