#David Rossi’s grandchild | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

ramblings-daily · 8 years ago

Text

A Little Too Late // Eleven

Fandom: Criminal Minds Words: 5, 980 Pairing: Luke Alvez / Penelope Garcia Characters: Penelope Garcia, Luke Alvez, Derek Morgan, Spencer Reid, Jennifer "JJ" Jareau, Emily Prentiss, David Rossi and Tara Lewis

Chapter Eleven [link to FF / Chapter One / Chapter Two / Chapter Three / Chapter Four / Chapter Five / Chapter Six / Chapter Seven / Chapter Eight / Chapter Nine / Chapter Ten]

Thursday 11:50AM

"We have the identification card," one of the members in the forensic team informed Emily as soon as he noticed the BAU walking over to the crime scene. "Do you want it?"

Emily shook her head as she ducked her head under the yellow crime scene tape. "There's no need for it. We know who the victim is." Her expression is an exact replica as the others, sullen and deeply disturbed of what's in front of them. "Where's the body?"

Derek stepped aside and nodded his head over to the paved deep dirt path with the forensic team hovering over the body. "He's not being shy about the bodies anymore." The fact that the bodies were hidden for the first ten times and this one clearly isn't, the whole team already knows what kind of tactic the guy's trying to pull off. "He's messing with us."

"Us?" JJ repeated. "Or just Luke at this point." She closed her eyes, exhaling deeply. "This son of a bitch knew that we would be here. He knew that Carter would eventually lead us to Daisy's body. Everything's happening according to his damn plan."

Rossi sighed. "And we're just lost puppies, following each and every step he's making instead of trying to be ahead of him." The sound of tires screeching and blaring loud sirens distracted everybody's attention onto the road, he briefly turned around. "He's here."

"Where is she?" Luke softly muttered under his breath. He stepped out of the SUV, his eyes darting back and forth between the forensic team and the members. Vividly shaking his head as he paced himself in front of the crime scene tape, he didn't want to believe any of this. None of this can be true, he thought. "Where is she?" He repeated to himself, a bit louder for the others to hear him.

"You shouldn't be on your feet yet." Tara said as soon as she noticed that he wasn't on the wheelchair.

Not wanting to repeat himself, Luke stepped under the crime scene tape. "Move." He ordered as soon as the team stepped in, blocking him from the crime scene. "I said, move!"

"Please," JJ begged. "You shouldn't be here for this."

Luke didn't have time to deal with this. He has dealt with their uncontrollably emotions for the last month. If they know better, they shouldn't be doing this toward him right now. "I am not going to repeat myself," he warned in a firm tone. "Either you move or I'll make you move." He watched as the others glanced over to Emily, who nodded her head, giving them permission to step aside. As soon as he stood in front of the crime scene, he could feel his heart halting it's beat for a split second. Dropping onto his knees with tears streaming down his face, he clenched onto his heart as he screamed out loud. "Abuela!!!"

Penelope got off the car, her eyes darting between the members and Luke on the ground. Feeling overwhelmed by what's going on, Penelope raised her hand to her heart as she cried. "This can't be happening..." Not wanting to be around the scene any longer, she turned around to get back into the car when the members suddenly gasped, calling out Luke's name. Adverting her attention over to him, who's laying on the ground unconscious - Penelope rushed to his side. "Luke!"

. . .

Thursday 1:00PM

"Penelope, you don't have to stay here." Derek said softly as he sat down next to her. "You should be with him."

"He doesn't want to see me." Penelope simply replied, her eyes staring at the picture of Bernice Alvez on the victimology board. In fact, her eyes has been staring at the eleven photos on the board for the last ten minutes she's been sitting in the conference room. These eleven photos are victims, people who had lives. And every single one of them are dead because of her. "How many more do you think there are?"

Derek blinked. "What?"

"How many more bodies does he have hidden? Under the dirt? Inside the closets? Locked up in a cellar?"

"Baby Girl, you can't think like that." Derek tried to hold her hands but she snatched her hands back. "Penelope..."

Penelope looked at him, her eyes brimming with tears. "Bernice is dead because of me. Luke's one and only family member by his side is dead. How can look at him without having this....this guilt inside of me?!"

"Luke knows that none of this is your fault." Derek turned her chair around to face him, his hands gripping onto the armrest as he spoke. "Out of everybody in the team, Luke has always been the reasonable one. He's smart, logical and incredibly strong."

"That's before his grandmother died." Penelope said those words in a matter-of-fact tone. "All that self control he's been holding onto, it's all gone now."

Before Derek could open his mouth to argue with her, Emily and the rest of the team walked into the conference room. "Is everything all set?"

As soon as everybody settled into their seats, she couldn't help but glance at Penelope. She shouldn't even be in here right now but what could she argue about? The team is physically exhausted and mentally frozen at the moment but the pain that Luke and Penelope are feeling, they can never be compared to how those two feel. "Let's begin." Emily ordered.

JJ briefly glanced at Penelope as she pointed over to the picture of Luke's grandmother. "Bernice Alvez, 79 years old. She had no criminal record and spent most of her time in either her local church and work."

"Where did she work?"

"A local market," JJ answered. "If we look at the timeline, Bernice Alvez left the hospital around 11:45AM on Wednesday." She nodded her head over to Spencer. "The last person she spoke to in the hospital before she left was Spence."

Spencer stared at the picture of Bernice in his case file. "She told me to watch over Luke because she was late for work. She said she would be back on Friday to visit him again." He looked at the others. "We left a voicemail once we transferred Luke and Penelope to the hotel after Daisy got arrested."

"And she didn't answer or reply." Tara noted. "What time did you leave the voicemail?"

"4:27," Spencer quickly answered. "I called her twice before I left the voicemail. I just assumed that she was busy with work and didn't pick up."

Rossi tapped his fingers against the table. "Between 11:45AM and 4:30PM, Bernice Alvez got kidnapped by him." He looked at Emily. "Do we have the time of death yet?"

Emily adjusted her eyes from the picture of Bernice and toward Rossi. "No," she cleared her throat as she looked at Penelope. "Luke's with the medical examiner as we speak."

. . .

Thursday 1:20PM

The medical examiner watched Luke carefully. He has been in here for the last thirty minutes, not wanting to leave until he knows how and when his grandmother died. Knowing how painful and heartbreaking it is to lose a family member this way, the medical examiner didn't want to push Luke's buttons by asking him to leave. Instead, she let Luke watch as he examined Bernice Alvez. As soon as she was done and input her data and founding into the system, she turned his full attention to Luke. "Are you positive you're up for this?"

Luke slowly nodded his head, his hands clenching onto each other as he stared blankly at his grandmother's pale face. He opened his mouth to ask a question but his words got choked up, tears running down his face nonstop. "How..."

"Asphyxiation..." She slightly revealed Bernice's neck to show where the mark was indicated. " "Seems to me that a rope was probably used during the altercation.."

"Altercation?" Luke repeated in confusion.

The medical examiner sadly smiled. "She didn't go without a fight." Lifting her arms and legs so he could see the bruises and marks, she sighed. "For someone her age, she lasted really long with this kind of torture."

Burn marks. Luke felt his anger rising even more as he blinked a few tears away. "What time?"

"Roughly twelve hours," she lifted a page from her chart. "With my best estimate, she died yesterday around 9PM." The medical examiner cleared her throat. "I hope you find this guy." Luke's mind is so blank, he didn't have the energy to reply to her. "I'll leave you alone with her before I come back so you can sign off the paperwork."

