Once Upon A Straight Tequila Night

Ch-12 Facing Their Feelings

Penelope's POV

Penelope hugs her brother and says, "thanks again for coming to stay with me", he kisses the top of my head and whispers, "anytime P, anytime", Markus grins at me and says, "maybe we can get together at Christmas"?, I laugh and say, "that sounds nice I would love for you to meet my team" Markus grabs his bag and hugs me one final time and says, "Derek loves you P, you need to let him back in", he starts walking down the steps and when he gets to the bottom he turns and says, "I love you P and if you ever need anything, I am only a phone call away."

I watch as he puts his bag in the car and then walks around and gets behind the wheel, he starts the car and puts it in drive, I can already feel lonely as I watch him pulling out of the parking lot. We wave at each other as I watch his car go out of sight, the time he spent with me was amazing and I hated to see him go but I need to try to pull my life together on my own.

I walk back into my apartment and sigh as everything around me reminds me of Derek, the kitchen table reminds me of the dinners we had together, as I look over to the couch I remember the movie nights that we had. The memories in the house are to strong for me so I grab my purse and head out the door, I get in my car and drive to the park.

Memories of Derek are everywhere I go, I can see us walking through the park and I can see all the picnics that we had together and with the team, as the tears flow down my cheeks I can't think about anything, everything is jumbling together. I wipe my eyes and head to my car, as I get behind the wheel I start driving and a few minutes later I end up at Pete's Bar.

I walk inside and the bartender Todd smiles and says, "hey Penelope how are you feeling"?, I sit at the bar and say, "physically I'm great but right now I need to beeeeeee, what's the word I'm looking for"?, she thought for a minute and said, "oh yeah numb, I want all of my memories to just leave me alone". Todd smiles and says, "I will be right back honey with something that will help".

Derek's POV

I get behind the wheel of my SUV and decide to head to Penelopes, I have missed her and I just hope that she will talk to me, I know that I have hurt her but that will never happen again. As I head toward Penelopes apartment I think of all of the great times we had together, the picnics, the movie nights, the walks in the park and I want those times again.

I pull into the parking lot at her apartment building and see that her car is gone, I think, if I were baby girl where would I be"?, he smiled and said, "the park". I turn my car and head towards the park, I drive slowly to see if I can see her car, I drive around the park several times and I grip my steering wheel tighter and say, "where the hell are you baby girl"?

I pull out my phone and pull up Penelopes number, I want to call her but I'm afraid that she won't answer my call, I take a deep breath and let my finger hover over the button.

Penelope's POV

I look up to see Todd walking toward me, he places my drink in front of me and says, "here you go sweetie, but drink it slow ok"?, I smile at him and take a big sip and he says, "easy easy Penelope". I wink at him and say, "can you do me a favor sug and watch my purse while I head to the little girls room"?, he smiles and says, "sure Penelope".

Derek' POV

Todd is watching Penelopes purse and working on stocking the bar when her cell starts ringing, Todd bits down on his bottom lip, that might be a case, I better answer that for her. I unsnap her purse and say, "Penelope's phone this is Todd", Derek said, "hi this is Derek, is this Todd as in Todd that works at Pete's"?,I laugh and say, "the one and only".

I say, "where is my baby girl"?, Todd takes a deep breath and says, "she is in the bathroom but man you need to get here fast, I am afraid that she is gonna get drunk and I mean really drunk". Derek said, "I will be there in a few minutes, just do me a favor and don't let her leave ok", Todd laughs and says, "ok I won't".

I say, "ohhhhh don't tell her that I called either", Todd smiles and says, "ok Derek", I say, "thanks" and the call ends, Todd slides Penelops cell back into her purse.

Penelope's POV

I walk back and sit at the bar and down the rest of my drink in one sip, I say, "I need another one", Todd makes me another drink and slides it in front of me, I pick it up and down half of it in one sip. I realize that sip after sip is definitely making the memories not hurt as bad, I love Derek with all of my heart, I really do and he loves me, I miss my hotstuff so bad.

I finish my drink and look at Todd and say, "another please", he walks over and reluctantly pours me another one and puts it in front of me, I am starting to feel good. I take a sip of my drink and when I put my glass down, I feel a hand on my shoulder, I look up and standing there is my hot stuff, I smile and say, "hiya handsome when did you get back"?, he smiles and says, "don't you think you have had enough baby girl"?, I shake my head no and say, "nopeeeeee and if you want to talk to me then you are going to have to drink with me".

Derek's POV

I pull up in front of Petes Bar and get out and quickly head inside, when I get inside I see Penelope sitting at the bar, I walk over and put my hand on her shoulder and for the first time in weeks I feel happy. She looks up at me and says, "hiya handsome, when did you get home". I smile my famous Derek Morgan smile and say, "don't you think that you have had enough baby girl"?, she shakes her head not at me and says, "nopeeee and if you want to talk to me then you have to drink with me".

I motion to Todd for whatever drink Penelope is drinking, when Todd brings my drink he says, "she is working on her third one of these babies a few more and she is definitely gonna feel no pain". I take a drink and say, "thanks Todd", he smiles and says, "take care of her Derek, she is hurting and she is hurting bad".

I sit down beside my baby girl and say, "don't you think it is time to talk"?, she looks up at me with those beautiful eyes and says, "sure what do you want to talk about"?, I rub my temples and say, "us baby girl, us". She takes another sip of her drink and puts her hand on my thigh and says "I think this is going to be a long night" I pick up my drink and take a sip before picking up her hand that is resting on my thigh, I bring it to my lips and place a gentle kiss to her knuckles.

Penelope "I just want to say that I am so sorry for my behavior while you were in the hospital, I was a complete utter asshole and I know that now and for the whole 2 weeks that we were in New Mexico I was a wreck I barely spoke to anyone I drank just to block out how I was feeling, I barely eat or slept, I just sat there thinking about you, because I am in love with you Baby Girl and I don't know if you reciprocate these feelings but I needed you to know how I feel about you."

Penelope's POV

Oh my god here I am sitting in a bar with Derek and he has just dropped this big feelings bombshell on me he just told me that he is in love with me, I finally find my voice and say "Derek you can't just drop a bombshell on me like this, but I need you to know that yes you were and asshole while I was in the hospital and just so you know that while you were away I thought of nothing but you, I missed hearing your voice, I missed your company and you asked if I reciprocate your feelings, yes I do, I love you Derek."