[a/n: i've been trying all day to log in and post this chapter. finally! the following is some juicy girl gossip that leads into the happening in the next chapter. again, i'm skipping over the unsub bits. hopefully you will all fill in the blanks if you wish. excellent. love y'all. peace.]

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

Emily and J.J. stared at each other across the table in wordless freak out mode.

"So, he was naked?", Emily asked for what seemed like the tenth time.

"In a towel", Penelope corrected her patiently.

"He was naked and dripping wet?", J.J. asked on her end of the conference call.

"In a towel", Penelope corrected her blonde friend.

"All glisten-y and muscle-y and naked?", Emily asked.

"In a towel", Penelope yet again corrected.

"Just standing in your bedroom doorway.. naked?", J.J. asked.

"Guys! He was wearing a towel! That was the only thing he was wearing, yes, but he wasn't nude!", Penelope snapped, finally loosing patients with her girl friends.

"What did you say?", J.J. asked, an amused tone creeping into her voice.

"I couldn't say anything", Penelope answered truthfully. "So many things were going through my head at once."

"I bet there were", Emily teased, causing J.J. to snicker.

"It wasn't funny, guys", Penelope whined plaintively.

"Oh, come on", Emily chuckled. "You have to admit, it's actually incredibly funny."

"Um, I beg to differ", Penelope pointed out. "I have a boyfriend whose loyalty I swore not to betray."

"I suppose, when you put it like that..", Emily sighed, shrugging. "I'm sorry for trying to pump you for info this morning. If I had had any idea-"

"You would have only tried harder", Penelope acknowledged. "It's okay, what are friends for?"

"Thanks, P", Emily smiled as J.J. winked at her. "So.. what are you gonna do about Kevin?"

Penelope had honestly run out of ideas. "I'm open to suggestions.. My word doesn't seem to be good enough."

"Well", J.J. began, exchanging a look with Emily that clearly said 'is she serious?', "You can't really blame him, can you?"

"Ouch", Penelope complained, slightly hurt. "So much for hoping you'd both be supportive."

"I just mean- You and Derek.. Well, you don't exactly have a 'normal' friendship, do you?", J.J. tried to hint.

"Um, did I accidentally pick up a call from Kevin?", Penelope asked pointedly. "'cause I was trying to reach J.J. and Emily."

"You have to be willing to admit that you and Derek can push the boundaries a bit when it comes to friendship?", J.J. insisted.

"We're flirty and close, if that's what you mean", Penelope could see how those actions could be misconstrued.

J.J. rolled her eyes. "That's not what we mean."

"Well, what else is there?", Penelope wanted to know.

J.J. sighed. She needed an example to make Penelope see how potentially dangerous her situation really was. "So, an example- ahhh.. What did you and Derek do last night?"

"Nothing", Penelope was quick to dismiss what she felt was an unwarranted accusation. "It was-"

"I didn't mean anything by it", J.J. assured her. "Just.. outline the evening."

Penelope mulled the request for a moment before responding. "We had some wine, we joked around and made some popcorn. We watched a movie, I fell asleep half way through, Derek woke me up when the movie was over, then we changed and went to bed properly."

"Okay", J.J. tried to lead into her next point as gently as she could. "Now, think back... Was there anytime throughout the evening, if Kevin had shown up for some unknown reason, that he might have seen something that he could have perceived as you breaking your word?"

Penelope thought long and hard as she was determined to prove J.J. wrong, but then something occurred to her almost immediately. "Oh.."

"Oh?", Emily asked, intrigued. It sounded juicy.

"No, it was nothing", Penelope tried to dismiss.

"No, it was something", J.J. insisted, really wanting to get her point across. "What did you think of?"

"It's just so silly-", Penelope tried to deflect.

"But it popped into your head when I asked, didn't it?", J.J. pressed.

"Yes, but-"

"What was it?"

Penelope sighed in defeat. She was no match for a profiler on a mission. "There may have been a pillow fight.."

"And?", J.J. prodded, sensing she was holding back.

"And... kind of wrestling around..", Penelope mumbled, trailing off. "but it was all innocent, I swear!"

"You have to be careful, P", J.J. warned, shaking her head. "We know you're innocent, sure, but if you find yourself interacting with Derek in a way that Kevin would disapprove of when Kevin is not present, it's up to you to honour any objections he might make."

"I know", Penelope groaned in frustration. "Honouring your boyfriend sucks sometimes."

"Welcome to my world", J.J. smiled wryly.

"I mean, I love him, I do", Penelope assured her friends and herself, "but Derek is just so.. fun."

"I get it", J.J. assured Penelope in return. "Believe me, I do. I think we'll make a honest women out of you yet."

"Perish the thought!", Penelope gasped in mock-horror. "Anyway, I'm sure I should let you lovely ladies get back to your gambling nut bag."

"And she avoids spilling the goods on the pillow fight by reminding us of our duties", Emily jibbed. "Oh well, if we must, we must. Catch ya later, P."

"You know it, Ems", Penelope smirked. "Chow bellas!"

[a/n: are you wondering how that pillow fight played out? good. very good... more to come.]