AN: Thanks for the review for the first chapter! I do not own Criminal Minds or its characters, just the story. I hope you enjoy reading!
Walking into her apartment that night, she shuffled off her shoes and plopped her purse on the kitchen counter-top.
Her first and only desire was to drop into a hot bubble bath. Perhaps she could soothe her troubled mind. Running her fingers through her hair, she sighed. She wasn't emotionally prepared for the next morning.
Barely stepping into the bathroom she turned on the faucet. Heading to the bedroom, she took off her jewelry, removed her makeup, and grabbed her pjs. Nothing fancy, just a pair of cotton shorts and tank top. She valued comfort over everything else tonight.
Turning on the light in the bathroom, she swept over and tested the temperature of the warm. Adding a little more bubble bath, she watched the tub fill the last little bit. Stripping off her dress, she dipped into the hot water and sighed closing her eyes.
She had never been mad that he left. Syvannah was pregnant and he'd had a definite too close to call moment on the job. What broke her was when he severed all ties to her personally. Professionally, she'd understand, but he was her best friend. Her rock, her call every night to catch up on the day, coffee on Sundays, funny movie when you're sad best friend. Until he wasn't. Until she was a distraction.
A distraction…
The thought still seared in her heart like a red hot poker was shoving itself threw her.
Curse you, Derek Morgan. Curse you for making me feel this way. For making me want to hate you. For making me…. Penelope thought shaking. I hate that I still care about you. That I still worry about you. That I love you, you stupid jerk.
Opening her eyes, adjusting her eyes from the steam, she saw it.
Red Seduction it was called. Her favorite lipstick.
On her mirror. In large letters.
I won't let you forget about me.
Carefully crawling out of the tub. Grabbing her robe she moved to her bed.
Her phone was connecting before she even put it to her ear.
"Hotchner."
"I got another one," she whispered her bottom lip shaking.
"Damn…" she heard rustling on the other line. "I will be there as soon as I can. Calling a local detail as well."
"Th-thanks."
"Call JJ and don't hang up until they or I show up."
"Okay."
"And Garcia?"
"Hmm?"
"Be safe till I get there."
She nodded absentmindedly, before hanging up and dialing JJ.
"Hey Pen, whats up?"
"Distract me…" she barely whispered.
She could practically feel the vengeance radiating from her phone. "I heard he was coming back. I'm gonna smack him so hard when I see him."
Penelope snorted. She laughed through her silent tears, "I want front row seats to that...and popcorn, but I'm afraid that's not exactly why I'm calling."
"No?"
"I'm…I'm waiting for Hotch right now. I got another message."
JJ sighed, "I really think you should consider staying here for awhile."
"I don't know…"
Not wanting to make her evening worse, JJ quickly switched the subject, "Henry keeps stealing Will's screwdriver after that Dr. Who marathon you and Reid watched with him."
Penelope's heart lightened and she laughed. She could picture her Godson now. "Lemme guess, he won't take off the scarf Reid gave him."
"We have to bribe him at bathtime or else he will wear it then too."
"Oh no," she giggled. "I may have to hold off from the newer doctors...otherwise he will start wanting fishing fingers and custard."
"Do I have to start getting a babysitter for my babysitters?"
"Like who? Rossi? You don't want that kind of influence on your child."
Penelope heard a knock on the front door. "I think that's Hotch."
"Perhaps he could watch you and Reid," JJ mused.
Walking to the front door, she peered through the keyhole and opened the door. "I don't know JJ. I caught him watching Dr. Who after I introduced it to Jack."
"The lot of you are hopeless...I need to get a larger group of friends."
"I love you too, beautiful. Hotch is here. I'm gonna let you go."
"Bye, honey."
She shut of her phone and looked up at her boss/friend.
"Where is the note?"
"This way," she said walking to the bathroom.
Silently he followed her and after reading the mirror he walked back out to her kitchen.
"He hasn't left one in a while."
"Yeah."
"He's never been inside before."
"Yeah."
"Notice anything else?"
"Haven't looked."
"That's probably good. Forensics will want to go over the whole apartment."
"I assumed."
"You will need to stay away from here for awhile. Which isn't a bad idea anyway, given that he is getting bolder."
Penelope sighed, "You sound like JJ."
Hotch smiled at her. "I know that you understand deep down that going elsewhere is a smart move. I also know you are more afraid then you let on."
"Are you profiling me Aaron?" she only used his first name when she was irritated.
"As your friend I can tell when you're afraid. When my usually talkative tech wonder uses one word or two word sentences, I know something is wrong."
She just kind of crossed her arms and sighed in a noncommittal pout.
He laughed and they went to the door to let the other unit in. "I have to stay but, for the night, you should take my car and stay at a hotel."
"I can take my car."
"No we will want to look at that as well.
"You suck Aaron."
"You're the one telling people I watch Dr. Who, whatever that is."
He stopped the uniformed cop next to him, "Take Ms. Garcia to The Dupont, its closest. I've already called and she has a room for the night. Walk her to her room and don't listen to her if she tries to talk you out of it."
Turning back to her he patted her shoulder and said, "get some sleep. I will see you at work tomorrow. I will have JJ drop by with your go bag after we search it tonight."
She just nodded. There was too much to process right now to argue further.
AN: Thanks for reading! Lemme know what you think!
