Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds

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'Hmm think we have enough alcohol?' Emily asked as she set the fifth bottle of wine down next to the arrangement of spirits and liquor.

'We need it.' Penelope said as she slumped down unenthusiastically.

'I second that Pen... you're right, it's been 2 months since a get together, the men are off doing their thing so we do our thing.'

'No doubt Morgan's getting all the girls while trying to get Reid to loosen up.'

'You reckon they'll get Hotch and Rossi up?' Emily asked as she took a sip of her much needed wine. 'I like it when Hotch dances.'

'You like everything about Hotch.' JJ joked and poured herself some wine. 'Pen, maybe Kevin should go with the guys next time.'

'Hmm.' Penelope said her head obviously elsewhere.

'What was that?'

'What was what?

'What was that noise?'

'I don't know... you guys don't have to worry about Kevin.'

'Why not?'

'I'm ending it with him.'

'Why?'

'Can you save 21 questions for when my blood is more alcohol than the essentials please?'

'Pen...'

'Please.' She pleaded and downed her glass of wine before putting the glass down to pour more.

'What's happened?' JJ pushed. 'Better out than in.'

'Better out with alcohol.' She said but got double of the same look. 'Fine... I'm losing myself in that relationship... and with it I'm losing everything that I hold close.'

'Like?'

'You guys... I was so stupid to place myself into a relationship when I did and now I'm pushing away the one person I hold the closest.'

'Morgan?' Penelope nodded at Emily. 'So you would give up your chance of happiness with Kevin to keep Derek Morgan in your life.'

'It's just he is the one man that I can be myself truly around, he gets me.'

'Well you need to tell him.'

'It's not so simple.'

'And why the hell not?'

'I'm not in the league of the women Derek goes with so I'm happy to live life with him as my friend while he gets the shot at life.'

'So you're going to give up?'

'JJ, I'm not like you or Em, I don't have men dropping at my feet, wanting to buy me a drink, wanting to dance, so what's the point in trying to find someone when it's a pipe dream? Plus what about you and Reid JJ or you and Hotch Emily?'

'Hotch is my boss, how can I just say, oh yeah, by the way, I'm in love with you and have been for a while now?'

'See what I mean! If you can't say it how am I suppose to go oh yeah handsome I'm in love with you and have been for awhile now?'

'AND how am I supposed to tell Reid I like him?'

'Just do it? The kid likes you, it's obvious.'

'So the fact that we see you and Morgan as more than friends doesn't count?'

'Me and Derek Morgan are best friends, people would joke about him with me, so what's the point of putting him through that?'

'How do you know that?'

'I've heard it before... when we go to the movies, go for meals, we hold hands, people make rude remarks... hence why I stopped the closeness, stopped most of what I love about our relationship.'

'You hid behind your relationship with Kevin?'

'Can we please talk about something else?' Penelope pleaded.

'No we are sorting your dilemma Pen... Derek doesn't do those things with me or JJ, there's something different with you, his look lingers on you more, you're about the only woman that get's him frustrated, whether it be mentally or sexually.'

'Shut up!' Penelope said. 'It's not going to happen... I'm his baby girl, the fat one that offers advice, gives him a release.'

'Penelope Garcia!' Emily bellowed and downed a shot of tequila. 'You are so observant until it comes to Derek!'

'I'm going to turn this around on you.... if I talk to Derek and open up, you two have to speak to Reid and Hotch.'

'Pen...' JJ said quietly.

'No... fair is fair.' Penelope said accepting the new drink. 'I plan to get thoroughly pissed and...'

'Drown your sorrows.' JJ said as she downed hers. 'Dump Kevin Pen, go talk to Derek.'

'Simplicity.' Penelope said and downed another drink. 'Lacks in my life.'

'It is simple though... talk to Kevin end it... talk to Derek start it!'

'I'm scared.'

'Of?'

'He'll laugh at me, hate me, and then for what... I told and lost him... why run the risk?'

'What if its something he wants?' Penelope laughed. 'Pen... don't knock it, you don't know.' Penelope stood up. 'Where you going?'

'To find something stronger to drink.'

'What and have to nurse a hangover in the morning?'

'Well I need something to nurse me through this lecture... which really is implying you as hypocritical Emily Prentiss... if I NEED to talk to Derek, you NEED to talk Hotch.' Emily laughed that time. 'Yeah, stuck in rut eh?'

'Okay... okay... I'll let it rest but make sure you're happy with the decision.'

'I am.'

'Lie.'

'What you want me to jump for joy?' Penelope then sobered slightly and looked at JJ. 'You're awfully quiet there JJ.' She quizzed.

'I'm going to tell him.' She said staring off.

'What?'

'You two are right... we aren't going to feel better... so I'm putting it all at risk, I'm telling him.' JJ got up and left the house without another word. Penelope and Emily looked at one another slightly baffled.

'She makes it look easy.'

'How much has she drunk?'

'Erm 2 glasses, one shot.'

'Not nearly enough.'

Emily laughed and poured more wine. 'You know what? She's setting an example.' Penelope groaned. 'No Pen if she can do it... then we can.'

'I'm not doing it.' She said getting lost in her new bout of alcoholic freedom. Emily gave up at that point and took to the alcohol that laid on the coffee table. It was time to get wasted, not stupid.

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'It's time to out it.' Derek said as he finished his beer. 'This has been too long waiting.' He finished and sounded finalised.

'Morgan...' Hotch started.

'No... I'm sick and tired of our dance.' He said back a little frustrated.

Hotch slammed his empty whisky glass down. 'Me too... screw frat rules.'

'I'm off.' Reid said putting his phone in his pocket. 'JJ wants to meet... now!'

'You guys go...'

'Rossi you did good.'

'Just technology.'

'Putting a listening device in Emily's bag was pure genius.' Hotch said as the three men left Rossi's house. Rossi just sat back triumphantly a smile on his features.

'Well you do all you can to get profilers to be observant.' He thought to himself as he leant out of his boastful posture and took a swig of his scotch.