Chapter 8

AN: Now we're getting somewhere!……Remember, sometimes we get help where we least expect it....

"Get up! Come on, so I can punch you again!" Kevin said.

Derek had the unfortunate, surreal experience of looking up at Kevin Lynch while holding his very sore jaw. Not in a million years did Morgan ever think that Lynch would knock him flat. It would've been funny, if he wasn't so pissed about it.....

Then he thought about it for a minute. Lynch really had every right to punch him. He made love to his girlfriend, even though the girlfriend didn't see it that way. No, Penelope saw it as something much more base. Like scratching an itch. He poured out his heart and soul, she scratched an itch.

See? Yet again Lynch won. That geeky bastard bouncing back and forth on his feet like a prize fighter, dukes up, ready to sock him again, won. Never in his life did he hate someone like he hated Kevin right now.

"You won, Lynch," he said, sitting up. "You got your punch for me screwing her, now let it go."

Kevin looked stunned, stopping his bouncing. "You really are as stupid as a dos-based operating system! I never would've guessed that, you seemed a little brighter." He growled down at him. "So you know, idiot, I hit you because my girlfriend broke up with me because she said she cheated on me with someone. I figured it was you, you asshole."

Derek really was confused at this point. "Why'd she break up with you?"

Kevin didn't even bother to answer. He was turning red, he was getting so mad. It wasn't a nice combination with his pink checkered shirt and magenta and puce plaid tie. "Yes, I'm the one who loves her, worships the ground she walks on for nearly three years, and she breaks it off with me 'cause she had sex with you!" He actually kicked some dust at Derek.

"Listen, she-"

"I loved her, and she says she can't be with me, only wants you. Stupid thing is, she knows she'll never have you," he calmed down a lot then, and he lowered his fists. He just looked really, really sad. "She said she'd rather be alone than try to be with someone else."

Derek was digesting all the information that Lynch was saying. Dear God, did it feel good. He wanted to cheer, to hug Lynch for the good news. But looking at the other man, he couldn't do it. He knew all too well what it was like to lose.

He took a deep breath. "Kevin," he said, using the man's Christian name for the first time since he met him. "I love her. I have always loved her. I won't do wrong by her, I promise." He stood up and put his hand out to Kevin. "I am so sorry, man. And if you want to belt me again, go ahead."

Kevin just turned a sad little smile at him. "What's the use? She always put you first anyway," he actually smirked then. "I kinda knew this was coming, someday." He then shook Derek's hand. "Treat her right, or I'll level you."

"Yes, sir," Derek said, smiling somewhat, his jaw aching painfully still.

He had some work to do.

Penelope sat on her couch, her eyes puffy and red. She never cried so much in her entire life. She couldn't remember a time she cried more. She cried less after Battle shot her, for goodness's sake. She took another couple of aspirin. Her head ached like it was in a vise, and she was on short supply of Kleenex.

She lost her best friend. He hated her guts. What he said, she would never forget the coldness of what he said to her. She lost her boyfriend, although that was no big deal. She always knew Kevin wouldn't be forever. He was actually very nice to her, considering what happened. It surprised her that Kevin didn't seem that surprised.

"It's Morgan, isn't it?" he said, rather knowingly. But Penelope refused to comment. She didn't want anyone to know who it was that broke her heart so badly it was shattered. After all, she still had to work with both of them.

No wonder people warn against office fraternization!

She went to get a bag of peas to put on top of her throbbing head. It was so sore from crying. As she stood up, she heard a knock on her door.

"Go away," she yelled, holding her head. She was not in the mood at all for company.

"Garcia!" the bane of her existence called out. "Let me in."