Chapter 2

AN: Moving right along. I will answer reviews right after this. Thanks so much… remember, sooner or later, they'll have a HEA. It's in my blood!

Derek heard the commotion before he saw it. His baby girl was bent over, her cute little butt up in the air, picking up a pile of files that were scattered in his doorway. He watched her for a second, then let out a low whistle. "Now that's a nice view," he said, grinning at her wickedly. She stood up quickly, her cheeks flushed from her task. He started walking around his desk to go help her pick it up.

"Don't talk to me like that! Don't talk to me at all," she growled, going back to her task. He squatted by her, grabbing forms and handing them to her. She ripped them out of his hands, glared at him, then furiously started grabbing the rest of the papers. She was clutching them in a cluttered mess, which was not Penelope's usual manner at all.

He couldn't figure out what the problem was. Originally, he thought she might be teasing about what he said, but he realized quickly that wasn't the case. "Baby girl, what's the matter?"

She didn't even look up at him. She continued to grab the files, growling at him under her breath. He reached over to grab her hands, to still them, so she would stop what she was doing and pay attention to him. She pulled her hands away like he burned her. "Don't touch me!"

"Garcia," he said in a low tone, anger brewing behind his voice. "Stop being childish; tell me what is wrong."

She looked at him again, pursed her lips, and went back to picking up the papers.

"Fine," he said, walking back to his desk. "Be that way. Your loss." He shot that last sentence over his shoulder. He knew that would get a response. If he knew her at all- and he really knew her better than anyone on this earth - that would get a response from her.

"Derek Morgan, you suck!" she said, standing up with the last of her files. "You liar! I don't want to speak to you ever again."

"What? I'm not a liar," he said, completely confused. He sat at the edge of his desk, looking over at her with a rumpled brow. "Will you please tell me what the hell is going on?"

"You told me you weren't involved. 'Trust me; I'm not involved," she mimicked his voice the best that she could.

Understanding dawned on him. She heard his conversation. "Oh," he said. "That."

"You… you… Benedict Arnold!" she spat absolutely furious that he acted like it was no big deal that he lied like a rug to her!

He rolled his eyes. "Baby girl, what you said. That doesn't make me a liar."

"Don't call me--"

He interrupted her. She really was being ridiculous. "When I told you that, I wasn't involved. I waited until the case was closed, then I called her. We've been dating for a little while. I just haven't had the time to tell you." He held up the silver cross, "This was her brother's."

Her heart clenched a little bit. She asked about that, but he wouldn't tell her. She didn't exactly know why her heart was hurting so much, but she felt like it was going to wrench from her chest and run away. He didn't tell her then when she asked; he wanted his secret. She was his best friend!

Still, she just knew that he shouldn't be doing that, shouldn't be going with that woman. She had to tell him, without a doubt. "You know that's a bad idea! A victim's sister," she spat.

She was looking at him like he was something very low that slinked by her shoe. This was starting to really piss him off. "Look, Garcia, this is not a problem. I was concerned that it would be an issue, so I asked. Now that the case is closed, this is a non-issue."

"Derek, it's wrong, it's stupid, it's-"

"Garcia, what is the problem with you? Why I am defending my relationship to you is beyond me," he said, exasperated. "I am allowed to have a life, too. Are you jealous or something?"

She sucked in a breath like he slapped her. "You prick!" she said, turning and leaving him standing there, in rather stunned silence.