Matchmaker, Matchmaker
Title: Matchmaker, Matchmaker
Author: pheonixrss
Pairing/Character: Morgan/Garcia, OC
Word Count: 3900
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Garcia's cousin comes for a visit and meddles.
Spoilers: The fic begins at the end of 3.14.
Disclaimer: I am in no way associated with the owners, creators, or
producers of Criminal Minds. No copyright infringement is intended.
Notes: My first G/M fic. :)
"Garcia and Kevin sittin' in a tree . . . " JJ sang quietly.
Morgan looked at her, then back to the man in the hideous print
shirt/striped tie combo standing outside of Rossi's office. "Get
outta here." He strode out of the bullpen while Prentiss tried to
comprehend Reid's lack of social intelligence; he had to find Garcia.
"Penelope?" Morgan opened the door to her office and strode in.
"Penelope!" he called out, more insistently, only to find it empty.
He looked around the desk, hoping for some clue as to her whereabouts.
"Morgan! What are you doing down in my cave?"
Derek whirled around to face a smiling and relaxed Garcia walk in.
He took a deep breath, careful not to let her know how shaken he was.
"You know your boyfriend is having a man-to-man talk with Rossi right
now?"
Garcia's eyes went wide and the smile dropped off her face. "He
what?! That little--" She looked back at Morgan, who crossed his
arms over his chest and leaned back against her desk. "My . . .
boyfriend. Right."
Morgan raised his eyebrows at her, but refused to say anything.
"Oh come on, like you tell me about all your girls?" Garcia asked,
trying to make light.
"I tell you about the important ones."
Garcia gave him a look. "The only woman you have ever mentioned to
me is your mother! And anyway, Kevin and I aren't serious."
"Then why is Lynch out there willing to risk his job and yours for
this relationship?" Morgan asked, holding back, trying not to
interrogate her.
Garcia shook her head and smirked. "Sugar, if I knew why men do the
things they do, I would spend a lot less time here."
Morgan looked at her as his stomach tightened. When did she start
keeping things from him? "Penelope."
Garcia put down the files she had been carrying with a sigh. "I hate
profilers. Someday I'm going to build a little box and stick all of
you in it so that the only people you can torture with your
superpowers is each other!"
Morgan chuckled softly. "Come on, baby doll, give it up."
"Do you know that my scar isn't even fully healed yet?" She bit the
inside of her cheek thoughtfully. "The last guy I got excited about
gunned me down. So I'm not going to get my hopes up and I'm not going
get all girlie on you. I'm going to be smarter this time."
Morgan's eyes melted as he reached for her. He held her gently to
him and after a few moments Garcia relaxed and tucked her head under
his chin.
"Now you listen to me, princess. You are the most incredible,
beautiful, scary brilliant woman I have ever met, and the only reason
you spend so much time here is because most men don't know how to
treat a goddess." Morgan backed out of the embrace and looked hard
into her eyes. "Don't you ever believe anything less."
Garcia gave a small smile. "You just say that because I won't sleep
with you, gorgeous."
"Baby girl, you name the place and I will be there," he grinned at her.
It had taken Derek a few months to get used to the idea of Garcia not
being his alone anymore. He didn't like it, but he had to admit that
she looked happier than she had in a long time and whatever the
reason, he had to respect it. Lynch didn't seem thrilled with their .
. . special friendship, but the two friends had managed to maintain
their mojo. It was just about then that a petite blonde woman burst
into Garcia's office. "I'm here!"
Derek looked up as Garcia rushed over to give the younger girl a hug.
"Chloe! Hey little sister, what have you done?" Garcia grinned.
Morgan got up from Garcia's desk and walked over. "Little sister?"
he asked Garcia.
"I went through a serious Billy Idol phase," the other woman
answered. "Who are you?" she asked lightly.
"I'm Derek Morgan," he responded, looking a little taken aback by her
bluntness, "Who are you?"
Garcia laughed, enjoying seeing Morgan for once thrown off his game.
"This is my cousin, Chloe. From my mom's side, obviously."
"What, the blonde hair, blue eyes doesn't say latina to you?" Chloe
teased before extending a hand to Morgan. "It's nice to meet you."
Derek shook Chloe's hand and nodded. "Well, the purple streaks did
throw me off a little," he then turned to Garcia. "Call me when
you've got the list of addresses."
"I always do, hot stuff."
"Later, mama," he called as he left the office.
Chloe watched him go, then turned to her cousin. "That's 'your
friend Morgan'? Why are you not going after that?"
Penelope laughed at Chloe's response to her burning love hunk.
"Chloe, peaches, we are just friends."
"I see, and do you flirt with all of your friends?" Chloe smirked.
Garcia rolled her eyes. "It's our thing, it's what we do."
"Hmm," Chloe pretended to mull it over, "Well, I would suggest you
two expand the repertoire of your . . . thing."
Penelope laughed. "You do remember I have a boyfriend, right?"
"Kevin. Right." Chloe nodded unenthusiastically.
