Baby, Come Back

Morgan and Garcia

Chapter Two

September 2007

"Baby girl," his voice was filled with affection as he stood on a street in New York City, just minutes after walking out of a police station where their unsub was in custody "guess where I am tonight?"

"With some gorgeous fluffy thing, I'm sure. Don't make me jealous, you sexy hunk of beef, by telling me about your sexual exploits. I like to think of you as virginal and untouched by other hands."

He laughed. The sound was so filled with joy. She always was able to say things to make him forget about the ugly world surrounding him and only remember her lightness.

"Garcia, don't kid yourself."

"But, my love, its so much hotter when I fantasize I'm your first."

"Ha. You do know I lived more than twenty five years before I met you, right?"

"Studying to be a priest, weren't you?"

He let out another laugh. "You wish!"

"If you're making my wishes come true tonight I would wish for something so much sexier than just being your first time ever. I'd wish to be your best time ever. But its more than obvious that I so will be one day."

"Woman, focus. Wanna know where I am or not?"

"Not if its Jamaica because I will be so furious you didn't take me with you. I could use the break. I've been slaving away like a tech kitten speed demon to get this case in the win pile but its always close but no cigar for Garci."

His voice grew serious and comforting as he said "Sorry to hear that, Penelope. I know that must be frustrating but you were assigned this case because you are the best of the best. If anyone can get this unsub its you."

"Thank you. That's so sweet of you to say and totally true. I rock hardcore and these baddies are gonna rue the day they dared to venture into my cyber space."

"So are you still at work then?"

"They finally unchained me from my desk for the night. Now I'm two glasses of wine into a California red and halfway through the last chapter of Dune."

"Dune?"

"Only one of the best science fiction novels ever written. Handsome, you have so much to learn still."

He chuckled. "I'd rather spend my time with you doing things other than talking about science fiction."

"Ohhhh, you name the time and place and Garci will be there in leather and lace."

Derek just about moaned at hearing that. "Tonight work for you?"

"Don't tease. I'm tipsy and you know what that means."

He chuckled. "Seriously, I'm in the city. We caught a case and its done. Could I come by?"

Long pause. "Derek?"

"Yeah, baby?"

"You're really in the city right now?"

"Yeah, baby."

"And you're gonna come see me right now?"

"If you say I can, baby."

"Yes, you may, you gorgeous walking and talking temptation."

"Cool. I'm gonna grab a cab then. Stay on the line with me. I'm on my way."

"Thank God for blue tooth! I can primp without having to hold a phone up with my shoulder."

He chuckled. "So you want to look pretty for me. That right?"

"Its part of my master plan to get you to ravish me."

"Silly girl. How long have you had this plan?"

"Hmmm, its 2007. I'd say just four years now. So not that long."

"Four? You've only known me three."

"I plan ahead."

Derek roared with laughter, jumped in a cab, got Penelope's address from her and told the cab driver it. He was on his way to the one place in the world he really wanted to be: right by her side. Just like he had wanted for every day since she left Virginia.

Derek felt stupid now for ever trying to stick Penelope in the friend category or letting her stick him there. He was so ready to fix that mistake.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

He took the stairs at her walk up two at a time, even as he looked all around and decided this place was not safe enough for his baby girl to live. Still he pushed those worries to the back of his mind because he was too excited about seeing her.

A quick rap on her door and soon she had pulled it open. Derek's eyes drank in Penelope. Her blonde hair was down and flowing in curls over her shoulders, pinned up on one side with a big, funky clip. She wore jeans and a silky print blouse that was very loose and cut low in the front. It also showed off her shoulders.

"Hi, Derek. Welcome to Chez Garcia, NYC style."

Her voice knocked him out of his temporary daze. "Hey, baby girl, you are a sight for sore eyes."

"Oh, you are too, sug. Come on in." She moved back and he entered her home. His eyes moved around the room and took it her minimal efforts to decorate. He saw some art on the wall- framed prints of comic book covers- and on the bookshelves were her collection of troll dolls.

On the floor was a purple shaggy throw rug.

Derek slipped out of his leather jacket.

Penelope asked "So is the team staying an extra night?"

"Nah, they're already heading for the jet. I told Hotch I'd catch the first train out in the morning."