As soon as he heard the doors closing, Luke reached for his grandmother's hands and for the first time, her hands aren't what he remembers and knows how they should be. Since he was a kid, warmth and soft were what he always felt when he held her hands. Now, here in a morgue room, these beautiful hands that used to make him dinner and comb his hair are freezing cold and rough instead. "Abuela..." not able to control his tears any longer, the tears stream down his face as he lightly caress her face. "Why..." He shook his head as he coughed. "You're not supposed to be in here. Why are you here?" Clenching onto her hands, not wanting to ever let go of them. "I never gave you permission to leave me," Luke could feel a sharp pain in his heart as he cry. "You're supposed to watch me get married, hold your great grandchild, you're supposed to do so much great things in your life." Not hearing a response from his beloved witty grandmother, it makes it even harder to deal with this death.

If she was alive, she would make a witty comment about how is he supposed to marry a woman if he never notices anything around him besides work? She would joke and say that she wants more than four great grandchildren, running around her home. And she would definitely name the places she wants to visit once she retires from the market.

Ninito. Luke snapped his eyes open as soon as he heard a familiar word. He glanced around the morgue room. Ninito. With his hands clenching onto her hands still, his heart and mind still refusing to believe the fact that his grandmother is lying in front of him on a cold, metal table. Ninito. It's when he realized that he wasn't hearing the word from inside the room but he's remembering something from the past.

Three Months Ago

"Abuela..." Luke sighed out loud as soon as he saw the packed food on his kitchen counter. "I won't have time to eat this at home. I'm always gone half the time." He kneeled on the ground, his smile brightening as he kissed Roxy. "Abuela!"

Bernice stepped out of the bathroom, taking the cleaning gloves off as she shook her head. "This is why a man can't live on his own. Your bathroom was horrendous."

Luke chuckled. "I just didn't have time to clean it." He made his way over to her, kissing her on the cheek. "You have to take some of this back home."

"Nonsense!" Bernice said as she opened his fridge, putting in the packed food in there. "They won't expire. Take your time and eat it."

"Abuela..." He knew it was useless to try and argue with her but it never hurts to keep trying. "How am I suppose to finish all of that?"

Bernice closed the fridge and shrugged her shoulders. "Maybe if you had a girlfriend, she could share the food with her family. You know, add those perk points up."

Here goes the conversation again. Luke distracted himself as he pet Roxy on the head. "I don't have time for that."

"Oh?" Bernice arched an eyebrow, clearing thinking otherwise. "You seem to be talking about - " she snapped her fingers, trying to force herself to remember the name. "Penelope Garcia a lot lately. Are you sure?"

Luke laughed. "She would never like me."

"Do you?" Bernice questioned. As soon as she saw the confusion written all over his face, she automatically knew it's the curse again. The curse of never being able to detect if someone actually likes him or not. She shook her head, unable to believe that such a horrible curse like his would carry out to his mid thirties. "What are you? Stone? How do you still not know how to detect feelings? Not even your own?"

"I'm hurt," Luke pretended as he placed a hand over his heart. "Stone? I'm as fleshy as I can get!"

"Ninito," Bernice said in a more serious tone. "When do you think you'll let me hold my great grandbaby?"

Luke closed his eyes briefly from the word ninito again. "Abuela, I'm not a little child anymore." He opened his eyes and stared at his lovely grandmother. "You will hold your great grandbaby, I promise. One day."

"One day?" Bernice made a tsking sound with her mouth. "How long do you think your abuela is going to live? Do you think I'll outlive you, silly? Not a ninito anymore?" She looked at him with such disappointment. "You will forever be my ninito no matter how much you hate that word."

Knowing very well that she'll be angry in a few seconds if he doesn't do anything, Luke got up and wrapped his arms around her gently. Giving her a light kiss on the cheek, he sighed. "You will definitely outlive me. As long as I am here, nothing will ever happen to you. Who am I? Bernice Alvez's grandson! And as much as I dislike the word, I will remain as your ninito." He turned and gave her a smile. "As long as you stay as my abuela, always by my side no matter what. Don't ever leave me and I won't ever leave you. If you do, I can't promise a great grandchild for you."

Bernice lightly laughed as she nodded her head. "I promise. I will always be your abuela." She patted his hands, proud of how she raised him on her own. "Will you keep your other promise? Nothing will ever happen to me?"

Luke smiled. "As long as I am here, I won't ever let anything happen to you."

Present

The medical examiner walked into the room with the documents in her hands. She lifted her eyes away from the charts as the door closed behind her. "Agent Alvez, once you're ready to - " she stopped talking as soon as she saw his unconscious body on the ground. "Agent Alvez!"

. . .

Thursday 3:00PM

Derek leaned his back against the wall, his eyebrows furrowed and his arms crossed onto his chest. "He's never going to be okay." He glanced over to Spencer, who's staying in the waiting room with him while the others stay back in the BAU. "He won't be the same."

"He will be," Spencer said as he skimmed through a book. "Just like how we end up being okay after the pain we went through." He looked up and stared at Derek. "You know as much as anyone that our team went through hell. Most of us has lost so many people while on this job." Spencer turned his attention back to the book. "If there is one thing we have in common, we always end up bouncing back to the job. Why? Because it's the only thing we can live by now. It makes us strong and determined."

"We had each other," Derek reasoned with Spencer. "In seven months time, has Luke told you anything about his own life? He has learned so much of the team but as far as I know, none of you know much about him." He sighed. "Luke technically doesn't trust us enough to share his life with us. If we don't know how this man feels or thinks half the time, how are we suppose to be there for him like how we were for each other?"

Spencer closed the book. "He has Garcia."

"Penelope isn't all there either," Derek argued. "This case has been rough on us but not as much as for the both of them. Do you honestly believe that these two will rely on each other even after what happened today?" The look in Penelope's eyes in the conference room, he can't forget it. The pain in her eyes when she said that Luke didn't want to see her, it was heartbreaking. Derek comforted Penelope by saying that Luke would never try and blame Bernice's death. How is he supposed to ask her to believe in those words when he doesn't even believe it himself? "Maybe I'm being a pessimistic."

"I don't believe in that." Spencer said calmly. "There is no such thing as pessimistic and optimism. You can't carry on the world believing - "

"Of course," Derek interrupted him before he went on a long lecture. "You would be the one to not believe in such thing." His eyes adverted over to the doctor leaving Luke's hospital room. "How is he?"

The doctor sighed as he closed the chart in his hand, looking at Derek and Spencer carefully. In the last few weeks, he has seen these people more than he would like. No doctor would ever want to see a patient or family members of the patients for more than every six months. He can't even imagine the amount of pain and exhaustion this team is going through right now. "He'll be fine as soon as his body regains strength from food. Luke hasn't eaten or drank anything in the last few hours, has he?" Seeing as there was no reply from both men, he continued. "His wounds are tearing a bit from the stitches. After he wakes up, a nurse will help him stitch them up again. From what I can understand, I know he is suffering from a loss right now but I do not want him to overwork himself. Please remember that he barely got out of surgery and woke up from a coma miraculously." He cleared his throat, knowing it's very hard for someone with their sort of field to hear such words. "His emotions will play a huge part on how fast he'll heal internally and externally. As much as I love doing my job, it's really upsetting to see the same person back here within a few days after being discharged. Considering Luke Alvez's case, he wasn't even supposed to be out of the hospital in the first place."

"What are you trying to say?" Derek asked.

"Until he gets the approval by me, he won't be leaving this hospital. I don't want to risk anything anymore." The doctor nodded his head over to the waiting room. "You might want to start working the guard schedule once again."

