A.N: second to last chapter everyone. Thanks you all who reviewed, alerted, and added to favorites and now on with the show.
Disclaimer: I own nothing
Chapter eight
Fool's in love
The question hung in the air like dew drenched fog on those early mornings. He knew from the start that he loved her, craved her in a way he craved no other woman, but something held him back, a nagging voice in his mind that told him not to say. 'Your lover, husband, father of your children,' the words were all ready to drip from his lips, but they wouldn't fall. Instead he remained mute as he held her close the song finishing the last beats.
Penelope pulled back, "Handsome did you fall asleep on me?"
He jerked back into reality, "With you gorgeous."
She smiled but it barely lit her eyes, feeling the tense that had entered his body replacing the teasing and sexually charged attitude he'd presented her with just moments ago. "You did answer my question?" she feared the worse now.
His own grin didn't reach his eyes as he cupped the back of her head, "I'm," his fingers trembled slightly, "I'm not sure Penelope."
"Oh," her heart broke at those four words, "well then if you'll," she motioned for him to let her go, which he did so reluctantly knowing he'd fucked up big time.
"Penelope," he pleaded begging for understanding.
"It's nothing hot stuff I understand," and she walked away before the tears gathered to mass proportion and fell from her eyes.
"Someone please tell me what the hell just happened," Emily damn near shrieked slamming her bottle of Sam Adams down.
No one answered only JJ slide off her stool and marched her lithe body over to Morgan who stood on the dance floor watching Penelope walk away, she never knew Emily had followed. When just behind him, she let her anger take control and smacked him up side his bald head.
He turned around swiftly ready to fight, then he saw JJ and Emily both standing there eyes shooting fire at him, "What the hell was that for?"
"You stupid blind jackass I thought you could profile better than that," JJ admonished placing her hands on her narrow hips in anger.
He rubbed the back of his head, "I don't have the foggiest idea what you're talking about JJ."
"Penelope you dimwit," Emily supplied sarcastically narrowing her own dark eyes on him.
He was actually shaking in his boot, will just a little, "What about her?"
JJ shook her head, blonde hair flying around, "You really are blind aren't you Morgan," she reiterated discussed with the male specimen in front of her. "She," and JJ pointed towards the way Penelope left, "is in love with you that's what all this was about. And you call yourself a profiler, a pro-blinder more like it."
Derek stood there stupefied, she wasn't serious was she, but then, his mind replayed everything from the last few weeks up until tonight, and he smacked his palm to his forehead.
"By George, JJ I think he's finally got it," Emily commented bitingly.
Morgan ignored their words and started for the door, only to have JJ stop him, "Don't even think about it buster your in the dog house right now. She's going to need some serious time away from you, before you go on hands and knees begging. Let," she waited for him to turn around, then she waved between her and Emily, "handle it."
"Hell no," he shouted over the pulsing music, "I let you two handle it and Penelope will never speak to me again."
"Something you'll have to be willing to sacrifice for," Emily answered with a shake of her head, turning back to the table to retrieve her purse.
He gave JJ a wounded puppy look, "Don't black ball me Jayje."
She so wanted to laugh at him, but didn't have the heart, "We're not, but you know Penelope."
He nodded, "Can you at least tell her I'm sorry."
"For what? Leading her on? For not telling her the truth of the matter? For not loving her the way she loves you? I need specifics here Morgan what are you sorry for."
He hung his head knowing JJ was right. He knew the real reason he couldn't tell her, fear held him back. "I," she held up a hand.
"Save it until you know what you want Morgan," and she turned away from him making her way back to the table, leaning close to Will, "I'll see you in the morning honey," and she kissed his cheek motioned with a nod to Emily as the two ladies left the club.
Morgan feeling like he'd just been kicked returned to their table, four sets of questioning eyes staring at him. "What?"
"Boy you deserve so much more than a slap to the back of your head," Rossi answered a slow shake of his dark head.
"Yea what the hell was that," Will asked, his Cajun accent shining through.
He growled, "None of your damn business that's what," and he turned to leave.
"Morgan," Hotch stated slowly, but loud enough to be heard over the roar of the music, "need to talk?"
Derek shook his head and left he had too much thinking to do.
"Maybe he's just not ready," Reid provided taking a slow sip from his beer.
"No it's something else," Hotch answered watching the strongest member of his team slump off.
Meanwhile, "Go away," Penelope yelled to the door.
"Pen it's us," Emily yelled through the hard wood door.
They heard the lock turn, the knob jiggle and Penelope's tear stained pale face inch out the door, "What?"
"Oh honey is he really worth the tears?" JJ asked hoping some reverse psychology would work.
She crumbled at the question the door jam holding her up. She'd unlatched the chain and opened the door, enough for both women to work in. what greeted them, made them both smile and sad. An ice cream carton, Ben and Jerry's 'Chucky monkey' sat on the coffee table, small balls of tissue lay everywhere, her favorite hot pink throw, thrown over the back of her couch and 'Dirty Dancing' just starting on the TV.
