Erin Strauss was getting off the elevator when an intense conversation off to the side caught her eye. It was Penelope Garcia and one of the

agents from Cyber Crimes. Erin couldn't see the male agent's face but she could see Penelope's and she looked very upset. Erin moved closer

to the conversation hearing the tail end of it.

"Do not make me have to..."

Penelope noticed Strauss approaching and the other agent sensed someone and did not finish his thought.

"Make you have to what?" Erin reached over and took hold of the man's ID badge. "Agent Michaels." Erin looked at him pointedly waiting

for him to answer.

"It wasn't anything important, Ma'am. Penelope knows that. I was just leaving."

Before either woman could react, he was long gone.

Erin could see Penelope was fighting back tears. "Why don't we go to my office?" She took Penelope by the arm indicating it was not really a

question. Penelope followed fighting her tears and planning her cover story. She knew Agent James Michaels was not someone she wanted

angry with her. Although she was pretty sure he already was.

Strauss sat behind her desk and watched as Penelope squirmed uncomfortably before her. "Can you tell me what you and Agent Michaels

were discussing in the hallway, Agent Garcia?"

"It was nothing Ma'am, really. Just a small misunderstanding." Penelope forced a smile.

"It looked like much more than that to me. I think he was threatening you."

"I assure you Ma'am, it wasn't anything like that."

"You're sure?" Erin knew the younger woman was lying to her, but she couldn't get her to talk.

Penelope just nodded.

"Ok, but if you need to talk, I am here."

"Thank you, Ma'am really." Penelope jumped to her feet and was going to make a bee line for the door, when she felt dizzy. So dizzy, she

had to sit right back down in the chair she had just gotten up from. In a flash Erin was kneeling in front of her. The woman's genuine concern

broke any resolve Penelope had to keep her secret.

Penelope meet Erin's eyes and tears began to roll down her checks. "I'm pregnant Ma'am, and I don't know what I am going to do." Penelope

watched the older woman's face, but the look of concern remained; it was not replaced with one of contempt like she was expecting.

"Agent Michaels is the father?" Erin asked her voice soft and caring.

Penelope wrapped her arms tightly around herself and nodded affirmatively.

"I take it he is not happy about this."

"No, he's not," Penelope answered sadly.

"His threat was about terminating your pregnancy?"

"Yes."

"Well, it is not his decision; do you understand me?"

"Ma'am you don't understand, he is not going to take no for an answer."

"Well he has no choice or say in the matter. It up to you, Agent Garcia. Are we clear?"

Penelope nodded.

"Good, now why don't you freshen up and meet us in the round room when you're ready. We have a case. I'll ask Agent Jareau to present if

you're not ready in time."

"Thank you, Ma'am... for everything."

"Everything will work out, Agent Garcia, don't worry."

Penelope never made it to the case presentation and it didn't go unnoticed. Strauss had asked to see Aaron in her office after the presentation.

Aaron tasked the team and then left to meet with Strauss, leaving the rest of the team to speculate.

"Do you think she's in trouble?" JJ asked.

"No, she's not in trouble, maybe they just want her to work for two teams again," Derek offered.

"That could be." Emily remembered when the FBI had spread Penelope very thin once before.

"She's sick," Spencer said matter of factly.

"And you know this how?" Rossi asked.

"Her color was off this morning, she was sluggish and her eyes were red. She's not feeling well," Reid shared his observations.

"Hopefully it's nothing serious. I'm going to go check on her. Rossi, cover for me for a little bit, please," said Derek.

"You got it, and tell her we all hope she feels better soon."

"Will do." Derek headed out to find Penelope.

"Aaron, I heard him threatening her."

"Are you sure?" Aaron asked stunned by the bombshell Erin had just laid on him.

Erin gave him a look that said it all.

"I didn't even know they were dating." Aaron was trying to process all the information. "Pregnant?"

Erin nodded.

"Do you know how far along she is?" Aaron was trying to figure out when this could've happened. The team had to have been away on a

case. Surely he would've noticed something before all this news came out.