Garcia gave her cousin a look. "What?"
Chloe held her hands up innocently. "Nothing."
"You don't like Kevin?"
"Of course I like Kevin," Chloe answered noncommittally.
"Chloe."
"I like Kevin. He's cute and sweet. He's a puppy dog; you want to
take him home and cuddle up. But Derek is hot," she pointed to the
door where Morgan exited. "That there is a stallion, baby!"
Garcia laughed at her cousin's fervor. "I happen to prefer dogs."
Chloe narrowed her eyes for a moment, a plan formulating. "Then you
wouldn't mind if I asked him out?" she asked lightly.
"Consider Morgan my birthday present to you," Penelope declared magnanimously.
"I do love presents," Chloe grinned.
It was a few days later when Penelope's cell phone rang. "Mecca of
all knowledge, Chloe speaking."
"Chloe, hi. It's Derek Morgan. Is my girl there?"
"Derek," Chloe smiled, the plan turning to action. "Pen's not here
right now, is it important?"
"Nah, just checking in," he replied conversationally.
"I'm glad you called, I was wondering if you'd like to come to this
dinner party my cousin is throwing tonight."
"Uh," Derek hesitated, "Sure, why not?"
Chloe grinned. "Great!" She gave Morgan the details and hung up
just before Garcia came in, heavily laden with groceries. Chloe
laughed. "Need some help?"
Penelope gave her a look. "Funny, funny girl. Get over here."
As Chloe took a couple bags and headed for the kitchen, she decided
to drop the bait. "We'll need to make it seven for dinner."
"Okay," Penelope replied distractedly, "Who is number seven?"
"Derek," Chloe answered brightly before turning to the fridge.
Garcia blinked a few times as she processed. "Derek. As in Morgan?"
"As in my birthday present," Chloe turned back, grinning.
"Great," Penelope smiled stiffly, "I'll find another chair."
The doorbell rang later that night. As all but one of the invited
guests had arrived for the birthday bash, Penelope readied herself to
greet Morgan. She reminded herself that she had agreed to let Chloe
take a shot, she reminded herself that it was Chloe's birthday, she
reminded herself that she had a boyfriend, she reminded herself that
at no point was she going to do anything that would cause Chloe,
Morgan, or Kevin to not speak to her.
"Hey angelfish, get in here!" Garcia waved him in playfully. As she
took in Derek Morgan in all his splendor, she again wondered why she
couldn't be blind; it would make life so much easier. A severe
astigmatism at the very least.
"Hi, mama," Morgan gave her a quick peck on the cheek. "Where's the
birthday girl?"
"Entertaining her adoring public," Penelope grinned and pointed to
Chloe zealously telling some story to the rest of the cousins.
"Pen?" Kevin walked up wearing oven mitts and a worried expression.
"Is the chicken supposed to be black?"
Garcia smiled to Morgan. "I'll be back."
As she followed Kevin into the kitchen, Derek headed over to Chloe to
say his hellos.
"Derek, you made it! I'm so happy," Chloe grinned and gave him a hug.
"Hey, I'm not one to disappoint a girl on her birthday," he smiled casually.
Chloe raised her eyebrows and smiled flirtatiously. "Good to know."
Out of the corner of her eye, she could see her cousin watching them
from the kitchen. She put a hand on Derek's arm lightly as they made
small talk; time to see what she could do.
Garcia noticed as she served dinner that Chloe had set the table so
she and Morgan were at one end and Penelope and Kevin were at the
other. Penelope watched Chloe and Morgan talk and laugh easily until
her stomach began to tighten.
"Pen? Penelope?"
Garcia tore her gaze away from the happy couple to her boyfriend. "Yeah?"
"I asked if you were okay. You haven't eaten anything," Kevin repeated.
"I'm fine." Penelope looked back at the other end of the table.
"I'm not hungry."
Kevin put his hand over hers and followed her gaze resignedly.
When those who were eating had finished, Chloe offered to help her
cousin clear the plates.
"Derek and I are really hitting things off," Chloe whispered when
they reached the kitchen.
"That's great," Garcia responded, carefully keeping her eyes down.
"Penelope, thank you. Tonight, the dinner, Morgan. It's perfect."
Garcia looked up to see her cousin's face glowing with happiness and
for the first time that evening hoped that Morgan was as happy with
the match-up. "Good. Happy birthday, Chloe." She smiled lovingly,
then got back to business. "Okay, tell Kevin to come help me with the
cake and you start thinking what you're gonna wish for."
Chloe grinned. "Such a tough life." She headed back over to Morgan.
"Hey, Penelope needs some help in the kitchen, you mind?"
"Sure." He put down his beer and walked off.
Kevin noticed Derek going to Penelope and was going to follow suit,
when Chloe intercepted him. "Kevin! So I don't really know that much
about you. What is it that you do for the FBI?"
"I'm a technical analyst, just like Penelope," replied Kevin distractedly.
"Right, but you work in a different department. So what does that
entail?" Chloe half-listened to the puppy dog, hoping her cousin was
making the most of the time she was buying her.
