You Know That, Right?
Note- This chapter takes place during season three finale titled Lo Fi and the season four premiere titled Mayhem.
Chapter Six
Derek walked into Penelope's office, not long after their team briefing, "You ready to hit the road, baby girl? Got your go bag?"
"Its in the trunk of Esther."
"I'll grab it on the way to the SUV. We're wheels up in thirty so lets get going."
"I'm so excited I get to come along this time! I hardly never get out of my lair. I love it here but its exciting to be in the same place as you...and the rest of the team, of course."
He grinned. His finger came up and brushed her nose. "You and me in the same hotel....sounds all sorts of scandalous."
She grinned back. "Only if we do it right."
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The trip quickly turned into a nightmare, on most counts. Derek was snapping at Hotch, at odds with the unit leader over how Hotch trusted Agent Kate Joyner when Derek didn't.
Penelope was stuck in a dark office going through hours of security footage and having to watch their unsub kill people on camera.
By the time they made it back to the hotel they were both exhausted. Penelope was supposed to be sharing a suite with JJ and Emily but only Emily was there when she walked in. Penelope heard about Will showing up and outing JJ's pregnancy.
Hearing this she decided to go to Derek's room and give him the good news about JJ. He could probably use some at this point. She collected a few bottles of booze from the mini bar and headed down the hall.
When he opened the door for her he was wearing just pajama pants. She lost her breath. "Remember what I said about wanting to feel breathless? Job well done, Hot Stuff."
He smirked at her, brought his hand up to cup the back of her head, gave her a thorough and intense kiss then pulled her inside. She was stunned. His kisses always left her feeling like she was flying.
Looking around she asked "We're alone? Where's Reid?"
"The kid went on a walk to think."
"You heard about JJ then?"
"No. What about her?"
Garcia smiled. "She has a bun in the oven. Isn't that great, handsome?"
"Wow. Good for her," he said, sincerely. "But..."
He didn't have to say more for her to know he was feeling bad for Reid. She wrapped her arms around Derek's waist, pressed her ear to his heart, and said "I thank God for you, baby."
"Same here," he said, his voice thick with emotion before he kissed her head.
She moved away and pulled the bottles of booze out of her purse. "What's your pleasure?"
He flirted with her "Such a dangerous question."
She smiled back then sat on the bed, opened a bottle and offered it to him. They hung out drinking and talking for hours.
(There are places I'll remember
all my life.
Though some have changed.
-
Some forever not for better.
Some have gone.
Some remain.
-
All these places have their moments
with lover and friends
I still can recall.
-
Some are dead and some are living.
In my life, I loved them all)
JJ and Will are in the bar, talking about their future. Hotch is reading the newspaper that has a story about the killer. Prentiss is in her room, staring out the window. Rossi is still at the police station, trying to find that one piece of information in the file that will break the case. Reid is sitting in a diner, drinking coffee, and staring out the window- as rain pours down.
(But of all these friends and lovers.
There is no one
compares to you.
-
And these memories lose their meaning
when I think of love as something new.
-
Though I know I'll never lose affection
for people and things that went before.
-
I know I'll often
stop and think about them.
-
In my life, I love you more.) (Chantal Kreviazuk cover version of Beatles song)
Reid remembers saying "You know she's the only one who calls me Spence."
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Over and over, it happened again and again, and she could hardly stand it. Each time he is in danger it feels like her heart stops and it doesn't start again till she hears his voice. That next day was like that more than once.
First she heard from Rossi that a black SUV exploded. Just like the kind Derek was driving around the city. Till she heard his voice on the other end of the phone she couldn't even think straight.
Later that day its so much worse. He's racing through the streets in an ambulance filled with explosives...trying to tell her something but she can't really think about what because all she can think is "DON'T YOU DIE, DEREK MORGAN! I NEED YOU."
In the end his voice fills her ear again. He's still alive. And her heart beats once more.
XXXXXXXXXX
The next time she sees him she knows a truth he never mentioned to her before: that if Kate messed up her job then that job, in New York City, would be his.
She also knows Kate is dead. All this information came from Rossi, who had no idea that Morgan and Garcia were now dating. Though he was a perceptive man so maybe telling her wasn't a slip of his tongue at all.
Morgan is dirty and his shoulder is sore when he walks into the computer room where Garcia has been working. He opens his arm to her and she rushes into them. He buries his face into the crook of her neck, breathing heavily, "I love you, baby girl. You're the best thing that ever happened to me."
She grips him tightly. He really does piss her off sometimes. Hero complex. Ambition to spare. And he keeps his mouth shut till he has to tell her- when it comes to things that he's afraid might upset her or make him lose her.
But she loves him so much that it hurts. So she won't be giving up on her noir hero anytime soon.
THE END