JJ turned to take in her friend's appearance, eyes rimmed with red, nose a little pink tinge, mascara dripping down her face, however it was the wounded heart broken look in those normally bright honey orbs that had the shorter blonde gathering her into a warm friendly embrace. "It'll be ok Pen," she soothed.
"No J it won't God what he must think of me know. I practically threw myself at him and for what," she sniffled, "nothing not a damn bucking thing."
"He's just a stupid man PG, you have to have a road map, signs and even a few well placed flairs to show him the way," Emily commented placing a reassuring hand on her shaking shoulder.
"How could he have missed them?" she questioned pulling back from JJ to wipe her nose, "I mean I tried everything I could."
"Except out right telling him what you feel," JJ answered.
Penelope looked displeased, "And had him laugh in my face, no thank you."
"Why not? He'd never laugh at you Pen," Emily stated frankly, "he loves you."
She laughed bitterly, "Yea and I'm married to Bill Gates."
JJ bit back her retort, "Em's right Pen," she held up her hand, "he does love you, the big blind jackass."
"Don't call my Adonis that," Penelope admonished though her tears even if she was mad as hell at her hot stuff she still didn't like someone else putting him down.
"Do you love him?" Emily asked strait out.
Penelope didn't have to think about it, "With every fiber in my being, but that doesn't change anything."
"Course it does," JJ countered a bit forcefully.
"Yes it damn well does."
Holding her hands up in the age old sign of surrender she offered instead, "Let's watch the movie, we brought more ice cream and Twizzlers."
Penelope nodded, but turned towards her bathroom instead, "Give me just a few minutes," and she disappeared.
"What's the plan boss?" Emily whispered stepping forward putting her grocery bag down.
A slow smile crawled across her lips, "Remind her of who she wants."
Across town Morgan was getting ready for a run to dispel the unwanted misery in his heart and mind. He knew he'd messed up big time with Penelope, but like all the rest of the times he'd tried to start someone one thing kept coming back to him. He reached the door, just as a knock sounded breaking the silent.
"Morgan?" came Reid's voice.
Opening the door, "What do you want kid?"
"A word."
"Word!" Derek retorted.
Reid shook his head, "Smartass, can I come in."
Derek moved aside watching the younger man fidget. He went to speak but Spencer started first, "You've always been the confided one, you got the most numbers, the best girls, never did without in that respect. But then why did you let Penelope just walk away?"
Puzzled Morgan went to speak again, "I don't follow that big brain of yours Reid."
"It's simple really," he continues as if Morgan said nothing, "you're scared she doesn't love you."
"No just ignore my," he drew up fast at Reid last words, "What are you talking about?"
Spencer looked at him, "It's true there's something buried deep inside that you don't want to share with anyone something that has you holding back from Garcia."
"That's nice Reid and how did you come to that conclusion?"
"Body language, the signs you send off when ever something was getting to deep, experience."
The last word grabbed Morgan attention, "What experience?"
"Lila some, Austin the most," Reid answered a haunted look entering his deep coffee colored eyes.
"You never," he trailed off.
"Of course not, but that doesn't mean I've stopped trying in fact that's why Prentiss and I," he grinned boyishly clearing his throat, "that's another matter all together one not for your ears I might add."
A devilish smirk filled his face, "Come on tell me Reid."
Spencer shook his brown head, "Not the time and not the right person we're discussing. Now you tell her what's buried deep down and let the, what's that saying, the feline into the bag."
Morgan gave him a perplexed look before getting what the comment meant, "It's let the cat out of the bag, Reid."
"Yea that now out with it, cause static's show that you feel much better and live healthier lives, when we unburden are selves."
"Not a chance boy genius, now if you'll excuse me."
"Seriously Morgan," Reid countered eyebrow raised, "so you're just going to let her go, just like that?"
"And it would be your business why?"
He shook his head again trying another way, "Do you love her?"
"Yes," he answered with out even thinking.
"Good to know we're on the same page then," he started for the door, "tell her that and then kiss her senseless to prove the point," and he was out the door.
For two days neither spoke a tense settled over the small group and the braking point was fast approaching.
Friday late, JJ walked into Morgan's office, "Make sure you pick her up at six promptly and for God sake don't be late," and she started to leave.
"Woo their JJ what are you talking about?"
"The banquet of course," she answered like it was the most common thing.
"She doesn't want me to take her."
"The hell you say, you get off that ass for your Morgan and get ready to knock Penelope Garcia's socks off and do it right or there will be hell to pay," and this time she did leave.
Mumbling about how stupid and unfair the girls were being as she got ready, Penelope checked herself one last time, just as a knock came at her door.
Stepping forward she answered, "Bout time you two showed," she stopped voice going AWOL at the presence standing at her door.
End note: I know couldn't help a little angst in there hope you like.