"We understand, thank you." Spencer said before the doctor left. "I'll call Prentiss."

Derek sighed. "Call Tara afterwards before she heads out to lecture tonight. She can meet up with the medical examiner about Daisy's autopsy results. We need that information as soon as possible."

. . .

Thursday 5:00PM

Luke softly smiled at the nurse as soon as she finished stitching him. "Thank you." He adverted his attention over to the tray in front of him. "I don't really feel like eating."

The nurse sighed. "I understand but the doctor said that I'm not allowed to take the tray away until it's clean." She slid the tray closer to him, making sure that he can reach it. "It doesn't hurt to eat, right?"

Not wanting to argue with her, Luke just nodded his head as he leaned against the hospital headboard. "I'll eat it."

"Promise?"

"Yes." Luke lied. "I'll eat it." The nurse left him alone in the room as soon as she cleaned after the old bandages. He blinked calmly at the tray of food which contained chicken soup, bread, salad and juice. Why is it that he has no motivation to eat this right now? As he stares at the bland food, all he can think about is his grandmother's cooking. The delicious, addicting smell of her cooking that spread out throughout his house in the air. The soft texture of each dish that she passionately cooked for him. Feeling tired, Luke laid back down on the bed and stared aimlessly at the wall in front of him. He could hear the sound of the door opening and closing. "I'm not hungry. Just take it away. I'm sorry."

Spencer looked at the food. "Why aren't you hungry?"

"I just am."

"Is there anything we can get for you?"

Luke shook his head. "Nothing." He closed his eyes, it feels good to have his eyes closed. His eyes are so red and puffy from the crying, the energy to keep them open is exhausting. "It's nothing like her cooking...."

"Huh?" Spencer asked. "What did you say?" He stood in the middle of the room, listening to the sounds of Luke's snoring quietly. As soon as it was safe, he walked over to the drawers - taking out the jeans that Luke was wearing earlier, searching for something quickly. Clenching onto what he took, he walked out of the room. Making his way to the waiting room, he handed a pair of keys to Penelope. "Here. Why do you need his keys?"

Penelope briefly smiled before she took the keys. "I think I can help with something." She turned her attention to Derek. "Do you mind if you take me to his house? You've been there before, right? When you brought Roxy to cheer me up?"

Derek nodded his head. "Yeah." Penelope had arrived an hour ago, much to Derek's disapproval. The team had argued that it's better if Penelope stayed inside the BAU but she wanted to be nearby Luke so badly that no one saw a point in trying to win the argument with her. "Let me take you then."

. . .

Thursday 6:20PM

Luke could feel he was drifting away from a calm sleep into another dream. He didn't want to remember the past, especially not right now. He wanted to pull himself out of this sleep but no matter how hard he tried, the dream's strength ended being too strong. In a matter of seconds, his mind flashes back to a memory in his sleep.

"Come on," Luke chuckled as he lightly pulled on the leash as he unlocked the door. "Roxy! Good girl." He opened the door and kissed Roxy on the head before he sniffed his house. "Abuela? Is that you?"

"Kitchen!"

Luke took the leash out of Roxy's collar and smiled as soon as he realized the source of the smell. "Mhmmm, my favorite."

Bernice smiled. "Of course." She stirred the pot as she lowered the heat a bit. "I knew you wouldn't be making your own dinner on a Sunday. Thought I should stop by anyway since I haven't seen you in a while."

"I've been busy lately." Luke took a paper towel and wiped the sweat from his face. "I was going to visit you next week."

"Why would you visit me? I should visit you instead. That's why I'm here." Bernice turned off the heat and quickly poured the beans into a bowl. "Who else would make you food?"

"No one." Luke answered immediately. "I finished the packed boxes that you put in the fridge a couple weeks ago. The team loves your cooking."

Bernice placed a plate in front of him. "Here."

"Rice with pork and beans." Luke took his grandmother's hand, kissing the top of it. "As always, Bernice Alvez lives up to her reputation." She smiled proudly before turning around to grab him a drink. "Of course. I taught your mother how to cook when she was young. If she was alive, she would've made you the best - " she stopped talking as soon as she saw his expression. He always has such a sullen expression once the topic of his parents comes up. "Ninito."

Luke cleared his throat as he mixed the food together. He isn't a fan of talking about his parent's death and she knows it. The idea of talking about the day where you were meant to die with your parents but became the only survivor, it hurts. Till this day, he wonders if he should've passed away with them that night. "The beans are different this time. Changing the recipe, are you? I liked the other beans better."

Bernice sighed as she placed the glass of water in front of him. He's trying to change the topic again. If there are 365 days in a year, only one day he is willing to talk about his parents. "The death anniversary is coming up soon, Luke."

"Abuela," Luke quietly muttered. He knew that within four months, the day that he can still remember every day of his life is coming up soon. "Please."

"Rice with pork and beans was your mom's favorite." Bernice said with a small smile. "When she was little, she used to jump up and down over it. Made my day every single time I made it for her."

Luke closed his eyes, dropping his utensils onto the kitchen counter. "Mom's dead."

"How is it that you work perfectly fine with talking to victim's families everyday but you have such a hard time talking about your own?" Bernice can't understand this part of him. When he was training as a cop, he spent hours talking about the families he came across. Yet when it comes to his own family, he built such a strong wall around his heart.

"What do you want me to say? Watching my own parents die as they drowned in their own blood was traumatizing? Being stuck between the backseat and the seatbelt when you're a child is a horrendous memory? The fact that no matter how hard I screamed for help, pounding my little fists against the windows as my parents look back at me, giving me one last smile before they both died at the same time?" Luke controlled his breathing as he stared at his grandmother. "I don't want to think like that. I refuse to remember a memory that I want to block out so bad."

Bernice nodded her head as she gave up. Turning on the sink so she could wash the kitchen appliances that she used, she briefly smiled. "Alright."

Luke didn't want her feelings to be hurt. "You know that I don't like talking about it."

"I understand, I'm not mad."

Choosing to give in a bit this time around, Luke cleared his throat as he took a quick bite of the food. "Maybe I got it from her, didn't I?" He could tell she was confused when he spoke about his mom again. "The rice with pork and beans." He doesn't think about his mom a lot. A part of it is because he doesn't have much memories with his parents. With such limited memories, it hurts more to know that they're not here with him to make more memories. "Does my taste fit more with mom or dad more?"

Bernice smiled. "You fit your mom's more. The way you eat is like your dad. My son-in-law was a great person to eat dinner with. When you watched him eat, it just makes you happy." She held onto Luke's hand, patting it lightly. "Exactly how you make me feel when I watch you eat my food."

Luke chuckled. "Well, nothing can ever compare to your food."

His eyes slowly opened as soon as he smelled a familiar aroma. He's not dreaming anymore, is he? No. The room's plain and beige, the color of the hospital. Luke blinked his eyes several times, wondering if he should get up or not. He must be going crazy if he is starting to smell his grandmother's cooking right now.

"You're up."

His eyes widened. "Penelope?"

"Hey..."

Sitting up on the hospital bed, he watched in confusion while she opened up lids from containers with hot air coming out of it. That's when the smell hit him, the same kind of smell that he misses the most right now. His grandmother's cooking. "How did you..." Luke looked at Penelope, not understanding how she would know about the packed boxes in his fridge. "Are these from..."