"Hey sweetheart, how can I help?"
Garcia looked up from the candles to see the man she hadn't asked
for. "I'm good. You get back to the party."
Morgan looked at her for a moment, noticing how hard she was
concentrating on the placement of the birthday candles. "Baby girl,
you all right?"
Penelope shrugged it off. "The pressures of entertaining."
Derek moved behind and squeezed her shoulders. "The pressure gets
too much, you know who to come to."
Penelope smiled and laughed under her breath. "Yes, sugar shack, I
know." She looked out to see her cousin and her boyfriend talking and
stepped away from Morgan. "How are things going with Chloe?"
Derek gave a half-smile. "She's a nice girl, I can see the family
resemblance."
"So . . . "
"So?" he laughed. "Mama, you know I don't kiss and tell."
"Oh, come on! You gotta give me something, hot stuff."
Derek tapped the end of her nose and walked away without a word.
"Infuriating man," she muttered under her breath.
"I heard that!" he called without turning.
Garcia looked up and glared at the back of his head.
"Thanks for coming, it's been a lot of fun." Chloe walked Morgan to
the front door, then she looked back to make sure Penelope was
occupied. "What the hell is wrong with you?"
Derek stepped back, stunned by the sudden conversation turn. "Um,
I'm not sure what you're talking about."
"I'm talking about Penelope, my cousin, the one you're always
flirting with--am I ringing any bells here?" she demanded quietly.
"What about Garcia?"
Chloe took a step back. "I thought you were supposed to be an expert
in people's behavior."
"I am!" he defended.
"Then tell me, expert, what does it generally mean when two people
are constantly creating enough sexual electricity to light the
Chrysler building?"
Morgan looked down, thinking of the best way to avoid having this
talk. "Look, I see where you're going with this, but Penelope tends
to be the exception to the rules."
"Yes, she's special, she's unique, she's unparalleled--but what you
seem to be missing is she is still wants what everyone wants!"
"Which is?"
"She wants the man she's in love with to return the feelings!" Chloe
barely managed to hold back from calling him an idiot.
"The man that she's in love with is Lynch."
Chloe threw her hands up. "Fine! I give up. If you really are this
stupid, you don't deserve her."
Chloe stalked off, leaving Morgan looking uncertain.
Derek had spent the rest of the weekend pondering the strange
conversation with Chloe. In fact, he was still deep in thought Monday
morning when Garcia arrived at work.
"Good morning, angel," she called as she walked up to his desk.
"Morning, princess," he responded on autopilot.
Garcia looked at him, staring a hole in the wall. "Everything okay?"
Derek seemed to snap out of it. He looked up at the woman in front
of him, "So how are things going with Lynch?"
"Behold the king of non sequiturs."
"Yeah, right." He looked down at the papers on his desk and tapped
his pencil thoughtfully.
"I'm gonna go now," Garcia watched him as she slowly backed away.
She walked over to Prentiss. "Has Morgan had any coffee yet this
morning?"
Prentiss shrugged. "I don't know, why?"
"You might want to get him some."
Penelope pounced on Chloe when she got home from work that day.
"What did you do to Morgan?" she demanded.
Chloe looked up from her book. "What?"
"You broke Morgan!"
Chloe laughed. "What are you talking about?"
Garcia plopped down on the couch next to her cousin. "Morgan! He
was in his own little world all day, no matter how much coffee we
threw at him! Has something . . . happened with you guys?"
Chloe shook her head, "No. We both agreed that there wasn't the
right chemistry there. Last time I saw him was the party."
Penelope looked away, her eyebrows wrinkling together.
"What's the big deal, everyone is allowed an off day."
"But when Morgan has an off day, criminals don't get caught."
"Why are you so worked up?" Chloe looked at her cousin closely.
Penelope looked over at Chloe and sat back. "I'm just worried. It's
not like him."
"How do you know?"
Garcia gave her cousin a look. "What does that mean?"
"I just mean that you guys spend a lot of time together, but what do
you know about his life outside of the FBI?" she asked lightly.
"Chloe, there is very little about that man that I do not know."
"Okay, then why do you think he's acting like this?" Chloe asked,
changing tactics.
"I don't know! Something's bothering him, something big. It has to
be about someone really close to him, maybe his mom?"
"Maybe it's you," Chloe replied, looking out the window thoughtfully.
Penelope looked at her. "What? Why do you say that?"
Chloe turned back to her cousin and smiled. "Oh, I was just thinking
that from what you've said you are someone really close to him."
"Yeah, but I'm fine," Garcia responded slowly.
Chloe laughed, her cousin could be so oblivious. "You seem to think
it's some life-or-death scenario. May I suggest thinking outside the
box?"
Penelope gave her a look. "Alright, my junior profiler, what's your theory?"
"I have no theories," Chloe smiled, "I'm simply trying to talk you
down from the ledge. It sounds like the person you should be talking
to is Derek."
"Maybe," Penelope relented.