"No, she didn't say and I didn't ask. I'm more concerned that someone who works in this building is being threatened by someone else who

works in this building. I will be speaking to his supervisor. This can not be taken lightly."

"I agree. Do we need to have him transferred?" Aaron never liked James Michaels and he sure as hell wasn't going to let them transfer

Penelope.

"Perhaps, but we will need more details from Penelope. And that is your job Aaron. Out of respect for Agent Garcia's privacy, only you, I,

Agent Michaels and soon his supervisor will know about this."

"Ok, I will talk to her as soon as I can."

"Thank you Aaron."

Aaron left Strauss's office stunned. Penelope pregnant. Michaels the father and threatening her. It was a lot to take in. He really would rather

have one of the girls talk to Penelope but he also agreed with Strauss about keeping Penelope's privacy.

"Baby girl." Derek knocked gently on Penelope's office door. He waited a moment then he entered. He was surprised to find her asleep in her

chair, her head in her chest.

"Hey, you will get a stiff neck sleeping that way," Derek said waking her gently.

"Oh, I didn't realize I was dozing. I have to stop staying up so late."

"Looks like the kid was right."

"What?" Penelope stammered wondering if Reid's genius mind knew her secret.

"He just said he didn't think you felt well. Is everything ok?" Derek asked concerned by Penelope's reaction.

"No, Reid's right. I'm just a little under the weather. I'll be fine in no time."

"You're sure?"

"Yes, my hot chocolate; thank you for checking on your goddess."

Derek kissed the top of her head and headed for the door. He exited the office just as Hotch was approaching.

"I just checked on her; she said she'll be fine."

"That's good to hear. Thank you for checking up on her." Aaron knew Penelope did not let Derek know anything about what was really

going on. If she had Derek would be on his way to cyber crimes and mumbling about hurting Agent Michaels.

Aaron made his way into Penelope's office. Her back was to him and she turned her chair slowly when she felt someone was watching her.

Penelope couldn't help but notice the look of empathy on his face. "You know," was all she said as she lowered her head in shame.

"Penelope, I am not here to judge you, I am here to find out what is going on. Strauss said that Agent Michaels was threatening you. I need to

make sure you are safe. Can you tell me what he said to you?"

Penelope thought about how much she wanted to reveal. She wanted to tell Aaron everything from beginning to end, but she was too

embarrassed and ashamed of herself. So she decided on the abridged version. "He doesn't want me to have this baby. He wants no connection

to me. He is adamant that I terminate this pregnancy."

"And you told him no."

"Sort of. He didn't even know I was pregnant until today. I haven't known myself for too long. I was just so confused about what to do so I

thought maybe talking to the father would help me. But it didn't, it only reminded me that..." Penelope suddenly stopped realizing she was

about to tell Aaron everything.

Aaron could tell there was something she wanted to tell him. "Reminded you of you what Penelope?" he asked gently.

"It's not important, really. The case, sir. What do you need from me?" Penelope refused to meet his eyes.

"Are you sure you feel up to it?" he asked deciding he wouldn't push her any further for now.

"Yes, I'm fine really. I do thank you for your concern though."

"Penelope, perhaps you should you talk to JJ or Emily."

"I'd rather not, I'd really like to keep this to myself for now."

"I really think you need your friends right now." Aaron watched as she tried to fight back the tears that were threatening to fall. "They really

do care about you."

"I know, I'm just not ready to share yet. But I will tell them soon."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

"Ok, I will have JJ send you the case notes." And with that he left her office.

After Aaron left Penelope let herself cry for just a little while. She had never been so confused in all her life. She knew she would love to be

a Mom and have a baby but she never pictured it happening this way. Not with someone who wanted nothing to do with her or her baby.

Penelope ran a hand over her stomach and wished the baby was anyone but James' baby. This would be so much easier if the baby was

Kevin's. She knew Kevin would have done the right thing and helped her through it.