Penelope nodded her head as she cleaned the hospital food tray away and slid the food that she brought closer to him. "I went inside your house, I hope you didn't mind. The packed boxes were in there and I microwaved it before bringing it over. I just assumed that you wouldn't be able to eat with what you're going through right now. That's when I remembered how I was when my parents died." She briefly smiled as she shrugged her shoulders. "I started missing their cooking really bad. I would cry for days as I thought about my mom's food."

"How did you know about these?" He stared at the three packed boxes, the last food in the world that Bernice Alvez has cooked for him. Luke doesn't even know if he wants to eat the food. What happens after he eats it? It'll be gone and he won't be able to taste her cooking any longer.

"She told me about it." Penelope said. "The day she left..." She didn't want to say the day before she got kidnapped. By looking at how Luke was staring at her, she knew he would understand what she meant. "She wanted us to remind you that she placed a few more food in your fridge."

Luke couldn't help but chuckle. "She would do that." As he brought one of the containers closer to him, the smell of the pork and beans hit him almost too strongly. "It's definitely her cooking..."

Penelope could tell that he wanted to cry but he was holding them back. "I also brought her but she fell asleep while waiting for you to wake up."

"Roxy..." Luke smiled at the sight of his baby sleeping on the couch. He adverted his attention over to Penelope. "You didn't have to do all of this."

"I wanted to." Penelope answered as she sat down. "You've been there for me through my toughest time. It's only right for me to do the same for you."

"It's not your fault, you know." Luke knew that Penelope must be going crazy on the inside. She would be blaming Bernice's death on herself and she shouldn't. "I don't blame you."

Penelope didn't understand him. "Why? She's...gone because of me."

Luke shook his head. "No. She's dead because of him. There is a clear difference between you and him, isn't there?"

"Luke..."

"Penelope," Luke warned softly. "I am not going to spend another twenty minutes trying to convince you that none of this is your fault. The moment you open your mouth and try to debunk the truth, I won't talk to you anymore." He glanced at the food, poking it a few times with the fork. "Come here."

"What?"

"Try some." Luke said.

She shook her head. "You should eat it. The doctor said that you should eat to regain your strength." Luke started groaning in pain when he tried to lift his arm. "Let me help you." Penelope walked over to him, taking a spoonful of the food. "Here."

Luke stared at the spoon in front of his face, glancing between Penelope and the spoon. He wanted to open his mouth to eat it but the emotions are starting to hit him again. This time, he didn't want to hold back the tears in front of somebody. For once, he wants to cry in front of someone that he could rely on. "Penelope...."

She blinked and quickly understood the situation. Dropping the spoon back into the container, she opened her arms and pulled him into an embrace. "Everything will be okay, Luke."

"Will it?"

"I don't know." Penelope said honestly. "I don't know when it'll actually be okay but one day, it will be. For a couple of weeks, you'll wake up and start wondering why you're the only alive. If you should just follow along with the rest of your family. Sometimes when you eat, you start randomly missing their food. Regret comes in because right after as soon as you realize that you should've eaten their food more often." Penelope sighed as she closed her eyes. "Then it'll get better as time passes by. You'll stop waking up with puffy eyes. Once the time arrives, you'll be able to wake up without crying. You'll smile more than you had before." She thought back to her own parents and immediate family who are gone. "The pain of being alone in the world will only last for a few weeks." She pulled away from the embrace as she wiped his tears away. "Because you have people here who cares for you and will try their best to help you feel better."

. . .

Thursday 7:10PM

Tara walked into the lecture hall with a brief smile on her face. "Sorry for being late." She scanned the amount of students in the hall. Being completely new with this part of her regular lecture, she doesn't know how to exactly feel. She's more used to sitting across a murderer so she can interview them than standing in front of twenty students about a lecture. "Let me go through the attendance." Picking up the chart, she started calling out the name one by one, waiting for a response from the student. Her finger froze at one certain name that stood out. Glancing her attention to the seats, she called out the name - waiting to see who will raise their hand. "Jacob." It's only the first name, what could the odds be? Thinking back to the sketch that Penelope had agreed to giving last week, It can't possibly be true.

"Here."

Her eyes skimmed through the rows and landed on Jacob raising his arm. "What's your last name, Jacob?" An exact match to the sketch photo of him. "What are you doing here?"

"Jacob Franklin."

"Why don't you stand up and follow me, Mr. Franklin?" Tara switched to agent mode immediately.

He stood up from his seat with a smirk. "Here's a riddle for you." As he spoke, he slowly paced himself down the steps in the hall before he stood in front of Tara. "If roses are red and violets are blue, I wonder what the BAU's color will soon be?"

Tara narrowed her eyes at him. "Is that a threat?"

"No. Just a riddle." Jacob grinned as he held his wrists in front of her. "Take me away, Agent."

With no moment of hesitation, she handcuffed immediately. "Lecture is dismissed tonight, students."

As he was being dragged away from the room, Jacob sighed. "Take me to Penelope. I want to talk to her."

"I don't think so. You won't ever get to speak to her again." Something's wrong. It's too easy to catch him like this. Why would he risk his life and be in a lecture hall that would make him stand out?

"Really?" Jacob smiled as they stepped in front of the car. "I would like to think that either Penelope or Luke Alvez would speak to me once they find out." He shook his head. "Such a shame."

Tara looked at him. "Why would it be a shame?"

"Just thought the BAU would like to know where the other bodies are."

"What other bodies?!" Tara demanded to know.

Jacob just smiled with ease. "Penelope Garcia. I want to talk to her. Alone."

a/n: thank you so much for the continuous love and support on the previous chapter! they all mean a lot! thank you so much! sorry for the late update but it’s finally here! I hope you all like it (:

#criminal minds #criminal minds fic #criminal minds fanfic #criminal minds fanfiction #penelope garcia #luke alvez #luke x penelope #garcia x alvez #derek morgan #penelope x derek #morgan x garcia #spencer reid #jennifer jareau #emily prentiss #david rossi #ramblingsdailyfic

17 notes · View notes

okimargarvez · 7 years ago

Text

NEW YEAR WITHOUT CRIME

Original title: Capodanno senza delitto.

Prompt: loneliness, Roxy, new cat named Vincent, sweetness, family.

Warning: none.

Genre: romantic, family, comedy.

Characters: Penelope Garcia, Luke Alvez, Derek Morgan, Savannah Hayes.

Pairing: Garvez.

Note: oneshot.

Legend: 💏😘😈👓��.

Song mentioned: none.

MY OTHER GARVEZ STORIES

NEW YEAR WITHOUT CRIME

It was rare for the bad guys to grant a truce, regardless of the holiday season. Why the psychopath on duty should care about that it was Christmas and you wanted to spend it with your relatives?

But he had been thinking about it since he had heard her say that she would remain sit down to fix some paperwork. JJ would be with her family, Spencer would go to visit his mother in Las Vegas, Emily in London with her partner, David with his ex-wife (now his new girlfriend), daughter and grandchild, Tara with her relatives ... but Garcia had no one to be with, cause the Canadian boyfriend didn't really exist (or so it seemed).

But he didn't want to spend these holidays with her because he pitied her; no matter how much he tried to deny certain feelings, he was not stupid enough to believe such a lie. He wanted it because ... he simply wanted it. Stop.

But between wanting something and getting it ... there was nothing but the sea. And the longer he waited the more he risked losing this opportunity. Nobody assured him that it would been fine ... but not even the opposite.

-So ... no offense, but I hope to see you only after the holidays!- Rossi also passed in front of him, after greeting Garcia with a hug. With him he limited to a paternal pat on the shoulder and a half smile. As if he knew ...