Chloe watched her cousin think for a few moments. "Listen, I was
thinking we could have lunch together tomorrow before I fly out, what
do you think?"
"Sure, sounds good."
Chloe turned up at the BAU just before noon the next day, but Garcia
was not in her office so Chloe headed to the bullpen.
Derek saw Penelope's cousin walk in and got up to greet her. "Chloe,
what are you doing here."
"Hey Derek," Chloe smiled warmly, "Do you have any ideas where Penelope is?"
"No, I haven't really seen her today."
"Well, I guess I can just wait in her office. I'll see you later."
After a few moments of telling himself it was a really bad idea,
Morgan jogged to catch up with her. "Chloe, hold on."
Chloe slowed until Derek was beside her. "What's up?" She hoped he
was finally coming to his senses.
Now that he had her in a somewhat private area, Morgan wasn't quite
sure what to say. "Um, I've been thinking about what you said."
"Yeah?"
"I've been thinking about it a lot," he stalled.
"And?" she asked pointedly.
"And . . . I'm not quite sure--"
"Oh for the love of God," Chloe turned away, exasperated.
Derek grimaced, expecting another diatribe.
"Derek, when are you going to decide that Penelope is worth more than
just flirting?"
Morgan looked away, not wanting to hear this.
Chloe softened, slightly. "Listen, I'm leaving in a couple hours.
I've done all I can here, now it's time for you to man up tell her how
you feel!"
"I just don't think that's a good idea--"
"Yeah yeah, I'm sure you have a nice little list of excuses that
keeps you warm at night, but the longer you wait, the closer you come
to losing her. You need to make a decision: either back off or jump
in; you've been playing limbo long enough."
Morgan rubbed the back of his head, and started to walk off.
"For what it's worth," she called after him, "I'm rooting for you."
Derek looked back at her and smiled. "Thanks, little sister."
Chloe gave him a grin before they both walked away.
"You got everything?" Penelope counted the bags on the curb.
"Yup, I'm gonna check them when I get inside."
Penelope gave her little cousin a hug and turned to get back into Esther.
"Pen. One last thing?"
Garcia turned around. "Yeah?"
Chloe looked at Penelope, really looked at her. Last chance to make
the plan work. "You love him. It's obvious, and it's okay. I happen
to think it's wonderful."
Penelope walked back to Chloe shaking her head. "Kevin and I--"
"I'm not talking about Kevin. It's time you took the horse for a ride."
"Chloe . . . " Penelope didn't know what to say.
"He makes you happy. You trust him. What more is there?" Chloe
shrugged and smiled simply.
Garcia looked down uncomfortably. "He doesn't--"
"He does."
Garcia looked at her cousin, wondering when this crazy girl had ever
been so serious.
"You love him, and he loves you. It's up to you where it goes."
Chloe gave her cousin a kiss on the cheek and left Penelope standing
on the sidewalk trying to figure out what she was going to do.
It took Morgan a week to work up his courage to go see her. Penelope
answered the door quickly.
"Hey baby girl, you busy?"
Garcia smiled. "Not for you." She opened the door wider to let him in.
Derek walked into the familiar apartment and put his jacket on the couch.
"I was just making some popcorn, you want?" Garcia asked as she
walked to the kitchen.
"No thanks," he answered, following her. "I need a favor."
"Sure," Penelope agreed easily.
Morgan looked at her. "You don't know what it is."
Garcia laughed. "I'm guessing you're not asking me to store a body."
Morgan returned the smile. "No."
"Then I don't see a problem helping you out."
"I want you to break up with Lynch."
"What?" Penelope nearly dropped the bowl of popcorn. "Why?!"
"You're too good for him, you should be with someone better," Morgan stated.
"Who do you think you are?!" demanded Penelope. "You think that you
can just--"
"I want you to be with me," Derek interrupted calmly.
This time, Garcia did drop the bowl. They stood in silence for
several minutes before Morgan realized he was going to have to do the
talking. He really had no idea where to start.
"That cousin of yours really is something. A bit pushy and brutally
honest, but she's smart."
Penelope cleared her throat to make sure it would work. "She is?"
"She said something to me. Shouted, actually. But she was right. I
can't lose you, and if we keep going the way we are, eventually I
will." He stepped forward to take her hand lightly in his. "So I'm
jumping in." He coughed nervously. "You know I love you. I have
pretty much since the day we met. But the idea of this, of you and me
. . . it scared me. Scares me. What we've got is unlike anything
else and it means so much to me. I thought that if I kept that
boundary there, just being friends, I'd never lose you. That way we'd
never break up. But--" he faltered.
Garcia swallowed and clasped his hand tightly. "I love you too."
Derek smiled and ran his free hand lightly over Garcia's hair. He
tipped her chin up with his finger and kissed Penelope gently.
Penelope looked up at him. "I'll break things off with Kevin, but
only if you promise never to tell Chloe that she had anything to do
with this little scene." She smirked. "I'd never hear the end of it
from her."
