Spoiler/timeline:Set sometime between Derailed (the episode where Elle gets held hostage on the train) and the previous episode.

AN:Not even IMDb knows Garcia's name, but somehow Morgan does. ;) This is how he found out.

Blessings
by Gatekeeper

Garcia had meant to be home by now, really. But what was supposed to have been 20 minutes of basic upgrades had somehow turned into three simultaneous games of online Texas Hold-em, and for the last hour or so she’d been doing far too brilliantly to be able to stop.

She had just laid down a straight flush and collected more of her fellow players’ money when the phone rang in her ear. Reflex had her answering before she had the chance to think about it. “Goddess of Luck speaking. Bow before me.”

“Garcia.” A rush of masculine relief carried the word along the phone lines.

“Morgan?” Garcia’s eyes widened, the oh-so-familiar voice completely jerking her out of the computers for a moment. “Did you guys get called in on a case that somehow escaped my omniscient awareness?”

“Right now it’s your sparkling wit I need, oh great one, not your genius.” There was the sound of a door closing, muting the party noises that could be heard in the background. “If I don’t talk to someone interesting for at least a couple of minutes, I’m going to fall asleep face first into the pate.”

Garcia grinned, absently calling on one hand and folding another. “I take it Jessica isn’t working out quite as well as you’d hoped?” Jessica Taylor, according to the files, was a pert little redhead who wasn’t quite pert enough to escape the curse of the DMV photo. It cheered her up just thinking about it. “Shouldn’t a BAU superstar like yourself have anticipated this little problem?”

“I was weak,” he sighed. “You know how hard it is to control flirting powers as great as ours.”

“Not to mention your weakness for short skirts,” she teased, amused at the misery she could hear in his voice. “Karmic payback is out of even my incredibly skilled hands.” Those were some lovely boardcards in hand two. Someone should be thanked ….

“Damn, Garcia, don’t torture me like that.” There was a moment of silence, then a far more quiet mutter. “Your hands are the last thing I should be thinking about right now.”

Garcia’s fingers faltered on the keys, and she very deliberately closed her eyes and forced her heartbeat to return to normal.

“So how’s your Friday night been?” Morgan was back, his voice deliberately light. “As long as it doesn’t involve foie gras, I’m ready for anything.”

Poker. She’d been playing poker, hadn’t she? “Fleecing mere mortals out of my proper tribute.”

She could hear the smile in Morgan’s voice. “In English, please?”

“Three games of online Texas Hold-em. I’m up three hundred in one game, seven in the second, and eleven in the third.” Garcia grinned. “They’re actually starting to swear at me in that one.”

He laughed. He had a very, very nice laugh. “You must be so proud.”

“Uh oh.” She raised Jackhearts13 a hundred, causing the other players to instantly fold. “You’re in trouble now.”

“What do you mean? When I snuck out, Jessica was having a heated discussion with someone named Bonnie over who had the most deviant manicurist. She probably hasn’t even noticed I’m gone yet.”

“But you laughed. If there’s a window nearby and anyone saw you having unauthorized fun, news could get in back to Jessica in under 10 minutes. The punishment that followed would, naturally, be far too swift and brutal for even a goddess like myself to save you.”

“Bet me.” She could almost see the corner of his mouth curl up with the challenge. “Set your computer up for 10 minutes. If my end of the line hasn’t gone dead after my time is up, I win. If it has, you win.”

Garcia arched an eyebrow, knowing Morgan would be able to hear it in her voice. “How do I know I’ll still be able to collect after Jessica’s through with you?”

“I’m sure you’ll think of something. If nothing else, I can leave everything to you in my will.”

She laughed. “But what if you win? You’ve got to think of a suitable reward to commemorate your narrow escape from death.”

There was a long pause on the other end of the phone. Then, quietly, “I want you to tell me your first name.”

Her fingers slipped down the keys, earning a reprimand from one dealer for her attempt to bid ujnm on a hand. Garcia, however, was paying no attention. “You can’t be serious.”

“Why can’t I? And don’t give me the Madonna cop-out, either. Just because you only use one name doesn’t mean you don’t have two.”

“Morgan ….”

“Derek.”

She took a deep breath. “Derek.” He sounded so serious all of a sudden. Why did it make her feel so shaky? “I’m … I’m sure even your basic hacking skills could get that information out of my employee file.”

“Wouldn’t be the same.” His voice took on a cajoling edge. “Are you saying you won’t give me my prize if I win?”

“I…” She stopped, closing her eyes. “Why?” Her voice was barely more than a whisper.

There was a long moment of silence, as if he were trying to get the words right. Then, finally, “Because you’re important to me.”

How did he expect her to be able to answer questions after saying something like that? Just because she was a goddess didn’t mean she was capable of that big a miracle. “Ah ….”

Someone screeched Derek’s name in the background, loud enough to be heard even through the closed door. He swore, softly but with deep sincerity. “Damn, I guess you won.” A handle rattled. “I’ve got to go. I owe you, Garcia.”

“Penelope.”

There was another long pause. “Penelope Garcia.” He said it slow, like he was tasting it. “A beautiful name for a beautiful lady. Can I use it, or does the information never leave this spot?”

Not since third grade had she let anyone but her mother call her Penelope. “You can use it. Don’t say I never gave you anything.”

You could hear the smile in Derek’s voice. “Not a chance.” The rattle got louder. “Wish me luck, goddess.” Then he was gone.

Garcia stared blankly at her screens for a moment, then closed her eyes and sent a silent blessing in Derek’s direction. Then, very calmly, she ended her part in all the games, collected her winnings, and headed home.

It took her three hours to stop smiling.