-Hey, do not you run from Roxy to play snowballs?- Luke reluctantly returned to reality.

-Are you anxious to be alone?- he didn't wish to provoke or upset her, but he just couldn't stop.

-Are you witty, today?- the woman only answered, in a strangely soft tone. He could not know, but Garcia was happy that he was still here. It made her feel less alone. Although she hated to feel such necessities with him.

How to ask her?

The words swirled through Luke's mind, passing quickly in front of him, but only if he is racking his brain he could make it any sense. Like the end credits of the television programs that flow in the lower band of the screen.

Penelope, since we are both alone ... no, too pathetic.

In the meantime, she continued to scrutinize him, remaining silent.

Roxy would really like to spend the last day of the year with you ...

-Alvez, you have to ask me something, coincidentally?- her red lips folded into a malicious smile.

-I was just thinking... I know you'll take me for crazy, but I'll tell it however... it would not hurt if you stay the New Year Eve's at my house ... with Roxy.- he shot out in one breath, but she still managed to understand. And she didn't get angry. She burst out laughing and had to work hard to stop.

-Are you kidding? Very funny, ha ha.- but he had a look too serious and began to approach slightly her.

-No, I mean really ... Roxy would be happy, she's tired of seeing only me...- he ripped a smile to her -and I think it could be fun... –

-Me and you? Alone ... pardon, Roxy, almost alone?- despite the ironic tone this time she was very serious. -But if I have kept you at a distance since you arrived... and you want to spend a whole evening with me?- he only smiled, but it made him so beautiful that almost she jumped on him. -Are you aware that this is a date?- he nearly choked.

-No, we are just two friends ... ok acquaintances, work colleagues who ...-

-Ah ha, coal curls, it's a date. Indeed, given the hours it implies, it's a huge mega date.- Garcia spoke without thinking about the consequences. He was still there, which re-review his new nickname.

-All right, I give up.- he spread his arms in surrender. -It's a date.- Garcia made a gesture to celebrate the victory. -So…-

-Do you know that I'm a vegetarian? That I can't eat meat? - he interrupted the delirium before it could get serious.

-I know, I know, I've already thought of a menu that's all right for you and... - he stopped. He had said too much. Now she had figured out how long this idea was buzzing in his head.

-So you will not feed your body with the remains of some innocent being for one night?- Luke held up his hands.

-I swear.-

-Oh, hell, I would never have thought of saying something like that but ... alright, Alvez, I grant you the honor of spending the New Year Eve with me ...- he merely smiled; if he had left room for words, he couldn't have foreseen what would come out of her mouth. -But I warn you: I'll bring a real male with me. Take it or leave it.-

He was agitated. There were a lot of things to prepare.

The food. The music.

What jacket should he had wear?

But in short, it was just Garcia.

She was super agitated.

She kept taking clothes from the closet, and without even wearing them, she discarded them.

One was too much, really too scandalous, even for her.

The other sounded too like work clothes.

But most of all he had already seen them and she wanted something special.

But then, why? She was about to go to some sort of date with Luke Alvez, the new guy.

Yet at the end she gave in and typed the number. She waited for the answer as if was her first date.

-Hello, baby girl?- hearing that voice in particular didn't help much, but she tried to stay focused.

-Hello Derek, um... could you pass me your wife?-

In less than an hour she would have been here, and everything was ready.

Except him. He threw himself in the shower and tried to imagine what kind of dress could have liked more the blonde informatic with whom he would have spent the last hours of 2016.

The water couldn't calm him, and he was as confused as he was before entering.

-You'll spend the New Year with a man?- Derek shouldn't have stayed, but you know, men are even more gossipy than women, only they prefer to do it secretly. Savannah glanced at him amused and shocked.

-He's not a man, he's Agent Alvez, the one who ...- he doesn't even let her finish.

-The one that replaced me.- he exclaimed with a note of jealousy. -What?- he asked after, responding to the umpteenth look of fire launched by his wife.

-Savannah, you have to help me. I ... I don't know, I'm not able to decide what to wear ... it never happens to me ...- the other woman couldn't answer because a fist banged on the table made both jump.

-Damn, baby girl. You really like this guy, you're in total confusion.- then he added, to justify his shot -I'm only worried about you. You both know that anyone will hurt Penelope, will have to deal with me.- Penelope and Savannah laughed, but the blonde was the first to return serious.

He will not hurt me, she was about to say, to defend Luke. But she restrained herself.

-So, I would say that we waited too long ... and you have less than 30 minutes before it's the moment X.- foreseeing what would have been the reaction to the affirmation of his wife, Derek hastened to leave the room.

-WHAT? THIRTY MINUTES?- Penelope's voice resounded less than a nanosecond later, all along the street.

She had just enough time to go crazy, get dressed, wea make-up, go crazy (again) and run home to get Vincent.

He had done his best, he couldn't imagine more.

Only one thing was certain: she had never seen him with anything like it.

Hearing the doorbell, Luke ran to the entrance, then stood very steel a few seconds still to catch his breath and look like a normal person.

He tried to not think about who she was referring to as a "real male". Surely, she wouldn't have brought her imaginary Canadian boyfriend to make him feel like a third wheel in his own house... or not?

As soon as he opened the door, Garcia was dazzled by Luke's vision, elegant but casual, in what should have been his style. Neither the jacket nor the shirt could easily be able to contain all the muscles that quivered beneath the fabric. She almost let go of the cage she was holding in her hand, the other still hold tight on the bag.

From the lips of her only came out a -Hi.- very shy and insecure, compared to her usual boldness.

But Luke was trying to not stare each of her curves, perfectly exalted by the black dress, not very low-cut, but for this still more enveloping and effective in the game of no-see-ums, and not too short. Not in her style, yet so suitable for her, as if they had sewed it on her skin. And then his eyes fell right on the swinging cage and the host. Persian cat white as cream, who wore a collar marked "Canadian boyfriend, but you can call me Vincent".

-Oh. Sorry.-

-I hope that Roxy likes cats ...- she tried to joke, failing miserably.

The embarrassment that both had feeling made, paradoxically, things much easier.

Garcia looked around quickly, then, without wincing as he took her coat and hung it at the entrance, she allowed herself a closer look. She heard him explain to Roxy that there was a new friend for her and she smiled.

They were in a really small apartment, but those few square meters told her many things, even she was not a profiler in all respects.

It seemed very bare, but this made every little object even more relevant.

The first thing she noticed was the television, next to a bed for Roxy. There were only two armchairs, arranged so that the people who sat there would have to look directly in the face to each other.

A shelf near the door contained the classic photos: Luke as a child, with his parents, on graduation day, Luke in a military version. Apart from the mother, no other woman had the honor of appearing on the bulletin board.

The kitchen seemed much more comfortable, yet everything was perfectly in order, there was not one thing out of place.

He came up behind her and made her jump.

-Sorry, I didn't want to stop your contemplation ...- he passed a hand behind his head. He was embarrassed. He knew that his apartment wasn't very good; after all, he was only live there since few months. Unexpectedly she smiled at him, as if she understood how he felt. -Do you want to finish the tour?- Garcia answered with a slight wave of her head and he was almost on the point of taking her hand. -Here, this is the bathroom... and here mine, pardon Rox, "our" room ...- as soon as he opened the door a tornado swept over them.

-Roxy!- she welcomed with joy the cuddles and kisses of the animal. Meanwhile Luke watched the scene halfway between the moved and the jealous. Or both. When the dog finally pulled away, Garcia saw what she was wearing. -But ... it's my gift ... and ... that's... a bow tie?- he nodded. In fact, Roxy wore a red bow attached to the collar and when she pressed it, began to sing Jingle bells, leaving her in awe.

