Home for The Holidays

Morgan and Garcia

Chapter Six

December 2007

Derek had barely slept the night before. After coming back from the bar he had felt as restless as a caged tiger. The alcohol in his system hadn't done anything to calm his nerves either.

He stuck to his room but couldn't seem to sit down. He did sit ups and push ups to try and burn off some energy but what he really wanted to do was go to Penelope's room and kiss her till she forgot anything and everything but him.

Instead he told himself that doing that might mess up the fun vibe of their trip, if she didn't want him to kiss her just as badly as he wanted it, and that he shouldn't risk that. They were having a great time together. He needed to cool his jets. Put his libido in park and just keep showing her a wonderful time on this trip.

That's what his brain thought. His body was sure his brain was a damn idiot. By morning Derek had to agree. He felt lousy- tired, cranky and about to snap.

Penelope was sleeping in. Meanwhile Derek had awoke at dawn, after only a couple of hours of sleep, and had already been to the hotel gym. He was in the bathroom, with the door open, standing there in a towel shaving when Penelope's bedroom door opened.

Glancing at her, he saw she was dressed in her pink silk robe.

"Morning, princess."

"I'll show you a good morning, Hot Stuff."

His jaw clenched as he looked in the mirror, going back to shaving. Penelope walked closer and studied him.

Derek said "I'll be done in just a minute, if you wanna get in here."

"Baby, you look tired," she dragged out the last word. "I know you don't like to talk about this subject but..."

He looked at her and raised an eyebrow.

She went on "Are you having nightmares again? Derek, you can tell me if you are."

"No. Its not that. I just didn't sleep great last night. That's all, gorgeous, promise."

She stretched and the fabric of her robe went tight over her breasts, Derek couldn't help but notice.

Penelope said "I'm sorry to hear that. I slept fantastically. Of course that was after visions of your chocolate God body rocked me into a blissful sleep," she flirted with him, insinuating she had pleasured herself while imagining him there with her.

He swallowed hard and yanked his gaze off her chest. Derek forced a chuckle. "You're crazy, Garcia." He looked back at the mirror and finished shaving.

Penelope walked in the bathroom and rubbed his bare back. "Baby, lets just take it easy today since you're so tired. Do you wanna reschedule with your nephews?"

Feeling her body right against his side, when he was only wearing a towel, made lust slam through his veins. His eyes met hers in the mirror and Derek knew there was no doubt she understood, in that moment, how she was affecting him.

Penelope blushed and moved back. "Look at me, invading your bathroom time. You would think we've been married twenty years or something. I'm gonna scoot and let you finish up in here."

He tossed down his shaver and splashed water on his face and then dried his face. "I'm done. Its all yours, baby girl," he said, in a low and throaty voice, filled with equals parts desire and frustration. Derek hurried to his bedroom and closed the door. Leaning against it he shook his head.

Sometimes she made him feel like a stupid teenager again. He had to get himself together cause he was caught firmly between heaven and hell these days.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

Derek's mood improved once they picked up his nephews. They took the kids to Dave and Busters- a restaurant that also had an arcade, shuffle board, pool tables and more in it. It was a place geared for all ages.

Daniel and Darren kept Penelope and Derek smiling and laughing all day. Derek loved the way Penelope was around kids. He had seen her before with Jack and Henry and noticed then that she was a natural. She absolutely glowed when kids were around.

Afterwards they took the kids to see a movie. Derek and Penelope shared their popcorn and twizzlers. After he was stuffed he intertwined their fingers and held her hand for the rest of the movie.

"Uncle Derek," Daniel said, as they left the movie "I love hanging out with you."

"I love hanging out with you too, kid."

"You're so awesome! I wish you lived in Chicago!"

Derek smiled.

Then Daniel asked "Can we go by The Disney Store on the way home?"

Penelope tried to stifle her laugh, at how his nephew was trying to work him.

Derek said "Your Mom would kill me. You don't wanna see your uncle killed, do ya?"

"But," Darren whined, jumping in on his brother's cause, "you took us there last time you visited and she didn't kill you then. You're still alive!"

"Christmas is in two days. Santa will bring you all the toys you two wild munchkins need and if I bring you home hopped up on sugar and with a bunch of toys Sarah will have my behind. She already says I spoil y'all too much."

Turning his eyes on Penelope Daniel said "Miss P, my Mommy won't care if you spoil us too much. She's always nice to strangers."

