The next morning was very awkward. Penelope practically got herself ready for the day in silence. Only a few greetings here and there as she passed Luke in the hall and kitchen. She had noticed the dark circles under Luke's eyes and wondered if he had gotten any sleep last night.

The car ride to work was equally awkward until they stopped at a red light. Luke was tapping his fingers on the wheel to the faint music on the radio. Penelope was fiddling with her nails.

"I can't take it anymore," Penelope blurted, causing Luke to jump in his seat. "Are we going to talk about this?"

"I've been trying to talk to you for days about this." Luke stared ahead at the road as the light turned green.

"You have?" Penelope shot him a look of surprise. "When?"

"Several times." Luke's tone was cold and brought an ache to Penelope's chest. She watched as Luke got out of the car and grabbed his back pack, walking ahead of her toward the door to the building. The parking garage was empty and dark as the sun had yet to rise above the horizon. The lights that illuminated the path to the elevators was dim. If it wasn't for the intense security, Penelope would be nervous to walk in this garage at night.

"Luke," she called after him the door slamming behind her. "What is your problem? You weren't acting like this last night."

"Last night," Luke started. He turned abruptly back to Penelope and his gaze softened. "Last night was me acting impulsive on my feelings and I never should have taken advantage of you like that."

"You didn't," Penelope whispered. She got close to Luke and put her hands on each side of his face. "You really didn't. I wanted it just as much."

"Damn it Penelope," Luke whispered as he searched her face. "I'm in love with you. I've been in love with you for years."

"Then why did we call this off?" Penelope felt the tears welling in her eyes.

"Because - because I was afraid I would hurt you. This job." Luke shook his head. "This job destroys the people we love and I could not destroy you. I heard about Hotchner and his wife. I've seen couples in the line of duty when one dies."

"You won't destroy me. I'm just as much in this as you." Penelope took a deep breath and scanned her surroundings.

"Voit was bringing up how I pulled you back into all this and it would be a shame if something were to happen to you when I clearly have feelings for you. I feel like this is my fault you're in danger."

Penelope brought her hands down to grasp Luke's. She looked him at him sternly. His hands were shaking and clammy.

"This is not your fault. Luke, I love you," Penelope practically pleaded. "Do you hear me? I love you and that love is indestructable."

Luke's hand slid into Penelope's hair as he pressed his lips to hers in a hard kiss. Pure pent up longing and desire coming to a catalyst. Penelope's hands gripped at Luke's shirt and pulled him in closer to her. She matched his fervent kiss as his hands found their way to cup her cheeks, his thumbs caressing her skin.

A honk of a car horn caused them both to jump from their actions. Penelope's hair a frizzy mess from Luke's hands and her glasses were crooked across the bridge of her nose. Her lipstick smudged across his mouth. His cheeks were flushed red as she turned around to see who interrupted their much needed moment.

"Holy shit you guys. There are private sound proof rooms for a reason," Tara grinned as she grabbed her bag and approached the pair.

-Garvez-

Penelope clicked her pen repeatedly. Luke sat beside her in Emily's office as they waited for her reaction. They had been waiting for what felt like a solid minute while getting the "mom" look.

"You two were making out in the parking lot?" Emily rubbed her forehead. "I mean, it's about time, but now that Penelope is back to working with the unit this will have some difficult paperwork."

"Unless we just wait until this whole Gold Star and Voit thing is over to fill out the paperwork?" Luke suggested. "Who will tell on us anyway? No one on the team would."

"He has a point," Penelope backed up. "I, for one, am not for filling out the liability blah blah paperwork all over again like when I dated what's-his-name."

"Lynch?"

"Yeah him. Oh! And what about Tara and Rebecca?"

"Well technically the paperwork is different because none of these examples are working on the same unit," Emily clarified. "However, I'm fine with holding off on it as long as you guys can keep things professional in line of sight from others."

"Also Tara knows already," Penelope smiled innocently.

"I'm aware. She texted me. I'm out twenty dollars."

Penelope and Luke stared at each other and then Emily.

"What? I thought it would take a little longer after Voit called you out on it. Clearly I was mistaken." Emily pulled her phone out to send a venmo to Tara. "And, sent."

"I am," Penelope paused. "I am baffled, and I am going to get a sweet treat, and lock myself in my computer room."

Luke watched as Penelope, cheeks scarlett, exit the room and leaving him with Emily.

"So tell me everything." Emily leaned back in her seat. "We've got 10 minutes before conference room time and I've been waiting years for this."

-Garvez-

Penelope spent the whole day uncovering as much information as possible about midnightking72, and after knowing his handle, finding out his real name came a lot easier. This idiot used his handle for the darknet, his tumblr, his twitter, and his instagram.

"Jeffery Stockholm is a 42 year old man working in the IT department of a local hospital system in Virginia," Penelope pressed the button on the slide show and a family picture popped up on the screen. "He had a wife and four children ages 8, 11, 13, and 15, well up until his wife divorced him about a year ago because she couldn't handle being in a pandemic lockdown with him. There are police reports of domestic violence and child endangerment. She took the kids and ran. Oh and in his free time he likes to harass women on the internet with the most disgusting perverted comments and has a bone to pick with me for shutting down his white male supremacy forum back during the 2020 election - oops. Just something I liked to do in my freetime. One of the police reports quoted his ex-wife stating that he threatened to kill her via blindfold, tied to a chair, and throat sliced."

"Just like our victims," JJ confirmed. She tucked the blonde strands behind her ears.

"So he must have ended up on Voit's network looking for the best way to kill his wife? Learned about Penelope, made the connection you were the one who put an end to his conspiracies and decided to target you instead?" Luke suggested.

"Bingo. I pulled all his phone records and noted this message to an unknown number stating 'if only I could get his hands on a kit with everything I need all in one place' assuming the kit in question was one of Voit's kill kits. He also didn't seem to comply with Voit's rules of discretion, likely why he didn't end up with one," Penelope finished.

"So where do we find him?" Emily closed the folder on the table before her.

"Here is his home address and today is his day off of work."

Tara and Dave quickly made for the elevator with Emily, JJ, and Luke in pursuit. Penelope glanced back to the face of Jeffrey on the screen. She was certain she had seen that face elsewhere.

Penelope sat at her computer searching as much information as possible that the team may need to know to apprehend Jeffrey Stockholm. After reviewing his recent purchases from his bank account she discovered where she had seen him before. He frequented her favorite coffee shop. In fact, Penelope was certain he had talked to her recently.

"Oh is that good, Penelope?" A lengthy man with a beard and glasses asked from behind her.

"Excuse me?" She looked over, startled at her name.

"I'm sorry, I ask if your coffee was good and if you have a pen? I need to write down my grocery list before I forget and the barista said they didn't have any to offer."

"Oh sure. Coffee wise - this is my favorite, their espresso is to die for," Penelope smiled as she dug a pen from her bag and handed it to the man. "Have you been here before?"

"A couple times, usually just get a black coffee." What Penelope did find odd was he wouldn't look her in the eye.

"Ah well, I recommended . I hope you have a good day. You can keep the pen!" Penelope sipped her ice latte and walked past the stranger.

Penelope had second guessed herself when he said her name but now she was certain of what she heard. He had been following her, and it was likely he had been following her for a while and the thought made her feel sick to her stomach. She only hoped that they would find him with minimal push back. If anything happened to Luke, or anyone on the team, because of her, she would feel terrible.