-I knew you'd like it.- Luke laughed. He stopped when he saw with the corner of his eye that is coming a white spot.

-Vincent! - Garcia shouted, trying to grab her hairy life partner. But he was faster and in a nanosecond the two animals were studying each other, sniffing each other, so the dog laid on her back, amid the astonishment of the woman and her master, who was used to seeing her in action, while finding bombs in the sand. The cat seemed to approve Roxy's reaction and soon the two of them crouched next to each other on the bed.

Trying to not be overwhelmed by emotion, Luke led her to the last room. It was his study or relaxation area and it was really messy. Each wall was covered with bookcases and, observing the titles, Garcia recognized some that she also has read. There were old-fashioned detective novels, sir Conan Doyle, but also more recent authors. One shelf was made up only of King's works, while another was full of adventure novels, including many from Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. She didn't know anyone else who read them. Not even Reid. He had tried, but he had found Pendergast's character too much like him.

-Do you read Pendergast?- she asked, not hiding her amazement.

-Yes.- he simply answered, not knowing how it would look in her eyes

-But ... you get Cemetery Dance?- he nodded, so the blonde went on, more and more taken. -How did you find the choice to kill Smithback? Heck, he was my favorite character, with Nora they were a stellar couple!- he smiled at her statement.

-I felt bad too... anyway I prefer Laura and Vincent. D'Agosta is the only "normal" in the sense that it's the poor guy in the midst of geniuses like Reid and astute thinkers like Smithback and Rossi ... well, he's like me.- he would not have wanted to say such a thing, make her understand how he'd felt uncomfortable in the early days, that sometimes happened to him again. Garcia didn't know what to say.

She looked at the other books. There were some that she would never has expected to see. Not historical ones or those about Iraq and other war zones. He had probably read them to inquire about the places where they would send him. No, were some novels, with animal protagonist, especially dogs and cats. -Yes, when there's a case too difficult that doesn't let me sleep ...- he felt obliged to justify himself, following where the blonde's look was directed. She didn't say anything, yet again. This was really unusual for her, especially when she was nervous; she tended to speak in throttle, without brakes. -Well, if you want ... we can start dinner...- he was too embarrassed and agitated.

But her mind could only think: books. Dog. Oh my God, sexy to death.

She knew she would have to say something, maybe witty, to lighten the atmosphere. But nothing came to her. Tabula Rasa. She followed him into the dining room, where a table set for them, not too sumptuously, nor in an approximate manner, awaited them.

Just perfect.

Heck, Garcia. You must be able to say something. If you spend the whole evening smiling and nodding, you’ll look like a fool. And he'll think he has done everything wrong and not even a Newbie like him deserves it.

-Nice house.- it's not possible. You did not really say it. Let's try again. -I mean ... welcoming.- if she had could, she would have slapped herself. Nothing more trivial and insincere than a commonplace, she could find. -Oh, enough, I can't take it anymore.- she blurted, but this time out loud. He widened his eyes and his heart began to beat frantically. He was already thinking about all the time and the anxiety spent in preparing the evening and the fact that she would now tell him that she was going home.

Better alone than in bad company.

-I don't know why I'm nervous, I shouldn't be nervous, in short, you're just you- she has pointing the finger at him -it's an evening without any expectation, only between two adults who are happily lonely, in a dark American city, on New Year's Eve ... but then why I'm so nervous and I haven't managed to say anything smart, so far? I don't usually look so stupid, I want to make perfectly clear.- then she fell silent.

Luke understood that she also felt somewhat uncomfortable and this helped him to overcome his own.

-So ... Shall we sit down?- she nodded and in a flash she found him behind her, helping her to sit down, just like a gentleman and like none of her very sophisticated boyfriends had ever done.

She smiled and whispered a shy -Thanks.- to which he replied with a look a bit too malicious. Or was her head that had imagined it?

He didn't sit in turn; he turned his back to the table, she thought he's going to call Roxy, instead it started to play a soft and relaxing music, that spread in the room a typical Christmas spirit, make the space warmer, and the house less empty.

-Excellent choice.- she tried hard to tell, to give him joy at least. He understood how much it had cost her and served the starters. Garcia scrutinized everything that was placed on her plate with suspicion.

-I swear, there's nothing dead here. After all, it's a New Year without crime.- she liked the expression a lot, because it reminded her of when, at the time when she was studying at university, she took part in "murder-mystery dinner" and had a lot of fun trying play detective.

-I hope that's, Alvez.- she answered firmly. At the first bite she was hesitant, but after that, she understood that the evening wouldn't end with bad memories. He had really committed himself and the performance anxiety had done him good.

The music had accompanied their speeches, first strained, but after a few bites and a few sips, much freer and more spontaneous, and their thoughts.

Luke had made for the first course his famous Lasagna. But who knew then, that there was no trace of meat? (Nor fish).

-I don't really know how you did, Newbie, but I've never eaten one Lasagna so tasty. Garfield would approve too.- it was more than he could have hoped.

-I told you already then, but you ignored me...- he was ventured to say. Sooner or later he would have to take a few steps forward and the evening seemed to proceed well. He decided to try and put his head out of the water, just a hair. Garcia understood all the sub-texts, but she didn't yet feel ready to face such a topic.

So, she said the first bullshit that came to her mind.

-Do you know that they shot me a few years ago?- Luke nearly choked with what he was chewing. He had to drink a glass of water to recover.

-What?- he asked then, hoping she'd said it to make fun of him.

-Yes, a decade ago... straight to the heart ... that is, almost, because otherwise I wouldn't be here but dead, buried under a lot of earth, eaten by worms or cremated, ashes inside a jar...- he interrupted her rant.

-I understood, I got it!- he hoped she would remember that they were having dinner. -How did it happen? Once you went on a mission with the others and after that you stopped going into the field or...- she shook her head, some hair passed in front of her face; she pushed them back with quick strokes.

Everything had been far above her expectations. Too much.

-No, no. You see, I met a man in a bar, he had computer problems and I helped him ... and he asked me out.- as she recounted, she recalled the conversations she had with Derek before the bullet through her body from side to side. -And I accepted, also because Morgan ... you know, the ... the agent whose you took the place- As if I didn’t know that, Luke thinking, but tried to stay focused only on her voice -Morgan had told me that I had done well to tell him that I couldn't go out with him, so I thought he would say this, because he thought him was too handsome and too interested in me to be sincere... Derek was right ... anyway- she paused to catch her breath and to give herself strength. She still had not overcome the pain of had letting fooled by her vulnerability, her extreme need to be liked. -...at the end I went out with him, it was also a nice evening ... except at the time of good-night kiss- Luke squeezed the napkin without realizing it, tormenting it. Garcia didn't even notice it -instead of kissing me, he shot me a caliber in the chest.- and she was silent, convinced that she had said everything.

-And?- he encouraged her.

-Nothing, I had surgery, i survived and here I am... Rambling at your home...- she took a sip, to have a good reason for not talk at least for a moment. Luke looked at her, considering to insist on the subject. Before he could have waived white flag, Penelope got up, so rushing to risk to knock over the chair. -I have to go to the toilet!- she screamed, running out of the room so fast, leaving Luke and Roxy exchanging puzzled looks.

But now, when dinner was over and there was still more than half an hour to midnight, here was the best part. Garcia couldn't help wondering what they could do to fill that void of time.

