A/N: I was asked if I could work in NCIS New Orleans so I did. I was going to send Penelope off to Boston for a conference but New Orleans works out even better. I promise she will not get hurt at all not even a broken fingernail.

He liked the BAU, it was calm and peaceful. No yelling and no one-upmanship. He took in a deep breath and exhaled it slowly. Wanting cup of tea but not wanting to enjoy his break alone he went in search of two things a few cookies and the lovely lady who makes them. He could exactly pinpoint when it happened but slowly he fell in love with the woman. What he did do, was keep his feeling to himself. But working with the people that he did he had to work harder at it. He is almost certain that the Hotch and Rossi have not bought into his act. But being who they are it wouldn't surprise him if they knew about his true feelings before he did. It wasn't that he was ashamed of his feelings for Penelope, it was because she was still grieving for Sam and for what might have been. For that reason he kept his feelings to himself. But that didn't mean that he wouldn't enjoy her company and her laughter. She brought a certain peace and calmness into his life, something that he had been lacking for a very long time.

Remembering a time three months ago when he went in search of her company and a few cookies. To be perfectly honest it was her mostly and not so much the cookies. He knocked on the open door stepping into her office he found her leaning her head back on her chair and her bare feet resting on the empty chair next to her. Taking a closer look at her he could see that she had her eyes closed.

"May I come in?"

"Of course agent DiNozzo." She replies without moving.

"I thought we talked about this Cookie, call me Tony please."

"As you wish."

"Isn't that my line?" He asks with a small laugh.

"Ah, a Princess Bride fan I take it."

"I just like movies in general."

She opens her eyes long enough to look at him and smile. "I know, what can I help you with?"

"Nothing I came to share my break and beg a few cookies from you."

"Begging is not needed Tony help yourself they are in the tin," she says as she points to the tin.

"Thanks." he tells her then he leans on the desk. "Can I asks you a question?"

"You just did, go on what do you want to know?" She says as she smiles at him.

"You and Derek, are you two?"

"Involved? No. I love him and he loves me, we are good friends."

"But you two..."

"Flirt outrageously and call each other pet names. I know we've always been that way. He saved my life and I've done some not so legal hacking to save him. Nothing more, just really good friends. You have to meet his girlfriend, she's great and I'm so happy that he has her in his life."

He can't help but smile in understanding it is so hard to have a healthy relationship and do the kind of work they do. He was looking forward to meeting Morgan's girlfriend. If Penelope said she was great that was good enough for him too. In the short amount of time that he had been with the BAU he had become very protective of them, they took him in and right from the start treated him better than he had ever been treated before. It felt like home only better, like he belonged here.

"Are you feeling okay, your eyes I mean?"

"Yes I've been up since four, trying to pinpoint a video. I just put some drops in I should be fine in a few minutes."

Tony glances at his watch it is just after eleven in the morning, no wonder she looks tired.

"You found what was needed I take it."

"Like there was any doubt. Team C should be calling in soon with good news."

He came to see her more often after that, sometimes to bring her tea other times to beg for cookies, he even brought her requests for information. He never left her office without a smile, or making sure she had one too.

Tony was surprised to find the door to Penelope's office shut and when he tried to use the handle he found it locked as well. That in it's self set his gut to churn she was always in her office. It was just after two in the afternoon on Thursday and he knew that none of the teams were across the country.

Walking back toward the coffee area he sees most of his team taking a break. Biding his time he pours hot water over the tea bag before he says anything. "Do any of you happen to know where Cookie is?"

It didn't faze the team hearing him call her Cookie just like it didn't faze them when Rossi calls her Kitten or when Morgan called her one of the countless nickname he use for her.

"She is in New Orleans, she'll be back on Monday." JJ answers.

"New Orleans?"

"Tech conference, she hates going to those things. This year she couldn't get out of it." Reid tells him then passes him the tin of cookies that were on the counter. "She left cookies for us though."

"Don't worry man." Morgan tell him after catching a glimpse of concern pass over his features, just as a mask came slamming down. "She'll be fine."

