Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Penelope's Apartment
As Penelope arrived home, the reality of what she lost hit her. She shut down her phone and computer all weekend for Operation Brokenhearted. She cried the entire weekend, drank a ton of wine, and smoked two cigarettes. None of which made her feel any better.
BAU/ Bar
The first week was the hardest, she told herself. She prayed that when she turned on her phone, she would learn that the team was capturing a psychopath in bumble fuck for another month so she could avoid the wreck her life has become. She tried not to leave her office ever, and by Thursday, she felt ready for an outing and she found herself in a bar with a Jameson reflecting on the week, so far.
Work was work, she thought, she had a meeting with Strauss who thought that she could woo her into staying at the BAU. She gave her a homework assignment that was somewhat interesting. What FBI software does she wish she could create for the BAU team?
The team was still the same but she was different she guess. She didn't fit anymore- she often wondered if she ever did. Hotch is beyond fucked up about Foyet. It's not like he was a smiler but you couldn't even get a twinkle in the eye.
Derek and Jordan were a thing. A cute couple thing. Jordan was enamored by him and I guess Derek thrived underneath that kind of attention. She was always there—kitchen, bathroom, hallway, bullpen—she was always there. I mean she does work there too but could we put her on another floor. It was like she and Prentiss started the Team Derek club. They must have started hooking up Boston—oh, she can't sit here thinking about the details, the truth is he was gone and she was fine with it…. Really, she was fine.
Bad day? A random patron asked her
No, thanks she said with out even looking out of her drink. When her parents died – her biological dad visited her. He took her to a bar like this and talked to her. This was the first time she saw him since he left, when she was like 4 or 5 years old. He sat there and explained himself, without ever looking at her. He just stared at his drink. She always wondered what he saw in his glass –what was more interesting than his daughter? From that moment, when ever she was confused beyond reason she wound up testing her father's solution. Sometimes it worked but often it didn't.
"Can you please meet me at Zinc bar?" She slurred. "I need a ride home. Pretty please"
He helped her out of the car and walked her into her apartment. He placed her on the couch and went to the kitchen to pour her a glass of water.
"You're going to need this," he said as he passed her two Advil and a glass of water.
"Thank you, Dr. Spencer Reid"—she slurred – "thank you for the water. Can I have some more?" She sang as she passed him the glass.
"Sure." When he was in the kitchen, she called to him
"Why doesn't he love me anymore Spencer? Do you think he still does or he never did?"
"Garcia, I can't say"
"Come on give me a statistic, I can see you saying Actually when people tell each other they love one another it's 78% because of the fear they will lose them- than the actually love they feel"
He laughed at her impression of him it was spot on - until the smirk at the end, he thought.
"I'm sorry to put this on you but - I just don't get it. I normally would call
Jackson – he's here but it is unfair to cry on your best friends shoulder about another man when he is in love with you - so, I'm lonely in Quantico" she said
She created another song right there, she thought.
"Lone-ly in Quan-tico" she repeated until it became a song
"Actually DC, you are in DC.
"That is the Spencer, Reid I'm looking for." She said pointing at him.
She turned her head into the pillow on the couch—"he doesn't speak to me y'know. And who is this Jordan Todd—besides this perfect little sexy strumpet"
She started to cry
"Do you think she's pretty? I mean she is pretty, she's serious, and petit—she is the anti-Garcia, actually."
She created another song
The Anti Garcia (she sang that for a while)
"It hurts to realize that you don't matter Spencer," She said randomly
She cried.
"You matter Garcia and you are beautiful," he said as he rubbed her head.
He stayed there until she fell asleep.
Bullpen
The next day she walked over to him when he was alone and said
"I am sorry about last night – it won't happen again. I promise."
"As a thank you, I made you -2 of my brother Ed's, favorite sandwich—Turkey club with a surprise."
"Aww, Thank you, Garcia" he said "but you don't have to do that"
"Nonsense, I ruined your night and I am sorry," she whispered.
"Enjoy my dove."
She turned and headed back to her lair, Spencer called out to her and caught up with her.
"How can I help you?" he asked, "Because I want to."
"What do you mean?"