Agent Alvez had a precise idea, but he would never have shared with her.

Penelope was trying to employ as much time as possible on finishing the dessert. Postpone the inevitable. She didn't know that he had decided to risk, moment by moment, to do all-in. He watched her carefully drink from the glass and wipe her lips with the napkin.

When she was forced to admit that had finished, the woman let her dark eyes meet those equally penetrating of him. Luke stood up and motioned for her to follow him. Stunned and not knowing what to think, Penelope followed him into the living room, suddenly the small television lit up on one of the many channels that were dedicated to waiting for the new year and broadcast only songs suitable for the occasion. But this was not yet that for the conga line, of "start the party", nor any other cheerful music like that.

It was rather a penetrating, slow melody, it tastes like family, because Penelope listened this song, sung by her grandmother, while her grandfather played the piano, many years ago. It looked like almost another life. But Luke certainly couldn't know. And not even those who had decided to transmit it just when they turned on TV.

Yet the blonde remembered a sentence that years ago (but not so many) she repeated often. Everything happens for a reason.

In front of him, full of expectation, she couldn't help but try to let herself go, handing him her hand as he was asking her to do silently, and allowing him to place his hand on her side. The touch was giving her a shiver that couldn't be explained, but she tried to take no notice.

Luke was strung tight as a violin. In comparison, dinner had been a breeze. Now was the final test. Dancing had seemed to him the only way to force the ice queen to stay in his arms. But he couldn't remain rigid, or he would ruin everything. He sighed and decided to throw himself completely, leaving fear behind.

The simple fact that they were in contact transmitted heat from the tips of their fingers to the ring on their toe. She tried to convince herself that it was the wine she had drunk at dinner, but she couldn't make fun of herself. It occurred to her when she had danced with Derek and all the other members of the BAU, the day Emily decided to move to London. And now instead she had returned to work with the team. With her family. How well she had felt in their arms, especially in the stronger and darker ones. Yet, tight in the arms of Alvez, the Newbie, she was felt good more than she not wanted to admit, to continue her farce.

He almost let her go, when he felt her hair tickle his neck and realized that Penelope had lean her head on his shoulder. For the first time in many years, he was really happy to be tall, as she had nicknamed him one of the first days: Mr. Tall, dark and Bland-some.

The music suitable for such a moment ended, but they continued to stroll, practically almost embraced, for much longer. The outside world, especially through the voice of the conductors, had tried to penetrate the bubble they had created, but in vain. Both were aware that the romance would end when they would separate and looked into each other's eyes.

Minutes passed much faster than the quartet would wanted. They were recalled to the present by the ringing voice of the anchorman followed with a shift of a few thousandths of a second, from that of his colleague. -... countdown ... 59 ...- Luke and Penelope didn't hear all the numbers. For a few seconds their different thoughts had tower over the real world.

It was Roxy who solved the dilemma, barking to call attention to her. Garcia raised her head from his shoulder, which had almost taken her shape. The dog stood on her hind legs and placed the front one on Penelope's arm, the other on Luke's and the three began to dance again, this time much jokingly, throwing amused glances each other from time to time. That became bigger laughs when Vincent tried to participate, and Garcia had to pick him up to allow him.

It's almost a tradition sharing a kiss to celebrate the new year, but I know I'll not be able to make it, even if dancing with her it was... special, intense ... and when Roxy and then Vincent were joined... We looked like a weird family... more tears coming, that he couldn't afford.

It was really magical. Just like that song. Cat and dog like two children jealous to contend attention of their parents ... dinner, all adapted to me, the music in the background, the room full of books, the comfort of his shoulder, his lasagna, Roxy's bow tie, his arm around my back, the bare house that needs a woman's touch ... she remembered every detail in chronologically disordered, following the flow of her own blood, which from the heart was pumped all along her body.

When the mechanical voice said -10 ...- the two members of the BAU couldn't help but chained each other's eyes and kept the contact until they heard -... 1 ... Happy New Year! - and even a few more seconds, entering in 2017. Probably neither of them knew the four-second rule.

Miraculously appeared two glasses, with slender neck and cup, into the hands of the ex-agent of the task force. And also, a bottle of sparkling wine. While he was fumbling to open it, the woman prayed that it wasn't dry. It caused her terrible stomach ache and dizziness, but she didn't want to ruin all the efforts Luke had made to make the evening enjoyable. She heard a blow and looked up in time to see him intent on trying to stem the flow of foam that escaped, and the label mark "sweet".

Then was time for the toast, as embarrassing as they both wanted something more than a handshake or a kiss on the cheek, but neither was willing to risk, so as not to jeopardize the efforts made up to now. If it had stopped here, this would have been preserved in their memory as a beautiful evening. But for one of them it would have long been associated with a great regret. It could have been more than a good evening.

There were only they two, or four if they wanted counted Vincent and Roxy. But the latter however didn't have opposable thumbs. And so, they certainly could not start playing. Penelope understood that had come the time to leave.

And she was terribly sorry, but nothing came to her mind, no plausible excuse, to be able to stay a few more hours. At least.

But Luke had no intention of letting her go. He looked out the window, pulling the curtain aside. The forecasts hadn’t made fun of him. Big flakes were descended that it was a pleasure.

-You won't want driving with this weather?- he asked, trying to keep an innocent tone. But a smug smile hovered beneath his mustache.

Garcia wanted nothing more than to stay, but she didn't want to make it so easy for him.

-Why? Do you think I'm not able to get away on my own, do you, bearded macho Newbie? - he noticed the change of her tone when she pronounced the last nickname, that seemed please her especially.

-No.- he replied, spreading his arms. -I just thought that maybe you wanted to do another dance with Snow-Flake and Rudolph.- he hinted to Vincent and Roxy who were contending for the cork of the bottle of sparkling wine.

In a flash two hour passed and at 2.15 am Garcia realized that this time it was really the moment to go, then headed for the cage, to bring back a reluctant Vincent.

But outside, storm had increased in intensity and the man rubbed his hands, satisfied.

The blonde shuddered and dropped the cage to the floor. Luke was immediately by her side, to make sure that she was fine. When he realized that she was only cold, he just wished to be able to warm her up, even simply with a hug, he didn't need to be tormented by red light images.

-Are you cold?- he asked in an involuntary low voice.

-No, I was thinking of putting on a bathing suit.- she replied, rolling her eyes, frustrated by her own feelings. He laughed. For all the bytes of the world, how sexy is he when he laughs... -Anyway, I think it's a little late....- he didn't let her finish; he took her gently by the arm and led her to the window, where they remained to scrutinize the outside world. Not a single car had passed, and the road was now unrecognizable. Even the faithful Esther of Garcia was no longer visible. She sighed.

She wanted so much to stay in that house, and not just for a few hours yet.

The problem was exactly that. She wanted to stay for a lot, a lot more time. More than it was actually her allowed.

Because she could even manage to get over this thing that had become bigger than her, hate the new guy who had taken over from Derek.

She could do it. But she couldn't, and would never have herself granted to accept that this was only a one-night stands.

An alternative way to spend the first hours of the new year.

Neither now nor as a boy Luke had been that kind of man. But she couldn't know.

He had had few girls and few serious relationships, partly because of his work, partly because these few had lasted years or in any case very long periods.

And at one point he had given up, belief that Roxy would be the only companion in his life. Until his eyes have crossed those of grumpy and distant computer technician of the Behavioral Analysis Unit. It hadn't been love at first sight, no. But obviously he couldn't say he wasn't been impressed by the blonde, without lying.

