Chapter 3
Walking up to their table, Derek slid into his seat, placing the drinks on the table and wrapping his arm around Garcia's shoulders. "Hey, Baby Girl!" leaning in to press a quick kiss on her cheek, he whispered into her ear, "That was certainly an entrance. You look amazing."
"Aren't you a sweetheart? Thanks, Hot Stuff. You're not looking too shabby yourself." She winked at him. As she picked up her drink that she knew Derek would get for her, she started to ask if she missed anything but was interrupted by the DJ.
"Welcome to karaoke night! Give us a few minutes to get set up and we'll start your entertainment. If you're interested in signing up, just come up to the booth and we'll get you ready to go…."
The DJ could have been speaking in tongues for all Penelope heard after the words "karaoke night." She looked towards JJ and Kate with a panicked expression. "Did either of you know about this?"
JJ just laughed and said, "no, of course not. I was going to ask you the same thing!"
Kate tried to be nonchalant as she said, "I heard a rumor they were starting it, but I didn't know if that was really true. It doesn't have to mean anything."
Before their whispered conversation could go any further, Rossi said "oh this should be great fun! How about I get us a round of shots to encourage our merriment? Hotch?"
"I think that's a good idea, Dave. I'll help you carry them." As the two men walked away, it was only a few steps before their table behind them erupted in chatter.
Leaning against the bar waiting for their order, Hotch asked, "Is everything in place?"
"All ready to go. The DJ had even heard of them. Apparently they are making a name for themselves in certain circles." Rossi replied.
Hotch raised an eyebrow at Rossi, "A name for themselves? Really? Are they still using the same moniker?"
"They are." He smirked.
"The word karaoke actually means "Empty Orchestra" in Japanese. And karaoke is such a popular past time in Japan that business men often hire professional singers to coach them how to sing to impress clients." Reid started. "The most popular song requested is Billie Jean by Michael Jackson."
"Is it the most popular song requested in Japan or the most popular song requested globally?" Kate laughed at Reid, loving not only his knowledge but also giving him a hard time about it.
"That's actually a good follow up question. No one ever asks them." Reid thought out loud.
"Are you trying to change the subject because you don't know?" Kate teased.
"No, it's a statement of fact. No one ever asks me follow up questions. Although, the story I was reading about karaoke was specifically talking about its prevalence and history in Japan, so I would surmise that Billy Jean is most requested in Japan. Feel free to correct me if you do find out." He smiled at her, with a twinkle in his eye.
"Momma, you're being quiet. Are you going to sing for us?" Derek sweetly asked Penelope.
"Um, well, Hot Stuff. I'm not sure anyone would want to hear me sing. Oh sweet heavens, I hope Hotch doesn't decide that this is something else to be mandated. If so, I'm going to need more than one shot." she rambled while shooting worried looks around the table.
JJ just smirked at the situation, "Well, I don't guess there is much we can do about it now. But I'm sure a shot wouldn't hurt any of us."
At that Derek lowered his head and mumbled, "Speak for yourself." He realized that if he kept having shots to calm down, he was going to pass out in the bar. With a deep breath, he turned his chair so that he could scoot Penelope and her chair into the 'v' of his legs. Thinking to himself, well, this just makes it easier to whisper in her ear. Of course, sending "back off" signals to the men that seemed to be getting closer to their table was an added benefit. He wanted to make sure it was known that his woman was off limits. His woman?
"Baby Girl, in that outfit, you could read the phone book and get a standing ovation." His voice rumbled in her ear. She could feel his breath on her neck and it sent shivers from the top of her head to the bottom of her feet and everywhere in between.
Ducking her head to keep him close for just a second longer, she purred "You know you're the only standing ovation I could want, Hot Stuff." Derek took a deep breath to keep himself under control as her proximity, her words and the view he was currently provided of the front of her shirt were all starting to take effect on him, again.
Trying to ignore the intimate contact that Derek and Penelope were once again engaging in, the rest of the group discussed the possibility of Hotch mandating participation in karaoke night.
After a while, the pleasantly buzzed team, save Reid of course, relaxed and were enjoying the company of each other without the pressure of unsubs lurking in the distance. Even the karaoke was proving to be entertaining. Most of the performers were halfway decent and the ones that were truly awful were at least drunk enough to provide antics that made everyone laugh. Hotch even took mercy on them, and the crowd, and deemed karaoke was not mandatory, although dancing still would be required later.
Towards the end of the alloted karaoke time, Kate sat there trying to decide if she wanted to take a turn on stage. Before she could get out of her seat, the DJ announced the next performer. "Up next is a trio that's starting to make quite a name for themselves. Let's welcome to the stage - Aaron's Angels!"
"Uhhh...wha...what?" Penelope stammered looking wildly around the table. Penelope sank down into her seat, trying to becoming invisible. JJ & Kate were trying not to laugh. Hotch insisted, "Don't keep us waiting. Imagine my surprise to learn from Cruz's admin of a singing trio of BAU employees named after me." The smirk was now plainly evident on his face.
Derek and Reid just sat their with raised eyebrows and stunned faces. Rossi was not even attempting to hold in his laughter. "I do believe he has a point, ladies."
