My Broken Valentine

BAU Headquarters – Evening –

Derek and Penelope were the last to leave the building. Except for the cleaning crew the sixth floor and most of the other floors were quiet. Together they walked out of the building through the employee parking lot towards the large late model orange caddy. Ever the gentleman, Derek opened the door on the driver’s side and before helping her in, he pulled her in his arms and gently kissed her on the lips.

“Are we really doing this?” She asked.

“We’re really doing this. Are you having second thoughts?”

Before answering him, she kissed him passionately on the lips.

“Does it look like I’m having second thoughts?”

“No, no it does not, Baby Girl.”

As she got comfortable behind the steering wheel, she could feel his eyes on her. Then looking into his eyes, she saw everything she needed to see.

“What time will I see you tomorrow?” She asked.

“I have some business to take care of first, so is eleven, okay?”

“That sounds good, sugar. I guess I have some business to take care of myself in the morning.”

Penelope started the engine as he closed the door and stepped away. She couldn’t stop smiling and neither could he.

“Hey, Baby Girl.”

“Yes?”

“Pack a bag just in case I don’t want to bring you back home.”

“Oh, Hot Stuff, what on earth are you up to?”

“I guess you’ll have to wait and see.”

“That I will.”

Derek waved and watched her drive out of the parking structure and out of sight. Then turning with a large grin, he headed toward the opposite end of the large building where his truck was parked.

Della dialed a familiar number as she watched the old car drive past. Her patience had paid off and after three days of waiting in the same spot across the federal employee parking structure, hidden in the shadows, it was time to put her plans in motion. Her brothers had not been so patient, and she could tell in their voices as she spoke that they were ready for things to be over. No matter how impatient they had become, she knew that she could count on them, they owed her, she had protected them time and time again from their evil foster parents and now she was calling their debt due.

“It’s time!”

Just as Derek pulled out of the lot, Della started her engine. Derek’s mind was on Penelope and looking forward to spending time with her. He turned right out of the structure and headed toward the freeway. About half a mile from the on ramp he saw a truck with its hazard lights blinking and a young man struggling to get the hood up. Derek slowed down, pulling his truck in behind the man.

“Damn Morgan, ever the good Samaritan,” he whispered to himself.

As he opened the door, another car pulled in behind him as the young man smiled and waved him over.

“Looks like you could use some help.”

“Yeah, I don’t know a lot about stuff like this, thanks for stopping.”

Della left her engine running and quickly got out of her car and headed toward the two men.

Home of Savannah Hayes – Saturday Morning –

It was almost ten and for the third time, Savannah checked her watch. She knew Derek and he would have done more work by ten than most people did in a full day. He’d agreed to come by this morning so that they could have one final conversation; he should have been here by now unless he’d been called away on case or worse, changed his mind.

Savannah dialed her ex-husband’s number; the call went to voicemail.

“Derek it’s me, Savannah. You said you were coming by this morning...it’s almost ten and if you were coming, you would have been here by now...well, okay...maybe you changed your mind and I understand...I’m sorry to have bothered you.”

Home of Penelope Garcia –

Penelope was excited to know that she would be spending the day with Derek. She began her morning taking a long hot bubble bath and applying her makeup while listening to jazz playing in the background. It was nearly ten and she was surprised that she had not heard from him but perhaps his earlier appointment had run late, she thought.

Another hour passed and Derek had not called or come by; to say that Penelope was worried would have been an understatement. She sent him a text, fighting through her old fears and self-doubt, fighting through the voices in her head that he had changed his mind. He had worked too hard over the last year to convince her to give them a chance and so, she began to worry, that something was wrong, very wrong.

“Where are you, baby boy? Why haven’t you called me?”

Skid Row Abandon Building – Noon –

Della and her two brothers made their way down the narrow alley, past makeshift cardboard shelters and piles of junk, stuffed shopping carts and sleeping bodies. She let them end the building and made her way toward the hidden barricaded room. Before opening the small door, she looked around to make sure that no one was watching.

“Della,” the older larger of the two men began.

“Shh, Corey!”

“Are you sure about this?” He continued.

“Yes, I’m sure! Besides, it’s too late to turn back now!”

“He’s still unconscious,” Paolo, the younger man whispered, “how much of that stuff did you give him?”

“Don’t worry about it,” she growled as she kneeled next to Derek, “he’s still breathing.”

Satisfied, Della stood again and turned to face her brothers.

“I need you two to go home and if anybody asks, you don’t nothing! We haven’t spoken in years, you got it?”

“Yeah, yeah,” they both replied in unison.

Home of Penelope Garcia –

‘Soooo, how’s it going?” JJ whispered on the other end.

Penelope was a wreck, but she didn’t want to sound like she was two seconds away from losing it. She was happy to hear from her friend who had taken a moment from her own weekend plans to call.

“JJ it’s almost two and I haven’t heard a word from Derek! I’ve called and I’ve texted but nothing! Do you think he’s changed his mind?”

“Listen to me, Pen, there must be a reason! Derek loves you, he’s been trying for over a year now to get you to give him a chance, so no, I don’t think he’s changed his mind.”

“Then why? Sam’s called and I promised him yesterday that we could get together and talk.”

“Garcia, what are you doing?”

“JJ, no matter what happens between me and Derek, I have to break things off with Sam. I don’t love him, and I think he knows that, but the longer I’m with him, the more he thinks that one day...”

“...that one day you’ll love him?”

“Yeah, and that will never happen, never.”

The sound of the doorbell interrupted their conversation; maybe it was Derek.

“JJ, someone’s at the door.”

“See, I told you. He better have a good excuse for making you wait for him all day!”

Penelope held the phone to her ear as she made her way to the front door. Looking through the peephole, she was surprised at who was standing on her porch.

“What the hell?” She whispered to herself.

“Pen? Penelope...Garcia who is it?”

“Let me call you back.”

Penelope ended the call and opened the door only to be met by an odd smile.

“Penelope, Penelope Garcia?”

“Yes, can I help you?”

“Hi, my name is Della.”