So I wrote this story way back in November but it is really long (47 chps) and I haven't bothered to get to editing it until now. This is the short sort of prologue. I will get chapters to you as swiftly as I can without neglecting all my other stories.
"Garcia, what are you doing with all this free time?" JJ queried.
"I'm going to give Sergio all the attention he's been wanting. He keeps telling me that he's lonely, and I keep having to work."
JJ smiled at her as Luke came up behind them with his backpack on his left shoulder. "Your cat tells you he's lonely?" His smile was a mile wide as he asked.
Penelope stared at the man as if he'd lost his entire mind. "Yes, of course. He tells me with his meows and also with his destroying things in my kitchen."
JJ laughed as she pulled her own bag over her shoulder, preparing to walk out with the other two.
"I guess Roxy is too independent. She's never told me she was lonely." He followed Penelope as she followed JJ.
"Maybe she just doesn't miss you." Penelope was smiling at herself as she said it.
Luke readjusted his bag strap as he continued to smile at her back. "I suppose that's a possibility, so I guess it's good you'll miss me enough for everyone."
They'd reached the elevator, and Penelope gave him an affronted look as she turned around. He pushed the button inside.
"Why would I miss you?"
"I'll miss you." His smile was still pleasant, but he glanced towards her to see her reaction.
JJ was behind them, leaning against the back of the elevator and taking in the exchange, but she let her eyes drop to the floor as she hid her smile.
"It's five weeks Garcia. It's a long time," he offered, after she had shut her mouth quickly with no witty response.
"Yeah, I guess it's a long time," she finally acquiesced.
He moved his head up and down with a crooked smile on his face. She put her hand on her hip, staring straight ahead at the doors and cursing what always seemed to be such a long elevator ride when it included him.
"So what are you doing then? With all your free time? Ya know, besides missing me." She used her peripheral vision to survey his demeanor.
"Uh, actually I'm volunteering for a couple weeks of it. My old army buddy runs a charity that helps build libraries in poor cities and other countries. They're almost done with one of their projects, but they lost a couple volunteers to illness, so I'm going to help. Hope they can still finish on time." He was glancing between her and the doors as he spoke.
Penelope cleared her throat. "I suppose that's nice of you."
"I try." He smiled at her, taking in her profile and her hand still stubbornly on her hip.
The elevator door opened, and he put his hand on it to let both of the women out, before he pushed his bag further up his shoulder again. JJ put her hand up in the air as she walked in front of them to her car. "Goodnight, you two. We'll all have to go out for drinks when you're back, Luke." She walked hastily to her car, leaving them to walk casually towards Penelope's car.
"She's right. It will be weird not seeing everyone, all the time, without any breaks. At all. Whatsoever," he joked about their, more than close, unit.
Penelope smiled and dropped her purse in front of her, from her shoulder, where it was starting to feel too heavy. "I have some plans but maybe in a few weeks. It'll give everyone time to miss me." At this point, they were barely strolling, taking slow deliberate steps as they approached her car.
"What are you going to be doing for five weeks?" he asked, confused.
She shot him an annoyed glare. "I do have a life sometimes." There was a little malice in her voice, but mostly annoyance.
He let the fingers that were around the strap on his shoulder flay as a sign of peace. "I know. I was just asking what could take up so much time. It just sounds like a big deal is all."
She softened again. "It's nothing really, just a quick vacation. I'm just not looking forward to it."
"Wait, you're not looking forward to a vacation? Why are you going then?" His genuine concern made her lips turn up.
"It's just an obligation type thing. Don't worry. It'll make me extremely grateful for all of you when we get back." Her eyes travelled to his face briefly as she thought wistfully of the family that she created here and of them all using their time off with glee.
"Ah ha! So you will miss me then." Whatever she would be doing, he could tell it didn't bring her joy to talk about, so he left it alone, despite wanting desperately to know what was going to be occupying her days.
They'd made it to her car. She was standing next to the driver's side door, her body facing him. "Don't push it, Alvez. I was just starting to like you." She shook her head, making the curls framing her face bounce.
"I wouldn't want to mess that up for sure. I've worked very hard for it." He took a couple steps towards her, leaving very little space in between them. "When you are back, would you like to go get a drink with me? Ya know, since I'll be missing you so much by then." He gave her a wink.
She pursed her lips trying to hold in a laugh. "Sure thing. I might be desperate enough for even your company by then." She couldn't hold back her grin any longer as she teased him.
He let his eyes glance over her head as he stuck his tongue to his teeth trying not to laugh at her. "I look forward to it." She pulled out her keys to unlock her door, but his voice stopped her again, "If you aren't too happy on your vacation, you can call me, ya know. I'm still willing to be the one you can turn to when you're crying."
She took a deep breath, attempting to let his words infiltrate her brain. "Thanks. Really, it's not so bad. I'm just being a big baby." He nodded and leaned in to kiss her cheek briefly. He pulled away and saw the flicker of surprise on her face. They'd had a few affectionate moments over the past couple years, but they weren't frequent and were usually parting hugs after a night out, where she would give them out like candy.
"Okay, just… I won't be too busy to be there to talk to, if you'd like." He tipped his head, about to take a step towards his car that was just a few away from hers.
She felt the need to say something. She wasn't going to see him for awhile after all, and he was being so nice. "He,y Luke. Uh, you can call me too, ya know, if you need someone to - to talk to. Not that you do, or will, but you can."
He turned around again to look at her as she so adorably stammered out the words. "I appreciate that." He continued to look at her as if he already knew she had more to say.
"And, I - maybe I'll check in with you even if I don't have bad things going wrong." She moved her purse to her other hand to occupy herself.
He gave her a shy smile. "Even better." He watched her fumble her keys again and then unlock her car, getting in without another word. Shaking his head, he turned towards his vehicle and threw his bag in the passenger's seat. He drove home thinking about the woman who made him smile even while stuck in traffic.
I just want everyone to know that this story will have smut. It starts off really sweet and it is sweet but know there will be smut and it could be considered sub/dom. Thank you.