Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds

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The team didn't have time to question Penelope as they were pulled into the throes of work by a new murder and Penelope was plunged into a virtual world while the others fought the through the physical world.

She worked aimlessly and with a major lack of assistance after all she didn't need it she knew what she was doing. She heard a knock at the door and summoned in the person.

'Hey Pen, Hotch wants you to take a break, come to the canteen, get something to eat, unwind with us... its an order not an option.' JJ laughed as Penelope immediately secured the laptops and went with her, she sat next to Derek and felt at ease.

'You okay baby girl?' She nodded. 'You sure?'

'Positive.' They sat dancing around what happened earlier with the auntie comments, they learned more about Lance and Owen and were looking forward to the welcomed break in a case, they would go if the case allowed a break, although they would keep their mind set on the, maybe just maybe they would get called away.

'Penelope can I talk to you?' Came the voice of the detective from earlier, Penelope knew this was coming so stood and followed him to a nearby table in complete silence. 'Do you realise your brothers thought you were missing?'

'I did consider it.'

'Did you realise they have tried day after day to find you.'

'Like hell they would Jimmy.'

'No don't you talk to me like that, I realised it was hard for you Penelope, but they lost their parents too, and then not long after it they basically lost you too.' He said sternly, knowing the team would be listening so he stood his ground, Penelope would not brow beat him this time.

'They started to plan my life in front of me! God damn it Jimmy! Everyone stood around as I was plunged into adulthood; I wasn't entirely ready for that!'

'I know, I know...' Jimmy said trying to calm her down, seeing the team were now definitely watching.

'You don't though! I had to sit back while George planned my life, right in front of me! He had my fiancé set up, my wedding, my honeymoon, my marital home, when and what children I would have, it wasn't left for me to decide, it was all done for me!'

'Penny he was trying to help.'

'Seriously stop calling me Penny like I'm still the little girl you met in that hospital bed, I was suffocating here, and again I'm suffocating... I was told today I have a niece named after me, how bad do I feel that I skipped out on that? On whatever else I skipped out on?'

'Why didn't you make a stand, ask for it to stop?'

'You think I didn't?' She asked and put her head in her hands. 'Jimmy I tried so hard, but the man George wanted me to marry was an arse, if I had married him I would've been in and out of hospital so many times claiming stupidity!'

'He wouldn't have hurt you.'

'Well I suppose we'll never have to find out will we?'

'No... I hate to see you hurt.' He put his hand on hers fatherly and squeezed when she looked up at him and placed her hands down. 'I know you're not that same 16 year old girl or the 18 year old girl and looking at you, and them, I'm proud Penelope, proud of how you've turned out.' He saw her smile. 'See I love that about you.' He pinched the side of her face proudly and wiped a tear. 'You know I'll love you like a daughter forever, I just wished you'd been around more.'

'I know you do and I'm sorry I really am but I love my life, I love him, I love them.'

'You've definitely left an impression on them, especially Derek, never stops discussing you.' He chuckled as she blushed. 'Some things obviously don't change.'

'Faulty genes.'

'There is nothing wrong with your genes.' He smiled at her. 'Now word has it you are going to Lance and Owens's wedding?' She nodded. 'Them too?' She nodded again. 'You'll do good, not everyone's against you, remember that.'

'Aunt Lara is.'

'She's a bitter and twisted old hag anyway.' She laughed and didn't realise tears were building until one fell. 'Hey! No tears.'

'I'm sorry but this case is a little close to home for me.'

'I get that, feeling a little overwhelmed at the prospects of being here?' She nodded and wiped her eyes. 'Well if you ever want some time out, I can get another tech here in a flash.'

'I think Hotch will force me off this case if it gets too much.'

'Okay well that's good.' He looked at her as her eye just continued to allow tears to flee. 'What else is bothering you?'

'Nothing...'

'Penny...' He said using the name she hated now.

'It's just a culmination of things, my past, my present, what if Nick turns up?'

'I'm afraid he is going to... he works for the PD here.' He saw her look defeated. 'I can easily keep him away.'

'No I need to face up to him... how did his life turn out?'

'He's wifeless, basically a player, as Olivia puts it, he is repulsive.' He looked at team. 'Seems we have sparked some worry.'

'Me and my emotions again.' She said as she wiped the last of the tears from her eyes.

'Come on you; let's get you back over there.' He said standing up and taking her by the hand before she could answer him, he walked her back. 'I haven't broken her.'

'No he hasn't just stupid emotions.'

'But is everything okay?'

'Penelope Garcia as I live and breathe.' A voice broke in stopping Derek from comforting her.

'Shit... if I have to hear my name again from another person I'm going to scream.' They saw her tense at the voice, her hand go to Derek's shoulder, his hand on hers.

'Well it is you.' Came the overweight grease ball some would've called a man. 'Ah see if you'd stuck around you would've been married to a police officer.'

'What and woke up daily vomiting?' She quipped back, she knew not to handle him lightly, it was the least the he deserved. The team and Jimmy tried to stifle laughter but with not much success.

'Oh Penelope you wound me.' He stepped forward and gave Derek the death glare as he saw the affection radiating, Derek didn't step down at all. 'So what brings you home? Was it that murder? Need little black man here to support you and the rest of your goons?'

'Nick, I don't know who or even what the hell you think you are but you have no right to speak to me like that nor will I sit aside while you talk to my friends like that.'

'Well you know your true friends and family are here, so come back we can have that wedding.'

'Hmm so I can jilt you again?' They saw the look on Nick's eyes. 'Yeah see, want to go through that again?'

'So what is black man here going to be jilted too?'

'No... because we are already married.' Derek said standing up, shocking everyone except Hotch and Rossi who already knew.

'You... her...' Nick laughed and came face to face with Derek. 'What you going to do?'

'Well if you don't leave my wife alone, I'll use my FBI training and then you'll soon know.'

'Okay, okay man I get it.... it's love.'

'Good.' Derek backed down and stood next to Penelope, placing a protective arm around her. 'You okay baby girl?'

'Yes thanks handsome.' She looked at Nick.

'You know there was a good future for us two Penny.'

'No there wasn't...'

'Your brother saw it; we could have worked it out.' Nick got his phone out and dialled a number and smiled at Penelope, she knew what he was doing. 'Hey George.' He smiled evilly. 'I have a little surprise down here at the station.'

'Nick don't.' Jimmy warned, he went ignored. 'Nick!'

'Sorry George got to go.' He snapped the phone down. 'Aw Penny, don't you want to see your big brothers?'

'Why would you do that?'

'Because your brothers have been after a word with you since you skipped town... unsettled business.'

'There's nothing to settle.' She said and turned to the team. 'Can we discuss this later?' She said more at JJ, Emily and Reid as they sat shocked. 'I'm going to head back... finish some searches for you.'