Derek grinned, locking his arms firmly around her. "Deal."
Author: pheonixrss
Pairing/Character: Morgan/Garcia, OC
Word Count: 3900
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Garcia's cousin comes for a visit and meddles.
Spoilers: The fic begins at the end of 3.14.
Disclaimer: I am in no way associated with the owners, creators, or
producers of Criminal Minds. No copyright infringement is intended.
Notes: My first G/M fic. :)
"Garcia and Kevin sittin' in a tree . . . " JJ sang quietly.
Morgan looked at her, then back to the man in the hideous print
shirt/striped tie combo standing outside of Rossi's office. "Get
outta here." He strode out of the bullpen while Prentiss tried to
comprehend Reid's lack of social intelligence; he had to find Garcia.
"Penelope?" Morgan opened the door to her office and strode in.
"Penelope!" he called out, more insistently, only to find it empty.
He looked around the desk, hoping for some clue as to her whereabouts.
"Morgan! What are you doing down in my cave?"
Derek whirled around to face a smiling and relaxed Garcia walk in.
He took a deep breath, careful not to let her know how shaken he was.
"You know your boyfriend is having a man-to-man talk with Rossi right
now?"
Garcia's eyes went wide and the smile dropped off her face. "He
what?! That little--" She looked back at Morgan, who crossed his
arms over his chest and leaned back against her desk. "My . . .
boyfriend. Right."
Morgan raised his eyebrows at her, but refused to say anything.
"Oh come on, like you tell me about all your girls?" Garcia asked,
trying to make light.
"I tell you about the important ones."
Garcia gave him a look. "The only woman you have ever mentioned to
me is your mother! And anyway, Kevin and I aren't serious."
"Then why is Lynch out there willing to risk his job and yours for
this relationship?" Morgan asked, holding back, trying not to
interrogate her.
Garcia shook her head and smirked. "Sugar, if I knew why men do the
things they do, I would spend a lot less time here."
Morgan looked at her as his stomach tightened. When did she start
keeping things from him? "Penelope."
Garcia put down the files she had been carrying with a sigh. "I hate
profilers. Someday I'm going to build a little box and stick all of
you in it so that the only people you can torture with your
superpowers is each other!"
Morgan chuckled softly. "Come on, baby doll, give it up."
"Do you know that my scar isn't even fully healed yet?" She bit the
inside of her cheek thoughtfully. "The last guy I got excited about
gunned me down. So I'm not going to get my hopes up and I'm not going
get all girlie on you. I'm going to be smarter this time."
Morgan's eyes melted as he reached for her. He held her gently to
him and after a few moments Garcia relaxed and tucked her head under
his chin.
"Now you listen to me, princess. You are the most incredible,
beautiful, scary brilliant woman I have ever met, and the only reason
you spend so much time here is because most men don't know how to
treat a goddess." Morgan backed out of the embrace and looked hard
into her eyes. "Don't you ever believe anything less."
Garcia gave a small smile. "You just say that because I won't sleep
with you, gorgeous."
"Baby girl, you name the place and I will be there," he grinned at her.
It had taken Derek a few months to get used to the idea of Garcia not
being his alone anymore. He didn't like it, but he had to admit that
she looked happier than she had in a long time and whatever the
reason, he had to respect it. Lynch didn't seem thrilled with their .
. . special friendship, but the two friends had managed to maintain
their mojo. It was just about then that a petite blonde woman burst
into Garcia's office. "I'm here!"
Derek looked up as Garcia rushed over to give the younger girl a hug.
"Chloe! Hey little sister, what have you done?" Garcia grinned.
Morgan got up from Garcia's desk and walked over. "Little sister?"
he asked Garcia.
"I went through a serious Billy Idol phase," the other woman
answered. "Who are you?" she asked lightly.
"I'm Derek Morgan," he responded, looking a little taken aback by her
bluntness, "Who are you?"
Garcia laughed, enjoying seeing Morgan for once thrown off his game.
"This is my cousin, Chloe. From my mom's side, obviously."
"What, the blonde hair, blue eyes doesn't say latina to you?" Chloe
teased before extending a hand to Morgan. "It's nice to meet you."
Derek shook Chloe's hand and nodded. "Well, the purple streaks did
throw me off a little," he then turned to Garcia. "Call me when
you've got the list of addresses."
"I always do, hot stuff."
"Later, mama," he called as he left the office.
Chloe watched him go, then turned to her cousin. "That's 'your
friend Morgan'? Why are you not going after that?"
Penelope laughed at Chloe's response to her burning love hunk.
"Chloe, peaches, we are just friends."
"I see, and do you flirt with all of your friends?" Chloe smirked.
Garcia rolled her eyes. "It's our thing, it's what we do."
"Hmm," Chloe pretended to mull it over, "Well, I would suggest you
two expand the repertoire of your . . . thing."
Penelope laughed. "You do remember I have a boyfriend, right?"
"Kevin. Right." Chloe nodded unenthusiastically.
Garcia gave her cousin a look. "What?"
