Long Nights
Morgan and Garcia
Chapter One
July 2010
"Considering the situation we find ourselves in," Hotch told his team as they exited two SUVs "I think its best if none of you girls have rooms without a male roommate."
Looking around the desolate area they were in, and knowing the facts of the case, none of the team could disagree. They would just have to deal with the unusual sleeping arrangements. They were stuck at a rundown roadside motel in the middle of the desert. Next door was a restaurant. There was a gas station, a grocery store, a school, a service station, a hair salon, and a few very small businesses all clustered a mile away. And two communities of trailers not far down the road.
That was the unsubs hunting ground. He had brutally raped a woman every night for a week and killed the last one. All the women lived alone or their husbands worked nights. The locals were all getting antsy and turning into potential vigilantes, with guns and knifes ready for if the unsub tried to attack them next. There was no local police force. It was unincorporated area that was under the jurisdiction of the state police. Currently Nevada was in a budget crisis. They couldn't send out more than one unit from the State Trooper's division to patrol at night. The cop couldn't be everywhere at once so the unsub was still able to strike and avoid detection.
The BAU was called in to profile who he might be since it was suspected that he probably lived right in the area. That meant he was one of several hundred people that, at this very moment, was in one of those trailers not far from where the BAU team stood.
The next nearest town was more than two hours down a long stretch of highway in either direction. There was no other viable option but this crappy motel that was usually only used by truckers.
Nodding at his team, Hotch walked inside to check them in. He came back soon with four sets of keys. "They only had two rooms left with double beds." Hotch's expression was none too pleased. "All right, Reid you've got a single. Rossi and JJ bunk up. Garcia and Morgan you're together, and Emily you're with me. Anyone have a problem with that, speak up now." When no one did he added "Good then lets get some rest and meet up in the restaurant at eight for breakfast."
Reid looked at the restaurant. It looked as unappealing as the hotel where they would be forced to lay their heads. "Do you think they have a vegetarian option there?" He asked while motioning toward the dive diner.
Hotch gave Reid a raised eyebrow. "Now you're a vegetarian?"
"Not officially as of yet but I've been considering it. Though fish has its benefits. I may become a prescetarian, which would mean I could eat fish, eggs, honey and milk."
Hotch shook his head. "I suggest you start next week. If you haven't noticed this is the desert and I don't think The Buck Stops Here Diner has much fresh fish brought in."
"Good point," Reid said, in a very serious tone.
The team all grabbed their bags out of the SUVs. Everyone was tired because it was already nearly one in the morning. After a quick round of good nights to each other they headed to their rooms.
XXXXXX
Penelope was pretty exhausted. She had been having a girl's night out when they got called into work. After having some drinks and dancing she was buzzed and her feet hurt. Not the best mood to be in when work beckoned. Now it was four hours later and she was stuck in the middle of nowhere at what had to be one of the nastiest motels in America.
She just wanted to crash and face this horrible case with a pervert rapist in the morning.
Derek carried all their bags into the room. She carried her purse. In the morning they would set up a satellite feed. The area had extremely patchy cell phone and internet coverage and that would not work for the team. They had to be able to get in touch with Penelope so she could work her magic on her babies. Any delay could be the difference between life and death. So she would have to keep the satellite up and remote hack into Quantico's systems.
Walking into the room she let out a sigh. Looking all around she said "This place could use an Extreme Motel Makeover."
Derek chuckled tiredly as he set down all the bags. Then he asked, in a grumpy tone, "One bed?"
"Think about it, handsome. JJ is practically married. She can't be sharing a bed with another man. And Hotch can't share a bed with his subordinate. So that leaves you and me to double up."
"I'll take the floor, baby girl."
"Don't be silly. The floor looks more gross than the bed. I wish there was a mall around here to buy fresh sheets. Or even a laundromat so I could be sure the sheets are clean." She crinkled her nose.
"I'll be fine on the floor."
Penelope fixed Derek with a sexy look. "How can I ravish you if you're on the floor? I need you next to me for easy access. Do you really think I'm gonna miss my best chance in years to ride a chocolate God?"
He smiled at her. "Remember, Garcia, we're here to work."
"Spoilsport. But seriously I got why you took the floor in Alaska. I had a boyfriend then and he was very jealous of your hard, delicious- at least I assume you would taste delicious because you always do in my fantasies-"
"Okay, we can share the bed. Just no more talk about fantasies. I'm wiped out and that's sure to keep me up half the night. Behave, you tempting vixen." He gave her a fake stern look and then asked "Okay if I grab a shower? Or did you want to use the bathroom first?"
"Shower away, my love. But be warned, mama will be sliding out of these clothes and into her pajamas so there will be a moment, if you time it right, where you could open the door and gaze upon my luscious wonderland of a physique."
Smirking he went to his bag and pulled out some clothes and a shaving bag. "Are you gonna be good during this case?"
"Not a chance in hell."
"Good," he flirted with her before heading into the bathroom.
Penelope stood there with a sweet smile on her lips before her eyes fell on the bed again.
XXXXXXXXXXX
They had never shared a bed before.
Derek didn't know if this was such a good idea. The floor would be uncomfortable as hell, and his back would surely pay for sleeping on it, but if he was on the floor nothing untoward could go down between him and Penelope.
It wasn't that he didn't want her sexy body pressed close to his. Or that he wouldn't love her hand to run down his chest, or over the back of his pajama pants, cupping his ass, or over the front of his pajama pants, cupping his cock. There was not much more he wanted in all the world than that.
But not like this.
She had only been broken up with Lynch for three weeks. Derek had his plans to ask Penelope out eventually but it seemed too soon right now. Like he was approaching at widow at a funeral and asking if she was free for lunch sometime. The proverbial body was barely cold at this point. It wasn't cool to hit on her already. He needed to give her time to heal and make sure he didn't end up a rebound fling.
Penelope was his dream girl. She was the one he wanted to make his wifey. Derek wanted to do everything just right after six years of doing things ass backwards. Doing it right didn't mean feeling her up in the middle of the night when they were stuck sharing a bed in a skeevy motel room in the desert.
He needed to remember his game plan and ignore the sweet smelling, soft, curvy, loving, kind, nearly perfect in every way, woman he loved who was laying on her back next to him, carefully not touching him.
Yeah, that should be easy. No problem at all.