"Sir, you set this up! Of course you know that we meant no disrespect. The name only made sense becuase you're our boss and..." Garcia began to ramble an apology, but JJ quickly cut her off.
"Come on, Garcie. It will be fun. You know we haven't had a chance to sing in a while."
Kate added, "And isn't that what you got this new outfit for?"
"Yeah...um... ok." Penelope paused to collect herself. She took a deep calming breath, exhaled slowly and looked up at them. "Ok, you're right. Let's show them how this is done, ladies. Angelfish, be prepared for that standing ovation." And with a parting wink in Derek's direction, she stood tall and strode towards the stage with JJ and Kate at her side.
The crowd gave them polite applause, as they had for each new performer. Kate told the DJ their song, and they each grabbed a microphone. Making their way to the middle of the stage, the ladies stood three across with Penelope in the middle. They looked unassuming and maybe a twinge nervous, but as soon as the first half-beat hit the speakers, Penelope Garcia sparked to life like Beyonce taking over a room.
"She got a body like an hourglass, but I can give it to you all the time.
She got a booty like a Cadillac, but I can put you into overdrive."
Marching straight to the front of the stage, she belted lyrics and started shaking her hips to the music. Their song, Bang Bang by Jessie J, Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj, was one that they had performed many times over the last year. It worked well with their voices, had 3 distinct sections, let each of them showcase their talents and had a fantasic chorus for them all to sing. And at this very moment, it had one Derek Morgan's undivided attention.
"See anybody could be bad to you, You need a good girl to blow your mind, yeah"
Staring right at him, Penelope belted out her solo line before stepping back with the other 2 girls as all three sang the chorus in practiced harmony and timing.
"Bang bang into the room (I know you want it), Bang bang all over you (I'll let you have it)
Wait a minute let me take you there (ah), Wait a minute 'til ya (ah)
Bang bang there goes your heart (I know you want it), Back, back seat of my car (I'll let you have it)
Wait a minute let me take you there (ah), Wait a minute 'til ya (ah)"
As Kate made her way to center stage, the crowd was now clapping along to the beat. Penelope scans the audience to gauge their performance. As she does, she can't help but notice the huge grin on Derek's face. He, like the rest of the guys, were clapping along and encouraging them. But unlike Reid, Rossi and Hotch, his eyes were solely on her.
"She mighta let you hold her hand in school, But I'mma show you how to graduate
No, I don't need to hear you talk the talk, Just come and show me what your momma gave"
As Kate continued to sing, Garcia kept her eyes on Morgan. Morgan kept his eyes on Garcia. Was this more than just an over-the-top flirtation between the two of them like normal? She wasn't really sure. Derek seemed to be much more intense in his gaze. Garcia was much more bold with hers. She pushed those thoughts aside as she raised an eyebrow at him as Kate finished her solo.
"You've got a very big shh, mouth but don't say a thing
See anybody could be good to you, You need a bad girl to blow your mind"
Singing their way through the chorus like the seasoned performers they were becoming, even if a little rusty from the last couple of months away, JJ walked straight to the front with a swagger the guys weren't expecting. What came next downright floored them.
"It's Myx Moscato, it's fizz in a bottle
It's Jenny full throttle, it's oh, oh
Swimming in the grotto, we winning in the lotto
We dipping in the pot of blue foam, so
Kitten so good, it's dripping on wood
Get a ride in the engine that could, go
Batman robbin' it, bang, bang, cockin' it
Queen Jenny dominant, prominent
It's me, Katie, and Garcie
If they test me they sorry
Ride us up like a Harley, then pull off in this Ferrari
If he hanging we banging
Phone ranging, he slanging
It's karaoke night so get the mic 'cause I'm singing
B to the A to the N to the G to the uh
B to the A to the N to the G to the hey"
The crowd exploded in cheers. Did JJ just out Nicki Minaj, Nicki Minaj? The ladies didn't have time to soak in the cheers. They had worked hard on getting the cadence of the finale and didn't want to mess it up. Penelope stepped back into the center of the three performers and with a salacious grin in Derek's direction she belted out the next line with no fear, never taking her eyes off him.
"See anybody could be good to you, You need a bad girl to blow your mind, your mind"
All three ladies sang the final chorus, singing and moving with their practiced ease. As they finished their performance, the crowd jumped to their feet. Standing ovation secured, the ladies took a small bow and headed back towards their table.
Derek Morgan couldn't help himself. He left the table and walked straight towards Penelope as she led JJ and Kate back to the table. He crushed her into a hug, pulling her close and planting a big, although chaste, kiss on her lips. "Baby Girl, that was AMAZING! I had no idea you could sing like that. Why have you been hiding this from me?" As he pulled back to see her face, he wasn't expecting the wide eyes and frozen shock of not only her but also JJ and Kate behind her.
A/N: The song Bang Bang was written by Savan Kotecha, Max Martin, and Rickard Göransson, while the latter two co-produced it with Ilya Salmanzadeh. Minaj added her rap later in the recording process. All rights belong to them and the noted performers. Although I've been known to sing it myself when no one is looking, I do not count as one of the performers. I was listening to this song one day when the idea for this story came into my head. I'm not one for songfic's but I couldn't get Morgan and Garcia out of my head when I heard the song again.