Chloe held her hands up innocently. "Nothing."
"You don't like Kevin?"
"Of course I like Kevin," Chloe answered noncommittally.
"Chloe."
"I like Kevin. He's cute and sweet. He's a puppy dog; you want to
take him home and cuddle up. But Derek is hot," she pointed to the
door where Morgan exited. "That there is a stallion, baby!"
Garcia laughed at her cousin's fervor. "I happen to prefer dogs."
Chloe narrowed her eyes for a moment, a plan formulating. "Then you
wouldn't mind if I asked him out?" she asked lightly.
"Consider Morgan my birthday present to you," Penelope declared magnanimously.
"I do love presents," Chloe grinned.
It was a few days later when Penelope's cell phone rang. "Mecca of
all knowledge, Chloe speaking."
"Chloe, hi. It's Derek Morgan. Is my girl there?"
"Derek," Chloe smiled, the plan turning to action. "Pen's not here
right now, is it important?"
"Nah, just checking in," he replied conversationally.
"I'm glad you called, I was wondering if you'd like to come to this
dinner party my cousin is throwing tonight."
"Uh," Derek hesitated, "Sure, why not?"
Chloe grinned. "Great!" She gave Morgan the details and hung up
just before Garcia came in, heavily laden with groceries. Chloe
laughed. "Need some help?"
Penelope gave her a look. "Funny, funny girl. Get over here."
As Chloe took a couple bags and headed for the kitchen, she decided
to drop the bait. "We'll need to make it seven for dinner."
"Okay," Penelope replied distractedly, "Who is number seven?"
"Derek," Chloe answered brightly before turning to the fridge.
Garcia blinked a few times as she processed. "Derek. As in Morgan?"
"As in my birthday present," Chloe turned back, grinning.
"Great," Penelope smiled stiffly, "I'll find another chair."
The doorbell rang later that night. As all but one of the invited
guests had arrived for the birthday bash, Penelope readied herself to
greet Morgan. She reminded herself that she had agreed to let Chloe
take a shot, she reminded herself that it was Chloe's birthday, she
reminded herself that she had a boyfriend, she reminded herself that
at no point was she going to do anything that would cause Chloe,
Morgan, or Kevin to not speak to her.
"Hey angelfish, get in here!" Garcia waved him in playfully. As she
took in Derek Morgan in all his splendor, she again wondered why she
couldn't be blind; it would make life so much easier. A severe
astigmatism at the very least.
"Hi, mama," Morgan gave her a quick peck on the cheek. "Where's the
birthday girl?"
"Entertaining her adoring public," Penelope grinned and pointed to
Chloe zealously telling some story to the rest of the cousins.
"Pen?" Kevin walked up wearing oven mitts and a worried expression.
"Is the chicken supposed to be black?"
Garcia smiled to Morgan. "I'll be back."
As she followed Kevin into the kitchen, Derek headed over to Chloe to
say his hellos.
"Derek, you made it! I'm so happy," Chloe grinned and gave him a hug.
"Hey, I'm not one to disappoint a girl on her birthday," he smiled casually.
Chloe raised her eyebrows and smiled flirtatiously. "Good to know."
Out of the corner of her eye, she could see her cousin watching them
from the kitchen. She put a hand on Derek's arm lightly as they made
small talk; time to see what she could do.
Garcia noticed as she served dinner that Chloe had set the table so
she and Morgan were at one end and Penelope and Kevin were at the
other. Penelope watched Chloe and Morgan talk and laugh easily until
her stomach began to tighten.
"Pen? Penelope?"
Garcia tore her gaze away from the happy couple to her boyfriend. "Yeah?"
"I asked if you were okay. You haven't eaten anything," Kevin repeated.
"I'm fine." Penelope looked back at the other end of the table.
"I'm not hungry."
Kevin put his hand over hers and followed her gaze resignedly.
When those who were eating had finished, Chloe offered to help her
cousin clear the plates.
"Derek and I are really hitting things off," Chloe whispered when
they reached the kitchen.
"That's great," Garcia responded, carefully keeping her eyes down.
"Penelope, thank you. Tonight, the dinner, Morgan. It's perfect."
Garcia looked up to see her cousin's face glowing with happiness and
for the first time that evening hoped that Morgan was as happy with
the match-up. "Good. Happy birthday, Chloe." She smiled lovingly,
then got back to business. "Okay, tell Kevin to come help me with the
cake and you start thinking what you're gonna wish for."
Chloe grinned. "Such a tough life." She headed back over to Morgan.
"Hey, Penelope needs some help in the kitchen, you mind?"
"Sure." He put down his beer and walked off.
Kevin noticed Derek going to Penelope and was going to follow suit,
when Chloe intercepted him. "Kevin! So I don't really know that much
about you. What is it that you do for the FBI?"
"I'm a technical analyst, just like Penelope," replied Kevin distractedly.
"Right, but you work in a different department. So what does that
entail?" Chloe half-listened to the puppy dog, hoping her cousin was
making the most of the time she was buying her.
