Note- Usually when I post a story I have completely written it before I put up chapter one. With this story that would mean I would have to wait till next June to start posting so, for the first time in a long time, I will be writing as I go along. It makes it so I have no idea what is coming next in my own story.

That being said this story will turn to romance at some point but I will have to see first how the episodes play out to make the best spot to move them from friends to lovers.

Sara

Season of Love

Episode 4

October 2011

There were definite perks to having Derek Morgan as a best friend. His arms alone were a very nice treat to hold a girl tight within their grasp and make her feel as if she was safe from the cold, cruel world with all the freak and freakettes that were in it.

Then there were his jokes, his laugh, and his smile, all three could brighten any bad day.

He might look like one of those hunky jocks who didn't have a sensitive bone in his body but that was far from true. He loved his sports- almost as much as she loved her computers and that was saying something- but he was one of the most sensitive men Penelope Garcia had ever known. Derek knew how a woman liked to be treated.

Always there with a shoulder rub, a steaming cup of coffee, a screwdriver to fix her computer or chair and kind words to lift her spirit. These days he had upped his game even more and was giving Penelope regular foot rubs after cases.

Like tonight.

They sat on his couch with her feet in his lap. It used to be that if they wanted to hang out after work they had to either go to a bar, the diner near work, or stay in his office watching a movie there because Kevin would not understand Penelope going to lounge around Derek's house long into the night. And Derek didn't like coming by her place because Kevin had a key and he might be there.

Things had always been slightly strained between the two men. Kevin let it show more than Derek ever did. Derek would laugh off the fact that Kevin was always so jealous over Derek and Penelope's friendship. So Penelope had thought that Derek really didn't want her that way.

Sure there had been many, many little moments when she thought maybe, just maybe (please God let it be true) Derek was interested in her but the moments always passed and Derek would quickly lose that certain look in his eye, going back to her joking, laughing, flirty just friend in the blink of an eye. But the months since Penelope had ended things with Kevin had made her wonder if Derek had ever been as okay with her and Kevin as Derek had acted.

Was he just loving the fact that his best girl, Garcia, was around more to hang out with or was he always wanting to be near her now because he trusted her more than anyone else in his life or could it be...?

Penelope was ignoring the TV in favor of giving Derek a dreamy look, while he rubbed her feet. As the show went to commercial his phone rang.

He grabbed it and frowned.

Her heart jumped into her throat. She knew his looks. That was not the typical 'Crap, we have another case already!" look. It was more personal.

Derek answered his phone by saying "Des?" and then Penelope watched as he pulled the phone away from his ear and shook his head in frustration. "I'm gonna get that kid! Oh, keep it up, Reid. Keep it up. We'll see who crushes who."

Penelope busted out laughing. Derek said into his phone "You should be ashamed of yourself, little sister! I'm gonna save my money and not get you a thing but a prank phone call for Christmas." Then he hung up.

He titled his head to the side and asked Penelope "What are you laughing at?" in a teasing tone. "One little joke and Reid is going postal on me. I can't believe you would help him too. What's up with that? Who do you love?"

"Hmmm, have you seen the jeans he's been wearing lately? They just hug his tight little ass perfectly and make mama go all warm in her form-"

"Garcia!" A definite growl was in his tone.

"You know I'm playing. It's you who is my noir knight and your tushie that is the tightest in all the land."

"That's better, woman," he said, with a playful smirk on his lips, as the TV show came back on.

Penelope moved her feet from his lap and scooted so she was laying her head on his chest. She yawned. "It's late. I should probably head home."

"Hush," he murmured, stroking her hair as they settled in for more TV watching and cuddling.

What could a girl do but listen when a guy like Derek Morgan spoke? Penelope wasn't one to hush for long but he was the only man who could get her to hush for even a little while.

She sighed happily as she tucked her feet under her and cuddled closer to her best friend, still wondering if just being best friends was all he wanted. And why, after all these years, she still couldn't stop thinking they should be more.

They would be so good together.