Note- This takes place during episode 3X10, the first one where Penelope goes back to work. Derek is worried about her and when he comes back he checks in on her. He fixes her chair and she tells him that there is a quote that reminds her of him. This is when she explains what a noir hero is to him. The scene ends then.

Noir

"And that's what you think of me?" he asked her. "I'm some kind of hero for you?" his voice got an angry hint to it. "Baby," he said, frustrated, "I'm no hero!"

Penelope startled. They had been having so much fun together and now he was getting mad. "I know you don't like to think you are but I know better," she said, gently. "You saved my life not that long ago. If you had left me alone at my apartment that night I wouldn't be here right now with such little problems as an uncomfortable chair to worry about."

Derek thought back to their last case. A young man went nuts after thugs killed his girlfriend. Now all he had left of her was a voice on her voicemail. It hit close to home and he truly felt sorry for the unsub. Derek ran his hands over the back of his head. "Okay, baby girl, I'm glad you feel like I protected you that night but-" his voice trailed off.

Slowly she stood up, still sore from her surgery, "What is it, my love?"

He looked at her with anguish in his eyes. "You only ended up getting shot because of me!" he finally spit out what had been eating at him since the moment he heard about it. "I pissed you off and you went out with him to prove something to me. This is all my fault. I should have said it all different....said it better...and you wouldn't have a scar that reminds you everyday that I failed you."

"Morgan," she whispered his last name and moved close to him "you have never failed me and you never could."

A light sheen of tears glittered his eyes. "I'm so sorry, baby girl. I hate that my behavior over the years led you to think I wouldn't cross a crowded room to hit on you-"

"Shh. Don't go there. That's over."

"I have to. Its not over. Its right here between us."

"Not for me its not."

"It is for me because no matter how close I stick to you now I feel like you've put up a wall. Baby, I know you're hurting but please let me in. Forgive me. I was an idiot."

"It was my fault. I was too sensitive. I hung up on you because I was overreacting. You did nothing wrong."

"I don't get why you said that. Do you believe that? You thought I wouldn't hit on you....and mean it?"

"My love, I was just being emotional. I'm a woman. I'm allowed."

"So you know better now.....right? You know I love you....right?"

She nodded. "Sure and I love you," she said, easily, as if it was no big deal.

He searched her eyes. "We'll get through this, right? We're gonna make it, right?"

"I'll always be your Goddess and, like it or not, you'll be my noir hero."

He kissed her forehead. "Night, baby girl."

"Good night, handsome."

He walked toward the door but then he looked back. "Just so you know, as soon as you're up for it, I'm taking you on a candle light dinner, horse drawn carriage ride through the park, dancing for hours date. So start looking for a sexy dress, mama."

She startled to attention and breathed out "You're what? Don't joke with me about that, please. Its not nice to tease about love...now sex that's different. But never about love, my darling."

His face scrunched up. "What are you talking about?" He walked back across the room to her. "Sit down."

"I'm fine."

"Sit down, baby girl! You just had surgery a few weeks ago! And you look like you're gonna pass out."

She sat down. "Really, baby, I'm fine. You know how you affect my heart. I was just a little lightheaded for a minute because of your teasing."

"Penelope....are you trying to tell me something?"

"What, my love?"

"That you don't want to date me."

She stared at him for a long moment and then popped out of her seat. He barked "Sit back down, woman!"

She sat down. "Are you asking me on a date....seriously? Me and you? In a romantic relationship? Where is this coming from?"

"What does that mean? All I've been doing lately is trying to show you in every way I want you. Why isn't anything getting through your hard head? Or do you just not want me back so you can't hear me? I asked you out the night...the night you were injured....and I barely left your side while you were in the hospital....and I told you...how I...." he faltered "Do you just say I love you to people and it means nothing? Because it meant everything for me, baby. I....love.....you, my silly girl. I...love....you, can you hear me now? Is this sinking in? Don't tell me that you don't want me cause I can't take it....."

She was completely speechless.

After she didn't say anything for a minute he stepped back. "Good night, Garcia." With sadness in his eyes he turned and went to leave.

She yelped "I love you too, Morgan!"

He slowly turned around, still looking hurt. "Before this all happened I really thought you did but now that I've let you down....its like you can't trust me anymore. You say you love me and you don't even mean it. I'm just another buddy for you. That's okay, baby. Its fine. I deserve this."

She hurried over to him. He tried to hold out a hand, telling her to go slow because she was hurt, but she ignored him and hugged him, lightly because her whole front was still bearing stitches.

"You pigheaded man, listen to me, I love you as a friend, yes, of course I do. But I love you as a man too. I just can't believe you really wanted me before this all happened. Is that seriously true?" Hope shone in her eyes when she looked at him.

He nodded, overcome with emotion, and then gave her a very short, tender kiss. "You should have been out with me that night. You're my baby girl and I should have protected you better....really been your hero and made it so you knew.....I'd cross every room on this planet just to stand next to you. I've never been in love with anyone but you, Penelope.....so go easy on me cause I don't know what I'm doing here."

She smiled at him, through her tears, "I am a good teacher, my love."

They kissed again and that night he took her home to sleep next to him in his bed, with his dog at their feet, and they talked all night long. In the early morning light she showed him her surgical marks and he kissed all along the area next to them, softly so it didn't hurt her.

Later, when she healed, he would kiss and lick her scars and make it so they didn't cause her shame because he loved her even more for surviving that ordeal. She fought to get back to all of them....and to him most of all.

He would never forget she could just be a voice on an answering machine right now too. But she made it through her shooting.

And gave Derek another chance to prove to her what kind of man he really was. Sometimes a hero, always her man.

THE END

Inspired by Eppure Sentire. Song by Elisa. Mvid by fusciama 2.