He takes a few cookies and his tea then goes back to his desk. He can't help but worry about her. He knows that conference is more than likely going to be swarming with police and agents from around the country but he can't help it. So he does what he always does when he wants something done or checked on, he reaches out to a friend. He waits until he has finished two reports on his desk. Then he grabs his cell telling Reid that he is going down to the shooting range.

"LaSalle." Is what he hears when the phone is answered.

"Hi it's Tony DiNozzo. I know I don't work for NCIS anymore, I was hoping that I could ask for a favor?"

" Tony, we heard about what happened, no hard feelings here. What can I do for you?"

He can't help but smile at least he didn't lose his contact in New Orleans. He tells LaSalle what he needs, just a wellness check on Penelope make sure she is alright and to give her his number just in case anything comes up.

After emptying his Glock's clip twice into the target, he gets his ankle weapon and practices with that one too.

"Not bad." he hears from Hotch as he comes up behind him.

"Now try the other hand."

Tony nods his head, he reloads both weapons and fires again into a fresh target.

"Gibbs' standers were high, we had to maintain them or he would take us out and make us shoot until they were."

'"Something tells me you didn't need much fine tuning."

"Just something I've always been good at, shooting a weapon."

Hotch steps up to the next window and sends a target down the line. After emptying his clip he turns looks at Tony. "So who did you get to check on Garcia?"

Tony just smiles. "Chris LaSalle, he works for NCIS, he's a good guy. I just asked that he check in and leave his number just in case."

She dropped off her things in her hotel room, after freshening up she slips her cell and her room key into her pocket before she goes to the meet and greet.

In all honestly she hated these conferences but this time she wanted to get away she needed some alone time. One final moment to grieve and let go. It was time, as much as she loved Sam, she couldn't put her life on hold forever.

She accept a glass of ginger-ale from the bar tender before moving further into the large room. She nodded to some of the people and tipped her head slightly to others. A few people she smiled at but he smile was not one that could be called friendly in any sense of the word. More like if looks could kill type of smile.

She waited until after the meal to make her way over and to the large table and gather her packet of information for the conference.

After taking a shower she changed into comfortable pj's , making a cup of tea she sat on the bed and opened the packet of information for the conference.

Dismissing some of the meetings outright she picked the ones that she would be attending. Some of the sounded right up her alley. New coding and some security programs that were being developed.

She stood and looked out a window, New Orleans it looked lovely out there, but she had no desire to go sightseeing at all.

After a simple breakfast she finds the right room for her first meeting of the day. Protocols for securing a high security network. That should be fun, she thinks.

When the meeting wrapped up, she headed toward the bathroom to freshen up. After she left the bathroom she was headed to the next conference she had scheduled for the afternoon. She was immediately on guard because she felt as though she was being watched. Griping her pepper spray for a moment before she laughed at herself, remembering she is surrounded by agents from all of the alphabets. Just outside of the meeting room she heard someone call her name and she stopped to look for the face to go with the voice.

She was approached by a man in his late thirties, attractive in a bad boy kind of way and she could tell right away that he was an agent from the way he carried himself. Not to mention the weapon on his hip.

"Agent Garcia, I'm Special Agent Chris LaSalle, Tony DiNozzo asked me to come and make sure you were getting on okay, and offer you my services if the need arises." He hands Penelope his card with a smile.

"Thank you very much Agent LaSalle, I appreciate you taking the time to come find me. But you realize I am surrounded by agents at all times, I think the worst that could happen is I'll stub my toe in my hotel room. Please call me Penelope or Garcia." She laughed lightly while pocketing the card with all of the contact information for this man.

He crossed his arms across his chest with a smile, "Why Penelope, that sounds like you have no intentions of sight seeing while you are in our lovely city. I insist you allow me to take you out for a drink and to see all of the wonderful things we have here. One agent to another, no strings or expectations Garcia, like I said before it will just be two new friends out for a drink."

Sensing he was sincere, she smiled back at him. "Sure, how's six O'clock sound ?" He shot her a crooked smile before nodding his head. "You got it Garcia, I'll pick you up in the lobby, we can get a dinner I know of a place where we can get Cajun vegetarian gumbo. If we don't have a case that is." He extended his hand once again, and she shook it firmly. She stood there for a moment watching him walk away with a smile on her face. Not because she was going out for drinks with Agent LaSalle, but because Tony sent him here to make sure she was okay. He was such a caring man, a man she wouldn't mind getting to know on a more personal level.

