Chapter 3

Hotch and JJ approached Garcia's door. Hotch swiped his security badge through the scanner and pushed the door open, letting JJ enter first. Following her, they saw Garcia cooing at Johnny who was none too happy his nap had been interrupted. Hotch smiled at JJ.

"Jayje, I so sorry," Garcia said. "But it was bad; I had to change him."

"And the evidence," JJ asked.

"Kevin took it to the trash slide; wrapped in two plastic bags I might add. The environment be damned," she said as Hotch approach the table with Garcia wrapping Johnny back up in his blanket. Hotch reached to take him. "Sir?"

Hotch smiled. "Remember Jack?"

"How could I forget Jack," Garcia said as Hotch put Johnny in the crook of his left elbow. Johnny held up a defiant fist, yawned and then fell back to sleep to Hotch's slight swaying of him.

Garcia beamed. "You still have game sir."

Hotch just smiled at her and gently rocked Johnny a bit more until he completely conked out with the two women smiling at him. He quietly and expertly put Johnny in his car seat. He looked at JJ. "I'll let you handle the rest," he smiled and looked at Garcia. "I believe we have a date?"

Garcia looked at JJ who smiled and then at Hotch. "Yes sir, we do."

Hotch nodded at the door to Garcia, rubbing JJ's shoulder. "Good to see you again," he smiled. "Both of you," he smiled at Johnny. "See you soon," he nodded at JJ.

"Thanks Hotch," JJ said, gently pulling the safety straps around Johnny.

He and Garcia walked out of her lair. Garcia started to turn back. "Garcia?"

"Sir, my files."

Hotch shook his head. "You don't need your files Garcia; we're just going to talk," he smiled, opening the side door of the Bullpen for her.

Morgan was sitting on the edge of Reid's desk, going over a consult with him as Garcia marched up the steps, followed by Hotch. Reid looked at Morgan. "So how'd yours go?"

Morgan smiled. "Reid, it's the usual with Hotch. The annual Bureau review is a cover for him. He just wants one on one time with each of us to see if the job is scrambling our brain. He knows us all better than anyone."

Reid contemplated for a second. "That's what bothers me," he whispered.

"Relax kid," Morgan smiled. "You're good; just talk to the man and be honest. That's all he wants." JJ entered the bullpen with Johnny sleeping, setting his car seat on her desk. As Hotch closed the door, motioning Garcia to sit down, all of the BAU agents, including Rossi coming out of his office, gathered around her desk.

Hotch looked out over the scene as he sat down at his desk. "It's good to have JJ back," he smiled. "And I think Johnny in his blissful slumber is getting more attention than he's had in a long time."

"Roger that sir."

Hotch shook his head. "Penelope," he softly said. "Take a deep breath and relax. This is just an annual review." He watched her exhale, relaxing a bit. "And how you've stepped up for this team doing the intakes and presentations has been nothing short of excellent work; as usual," he smiled.

"Thank you sir," she smiled. "I've been trying really hard to do the best I can for you sir; and the team."

"And its duly noted Garcia," Hotch said. "And greatly appreciated," he smiled. "You've done a wonderful job with your extra duties and I have no complaints. My performance review of your work reflects that."

"Thank you again sir," Garcia started.

Hotch cut her off. "Garcia, this is just a time for us to talk. You've excelled at a role I know is very difficult for you, seeing case details before we have a chance to look them over. And unlike JJ, you just flag the ones that you think have some merit, rather than saying this one should be next. I don't expect you to do that. I funnel them to Dave to make that call. He did part of your review; and in his words," Hotch said, pulling her file open, "Agent Garcia has not missed on one case. Do I weed a lot out? Yes; but her role is not to pick the cases like Agent Jareau in her former role. It is just to send the ones that she thinks might be pertinent to the mission of this team. And she does that exceedingly well," Hotch finished quoting, smiling. "Rossi gets the fruit cup for lunch."

Garcia giggled. "I did say that once, didn't I?"

Hotch slightly smiled. "Yes you did."