"Hey sweetheart, how can I help?"
Garcia looked up from the candles to see the man she hadn't asked
for. "I'm good. You get back to the party."
Morgan looked at her for a moment, noticing how hard she was
concentrating on the placement of the birthday candles. "Baby girl,
you all right?"
Penelope shrugged it off. "The pressures of entertaining."
Derek moved behind and squeezed her shoulders. "The pressure gets
too much, you know who to come to."
Penelope smiled and laughed under her breath. "Yes, sugar shack, I
know." She looked out to see her cousin and her boyfriend talking and
stepped away from Morgan. "How are things going with Chloe?"
Derek gave a half-smile. "She's a nice girl, I can see the family
resemblance."
"So . . . "
"So?" he laughed. "Mama, you know I don't kiss and tell."
"Oh, come on! You gotta give me something, hot stuff."
Derek tapped the end of her nose and walked away without a word.
"Infuriating man," she muttered under her breath.
"I heard that!" he called without turning.
Garcia looked up and glared at the back of his head.
"Thanks for coming, it's been a lot of fun." Chloe walked Morgan to
the front door, then she looked back to make sure Penelope was
occupied. "What the hell is wrong with you?"
Derek stepped back, stunned by the sudden conversation turn. "Um,
I'm not sure what you're talking about."
"I'm talking about Penelope, my cousin, the one you're always
flirting with--am I ringing any bells here?" she demanded quietly.
"What about Garcia?"
Chloe took a step back. "I thought you were supposed to be an expert
in people's behavior."
"I am!" he defended.
"Then tell me, expert, what does it generally mean when two people
are constantly creating enough sexual electricity to light the
Chrysler building?"
Morgan looked down, thinking of the best way to avoid having this
talk. "Look, I see where you're going with this, but Penelope tends
to be the exception to the rules."
"Yes, she's special, she's unique, she's unparalleled--but what you
seem to be missing is she is still wants what everyone wants!"
"Which is?"
"She wants the man she's in love with to return the feelings!" Chloe
barely managed to hold back from calling him an idiot.
"The man that she's in love with is Lynch."
Chloe threw her hands up. "Fine! I give up. If you really are this
stupid, you don't deserve her."
Chloe stalked off, leaving Morgan looking uncertain.
Derek had spent the rest of the weekend pondering the strange
conversation with Chloe. In fact, he was still deep in thought Monday
morning when Garcia arrived at work.
"Good morning, angel," she called as she walked up to his desk.
"Morning, princess," he responded on autopilot.
Garcia looked at him, staring a hole in the wall. "Everything okay?"
Derek seemed to snap out of it. He looked up at the woman in front
of him, "So how are things going with Lynch?"
"Behold the king of non sequiturs."
"Yeah, right." He looked down at the papers on his desk and tapped
his pencil thoughtfully.
"I'm gonna go now," Garcia watched him as she slowly backed away.
She walked over to Prentiss. "Has Morgan had any coffee yet this
morning?"
Prentiss shrugged. "I don't know, why?"
"You might want to get him some."
Penelope pounced on Chloe when she got home from work that day.
"What did you do to Morgan?" she demanded.
Chloe looked up from her book. "What?"
"You broke Morgan!"
Chloe laughed. "What are you talking about?"
Garcia plopped down on the couch next to her cousin. "Morgan! He
was in his own little world all day, no matter how much coffee we
threw at him! Has something . . . happened with you guys?"
Chloe shook her head, "No. We both agreed that there wasn't the
right chemistry there. Last time I saw him was the party."
Penelope looked away, her eyebrows wrinkling together.
"What's the big deal, everyone is allowed an off day."
"But when Morgan has an off day, criminals don't get caught."
"Why are you so worked up?" Chloe looked at her cousin closely.
Penelope looked over at Chloe and sat back. "I'm just worried. It's
not like him."
"How do you know?"
Garcia gave her cousin a look. "What does that mean?"
"I just mean that you guys spend a lot of time together, but what do
you know about his life outside of the FBI?" she asked lightly.
"Chloe, there is very little about that man that I do not know."
"Okay, then why do you think he's acting like this?" Chloe asked,
changing tactics.
"I don't know! Something's bothering him, something big. It has to
be about someone really close to him, maybe his mom?"
"Maybe it's you," Chloe replied, looking out the window thoughtfully.
Penelope looked at her. "What? Why do you say that?"
Chloe turned back to her cousin and smiled. "Oh, I was just thinking
that from what you've said you are someone really close to him."
"Yeah, but I'm fine," Garcia responded slowly.
Chloe laughed, her cousin could be so oblivious. "You seem to think
it's some life-or-death scenario. May I suggest thinking outside the
box?"
Penelope gave her a look. "Alright, my junior profiler, what's your theory?"
"I have no theories," Chloe smiled, "I'm simply trying to talk you
down from the ledge. It sounds like the person you should be talking
to is Derek."
"Maybe," Penelope relented.
