Season of Love

Episode Two

September 2011

"Hey, girl, we're gonna be wheel's up within the hour," Derek Morgan said into his cell phone as he stood at the police station.

"Very good, my love. I shall eagerly await the return of my crime fighting friends. Hey...how is Reid doing?"

Derek let out a sigh. "He'll come to terms with this in his own time. He's just not there yet."

"I hope he goes to Rossi's tommorow for dinner. I think it would be good for him to fill his head up with nice things about our team again instead of just the bloody gore you see each day out there. Same goes for you. Did you cross out smoking hot date on your schedule for tommorow night and put down dinner with team?"

He let out a low chuckle. "Oh, I don't remember you asking me out on any smoking hot date for tommorow? But if you did then Rossi can shove his pasta cause I got better things to do."

"If I asked you out on a smoking hot date I'd do it in such a way that the memory would burn into your brain, heart and body till you were tattooed inside and out with my name."

"You're so crazy. You know that, right?"

"I know." She chuckled. "So tommorow night...pick me up on your way? Because Esther has been doing this thing...like coughing...I think she's coming down with something."

"It's time to put her out of her misery already before you break down in rush hour traffic in that big beast and I might not even be in town to come pick you up when she finally gives up the ghost."

"Hush your beautiful lips! Esther is still in her prime! But I could use that ride, all the same."

"Yes, baby girl, anything for you. It will be worth going just to see Rossi's face when you turn your nose up at his pancetta."

"I'll eat around the pig. It has a face. You meat lovers can have my portion. The only meat I like comes in a much sexier package."

"I'm sure it does." Derek noticed that the team was starting to head outside to get into the SUVs and go to the airport. "We're heading out so I'll see you in a few hours."

"Okay...one more thing, I'm glad you're coming tommorow night because I know that it has hit you hard too with how the truth about Emily was kept from you. It bugs me too but then I look at her and all I can think is how much of a miracle it is. That's more important than being pissed about the way it was handled. In time the pain of that will fade but if Emily was really dead the pain of losing her would never fade. You feel me?"

Derek sighed. "You're right. I'm not okay with what Hotch did. I wouldn't have done it the same if I was him. But what is done is done. Sometimes you win and it still feels like you lost something. This is just one of those times."

"You have me still and always."

Derek smiled. "As long as I have my God given solace I got no reason to complain."

The call came to an end, leaving Penelope Garcia sitting in her office with a warm smile on her lips.