"Sir, I'm trying my best. It's just dealing with everything I see on my binary systems, my mouth can override my brain in the moment to help me deal with what I'm seeing."

Hotch looked at her. "I once told Strauss that you fill your office with figurines and photos to remind yourself to smile as the horror fills your screens."

"You did sir?"

Hotch smiled. "Yes I did; it was long ago."

Garcia thought for a second. "I miss her." Hotch knew she would get on a roll and let her talk. "I mean, back in the day, back then," she said, looking at Hotch. "She was like the wicked witch of the west." Hotch slightly smiled. "But after Foyet, she came full circle for this team. And OMG sir; she was the best; for all of us."

Hotch nodded. "Erin stepped up to the plate when we needed her."

"Not that Chief Cruz isn't that way as well sir; I mean when you all had that case in Texas and Reid got shot, he got himself and me there pronto."

"I understand Garcia. While we all have to deal with the Section Chiefs; they do have some redeeming qualities," he smiled.

Garcia looked at him. "Sir?" Hotch nodded. "How's Rossi with that?" Hotch looked at her. "Losing her; Strauss I mean sir."

Hotch looked at her. "He's accepted it and come to peace with it; just like Gideon," he said, looking at Garcia.

She eyed him back. "Now it's my turn about that." Hotch nodded. Garcia sat back in her chair and went into thought. Hotch allowed her the time. "Losing Chief Strauss was one thing sir; but Gideon?" She shook her head. "That was different. I didn't have an unsub hacking into my system that kept me focused on helping the team." She paused and thought more. "It was raw sir."

"I understand Penelope." She looked at him. "For all of Jason Gideon's quirks that could drive us crazy, he was damn good."

Garcia contemplated more and then looked at Hotch. "Sir, you remember the case; it was long ago; I can't remember it anymore like all of you; maybe because I want to forget it. But I do remember giving you a hard time about Gideon's soy sauce stinking up my lair."

Hotch slightly laughed. "I remember."

"Sir, I'm so sorry again." Hotch waved her off. Garcia thought more and smiled. "He was one of kind sir."

"Yes he was," Hotch smiled.

Garcia eyed him. "And may I add sir, it's good to hear you laugh a little," she brightly smiled.

"That fact doesn't leave this office," Hotch stoically said. Garcia looked at him, nearly mortified. Hotch winked at her. Penelope smiled and relaxed. "However Garcia, we have something serious to discuss."

"Sir?"

"You and Morgan."

"OMG sir; not again?"

Hotch shook his head. "Not lately; but that's the key word Garcia: lately." He let that sink in. "I'm going to tell you the same thing I told Morgan. The team and I are used to it; honestly Garcia, and this doesn't leave this office as well, it's a bit a relief when we're dealing with cases."

"Sir, I …"

"Garcia, let me finish."

"Yes sir." She sat back in her chair.

"So do all the agents in the Bullpen; they have buy in as well. But there other agents in this building that don't get the humor; including Bob in payroll," he said, looking at her. Garcia gulped.

"I don't get informed by the Bureau where the hotline complaints come from." She looked at him. "I've profiled that it isn't any one on our sixth floor; they all get the joke as well. They've been around it."

"Sir, what are telling me?"

"When you and Morgan are not on this floor, starting with the elevator, be professional. I'm tired of getting hit over the head by the two of you. I have enough reports to deal with; I don't like more."

"I'm so sorry sir," Garcia sincerely said. "I will re-double, sir re-triple my efforts to do that."

Hotch smiled. "Thank you; that's all I ask." Garcia looked at him. "Garcia, you keep all of us sane; I know the burnout for my team would higher without you. Emily emphatically stated that in her final evaluation before she took the job in London. I concurred to Bureau higher ups and so did Erin. You are a valued member of this team. When we're in the field, your little bits of sunshine are like water to a thirsty person. I'm just asking you to make my job easier with no extra reports to deal with. The earlier I can get home at night to Jack the better."

"Understood sir," Garcia smiled. "Jack needs his super hero."

Hotch smiled. "He has more than one."

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A/N: I don't know why, but I still fret about writing these two characters together. My toughest one is next.