She walked back into the hotel just after eleven at night laughing at what Chris LaSalle was saying to her. It was late and she had to up early for the conference her first meeting started at eight and it was set to run for three hours. Then lunch for break that was scheduled for an hour. After the lunch break , she was planning to sit in three presentations. Then one more after the dinner break it was going to be a long day.

Yawning as she slipped into one of the meetings that she had not signed up for she sat in the back of the room and took out her tablet. She was only half paying attention to the presenter. The last meeting that she was going to attend was cancelled and if she went back to her room she knew that she would take a bath then crawl into her bed and fall asleep, more than likely sleep right through until Sunday morning. But work comes firsts, she felt someone sit next to her, looking to her right she swallows dryly.

"Sir." She says as Chief Mateo Cruz acknowledges her with a slight tip of his head.

" I hoping to see you last night, I came to meet some of my counterparts. A friendly face after meeting them would have been nice. Matt is fine here we are off the clock." He tells she gently.

"I'm sorry Matt I didn't stay for the offered dinner here. I went out with agent Chris LaSalle. It wasn't required that I stay and eat with the attendees of the conference. I really didn't feel like eating in my room."

"Understandable, you are much like your team they don't like to socialize too much with other people either."

"I guess some of what they do has rubbed off on me. Better to be safe than sorry."

"Chris LaSalle, that name doesn't sound familiar." Cruz tells her.

"He's not one of ours, he is from NCIS, Tony sent him, agent DiNozzo. He was worried about me being on my own in a strange city."

"I see." He says he starts to say more but he sees that she has looked away from him and is paying attention to the speaker.

It was a question for one of the attendees that made look up front.

"Do you happen to know if there is going to be any new programs coming out from the team the developed this program?"

The speaker shakes his head. "I haven't heard anything. Not even an inkling of a rumor. Just so you know, It wasn't a team just one person."

"What about an update for this program." Another person asks.

The speaker moves away from the podium and looks directly at Penelope. "What about it Garcia, any update coming?"

She puts her tablet back in her tote then smiles as she stands. "Go find the Easter Egg and follow the clues. Then you shall have your update."

"Why you sneaky little."

"Watch it Jeff, or I'll sic my favorite agent on you."

"Next time, Garcia."

"Next time, you still won't find what I have hidden and will owe me a large cup of tea and a scone." Turning to leave the room.

She misses seeing a man stand up and yell. "Wait don't go."

"How may I help you?" she replies as she turns back.

"I'd like to off you a job, you'll make more money, better office and equipment."

"Show me the numbers. I'll think about it."

"She's not going anywhere except for dinner with me."

"And you are?" the man challenges. "Let the lady speak for herself."

"Section chief Mateo Cruz, FBI., her boss. Penelope, after you." Matt says then follows her out of the room.

They bypass the buffet that was being offered to the attendees, instead they went to a restaurant near the hotel. After ordering their food they wait for the waiter to bring their drinks before they start any conversation.

"Do I have to worry about you leaving the bureau?"

"No, I have a contract I'm with you for life. On account I'm dangerous." She tells them as she reaches for the glass of water.

She can see the relief on his face. "You knew that, you also know that I can ask to be released from my contract after ten years. No I'm staying, I get paid well and I have a family of sorts with my team and unit. Now tell me how are your kids doing, do they like the new karate teacher?"

'How did you know? And is it something that I have to be worried about?"

"You're family and we take care of our own. He is a good teacher you know former special forces he's a cop with Metro and his wife is a nurse."

"What else do you know?"

"Lots of things, you should buy your wife a gift while you're here, your anniversary is coming up isn't it?"

"I'm glad you're on our side."

"Me too, I get to hack all I want and not go to jail. I even get to keep the two hundred dollars as I pass go."

Matt can't help but laugh out loud at what she just said. Life would be so boring without people like her. Now he understands why she is so important to the agents in the BAU. He glances at his watch and can see that they have forty minutes until they are due back for the final meetings of the day.