Derek told his nephew. "That's enough with that."

Penelope said "Sorry. No toy store today but I have been wanting to go to the aquarium and they do have a gift shop. If you boys don't mind looking at a bunch of fish with me and your uncle then maybe you could get yourself something out of the bargain. What do you say?"

"YAY!" the boys cheered.

Derek smiled at Penelope before they headed out of the theater and went to get back into the SUV.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Once again they didn't get back to the hotel till late. Once they walked into the suite Derek said "Lets crack open the mini bar, baby girl."

"Okay, handsome, but I would have thought you'd be exhausted by now. Since you didn't get a lot of rest last night. Don't feel you need to entertain me."

"I could use to wind down before I hit the sack."

They peeled out of their coats, scarfs and gloves. Derek grabbed the ice bucket. "I'm gonna go fill this. You check out our options."

"Will do, sugar buns."

He smirked at her and left. When he came back she had kicked off her shoes and had her legs folded beneath her on the couch. The small bottles of alcohol were on the coffee table in front of her. Her purse sat on a nearby chair and her cell was on the table too.

Derek smiled and sat down next to her, then rolled his head on his neck. "Those kids wear my ass out."

Penelope laughed. "Don't you dare complain. One, they are the cutest twins in the world. Two, you only have to take care of them a few days a year."

"And I love them but I still stand by the statement that they wear me out. They need a chill pill sometimes."

"Talking about drugging lovable, chipmunk cheek babies. For shame!" she teased him and he laughed.

Derek made them some drinks and they both took a sip. Over the top of his glass he watched her, his eyes soaking her in. "You still loving Chicago as much as last night?"

"More and more every second."

He smiled. "Good, good, good. This has been my best trip home ever. Thank you very much, baby girl, for joining me."

"A once in a lifetime opportunity. Way too uber tempting to have passed up."

"Glad to hear it." He placed his hand on her leg and leaned closer to her. "You know you mean the whole world to me, don't ya?"

Her breath caught. Her eyes searched his. Then her cell went off. Penelope jerked away and grabbed it. She read the text message, pressed a button and then set the phone down. "Sorry, baby."

"Was that JJ? What's up with her? Did they make it New Orleans all right?"

"I'll have to call her and check in. I was meaning to but the day got away from me. That wasn't her that sent me a text. It was...just someone else."

Derek raised an eyebrow. "Oh yeah?"

"Okay, it was Kevin."

"Kevin? Do we know a Kevin?"

"Remember when I was shot...that tech who helped the team out and then he was taken hostage."

"Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah..." Derek's eyebrows furrowed. "So what did he want? A work thing? Tell that man you're off the clock, baby girl. You deserve a break from that place just as much as anyone."

"It wasn't a work thing."

Derek's eyes darkened. "Is he bothering you? Should I have a talk with him?"

"He's not bothering me. He just likes me, baby. That's all. It happens, right?"

Derek swallowed hard. "Yeah, yeah, it happens." He downed his drink and picked up another bottle. "What else do we got here?" He poured another drink and sipped it. "Smooth. You want a taste, angel?" He handed her the glass and she tried it, before passing the glass back.

"Nice."

"Probably gonna cost me an arm and a leg but I don't give a damn. We so rarely get time off that I don't spend working on my houses that every now and then I like to really do it up right. Especially when you're with me." Leaning back on the couch he studied her and asked "So are you feeling this tech guy. What's his name again?"

"Kevin Lynch."

"Is he gonna be your man, Garcia?"

"I don't know."

Derek's eyes bore into her. "Are you into him or not? It's a simple question."

"He's okay, Derek. I don't know him all that well."

"But he's hitting on you. He wants you. What do you want?"

"I guess to see if I like him enough to date him. We have a date set for New Year's Eve."

"The day we get back? Wow. Not wasting anytime, are you?"

"Like you won't have a woman in your bed that night. Probably someone you barely know and surely don't love."

He growled out his answer in a low and throaty voice. "I won't. You can be damn sure of that."

"Why not?"

Derek downed his drink and sat the glass on the table. "I'm beat. I need to get some shut eye. Night."

After Derek closed his bedroom door, Penelope turned and looked out the large windows of their suite, which overlooked Lake Michigan, as a tear slipped from her eye. She had no idea why Derek had to twist and tear her heart up like he did.