"I hated seeing you like that last night"
She looked down really embarrassed.
"And if there is anything I can do, I will."
"Can you help me stay busy? —I just need a month of busy time and I will be good as new."
"Sure," he said and she gave him a huge hug.
"Thank you Spencer."
Emily and Morgan caught the tail end of Reid and Garcia's interaction and wondered what that was all about.
The following weeks Reid remained true to his word—when he was in DC. He took her to scholarly talks, discussed past cases, art, everything and anything to keep her occupied. They played this game with the cases where he would walk her through the agent's thought process. Since Straus gave her that technology assignment, he thought it would helpful for her, if she knew just how an agent thinks. It wasn't just about work though, Riemann hypothesis always calmed him down -when he needed to decompress - and with Garcia being a fellow lover of science and mathematics, he often gave her challenge problems that she could wrestle with. He loved the responsibility that came with helping her. Since he was the baby of the team and an only child, he always was the one that was taken care of and the feeling of being need by a peer was empowering. Yes, he took care of his mother but taking care of Garcia was – just rewarding in a different way. Watching Garcia return to her normal self was an amazing thing to witness and he loved seeing her happiness increase with each passing day. It wasn't a one-way street either—she helped him be hip and cool. She introduced him to new music, games, and opened up his mind to life around him. She took him out of his head—which sometime could be a lonely place.
Reid and Jackson became her saving grace; Simply, Reid nursed her soul back to health. Jackson on the other hand reminded her of why she loved him by truly letting go and being a friend. Jackson and her rebuilt their friendship, at first it was awkward and it seemed like we were walking on eggshells around each other, but that faded quickly and they were left with stronger unbreakable connection. He helped her train for her first race and accompanied them (Reid and Penelope) on their scholarly adventures. He did pop in on her dance class often and Miguel and Eric loved him. Miguel often teased Jackson about his dance moves- since Jax was biracial, Miguel concluded that there must be some Latino in him because he as a quick learner. Miguel refused to believe that Jax was just Arab and French. Outside of Reid, Jackson really bonded with JJ and Will who she visited often.
Once Jax knew that, it was over between her and Derek he stayed true to his word and didn't pursue her. They talked one night about it – and he said he never knew her to give up so easily. Jackson went on to say that all he ever wanted was to see her happy and Derek makes her happier than he ever could. "You both will make your way through this Penelope and the other side is filled with love and lattes" he joked. She wanted to believe in the words he said but as each day went by the wall between her and Derek grew taller.
She wanted to reach out to Emily but she seemed so Team Morgan at JJ's lunch that she didn't feel comfortable sharing, anymore. When they did hang out which wasn't often because of the workload—they didn't talk about Morgan—which was fine, but it also made the conversations stiff because they ignored the elephant in the room.
Conference Room
When does JJ come back? she wondered. The 10 am conference meetings were the bane of her existence. She couldn't avoid them. She made sure Derek was never in her line of sight… but then his new girlfriend would be, but Jordan didn't bother her. She didn't steal Derek from her – he was already gone. They flirted all the time no pet names but—you could tell they were together. He dotted on her, they drove in together, and flirted with each other consistently before the 10 am meeting which is why she was always 2 minutes late and she waited for Hotch to say something about it but it was as if he understood why.
She came at the 10:02 and no Hotch. She sat next to Reid and waited for the meeting to start.
"Reid, it's my turn to host the dance class dinner party do you want to come?"
She could see the hesitation in his eyes and she countered "don't think about it just do-Carmen will be there and she asked about you- I'm seeing some romance in your future" she sang.
"Really "he asked.
"Yup—you should come, boy band" she said as she fixed his bangs.
"What should I bring?"
"You and new rule-you can't talk to Jackson all night"—she teased
They continued to chat—until Hotch and Jordan came in the room.
"We have a case in Austin Texas—serial rapist"
Later That Evening
At dinner with the team in Texas, they were discussing their weekend plans if they caught the unsub by Friday.
"Pretty boy, We were thinking of seeing a film noir flick at Landmark. Do you want to come? Maybe Ashley too?
"Doubles would be nice" Jordan said with a smile and squeezed Derek's hand.
"I can't, I have plans."
