Chapter 5

AN: Thank you so much for the reviews. Sorry I am a day late posting. Was babysitting my BFF's one year old (My baby is seven now!). Whew! I forgot how much energy they take! LOL.. As for the story...here we go! Let's see if Rossi and Prentiss can cast their magic...

Dave knew this wasn't going to go well two minutes after Penelope had shown up. She'd walked in, bubbly and happy as usual in a white dress with pink and red polka dots on it. She had on a matching pink sweater and a pair of pink high heels, along with a pink bow thing in her hair.

The woman was hard to miss, that was for sure.

She'd taken a seat across from Emily in the booth made for four and scooted in. "Hi, Em."

"Hi Garcie!" Emily had said, a little too excited. Her grin took up half her face. Dave decided at that moment he needed to teach her about the word subtlety.

Pen had shot him a smile, and he'd said, "Hey, kitten."

"Where's the rest of the team?" she'd asked. She'd looked around then looked back at him. "As a matter of fact...where's the rest of the table? There's no room."

"Oh...that," he'd said, at a complete loss for words. He had not expected Pen's question. He hadn't thought that far ahead, honestly.

Pen's eyes had narrowed at Emily, who'd looked as guilty as Dave felt. "What's going on, you two?"

That lead them to where they were now, speechless and on the spot.

Emily, quick witted babe that she was, said, "JJ called and said she couldn't come, and Reid isn't coming, either. That leaves just us, you...and Morgan."

Pen's mouth dropped open. "Emily Prentiss. You didn't!"

"PG, let me explain," she said quickly, as Pen started to slide out of the booth.

"I'll pay," Dave interjected quickly. "It's a great restaurant and you will love the food."

"Rossi!" Pen said, turning hurt eyes on him. "I can't believe you were part of this! I expect it from Emily- she obviously hates my boyfriend- but you?"

"Ex-boyfriend," Emily added quickly, and from the look on her face, immediately regretted it.

Penelope's eyes grew wet with tears. "Yes, Em. My boyfriend of three years who never did anything but love me is now gone. Am I supposed to cheer, like you obviously are?"

Emily sat back and her eyes grew cold. "If you really think I am that much of a bitch, Garcia, we no longer need to speak."

"Ladies, come on," Dave pleaded.

"Shut up," Emily spat, looking at him, and with the look on his hot under the collar girlfriend's face, he did as she bid.

He glanced over at Penelope, who took the fine linen napkin off the table to wipe her eyes. "I can't believe you would do this to me, Emily, after everything I told you."

"But-"

Dave didn't get to find out what Em was going to say.

"What in the hell is going on?" Derek thundered, arriving at the table. He immediately sat next to Penelope, ignoring both Rossi and Prentiss. He held her against his chest, shot the other two a scowl, and then cupped her chin. "Baby... sweetheart. Tell me; what's wrong?"

Penelope looked at him for another second as dead silence filled the air. For a moment, Dave thought she might actually say something of value, something that would finally clear the air for good. Emily was even holding her breath next to him.

"Oh, God!" Penelope cried.

Then she wailed and put her head into his chest.

Scratch that.

Dave decided he should try and make this better. They couldn't spend the whole dinner crying. Besides, there were four manicotti in the kitchen with his name on it.

"Derek-"

"Shut up, Rossi," Derek spat, then went back to cooing to Penelope.

Emily looked at Dave.

Dave looked back at Emily.

Then they both stared at Morgan and Garcia, clinging to each other, her arms around his middle, his cheek on the top of her head.

"Baby...do we need to go?" Derek murmured, giving Penelope such warm, loving eyes.

"Yes," she said, sniffling. She truly looked miserable, which made Dave feel horrible.

"Penelope, I never meant to hurt you," Emily whispered, as Derek and Pen began to get out of the booth. Dave glanced at Em and saw the tears in her eyes.

Dave felt terrible for both of the girls. Emily...she meant well. He did, too. "Neither of us meant any harm. You both need to hear this. Sit back down."

"Haven't you done enough?" Derek asked, giving him a dirty look before standing up. He reached a hand for Pen, who quickly squeezed his hand.

Dave had had enough of this whole situation."Yes, dammit. I've done too much. More than I should have to," he said, growling. "Sit down!"

He said it so loudly he drew a crowd of attention, which he hated. Other diners turned to look at them. However, it did the trick; Pen sat back down and Derek did, too, begrudgingly.

"You got five minutes, man," Derek said in a tone so menacing, it raised the hair on Rossi's arms.

"Okay," Rossi said, squinting one eye at Derek. "You want the abridged version; you're getting it." He turned to face Penelope. "Kitten, that idiot is in love with you." He gestured with his thumb towards Derek, in case Penelope didn't catch it.

Penelope's eyes widened and she began to blink. She was no longer crying; she looked like a deer caught in the headlights of a car.

"And you," he said, looking over at Derek, who looked like he'd swallowed his liver. "This kitten is in love with you. She's seen the parade of women you've walked by with, and hadn't considered herself in their caliber." He smiled warmly at Penelope; he'd always had a soft spot for the tech. "I'm telling her now what she'd thought was wrong, no matter how this turns out."

Both Derek and Pen stared back at him, speechless.

"That was less than five minutes." He sat back, crossing his legs. " I'm done."

Emily reached under the table and patted his leg in approval.

The table was quiet for at least another five minutes, before Derek broke the silence.

"It's true, you know."

Penelope turned to look at Derek, her voice barely over a whisper. "How long?"

Derek's eyes were soft, but fiercely intense. "Forever." He waited another second, then added cautiously, "You, too?"

She nodded quickly, the truth and depth of her feelings in her bright eyes and beaming smile. "Everything he said."

Derek moved closer to her, cupping her face in his hands. "He's a meddling old bastard, isn't he?"

Her smile turned tremulous and her eyes watered, as she buried her fingertips in the soft linen of his shirt. "She's not a very good friend."

"I love you, Baby Girl," he whispered.

"I love you, too, Hot Stuff," she whispered back, and tipped her head to receive his kiss.

Emily was so excited, the spot where she was patting Rossi's leg was starting to ache.

Dave was just relieved it was over.

A few moments later, Dave cleared his throat, and snapped open his menu.

"The manicotti here is to die for," he said smugly.

Penelope looked at Derek.

Derek looked at Penelope.

And they both grinned as they opened their menus.