DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN CRIMINAL MINDS OR ANY COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL HERE IN.. the towel made me do it, i swear...

"There she is!", Emily whispered conspiratorially in J.J.'s ear.

The two giggled silently as they fell into step with their very flustered looking friend.

It took a few moments for Penelope to acknowledge the presence of the other two BAU ladies, and when she did, she lowered her head, pulled the files she was holding closer to her chest, and attempted to shake them by hastening her pace.

"Oh no you don't!", Emily scolded, matching her stride for stride easily as she wore more practical foot ware then the quirky tech. "Don't think you're gonna pull that stunt on us, miss thing!"

"We want to know what's going on with you and Morgan", J.J. smirked pointedly.

"Hence my bid for freedom", Penelope replied, head still lowered and booking it as fast as her platform heels would allow.

Emily and J.J. exchanged a look of surprise. They hadn't expected her to admit to anything.

"So.. something IS 'going on'?", J.J. asked in an awed sort of whisper.

"Derek is having to stay with me a few days because there is extensive water damage in his current residence and they need do a major clean up and inspection before he can move back in", Penelope explained, recalling her earlier conversation with Kevin that hadn't gone over as smoothly as one would hope. "That's all. I'm just helping out a friend."

"No", Emily eyed Penelope suspiciously. "I really don't think that's the end of it."

"What is with you being so nosey today?", Penelope demanded to know rather harshly. "Why don't you just mind your own business?"

Emily was slightly taken aback. "I'm sorry, p. I didn't mean-"

"It's bad enough Kevin is fuming and threatening me with departure seven ways past sunday, but now the people I have asked time and time and effing time again to NOT PROFILE ME are interrogating me just for a juicy bit of gossip? No. You don't get to do that. You are supposed to be my friends and you don't get to question my loyalties."

Emily and J.J. fell silent and stopped following Penelope. Only when she disappeared around the end of the hallway corner did they speak again.

"She knows I didn't mean to hurt her, right?", Emily asked, feeling incredibly guilty.

"Yes", J.J. assured her, with a comforting hand on her shoulder. "She's just upset at the strain her close friendship with Morgan is putting on her relationship with Kevin. She needs some time to process and level off. We'll check in on her later."

Emily nodded with a grateful smile, following J.J. back to the bullpen to collect their things for the trip.

[a/n: penelope's temper flare is a setup for the next chapter.. hopefully.. anyway, sorry for the shortness. more to come. love y'all. peace.]