"Did your lunch go well?" Erin asked as Penelope rejoined her later on that afternoon.

Penelope wouldn't meet her eye, and so she knew that the meeting had not gone well at all. Sighing a little, she picked her iPad up and began to distract herself to keep from crying yet again that day. "He's really protective of me. And I hate making excuses for him. May I sit next to you?"

Erin nodded absently, not looking up at Penelope. The couch dipped under her weight, and she had to fight the urge to scoot closer, to let the warmth of Penelope's body bleed into hers. "Honestly, if it comes down to choosing between this assignment and keeping your friendship with Agent Morgan, I can always get Helen to assist me."

The first hot, bitter, tears slipped down her cheeks, and then Penelope was pulling her hand away from the tablet and entwining their fingers. Still, she couldn't look at the woman, not certain if she would be able to see the answer that was lurking in her eyes. "Would you look at me, please, Erin?" She shook her head a little, only to start when Penelope cupped her chin and turned her head. Still, she focused on her chin, rather than look up into her eyes, knowing that either way, she would start to sob. It wasn't fair, really, that this one person held such power over her emotions, and she fought to find the aloofness that had served her quite well in the past.

"What do you want, Penelope?" she finally said lowly, her brow furrowing as she continued to stare at the woman's chin.

"I want you to stop crying," the woman replied, her voice breaking a little. The grip on her face relaxed a bit, and then Penelope was stroking her hair, trying to comfort her. "I want you to realize that I won't abandon you in the middle of this dreadful case. I want to be your friend. There are so many things that I want, but most of all? I want you to find this creep so that we can nail them to the wall. You are not washed up, your best days are not behind you. That scar on your wrist proves that."

There was something so fierce about the way that she said those words that it took Erin aback and she ran her thumb against the raised tissue of said scar as she nodded a little. Finally, she raised her eyes and saw that there were tears pooling in Penelope's. "Please, you don't have to be nice. My heart cannot take hope well."

"Oh, Erin," she breathed out, her hand coming back to cup her face, the thumb running back and forth over her cheek. "Everyone needs some hope in their lives. Let me be that for you." And then, Penelope closed the distance between them and kissed her cheek softly. It was a lovely kiss, and Erin smiled a little at the gentleness of the gesture.

"The best I can do is promise that I'll try. Now, would you please tell me about what happened at lunch? I need to know if there is something that I should be worried about in the future." Erin straightened her back, carefully removing Penelope's hand from her face and hoping that she knew that it wasn't that she didn't want the touch, she just needed a little space. From the small shake of her head, and the wry smile that flitted across her face, Erin knew that she understood.

"Derek's been my best friend since I started at the BAU. We've learned how to protect each other from the world that would reject us as different. And that carries over into every aspect of our lives." Penelope took hold of her hand, her thumb ghosting along Erin's palm. "He knows that you've changed, that rehab did good things for you. He thought, up until this morning, that you were still with Rossi. The hotheaded Italian rat bastard quickly disabused him of that notion."

Erin blanched a little at the way that Penelope described David, and she frowned a little. "I don't think that you should call him that, Penelope. He is technically your superior, and I don't want to see you getting into trouble over some misguided effort to defend my honor. It's sweet, and kind, but will do you no good."

"He was unkind and said horrible, ugly, things about you. I don't know what happened between the two of you while you were in the hospital and they were searching for Curtis, but I can only guess that the strain of almost dying tore you apart. I can guess that you're still aching inside by the way you said that asking you about what happened was off limits when we were in the elevator a few days ago. He has Hotch, and JJ, and everyone else on his side, and there's no one who's on your side, no one but me. And if I get in trouble for calling a jackass a jackass, so be it. Because you are worth defending."

Erin drew in a long, shaky, breath. "What, what makes you say that?" she asked, trying desperately to sound like she was in control, yet knowing that she was failing miserably.

"Because there is a light that shines from your soul. I saw it when you were dancing with Rossi at Jayje's wedding. And even if the others forget that in their need to rally around Rossi, I'm not going to forget."