Chloe watched her cousin think for a few moments. "Listen, I was
thinking we could have lunch together tomorrow before I fly out, what
do you think?"
"Sure, sounds good."
Chloe turned up at the BAU just before noon the next day, but Garcia
was not in her office so Chloe headed to the bullpen.
Derek saw Penelope's cousin walk in and got up to greet her. "Chloe,
what are you doing here."
"Hey Derek," Chloe smiled warmly, "Do you have any ideas where Penelope is?"
"No, I haven't really seen her today."
"Well, I guess I can just wait in her office. I'll see you later."
After a few moments of telling himself it was a really bad idea,
Morgan jogged to catch up with her. "Chloe, hold on."
Chloe slowed until Derek was beside her. "What's up?" She hoped he
was finally coming to his senses.
Now that he had her in a somewhat private area, Morgan wasn't quite
sure what to say. "Um, I've been thinking about what you said."
"Yeah?"
"I've been thinking about it a lot," he stalled.
"And?" she asked pointedly.
"And . . . I'm not quite sure--"
"Oh for the love of God," Chloe turned away, exasperated.
Derek grimaced, expecting another diatribe.
"Derek, when are you going to decide that Penelope is worth more than
just flirting?"
Morgan looked away, not wanting to hear this.
Chloe softened, slightly. "Listen, I'm leaving in a couple hours.
I've done all I can here, now it's time for you to man up tell her how
you feel!"
"I just don't think that's a good idea--"
"Yeah yeah, I'm sure you have a nice little list of excuses that
keeps you warm at night, but the longer you wait, the closer you come
to losing her. You need to make a decision: either back off or jump
in; you've been playing limbo long enough."
Morgan rubbed the back of his head, and started to walk off.
"For what it's worth," she called after him, "I'm rooting for you."
Derek looked back at her and smiled. "Thanks, little sister."
Chloe gave him a grin before they both walked away.
"You got everything?" Penelope counted the bags on the curb.
"Yup, I'm gonna check them when I get inside."
Penelope gave her little cousin a hug and turned to get back into Esther.
"Pen. One last thing?"
Garcia turned around. "Yeah?"
Chloe looked at Penelope, really looked at her. Last chance to make
the plan work. "You love him. It's obvious, and it's okay. I happen
to think it's wonderful."
Penelope walked back to Chloe shaking her head. "Kevin and I--"
"I'm not talking about Kevin. It's time you took the horse for a ride."
"Chloe . . . " Penelope didn't know what to say.
"He makes you happy. You trust him. What more is there?" Chloe
shrugged and smiled simply.
Garcia looked down uncomfortably. "He doesn't--"
"He does."
Garcia looked at her cousin, wondering when this crazy girl had ever
been so serious.
"You love him, and he loves you. It's up to you where it goes."
Chloe gave her cousin a kiss on the cheek and left Penelope standing
on the sidewalk trying to figure out what she was going to do.
It took Morgan a week to work up his courage to go see her. Penelope
answered the door quickly.
"Hey baby girl, you busy?"
Garcia smiled. "Not for you." She opened the door wider to let him in.
Derek walked into the familiar apartment and put his jacket on the couch.
"I was just making some popcorn, you want?" Garcia asked as she
walked to the kitchen.
"No thanks," he answered, following her. "I need a favor."
"Sure," Penelope agreed easily.
Morgan looked at her. "You don't know what it is."
Garcia laughed. "I'm guessing you're not asking me to store a body."
Morgan returned the smile. "No."
"Then I don't see a problem helping you out."
"I want you to break up with Lynch."
"What?" Penelope nearly dropped the bowl of popcorn. "Why?!"
"You're too good for him, you should be with someone better," Morgan stated.
"Who do you think you are?!" demanded Penelope. "You think that you
can just--"
"I want you to be with me," Derek interrupted calmly.
This time, Garcia did drop the bowl. They stood in silence for
several minutes before Morgan realized he was going to have to do the
talking. He really had no idea where to start.
"That cousin of yours really is something. A bit pushy and brutally
honest, but she's smart."
Penelope cleared her throat to make sure it would work. "She is?"
"She said something to me. Shouted, actually. But she was right. I
can't lose you, and if we keep going the way we are, eventually I
will." He stepped forward to take her hand lightly in his. "So I'm
jumping in." He coughed nervously. "You know I love you. I have
pretty much since the day we met. But the idea of this, of you and me
. . . it scared me. Scares me. What we've got is unlike anything
else and it means so much to me. I thought that if I kept that
boundary there, just being friends, I'd never lose you. That way we'd
never break up. But--" he faltered.
Garcia swallowed and clasped his hand tightly. "I love you too."
Derek smiled and ran his free hand lightly over Garcia's hair. He
tipped her chin up with his finger and kissed Penelope gently.
Penelope looked up at him. "I'll break things off with Kevin, but
only if you promise never to tell Chloe that she had anything to do
with this little scene." She smirked. "I'd never hear the end of it
from her."
Derek grinned, locking his arms firmly around her. "Deal."