"A date hotter than this?" he asked
"Actually Garcia, Jackson and I are going to a talk about the Mathematics of the Economy with one of my favorite authors James Clarke."
"Oh," said Prentiss "they're still together?"
"Together? No, they never were. He is dating this Sociology Professor from Georgetown. She has written a few books about group mentality in tribal clans."
"What are you doing, Hotch?" Reid asked
"I'm doing the FBI triathlon this Saturday "
"Nice, I'll be at the finish line—what time are you thinking?" Emily asked.
All the team members chimed in that they will be there. The conversation remained light and pleasant. Rossi talked about his home renovations, Jordan her new apartment, and Reid's new love for Coldplay.
Before they returned to talking about the case and Reid ducked out.
"Hey Garcia,"
"What's up Pretty Awesome?"
He chuckled. "It looks like I will make your dinner."
"Great, I'm sure Carmen will be thrilled."
He blushed "Ok, I gotta go."
"I can see you blushing—Night!" she said.
He clicked off his phone, turned, and walked right into Emily.
"How's Garcia?" Emily asked
"She is fine—" He said still blushing.
"You're a good friend, y'know that."
"Thanks, Emily"
Park
Jackson and Hotch ran the FBI triathlon and he beat Hotch by 3 minutes. The entire team was there plus the new additions Will, Henry, Beth, and Jordan. Jack wanted ice cream for breakfast so we all went to this gelato, ice cream parlor. Everyone put in the order but Penelope and a few stragglers.
"What can I get you?" the shop owner asked.
She and Derek answered at the same time "Lemon Ice."
They looked at each other and that was the first smile they had shared in 3 months - but whose counting, she thought. She loved the lemon ice because it reminds her of the day they spent in Chesapeake Bay.
Jordan chimes in – in a slightly-know-it-all fashion. "That is Derek's favorite flavor he orders it every time we come here." She says holding his arm protectively.
Garcia smiles at her oddly and turned to Jackson "What are you thinking banana split?"
He shakes his heads "I want to try a raspberry lemon ice."
Jackson and Will chatted about Jazz fest as she watched Jack admire Henry in the stroller.
Derek did not know what to do with his hands so he stuffed them into his pockets as he talked with her.
"You ran a race too recently, right?"
"Yup, my first 5k. It was pretty awesome and they gave me a medal and everything. I got bling happy and signed up for a 10K." she said quickly followed by a lick of her ice.
When folks noticed them chatting it seemed like there was a balance restored to the universe.
Jordan joined their conversation "I just did a half-marathon."
Penelope noticed how protective she was of him and she smiled. Little did she know she had nothing to worry about.
"What was your time?"
"I ran about a 10 min/mile pace the whole race." She said as she held his hand.
"Wow, that's pretty impressive"
"So, are you and Jackson heading to Jazz fest?" Jordan asked
She looked over at Jackson for a rescue but he was into his conversation with Will and Reid, "we're thinking about it," she replied "I mean Hall and Oates, George Benson, Ben Harper, Trombone Shorty, Nora Jones.. The line up is amazing."
"Sounds like a bad line-up, Baby girl?"
"Garcia" she corrected with a smile and Jordan looked pained when the endearment crossed his lips. Garcia quickly continued "We're thinking of getting a bungalow in the Garden district—and maybe dragging Spence with us. Can you see him getting down on Frenchmen street?"
That image made them all laugh.
"P, are you ready? My parents will be here soon and you know how my mom is."
"Yup," she said as she tossed the rest of her ice. She checked her phone and said, "I may be late, Jax. I have to swing by my house first."
She turned towards the Modd (Morgan +Todd) and said, "have a great day you two."
As they said their goodbyes she asked "Reid what is that called when the mom is in love with the son – is it the Oedipus Complex."
"No that is when the son is in love with the mother…romantically."
"Your mom has reverse Oedipus Complex, she wants to marry you." She said to Jackson.
"No, she thinks everyone wants to marry me- I mean even Emily."
"What?" Emily asked
"Now, how does it feel to be out of the loop?" Reid asked and they laughed.
the next chapter is pretty involved so - I don't think I will have an update till the weekend.