Chapter One

AN: I own nothing, not CM .

Penelope was getting ready to go have lunch with her best friend. She was looking forward to it; it had been a while since they were together. She logged out to her password protect and headed down the hallway towards the office of SSA Morgan.

Once she reached the doorway, she could hear that Derek was on the phone. He sounded absolutely resigned to whatever was being said. He had one hand on the desk, drumming his fingers lightly. It was a sign of irritation Penelope knew well from Derek.

"Tamara, honey, I know," he said softly, seriously trying to get her to listen to him. "No, I didn't mean it that way, I-"

Penelope shook her head as she watched. She could hear the woman railing at him. He was obviously in the doghouse. She wondered what he said that set her off, but wasn't going to ask. She didn't get involved in his personal relationships.

Poor Derek. He looked so stressed out.

He looked up at her in surprise and gave her a quirky half grin. He sighed quietly, pointed at the phone, then crossed his eyes at her. She had to fight a laugh.

"Listen, we'll have to finish this later. My lunch date is here," he said, interrupting his girlfriend.

That didn't work; she still complained for about five minutes straight.

"I have to go." He waited for another second, then sighed loud enough Tamara could hear it. "Yes, it's Garcia… Yes, I'll tell her 'Hi' for you."

That made Penelope want to snicker. She knew damn well Tamara didn't like her. Not that she cared; Derek didn't exactly like her boyfriend, either. She thought it had something to do with thinking there's no one good enough for your best friend.

Derek shut off his phone and stood, rubbing the back of his neck. He rolled his shoulders, stretched his arms over his head, then grinned sheepishly at her. "Sorry, Baby Girl. Didn't mean to keep you waiting."

She arched a brow. "Trouble in paradise?"

He came around the desk, pulled her into his arms and gave her a big hug. "Nah. Nothing that big."

She hugged him back. "Good. I'm glad."

"Thanks." He kissed the top of her head. "Where we going?"

"Well, since we got waylaid by hurricane Tamara," she said, removing herself from the circle of his arms. "I think we are stuck eating in the commissary." She opened the door and started to walk out.

He snickered, then followed. "Oh, now you are plain ol' punishing me."

"No, no." She turned and tapped his phone he was still carrying. "You've been punished enough." She turned and continued walking.

Derek sighed, putting his phone in his back pocket as they walked down the hall. "Really, she's not that bad. Sometimes she takes me wrong. She thinks I put work first and she doesn't like it."

"Your job is important, sugar. It's a huge part of who we are."

"I know. It's hard for her to understand," he said, opening the door to the commissary for her. He always opened doors for her. He shrugged. "It's easier for you and Lynch, I take it, since he works here, too?"

"No, it's not," she said. "He doesn't have the dedication I have to the team I'm on. He really doesn't understand the BAU family." She reached for two trays and handed him one. "He works all sorts of areas and I'm specialized."

Derek shot her a grin. "Couldn't do it without our Goddess."

"Damn straight," she said with a cheesy grin of her own, putting a canned fruit salad on her tray. "Anyway, he knows not to mess with my team. He learned that a couple years back."

She didn't add that Kevin learned not to mess with their friendship a long while back, also. Her boyfriend disliked Derek nearly as much as Derek disliked him. It was a mutual non-admiration society that drove Penelope crazy. In all fairness to Kevin, Derek started it. He didn't hesitate telling Penelope she could do better and seriously scowled at Kevin for about two months after he found out they were dating.

Derek put a turkey sandwich on his tray. "I'm glad. It's the least he could do for you."

She sighed while she filled her fountain pop. "He's not that bad. Really. He thinks I work long days… which I do. I can't argue against it."

"Yeah."

They walked over to a table and put their trays down. She looked up at her non-smiling best friend. It was a more common occurrence nowadays that drove her crazy. Derek didn't talk as much, didn't smile as much, didn't laugh as much or flirt as much as he used to. In short, he wasn't Derek as much anymore. She needed to fix that.

"Morgan," she said, putting her hand on his. "I think we need a day. Just us. It's been a really long time since we did that. Maybe this weekend? I know it's only Monday, but hey, nice to think ahead."

He didn't hesistate. He lifted her hand to his lips, placing a kiss on the back. "I'd like that."