Desire-Ch 15

Hotch looked up from his desk and said, "come in" when he heard a knock, Derek stepped inside and said, "Hotch I need some time off effectively immediately",
he said, "is something wrong with your mom or sisters"?, he said, "no, their great I just have some personal problems that I need to take care of". He closed the file he was looking at and said, "you mean the whole Penelope, Amber Jordan problem"?, he said, "how did you know that"?, he said, "I'm a profiler remember Morgan"?, he shook his head and grinned as Hotch motioned for him to sit down.

Derek said, "I love Penelope, I love her with all my heart and we got all messed up because I didn't tell her that I was dating Jordan, which I only started because she was dating Sam". Hotch said, "as I understand it the problem is that she is doubting that you love her because you were with the three women all within in 24-48 hours".

Dereks mouth flew open and he said, "everything was going great and then Saturday night we headed over to my place, we had dinner and we were just sitting around watching movies and dancing and Amber came over". Hotch said, "ohhhhhhhhh that doesn't sound good", Derek said, "ohhhh trust me it wasn't, Amber said that she came over in response to a text message that I sent her but Hotch, man, I didn't send her one, I mean why would I when I was happy with my baby girl".

Hotch said, "do you have any idea who might have sent it"?, he said, "not a one but right now I can't focus on that, what I need to do is go to California and get my baby girl back". He sat back in his chair and said, "do you really think that's a good idea, I mean what about Eric"?, Derek crossed his arms over his chest and said, "he's out of town on business".

Hotch said, "what kind of work does he do again"?, Derek said, "I overheard something about computer stuff like Penelope", Hotch nodded his head and said, "do you know how much time you will need"?, he said, "not right now but I'm afraid that if I don't go now that it will be to late when she comes back". Hotch took a deep breath and said, "how about this, I will grant your time off but we will go on a week to week basis".

Derek said, "thank you so much, I really appreciate it", Hotch said, "good luck, because if she's with her brothers you are going to need it", he turned around in the door and said, "if I can talk to her I know that I can convince her that I'm telling the truth". Hotch said, "be careful and keep in touch, let us know how it's going".

Derek nodded his head and said, "I will", he turned and said, "and thanks again", he said, "hey, I know what that kind of love is like and I know what I would do to keep it". Derek smiled and waved at the rest of the team as he practically ran toward the elevator, JJ smiled and said, "where's he going"?, Hotch said,
"he's taking some personal time".

Reid looked at JJ and said, "does he know where she is"?, JJ said, "heyyyy I kept my promise I didn't tell him a thing but I might have accidently on purpose left my cell on his desk after sending her a text message". Emily laughed and said, "ohhhhhhhh I like it, I like it, you are guilty but innocent at the same time".

Hotch said, "Reid can you go to Kevin and get him to check into where Eric was Saturday night"?, he said, "yeah sure but why"?, Hotch said, "I have a funny feeling that the text message that Amber got was from Eric". Emily said, "do you think that Eric knows about Penelope and Derek"?, he said, "it's highly likely and if he thinks that Derek is to much competition he will do anything it takes to keep Penelope with him and mad at Derek".

Reid said, "on it" as he headed toward the lair, Emily looked at Hotch and said, "there was a few minutes that I looked around the yard the other night and didn't see him". JJ said, "ohhhh my God, what if he saw them having sex"?, Emily said, "well he was acting kinda funny at brunch the next day, he was really possessive of Penelope", JJ nodded her head in agreement and sighed hoping that Derek is able to change Penelopes mind about him.

Penelope looked at Shelly and said, "I don't know what to do", she said, "only you know how you feel kiddo, only you", she said, "I like Eric a lot and we have a lot of the same likes and dislikes". Shelly said, "but how do you feel about Derek"?, she said, "that's easy I love Derek, my heart does now and will always belong to him".

Shelly sighed and said, "I love your brother like that and I would do anything I had to to keep him", she looked at Penelope and said, "do you think that he is telling the truth about the text message"?, she shrugged and said, "I want to believe him, I really do but with his reputation and the fact that he was with me, Jordan and Amber in the same period it's making me wonder.

Shelly stood up and said, "you know your heart sweetie and this decision is completely up to you and nobody else", she smiled and said, "thanks Shell", she winked and said, "anytime P, anytime". Penelope sat there watching her neices playing and sighed happily until her cell started ringing, she looked down and saw "Eric" flashing on the ID.

She took a deep breath as she sent the call to voicemail, across town Eric throws his cell across the room and shatters it against the wall