Chapter Four

Again, sorry for the long wait! I am ignoring my studying to write because 1) I feel guilty for not updating 2)I am obsessing over CM right now…loved the premiere! Another quickie…

Disclaimer: For the first time ever, I can say I'm glad I don't own the show, because there is no way I could have come up with a great storyline conclusion like what my eyes saw last night.

Dinner, Penelope's Apartment

"Sweetheart, could you pass the salad?" Kevin murmured politely. His words, though soft, struck Penelope's eardrum with swift force. Jumping slightly, she handed him the bowl.

"Everything going all right at work?" he asked, laying his hand on hers in an act of reassurance. She nodded, though her mind was elsewhere.

"Derek, really, we're fine. Nothing for you to be sorry about." Derek still looked a tad unconvinced.

"It's just…..I feel so bad. You didn't deserve to be treated like second rate, because you're one of the most important people in the world to me."

"Handsome, honestly, can we just drop it?" Penelope was starting to lose patience with the incessant groveling.

"How can I drop it when…..when I love you?" His eyes suddenly augmented, and became orbs of vivid terror. She wasn't supposed to hear that…not when she already had a boyfriend.

Penelope's own eyes began to water. She smiled at him even through the thick, tangible emotion encircling them.

"I love you, too." To her horror, Penelope realized she was back at dinner with Kevin, and that she'd voiced her declaration aloud.

"What was that, Penny?" Kevin looked up from his plate. She shook her head, cursing her own stupidity. But he wasn't willing to let this instance slide.

"You weren't talking about me, were you?" His voice was woven with hurt and unmistakable flecks of jealousy and rage, and his eyes were becoming oblong with menace.

"K-Kevin, of course I was talking about you!" Penelope stuttered. She could feel Kevin's unrest wrapping itself around her as though a great black boa.

"Yeah right, Penelope. I'm no fool. I know how you feel about that bullheaded Derek Morgan. You probably lay in bed at night wishing that you had just made love with him instead of with me!"

"That's not true!" Penelope felt like she'd been slapped. His accusations were completely unfounded! What evidence could he possibly have?

"Don't lie even more! I know you two went to lunch together! And ten bucks that he told you he loved you, and that's what you were thinking about a moment ago!" At this, Penelope felt the tiny hairs on her neck prickle.

"Kevin, how do you know about our lunch date? I didn't tell anyone." At this, Kevin balked, basking in the afterglow of what he realized was a major error on his fault.

"Never mind. Penelope, as your boyfriend, I think I have the right to forbid you from such rendezvous' with Agent Morgan." Penelope felt anger stir within the pit of her stomach.

"You don't have that right at all! We're friends, nothing more!" She was extremely close to just ending the relationship right then and there, but decided against it. After all, Kevin had done nothing but love her up until moments before.

"Let me rephrase that: If you do not promise to stop seeing Morgan, then life will become very miserable for him, in ways you can't imagine."

"You're crazy," Penelope muttered. "What the hell is going on with you?"

"Is it not right, Penny, for me to expect a simple thing like this from you?"

"If you force me to make a choice, then I automatically am through with you, Kevin Lynch!"

"I don't think so. Because if you quit going with me…who's to stop me from hurting Derek?"

"Kevin, I'm calling my team!" She reached for her phone, but Kevin was quicker, smashing it onto the ground with no hesitation.

"I don't think so. Tell your team, I get Morgan. I don't think he'll be able to love you once I'm through with him."

"Kevin, Derek could beat you up blindfolded." Penelope scoffed, a façade for the worry burdening her heart.

"I hardly doubt that. Not when I'll have good ole Bertha with me at all times." Kevin patted his belt, right on top of a gun-shaped bulge.

She was all his now…..

So a bit unrealistic, I realize. Kevin, though he didn't mention it, will have constant surveillance over her and Derek, and has made it virtually impossible for her to get help of any kind (pun intended). Review! Loving the favorites and alerts as always.