Disclaimer: I don't own Criminal Minds or the characters. Some "guest stars" are based on or named after people in my life while others are totally made up, as are some places and events.

Chapter 17

After they returned home to Virginia, the BAU had three cases back-to-back-to-back. The third case was local so they were able to stay in their own homes at night and Penelope was able to work from her lair. She gained more confidence every day and handled most of the press conferences. The LEOs and local FBI agents would often go out of their way to help her and get what she needed. They were always professional and respectful, leading her to believe that men like Boles were the minority.

During the local case Penelope started to feel poorly. She was exhausted all the time, no matter how well she slept the night before and felt queasy all day. She was also crabby and and had gotten short with Derek several times at home. It seemed like everything and everyone was getting on her nerves.

Penelope was rubbing her temples, trying to will away a migraine while her babies were searching away when someone knocked on the door. "Come in," she yelled at the door, making herself flinch as her head pounded.

Anderson entered, carrying a large insulated cup. "Hey, Garcia. Morgan called me and asked if I could run out and get you a coffee... Are you OK?"

Penelope took one whiff of the steaming brew and turned green. She reached around frantically and grabbed her wastebasket, pulling it up just as her breakfast made an encore performance. She heaved for what felt like forever, even after her stomach was empty. She wasn't even aware that Anderson had stayed, keeping her hair pulled back and rubbing her back, until her throwing up reflex finally settled. She set the basket down and smiled gratefully at Anderson, who released her hair and picked up a box of tissues from the desk. She took one and wiped the tears away.

"Are you alright, Garcia?" he repeated.

"I'm OK," she replied. "I haven't felt good the last few days. I'm so tired and felt like I needed to do that for days, and then, when I smelled that coffee... Oh, my God..."

"Garcia...?" Anderson began as Garcia got up and grabbed her purse.

"I need to run out for a few minutes, Anderson."

"What? Garcia, you're not supposed to leave the building!"

"Dammit," she cursed. She started digging into her purse.

"Anderson, this conversation stays in this room, understand? I need you to do me a huge favor," she said as she pulled a bill out of her wallet.

"Garcia..."

"I need you to run out to the drug store and get me a pregnancy test." She thrust the money into his hand.

"Garcia!"

"I swear, if you tell anyone..."

"I know, I know... the usual disembowelment, embarrassing school pictures, and ruined credit score...," he chuckled. "I'll be back in a few minutes."

"No," she whispered when she finally looked at the test. There it was, the word 'PREGNANT', bold as brass in the test's tiny window. She stared at the little window and lost all track of time, until her head snapped up. "Oh, crap, the team!" she muttered to herself. She wrapped the test up in a bunch of toilet paper and hid it in her purse before washing her hands and running back to her office.

The phone was ringing when she got back to her office.

"'Lo?" she greeted as soon as she hit the speakerphone button. She didn't even see who was calling.

"Baby Girl, you all right?" Derek asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine," she laughed it off. "I knew one of these days you all would catch me during a nature call."

"All right..." Derek didn't sound convinced but kept his mouth shut. "We need your beautiful brains."

"Bring it on," she giggled and put on her earpiece. She cracked her knuckles and started typing away as she listened to the team give out perimeters for a new search.

"What's going on with you?" Derek demanded on their way home for the night. "I tried to call you for over ten minutes and then you basically blew me off."

"I told you, I had to use the loo," she huffed. Her tangled bundle of emotions rivaled that of last year's Christmas lights and she was just now coming to terms that she was going to be a mother. She had been so busy all day she hadn't had time to think about it. She was exhausted, moody, and her stomach still didn't feel right.

"Do you want pizza tonight?" he asked.

"No, I'm not hungry," she replied.

"Baby, you need to eat," he said.

"I said I'm not hungry," she snapped. "I'm not a child, Derek. I will eat when I feel like eating!"

"Baby Girl!"

"Derek, leave me alone!" she cried as they pulled into Derek's driveway. She jumped out, ignoring Derek's calls to wait, and unlocked the door using her key. Derek was right behind her, closing the door and turning off the alarm .

"Penelope..." He grabbed her arm and forced her to turn around.

"Derek, I want to be left alone right now!"

"No, Baby Girl! What's wrong? Did I do something; say something to upset you?" Derek demanded and gripped both of her arms just above the elbows. "Tell me so I can fix it!"

"There's nothing to fix, dammit!" she yelled back. "I'm pregnant!"

Derek gasped and released her arms so quickly she almost lost her balance. "What?" he whispered.

"I'm pregnant," she whispered back.

"I thought you were on the pill," he asked with narrowed eyes.

"I am," she replied. "I wasn't feeling well and then I got sick at the office... wait, do you think I did this on purpose or something?"

