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TV Shows » Criminal Minds » The Moments In Between
bahjcb
Author of 42 Stories
Rated: T - English - Romance/Angst - D. Morgan & P. Garcia - Reviews: 44 - Updated: 12-18-07 - Published: 12-02-07 - Complete - id:3924759
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Warning: Spanish came from Internet Translation Website - Read at Your Own Risk!


Garcia pushed a stray strand of hair behind one ear as she happily talked to Kevin Lynch. It was nice to talk to someone who knew computers like she did. And, the fact that because of him James Colby Baylor was found, well that was an added benefit.

At the moment, Garcia wasn't sure if she trusted her instincts, but she was fairly certain that Kevin liked her. It was flattering, especially after what had happened with Baylor. Any further semi-flirting was put on hold, however, when Hotch walked over.

"Garcia, you have a phone call on line two."

At her surprised look, Hotch added, "It seems your brothers heard about the shooting and are calling to check on you."

"Oh," Garcia said, momentarily stunned. She hadn't even thought of her brothers. "Thank you." Turning to Kevin, she gave him a wry smile and added, "I better go take that."

"Well, see ya."

"Okay."

As quickly as she could go without aggravating her wound, Garcia hurried to her office. Slipping the headset on, Garcia pressed a button and said, "F.B.I., Technical Analysis Penelope Garcia."

"Oh, you're okay," a female voice sobbed. "Eddie, she's okay," the voice added.

Eddy then said, "Honey, I'm the other extension, I can hear Pen's voice myself."

Laughing Garcia interrupted. "Eddy, Gaby, do you still have the webcam I gave you?"

"Oh, yes," Gaby excitedly replied. "Just a second, I'll set it up."

In actuality, it took much longer than just a second. Neither Garcia's oldest brother nor his wife really remembered how to set things up—which showed how often the Garcia family really kept in contact—but with a little help from their Pen, they soon had everything up and working. Now Eddy and Gaby could see Pen in Virginia from their home in Hong Kong.

"Ah, you're wearing the purple, knit poncho I bought you for your birthday," Gaby exclaimed happily.

Garcia and Eddy exchanged a look. It really didn't seem to take much to make Gaby ecstatic.

Before Gaby could get more into the fun fact that her sister-in-law did indeed wear her presents, Eddy quickly asked, "Penelope, what happened? Moonbeam found a newspaper or saw a news clip, he couldn't really remember, and called us. He said an F.B.I. technical analysis had gotten shot. We called the F.B.I. and they confirmed it was you."

Garcia sighed. She really didn't want to get into it, but with her brother and Gaby looking at her so worriedly…

"It's okay, dear," Gaby cried out. "It must have been awful. Do not worry. I will find a plane ticket right now and I will fly there and take care of you."

Eddy didn't even have to see his sister's eyes widen in panic. He grabbed his wife by the wrist and pulled her back into her chair.

"Gaby, we don't even know how bad it was. Penelope's at work. She was probably only grazed."

Gaby turned back expectantly towards her sister-in-law.

Garcia couldn't resist the combined pleading in both sets of brown eyes.

"The bullet just missed my heart."

Eddy quickly shushed his wife's exclamations and said, "Tell us everything, Pen."

Upon being told everything, Garcia didn't see any need to leave out the fact that it was her stubborn pride that got her shot, both Eddy and Gaby looked sick—more than just upset over all that had happened.

Before Garcia could once again assure them that she was okay, and before Eddy could give his speech about how Pen could never have guessed that man was going to try and kill her, Gaby exclaimed, "Damn that Derek Morgan!"

The siblings stared at Gaby with disbelief. That was not among the expected answers that either one anticipated. Not waiting for a response, Gaby plowed forward into her rant.

"Toda la avería se reclina con ese hombre narcissistic! Si ese hombre…"

"Gaby," Eddy interrupted. "English."

"It is all that narcissistic man's fault. If only that man treated others with a tenth of the compassion…"

"Gaby," Garcia interrupted. "Morgan's a good man."

Gaby's countenance darkened and her scowl deepened.

"Penny, I will not hold your defense of him against you as you obviously have just gone through a terrible ordeal, but, it would not be nearly so bad if it weren't for that Agent Morgan."

Garcia tried to interrupt once again, but Gaby just raised her hand in a gesture of silence and plowed forward.

"With all of his flirting, his teasing, the fact that he calls you 'baby girl'—do not argue, I have heard the two of you on the phone, Agent Morgan is degrading you. It would be one thing if he were actually interested, but then he goes off whoring himself to other woman."

"Gabriele," Eddy reprimanded.

Gaby, however, just looked militant and continued. Eddy wished he had let his wife continue in Spanish as he knew his sister didn't speak that language.

"It is true, Edward," Gaby argued. "Agent Morgan has only once asked our wonderful Penny on a date and that was only a pity date because she yelled at him. That is not right! He has made her feel as if she is not wanted. No, no, no! No matter what any of you say I will always dislike Agent Morgan for that. Hombre engañoso."

Garcia just stared at her computer screen in disbelief. The only thought running through her mind was, "Could Gaby be right?"

Luckily, for Agent Morgan's reputation, in the background on the Hong Kong side, there was a huge crash and lots of shouting. Quickly, Gaby shot up and went charging towards the noise muttering in Spanish all the way.

After seeing that his wife could handle their boys alone, Eddy turned back towards the webcam and his sister.

"Penelope."

"Yeah," she responded, kind of distantly.

"Penelope, it wasn't your fault."

"What?"

"It wasn't your fault. From what you said, that guy thought you had something on him. He would have gone after you if you hadn't helped him with his computer or if you had said no to the date. This way, however, it was easier for the team to have leads on the guy and it made sure you were found quickly enough after you were shot so that you survived."

Garcia didn't say anything, but her brother could tell that what he was saying was sinking in.

"Like Dad always said, Penny, everything happens for a reason."

At that, Garcia smiled.


"Hey, baby girl," Morgan said with a grin as he leaned against the doorjamb to Garcia's office. "You ready to go home?"

Garcia looked up from her blank computer screen distractedly. "Huh, oh, yeah. Yes, I'm definitely ready to go home."

Stepping into the room, Morgan's forehead creased with worry. "Baby girl, are you all right?"

Sighing, Garcia rubbed her face wearily. "I tired, Morgan. Mentally and physically."

Nodding in understanding, Morgan took her arm and helped her up. Pressing a kiss to the side of her head, he muttered, "Let's get you home."

It didn't take them long to reach her home. The entire drive, however, was silent—and not a very comfortable silence at that. Knowing everything that had happened, Morgan wasn't too worried. He just hoped that in a day or two, his baby girl would be back to her normal exuberant self.

Morgan was surprised when Garcia stopped in her doorway leaving him stuck in the hall.

"Thanks for the drive home."

Lightly caressing her cheek, Morgan said, "Let me stay. I know that nightmares after these things can…"

"Morgan, I'm fine," Garcia assured him, stepping away from his touch. Closing the door she added, "I'll see you later."

Staring at the closed door Morgan felt like he had missed something very important and it worried him that he had no idea what that could be.

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