Premise- Morgan and Garcia. He didn't know it was love till she moved away.

Note- This fic starts after the end of season two. The title comes from a song by the same name. It was recorded by the band Player first and later by Hall and Oates.

This is a Derek POV only story.

Baby, Come Back

Morgan and Garcia

Chapter One

August 2007

He loved their friendship. They way they connected was something that happened almost instantaneously after the moment they met- the banter, the flirting, the joking, the fun, and later the comfort and understanding. She was a wonderful boost to his work day.

But never more than that.

Despite a ton of dirty talk and endless phone calls (even all night ones on very rare occasions, mainly when he was back in Chicago and the trip was just getting a little too long for him not to be itching for her), they had never really drifted anywhere close to crossing the line from friends to lovers.

Derek Morgan had been pretty sure that he wasn't ever going to cross that line. He valued Penelope Garcia's place in his life. No doubt about it, she was special to him and nobody else would get called baby girl by him ever again but that was where it ended.

Or so he had thought eleven and a half weeks ago.

Now he thinks he must have been crazy because every day since she's left the BAU he's just about crawling the walls and praying this is the day she comes back. And to think he played it off like it was no big thing when he heard she was getting temporarily transferred. His face never showed that he was kinda nervous to have her move several states away.

Maybe she would never come back. Right about now it felt like her assignment would never end. Every moment she worked in New York City Derek spent aching for Penelope, and wishing his baby girl would come back to him.

He needed to tell her he had been wrong. They sure as hell were not just buddies. No man could miss a buddy like he missed her.

Sitting at his desk, that hot August night, he worked later than he ever used to just so he could not go home and think about her. But even here at work his head was still filled with thoughts of the woman who had gone away.

His good buddy and flirting partner, his confidant and fantasy girl, his late night, lull him to sleep, phone call and early morning first smile of the day. In the three years they had known each other he had experienced so many different feelings. Starting with an intense rush of endorphins that hit when they first met to the great comfort of knowing she'd always have his back from now on. Looking back Derek knows he was young, foolish, reckless and cocky when he looked right past Penelope and decided that they were cool as just friends.

Not that he knew she wanted anything more with him. But damn he was hoping.

Picking up his cell he hit the first number on speed dial.

"Handsome, talk dirty to me. I'm bored in the Big Apple without your sculpted chocolate candy bar body to brighten up my day."

He chuckled. "Garcia, I thought you were the best. How is it that you ain't wrapped up this case yet?"

"Oh, honey buns, the world is full of more baddies than there are stars in the sky. When Garci catches one another pops up to take his place. It looks me with shivers racing down my spine to think there will always be another boogey man waiting in the dark to do some devilish thing to a good, unsuspecting tech kitten like myself."

"Hey, you got me to protect you. All you gotta do is come home and let me."

"Would if I could. Can't so I won't."

"How's that city treating my baby girl?"

"I barely see the city. I'm always chained to my screens. Its hard being a superhero. I wish I had a cape so I could fly back to your side but they took it away at the airport. Something about it being against FAA regulations."

He laughed. "That's too bad. I know that ruined your fun."

"Mmm-hmmm."

"Well I just called to say good night. I'm still here at the office."

"Working late again? I thought we had a deal that you'd take care of yourself so you look as handsome as ever when I come back home? You know when I dream about you I don't see a tired, cranky, overworked Hot Stuff."

He chuckled. "Well I'll try to live up to the man of your dreams, Garcia."

"Good. Did I ever mention the man of my dreams wears chaps?"

Derek laughed. "Hush with that! I already said no. Never. Forget it. Ask Reid."

"Fine I will but don't be jealous when its his photo that is my screensaver instead of yours."

"Woman."

She chuckled. "Garci needs to get back to work, sugar dumpling. Crime sleeps for no superhero."

"Don't I know it. Okay. Talk to you tomorrow."

"Good night, Morgan."

"Bye, baby girl." He sat there staring at a picture she put of herself on his desk on her last day in the BAU. He hadn't even seen it till she was already in a cab on the way to the airport.

Now everyday his eyes go back to it, over and over, and he looks at the woman he feels like an idiot for looking pass for over a thousand days. If only she would come back home so he could finally take her in his arms and hold her so long she started to feel all the love he used to swear wasn't even there.

XXXXXXXXXX

Early September

Derek had never in the past been happy to hear they had a case in New York City but this time he felt like doing cartwheels over it. He couldn't even hide his smile from the team when JJ said that was where they were headed this time.

Emily teased him "Looks like Morgan gets to see his girlfriend again."

Hotch raised an eyebrow and said, in a totally serious tone, "After we get the unsub," as if it was a possibility Derek would race straight from the airport to Penelope's side and forget all about the case. "Wheels up in twenty."

"Lets do this," Derek said, standing up. He was ready to catch their guy and then spend at least a few hours with Penelope.

All summer long he had wanted to go visit her but he was working through his denial about how important she is to him and he never asked her if he could come up. But now he wouldn't have to show his hand like that. He needed to see her and he really hoped she could make the time for him once he called and said he was in her neighborhood.