Really, Erin should have seen the kiss coming, but it happened so fast that she couldn't hold her hand against Penelope's chest to keep her at arm's length. "We can't do this, Penelope."

"You needed to be reminded that someone cares for you. I won't apologize for kissing you, it wasn't a come on. You needed comforting, that's all."

Erin nodded a little as her phone intercom came on. "Chief Strauss? Agent Hotchner would like to talk to you and Penelope a moment. Is now a good time?"

Clearing her throat, she gazed at Penelope, watching her retreat a little into herself. Her eyes, though, were full of compassion. Nodding to her, she said, "Yes, Helen, now is a fine time." Erin shook her shoulders a little as she quickly swiped at her eyes, hoping to rid the final lingering tears before he entered.

They both sat a little straighter as the door opened, and then Aaron was stepping inside, closing the door behind him. "Ladies, I think that we need to have a little discussion," he said, his voice gruff and cold. She had heard that tone used before, when he was upset with something that she had done, and she bit the inside of her lips to keep from shuddering.

"About what, Hotch?"

Penelope's voice was tight and low, as if she was fighting to keep from yelling, and Erin reached her hand out towards her, only to stop halfway. Aaron looked between them, the lines on his face growing more pronounced the longer his gaze lingered. "About the fight you and Morgan had earlier today. I know that you want to say that nothing is wrong, but when three of my team are butting heads, I have to look at the problem. And it seems like this assignment is what is tearing my team apart. Where are you in terms of closing this case?"

While he was staring at Penelope, Erin felt like the barbed words were directed at her, and she took a deep breath. "We've only just started. It seemed like our gossip was focusing on other teams, that this was some big anti-FBI objective, but it seems like with the last blind item that this person is choosing to focus on me."

"And is the latest blind item true? Are you trying to seduce Penelope?"

His black eyes bored into hers, and Erin dug her thumbnail into the meat of her palm so as not to cry in front of him. "I shouldn't even deign to answer that question, Agent Hotchner. That you would ask it means that you deem there is some truth to that scurrilous lie. And that is why it is so critical that Penelope and I work on bringing this person to justice. Now, I'll thank you to leave, and inform Agents Morgan and Rossi that my private life is none of their business. If I even hear one word whispered about Penelope that would impugn her honor or her integrity, I will lay it at their feet and will not hesitate to write them both up."

Her voice had gotten quieter and quieter, and when she reached her last word, all one could hear was the ticking of the second hand on her clock. Aaron glared at them, and it was then that she noticed she was clutching Penelope's hand in hers. Still, she didn't let go of her, instead, staring him down. "I'll make certain that they know that, Chief Strauss."

"And make certain that Derek leaves Erin alone, Hotch. She's been through enough, and if any of you make me choose, it won't be the choice you want." Penelope squeezed her hand three times, and Erin relaxed her grip a little, feeling the pounding of her heart calm a little. "And if any of you attack her? You will wish that you had never heard of the Black Queen."

Aaron blanched a little as he gave them a sharp nod, turning on his heel and stalking out the door. As it slammed closed, Erin slumped back against the sofa, letting go of Penelope's hand to rake her fingers through her hair. "I can defend myself."

"I know. I just thought it was high time that someone defended you, too."

She nodded absently, feeling the first signs of her cravings attack her body. "I, I just cannot be here any longer. Stay, take however long you need to finish what you were working on earlier. We'll regroup in the morning?"

Penelope nodded and reached out for her hand once more. "Of course, Erin. And I'll bring coffee and more cookies. Get some sleep, you look exhausted."

"I'll try," she murmured as she stood and went over to her desk to grab her purse. "Oh, and pick something different for me. Something you think I'd like. After all, friends know those things about each other, right?"

"Right." Penelope gave her a long, searching look, as if she knew what Erin was thinking about. "And if you wake up in the middle of the night and need someone to talk to, my ear is always open for you. I promise."

Erin gave her a tight nod as she scurried out the door, needing to escape from everything in that moment.