My first Criminal Minds fan fic. I don't hate Savannah (much) but I want Morcia so she has to go. No copyright infringement intended. I just brought them out to play with. All mistakes are mine. And I may take some creative license with characters so if they are OOC, sorry
————
For the next two weeks, Penelope tries to stay at a distance from Derek. They rarely speak and when they do it's extremely polite, just like strangers. The whole team not only notices but it makes things very tense in the unit. Penelope stays in her office more than ever and Derek is very terse and downright grumpy to be around.
"It's like we are waiting on a bomb to explode but no one knows when or where." Spencer says quietly as he and JJ sit in the break room having lunch. Glancing around to make sure no one is around, he looks back at JJ, " Do you know what happened?"
JJ sighs, " I wish I did. I can't get Pen to budge on details and believe me that is NOT normal. All I know is she is miserable. And Derek is just miserable to be around."
"Yeah" Reid says quietly. " I asked him if everything was okay and he told me to mind my own business and walked off."
"At this point, it's affecting everyone so I'm calling it my business." JJ stands up. "I'm going to talk to Garcie. I'll see if I can get it out of her."
"Good luck!" Reid yells with a grin as she walks out.
JJ knocks on Penelope's office door before slowly opening it. "Pen?" She hears a sniffle and sees Penny throw a tissue in the waste basket before turning around and giving a weak smile. "Hey lovely. What can I help with?"
"You can tell me what"s wrong." JJ says softly as she walks over and pulls a chair up in front of Penelope and grabs her hands. "I'm worried about you."
Penelope tries not to break down in tears at her best friend's sweet words and smiles a wobbly smile. "I'm fine. Nothing to be worried about. How's my baby boy?"
"Henry is good and he would love to see his aunt Penelope. But don't change the subject. Tell me what's going on. I can't help if I don't know."
"You can't help Jayje. I appreciate it but you just can't. No one can. And that's ok. I'll be fine. I always am."
"Pen…."
"I should get back to work. Team B has a nasty case they need my particular brand of awesomeness to solve. Give my Henry a big hug." Penny turns back to her computer and starts typing furiously. JJ sighs and starts for the door. "Jayje?" She turns around to see Penelope looking at her. "Thanks" she says quietly.
————
Meanwhile, Hotch and Rossi are sitting in Hotch's office going over paperwork on the case.
"I'll talk to Strauss about the budget overrun with this and…." Realizing Rossi is staring off in the distance Hotch stops. "Something on your mind Dave?"
"Has Morgan talked to you?"
Hotch puts his pen down and sits back in his chair. " No. But something is definitely going on there. Do you know what it is?"
Dave hesitates. "No, he's keeping it close to the vest but then he always does. What I do know is it somehow involves kitten. She is not herself lately and usually that only happens when there are issues with Morgan."
"I agree but if neither of them are talking there isn't much we can do besides wait. As long as they are both doing their jobs at least. Derek might be on a short fuse but so far he hasn't crossed the line."
Rossi nods before they continue discussing budget, knowing Hotch is right. But he will be keeping a close eye on this situation.
————
Penelope stands up and stretches. She has been sitting in one spot way too long coaxing information from her babies. Grabbing her tablet in case she gets an emergency call from Team B, she decides to go to the break room for a cup of tea and to stretch her legs. She is looking at the information she has already sent on the tablet and stops as she gets an idea of where to head next in her search without realizing she is standing just outside Derek's office door until she hears Savannah's voice inside.
"Tina, I told you I'm not telling Derek. He asks if the baby is healthy and thats all he cares about. If he doesn't ask, I sure as hell am not admitting to it. He doesn't need to know."
Penelope stands in shock for a moment then decides it best not to be caught outside the door. She continues walking to the break room debating what to do.
As she enters the room Derek is standing filling his coffee cup. He looks up as she walks in and their eyes meet and stare. He suddenly looks back down, grabs his coffee, a bottle of water and two take out containers and starts heading to the door.
"Derek wait." Garcia calls out quickly even as her brain is asking what the hell she is doing. JJ and Reid go completely silent as do Hotch and Rossi who came in behind Penelope.
Derek stops and turns around in frustration at not getting away before he has to talk to her. "What Garcia?"
Penelope bites her lip and tries to figure out what to say now that she opened her mouth. After a few seconds of silence Derek turns to stalk out of the room.
"It"s about Savannah" she says quickly.
"What about her?" Derek forces out between clinched teeth.
"Ummm, she's, well"
"Spit it out Garcia."
"She"s keeping secrets from you about the baby."
Derek grits his teeth. "What secrets would those be?" He bites out.
"I don't exactly know the secrets."
Derek laughs incredulously.
"I'm sorry ok?" Penny says quickly. "I overheard her talking to someone named Tina about the baby and she…."
Derek cuts her off. "Are you trying to ruin my life? Or do you just hate Savannah that much because she is getting a husband and a baby and you have nothing?! I've heard enough Garcia. First you try to tell me after 11 years you are suddenly in love me, a month before my wedding. Now, you're trying to cause trouble between me and Savannah because your little ploy or whatever the hell it was didn't work. Consider yourself uninvited to the wedding. I won't have you ruin Savannah's day." Derek walks out as everyone stares at the scene in front of them.
As everyone is in shock, Penelope takes a deep breath, pushing back the tears. Her tablet alerts and she heads to the door so she can go back to her office.
"Kitten…"
"I'm fine." She smiles thinly at Rossi.
"Team B needs me" Holding her head up high she walks out before she can break down in front of everyone then takes the long way around to her office so she doesn't have to pass Derek's office.
Both JJ and Reid stop by before they head home to check on her but Garcia is deep into research and puts on a brave face. Hugging them both she smiles. "I love you guys but I'm ok. Go home to your family Jayje and give my godson a kiss from me. And you," she looks at Reid, "Go do whatever brainiac's do when they have a rare weekend off. I will talk to you both later."
As soon as they walk out, Penelope locks the door behind them and pulls up Word on her computer and begins typing out a note.