When Garcia woke up the next morning, Morgan was gone and so was Jack. Garcia looked on the table and grabbed a note.
"Pretty Boy took Jack to get washed up and back to the hospital", she read aloud. "I went home to change. Meet up with you later at the hospital."
Garcia thanked the heavens that she wouldn't have to see a half naked Derek Morgan parading around her apartment in just a towel. Once a few years ago had been enough. "Oh who am I kidding", she said aloud. "One could never be enough."
Garcia showered and changed and went to the hospital. She decided to stop in the cafeteria for coffee first before heading to the Maternity Ward.
"Aunt Pen!" Jack screamed as he ran to her.
"Hey Buddy!" she said, rubbing his head. "How are mom and the baby?"
Reid hugged Garcia. "They're both doing well. She was about to feed when we left."
"Yeah. I'm not supposed to see mom's boobie", Jack said snickering.
"Jack!" Garcia said half shocked, half laughing. "The word is breast. Where did you learn that other word?"
"Uncle Derek", Jack said, walking ahead of them to the table.
"Remind me to have a talk with Uncle Derek", Garcia said, chuckling.
"My ears are burning!" Morgan said, walking over to them with a large teddy bear.
"Uncle Derek!" Jack said, hugging him. "Aunt Pen's mad at you."
"When is she not?" he said kissing her cheek. "What did I do now, Baby Girl?"
"You taught him the word "boobie!" she seethed.
"And you would have him say…?"
"Breast. It's the correct word." Garcia took a sip of her coffee.
"OK, Champ. The right word is breast." Morgan ruffled his hair. "But boobie is funnier!"
"Derek!" Garcia said, punching his arm.
"Ow!" Morgan said laughing. "I'm going to pay for that later, aren't I?"
"You have no idea", Garcia said, smiling sweetly at him.
The all walked over to the Maternity ward together and met up with Will, JJ and Rossi outside the room. And also a very pretty Candy Striper. Garcia started to get really nervous.
Since Reid stayed behind to talk to the Candy Striper in the hall, the rest of the team went in to see Emily and baby Jakob.
"Hey Guys!" Emily said, struggling to sit up.
"Easy, Honey", Hotch said, helping her.
"How's everyone?" Hotch said, reaching in the bassinet and picking up his son. Jack climbed on the bed and sat next to Emily.
"Can I hold him?" Jack asked.
"You gotta be really careful, Sweetie", Emily said. "He's very delicate."
"Delicate?" Jack asked.
"It means fragile", Reid said.
"Fragile?" Jack said, as Hotch placed the baby in his arms/lap.
"It means breakable, Buddy", Morgan said, chuckling.
"Morgan!" Emily and Garcia said.
"Here Dad, you take him", Jack said, nervously.
"It's OK, Jack", Hotch said, rubbing his back. "Uncle Derek just meant you have to be very careful with him."
"Yeah, careful", Rossi said, punching Morgan in the arm.
"Owww!" Morgan mouthed, holding his arm.
They all stayed for just a little while, cooing over Jakob until Emily started to get sleepy. Hotch placed a sleeping Jakob in his bassinet and covered Jack with a blanket as he slept in Emily's arms. All of a sudden he heard a commotion outside and came out.
"Ow!" Morgan said laughing. "Why is everyone punching me?"
"'Cause, cause, you're a doofus, that's why!" Reid said, as he stormed off toward the elevator.
"What did you do?!" Garcia said, as she, JJ, Will and Rossi came out the room.
"I have a sleeping baby and wife in here", Hotch said. "This better be good."
"Morgan's being mean", Garcia said.
"Where's Reid?" JJ said.
"He, uh, kinda stormed off", Morgan said, chuckling.
"What'd you do to the kid?" Rossi asked.
"Nothing! He, um, well, you guys saw Kari."
A collective head nodding went around and even Will nodded."
"Will!" JJ said, laughing.
"What?" he said. "She's cute." Will kissed her cheek. "But not as cute as you, Darling."
"Nice save, Romeo", Rossi said.
"So what did you DO?" Hotch said.
"I kinda embarrassed him a bit. I asked Kari to stand by him." Morgan said.
"That's not so bad", JJ said. "What happened?"
"He went into heavy sweats and stammering and just really nervous. Then I asked her to come by me." At this statement, Garcia thinned her lips.
"When Kari walked by me, Reid was visibly better and more steady on his feet. I think he digs her. Big time. I'll find him."
"No, I'll find him", Rossi said, as he patted Morgan on the back. "I think I can help."
As the team dispersed, Garcia and Morgan walked back to Morgan SUV parked in the back.
"I really thought I was helping him, ya know?" Morgan said, shuffling his feet. Garcia looked over at him and sighed. He really did have a big heart.
"You did, in your own way. But Reid isn't like us..."
"..I know..."
"And…" Garcia said cutting back in, "as much as he is like us, he really isn't. His social skills are way below us. I mean look at the Maeve situation. How incredibly high school was that?"
"The way he looked forward to the phone calls…"
"Exactly", she finished. "Pushing him just won't work. He's a turtle. He'll get there, even if it is eventually." She smiled. "He's not like you, Adonis. Always sure, always confident."
"Not always", Morgan said climbing into his SUV. "Want a ride to your car?"
Garcia laughed. "What? The three feet away? I'm good. I could use the walk. See you soon!" She said cheerfully as she hurried away, a slight bounce in her step. Morgan groaned on the inside. Pure, unadulterated torture.
Friday, Morgan walked into work feeling a bit defeated. It was like a cloud of gloom was hanging over him. He tossed and turned all night. Visions of Garcia danced around in his brain and kept sleep at bay. Today she wore a bright lime green dress and matching heels. The cutest lady leprechaun he'd ever seen.
"Hey Hotstuff!" she said, walking over to his desk. Suddenly her demeanor changed when she saw his face. "What's wrong, my Chocolate Drop?"
Morgan smiled in spite of his feelings. Then he just blurted out.
"Garcia, have you ever wanted something so bad, but were so afraid to go for it?" He said standing up.
"Uh", she stammered.
"And", he said moving closer to her personal space, "You knew it could be the best thing that ever happened to you but your nerves kept you from going for it?"
"Um, Derek", she stammered again as he got closer to her face. Moments from placing his lips on hers, Hotch stuck his head out of his office.
"Let's do this", he said, giving Morgan and Garcia a slight smile.
"Uh, yes Sir", Garcia said, picking up her stack of files and heading to the round table. Seeing her flustered state, Hotch grabbed her remote.
"I got this, Garcia", Hotch said.
"Thank you, Sir", Garcia said, passing out the files.
The case took less than a day and Garcia was grateful for a few hours a peace to reflect on what almost happened. Did she almost kiss her best friend? Her amazingly handsome, sexy, sweet, kind caring… What was that he was talking about? Wanting something so bad? Being afraid to go for it? Her thoughts were interrupted by the beep of her cell.
-Hotch said go home. We're not coming back to the office- JJ
Garcia again thanked her lucky stars and packed up to go home. Running into Derek right now in an empty office with nothing but space and opportunity…disastrous.
Garcia shivered a bit and headed to her car. Tomorrow was the party at Rossi's. All she had to do was make it through that party. And then the day after that. And the day after that…