"I don't know! I don't know what to think!" he rubbed the back of his head and pinched the bridge of his nose as he paced.

"Well, I didn't, thank you very much! I'm glad you think so highly of my character!" she yelled back. She burst into tears and ran up the stairs, running into the yellow and purple guest room. She closed and locked the door in case he decided to follow her. She was disappointed that she didn't even hear the sound of footsteps on the stairs. She was secretly hoping he would be thrilled at the news: grab her in his arms and kiss her and tell her how happy he was that they created this miracle together. It was totally cliché but it would have been sweet. Instead, he got angry with her and more or less accused her of getting good pregnant on the sly.

She kicked off her shoes and laid on the bed. She caressed her belly and sighed. "It's just you and me, kiddo," she told the baby. She got up and unlocked the door, hoping Derek would come back to her.

"Way to go, Morgan!" Derek mumbled to himself after Penelope slammed the guest room's door. He went out to grab the mail and waved at his neighbor across the street, who was helping his young son catch lightning bugs. He had a jar in his hand that already looked full of the blinking bugs. The neighbor waved back and laughed at something his son said. He chuckled and went back inside and made a sandwich for himself. As he ate it, he turned on the TV. Nothing, not even ESPN, was keeping his attention longer than a minute. He turned off the TV and made another sandwich. He wrapped it in a paper towel and put it on a plate and took it upstairs. He knocked softly on the guest room door but Penelope didn't answer. He tested the knob and was surprised that it turned. He opened the door and stopped in his tracks. Penelope was asleep on top of the covers with her hand resting on her belly. He didn't want to wake her since he knew how tired she had been so he quietly closed the door and went back downstairs. He put her sandwich in the refrigerator and pulled a pair of gym shorts and a tank from the clothes dryer. He walked down to the basement where he had put in a home gym and changed out of his work clothes. He warmed up by jogging on the treadmill. By the time he was finally winded he was up to a full run. He wasn't paying attention to his time or distance, he just wanted to run so he wouldn't have to think.

He cooled down to a brisk walk before jumping off and approaching the punching bag. He stripped off his shirt and donned his gloves and focused on his technique. It was a series of repetitions he had developed himself and swore by. He used it so much he allowed his mind to finally wander and not throw off his rhythm. Am I ready to be a father? What kind of father would I be? He thought about Buford and he jabbed at the bag, forcing himself to focus on other things. Mom will be thrilled, and so will Sarah and Desiree. Aunt Yvonne will be so happy. She loves babies. He pictured a little dark-haired boy that looked like him and a little blonde mini-Penelope. Penny would be a great mother. She's so smart and sweet and perfect. Any kid would be lucky to have her as its mother. I don't want anyone else having my baby. My baby! The baby growing inside her is as much mine as it is hers. He knew in his heart that she would never sneak around and get knocked up on purpose, especially now. Now! He had completely forgotten that two escaped convicts, both with grudges against them, were still on the loose. "Aghhh!" he yelled out loud. "Son of a bitch! Could this come at a worse time?!" He swung and hit the bag so hard his hand hurt from the impact. He hit the bag over and over and over again, until both of his hands burned. He grabbed the bag and slid down on his knees, gasping for air. He grinned despite his worries. He was going to be a dad and he couldn't be happier. No felons, no crazy UNSUBs, no fraternization rules could shake his happiness. We're having a baby! He rose and wiped the perspiration from his face with a towel before going back upstairs. He owed his Baby Girl a huge apology.

Penelope woke up with a start. She checked her phone and saw she hadn't been asleep very long. She walked downstairs to find Derek but he wasn't around. She looked and saw light coming from the bottom of the door that led to the basement. She walked down the stairs to tell Derek she was awake and froze when she saw him with his back to her. Perspiration was rolling off his naked back in rivets and she couldn't stop staring as he focused solely on the punching bag. She flinched when he started to hit the bag harder. "Aghhh!" he yelled out suddenly, causing her to jump. "Son of a bitch! Could this come at a worse time?!"

Penelope gasped and made her way back upstairs to the main floor. Tears rolled down her face as she climbed the stairs to the second floor. She got her suitcase out and began putting some of her things into it. I'll have Derek bring the best of my stuff in the morning, she thought sadly as she zipped up the bag. She walked back downstairs and looked around. Derek was still in the basement working out. She was glad. She wasn't going to stick around where her baby wasn't wanted. They were a package deal now and she wasn't going to stay with Derek if he couldn't accept that. She opened the front door and paused. "Goodbye," she whispered to the empty room. She locked then closet he door behind her. She put her suitcase in Esther's backseat and drove off.

A/N: Thanks for the reviews and support.

Much love,

PitaCake