"Aw, that's sweet of you to go through the trouble just to come say hi to me. You didn't need to bother though. I know you must be tired after spending all day chasing baddies."

"Hush, woman, I would never be too tired for you."

"Oh, now that sentence is music to my ears. If only you were not the biggest tease ever born then I just may do a happy dance at hearing about your endless stamina."

Derek chuckled. He walked around her apartment, looking at photographs she had in frames, and asked "So how are you liking living up here? Is this building safe? Does that vagrant always sleep on the stoop?"

"Ed?"

Derek swiveled and raised an eyebrow. "Don't tell me you made friends with him."

"Ed is a sweetheart. He went to the war and his wife divorced him. I don't think he's been right since then but he has a good heart. I bring him take out sometimes."

"Baby-"

"He's not an unsub, promise."

"Baby girl, you gotta be careful who you let close to you when you're up here all alone."

"I'm not all alone. The techies in my unit have embraced me as one of their own. So you can stop worrying about me. I'm really as safe here as I was back home."

Derek gave her an unconvinced look. "Please be vigilant with your safety. Baby, its no joke. You know that."

"I will. Now stop going on about big, bad New York where there is an unsub around every corner ready to get me. You're starting to creep me out and make me not wanna leave this apartment ever again. And I think my bosses would object to that so enough."

"Okay but danger is real and I just want you to remember that."

"I'll be home before you know it and back to my normal routine so don't worry about it."

He really hoped she was right. He missed her more than he ever thought he could. Picking up one of her photographs he asked "Who's this?"

The photo showed her and blonde guy in his mid-twenties, who had his arm around Penelope.

"V. He works with me."

"V?"

"He is a tech God of mammoth proportions. Almost in my league."

"V? What kind of name is V?"

"His name is Victor but he goes by V."

"Hmpf."

"And he's gay."

"For real?" Derek lit up.

Penelope giggled. "No, but its so funny how excited that made you."

"Baby, don't mess with me. So is this Victor who goes by V your man?" He searched her eyes as he held his breath.

"We had a few dates but decided we're better off as friends."

Derek smiled.

Penelope added "Just like me and you. He's my New York Derek."

His smile slid away.

She giggled. "Joking! No one could ever compare to you. God, you are tense. You need a shoulder rub, Hot Stuff. Let mama use her magic fingers on you."

"I'm good, girl."

"Shh! Sit down and hush those sexy lips."

Derek sat on the couch and Penelope kneeled behind him, rubbing his shoulders and his back. "Mmm," she said "does it not feel like heaven to get my hands on you again finally?"

"Have I ever had your hands on me like this before? Did I bump my head and forget this blissful feeling, babe?"

"Bliss, huh? I could show you bliss, Hot Stuff."

"I wish you would."

"You are so bad. Such a tease." She rubbed his shoulders in silence for a minute. "I'm glad you came over tonight. I know you have to be tired and just want to crash. It means a lot that you stopped by."

"Stopped by? Woman, you've got me till morning."

"Oh, that does get my blood pumping to hear."

Derek turned and looked at Penelope. "Scale of one to ten, how much would you say that I missed you?"

"One hundred?"

"One million plus, plus, plus." He gave her a tender grin. "Its not the same back home without you, Garcia."

"The new tech boy giving you fits? Do you love me only for my magic fingers?"

"Woman, you should know better by now." He turned around completely, took her face in his hands, and brushed a series of soft kisses from her temple to her jaw before whispering "I need you home with me, girl."

"Aw, Derek, that is so sweet and I am closing in on these baddies I've been chasing. It won't be long now."

"Better not be. Or I might just take a leave of absence and come live on your couch."

"Then I'd live on my couch too cause I wouldn't want you to be lonely. Especially if you sleep naked as a jay bird."

He chuckled. "Always trying to get in my pants, ain't you, Garcia?"

She nodded happily. "And I feel like I've got your proverbial belt off and button undone. Now I just need to slide the zipper down and go for sweetest treat God ever created all for a tech kitten."

"All for you, huh?"

"If there is a God."

Derek chuckled. He took both her hands. "Hey, silly girl, will you be serious for a second?"

"I seriously would love to get you out of those jeans."

"Hush! Behave! I'm trying to tell you something." He gave her a stern look. "I swore to myself the next time I saw you I would say this."