More she had tried to keep him at a distance, more he was attracted, like a magnet. But it wasn't just this, a sort of old-fashioned challenge or conquest. A competition to find over who give up first. In that case he would have already lost.

Day by day, on a case-by-case basis, he thought of her harder and harder, until he admitted, in a confessional with Roxy, that he felt something for Penelope. What and how strong it was, that was a different matter.

And what better way to figure out, than spending a whole, long evening with her?

And the idea had been served him on a silver platter when he had heard her say how she would have spend New Year's Eve.

But now they were there, one in front of the other and he had to find a way to make her stay. Something told him that if he let slip this opportunity, things would change.

There would never be another one like this. She would has thought that he had used her, only to not be alone.

Opportunity only knocks once, and other similar crap.

And she was there, had to find way to be convinced to stay.

-Penelope ...- he had never called her by name, as she remembered. She just continued to stare at him. Again, the rule of four seconds was deeply ignored. -It's snowing. It's cold. It's late. Your cat wants to stay a little more with Roxy. We are two adults who have spent an enjoyable evening ...- Luke had gather up all his courage -...neither of us is engaged or has constraints of any kind ...- he was aware of what it seemed to mean, but he continued -What would be wrong if... we share a bit heat, until the next day?- Garcia remained silent for a moment; then she exploded.

-True, it been a enjoyable evening- she had deliberately maimed the adjective. -Why screw it up, just for to roll between blankets?- there was such contempt in her voice, which he was nearly tempted to give up. But he couldn't afford it.

He brought her face close to his. -You don't want me?- he finally ventured to ask. The blonde held his gaze.

-Even if I did, and I didn't say that this is the case, I'm able to control my urges.- she crossed her arms, waiting for his reply. The reality was that she wanted to surrender, but was afraid to do so. How could she continue to work in the Bureau, knowing that he could have told their coworkers what they had done, those who she regarded as her real family? And besides, after Battle she didn't want to feel never so vulnerable again (and silly).

-I haven't said that we have to do something necessarily. Only sleep. In the same bed. I changed the sheets- oh, what's nice touch! -Do you think would it be such a terrible thing to limit ourselves to warm up on a cold night, in a dark city?- he imitated her tone.

Something broke inside Penelope, and the woman knew she had lost.

She let herself conducing in his bedroom and wore the nightgown of his sister, almost in a trance or in abandonment. She sat on the edge of the bed, thinking that she could've still escape. She could still avoid it.

But when Vincent and Roxy lay down on the bed, one between their pillows, the other at their feet, the woman surrendered in front of her desire so desperate to have a family, one beyond the BAU (also if here almost all were part of the team, except for her cat).

The snow reflected the moonlight, allowing the two to continue to look each other; they were lay down far enough that there could be a baby between their bodies.

Why I've thinking such a thing? Garcia scolded herself, unable to get away from his eyes. This time the rule of four seconds was respected.

In the end, as was written in their destiny, he had got closer and she had allowed him to do so. She hadn't rejected his warm lips when he had pressed his mouth on hers, but she had followed him and wrapped her arms around him, immediately imitated. She hoped that in this way she would look less pathetic

She thanked the light off. She cursed the moon.

She had loved him when they were a single body; she had hated him when they parted.

-Hey, what are you doing?- Luke was brought down too soon out from the ecstasy, where he was since they had kissed and then when they began to make love. He couldn't believe it had happened. But now she was trying to emerge from the sheets and for a moment he thought he saw a reflection that could be some tears in her eyes.

-I go back home. You got what you wanted, right? - she felt emptied.

-No. What I want is to spend a thousand other nights like this and over. Sleep with you in my arms every night, with a fur ball that make me the perm and the inability to move the legs because another occupies the place that she deserves.- his voice, his smile, his eyes, were sincere. But she couldn't afford to believe him.

-Don't say you fell in love with me!- she tried to say it with humor and wickedness tone, but it came out like a desperate cry.

-No.- he said, as she had expected, but however she had hoped to not hear. She tried to leave again, but once again he held her without hurting her. -I don't know what I feel, exactly. I don't know if you could call love the fact that I always think of you and other similar mushy stuff. Embarrassing yourself for somebody. Feeling your legs shaking for fear of rejection ... tell me what it is.- he smiled, it was a sweet smile.

Garcia was almost terrified by the idea that Luke really likes her, rather than the thought he had only used her for sex. -It's not possible. People like you ... don't be attracted to those like me ... you saw what happened when I tried to believe it ...- she touched her scar near the heart and he understood immediately what she was referring.

-What do you mean, "people like me"? - he asked with a soft voice.

-Handsome. With a thousand women along.- she shrugged.

-I think you're confusing me with someone else.- and he was right. -And what do you mean, "those like you" ...? - this was the real question.

-Please don't make me say it! ... strange ... ... eccentric... nerd ... informatic ... those who not having model's body ...- each pause was a stab in the heart. Luke realized how behind the facade of super woman are hiding a thousand craquelure as in the oldest and most prestigious paintings.

-I don't know if people like me can't feel interesting for those like you- he repeated almost exactly her words, forcing her to get close -but I know that I'm attracted to you, physically and mentally. Because even if you have tried in every way to let me not understand it, you're a wonderful person, you love with all your soul, you see the beauty in everything and everyone, you believe in your work. You're smart. Sensitive to an inconceivable level. You love animals and is a reciprocated love. Weirdo, I grant you that. But in a good way. Outside the box. Sweet. Thoughtful. And ... sexy, yes, I find you terribly sexy, in ways that you cannot imagine...- she remained silent. But a solitary tear flowed down her face. He picked it up with his thumb and threw it symbolically away.

She believed him, and Luke had understood it. They were again one body, but this time it was all less frenetic, sweeter. They gave themselves time to explore each other calmly.

And when she realized that sleep was going to wrap her and heard her partner snoring, in perfect harmony with the verses emitted by cat and dog in a special concert, his arm around her waist, her head on his chest rising regularly, she smiled.

She hadn't lost. She had won. They had all won.

TAGS: @theshamelessmanatee @itsdawnashlie @talesoffairies @janiedreams88 @kiki-krakatoa @yessenia993 @teyamarra @c00lhandsluke @gcchic @arses21434 @orangesickle @entireoranges @jarmin @kathy5654 @martinab26 @thisonekid @thenibblets @perfectly-penelope @ambrosiaswhispers @maziikeen92 @lovelukealvez @reidskitty13 @jenf42 @gracieeelizabeth27 @silviajajaja @smalliemichelle99 @charchampagne14 @ichooseno @ megs2219 @rkt3357 @franklintrixie @thinitta @chewwy123 @skisun @maba84 @saisnarry @myhollyhanna23 @thenorthernlytes

Happy New Year!

#garvez #penelope garcia #luke alvez #luke x penelope #penelope x luke #garcia x alvez #alvez x garcia #criminal minds #cm #derek morgan #happy new year

17 notes · View notes

jeichanhaka · 8 years ago

Text

And Carried Me Away: Ch. 2

Continuation of My Life Had Stood.

Chapter 1|| Chapter 2|| Chapter 3|| Chapter 4|| Chapter 5|| Chapter 6||

Chapter 7|| Chapter 8|| Chapter 9|| Chapter 10|| Chapter 11|| Chapter 12||

Chapter 13|| Chapter 14|| Chapter 15||

Burnt umber eyes glowered at the wall, a plain thing painted stark white. It was the same with the other walls, except for the one with the door. That one wasn't quite a wall but rather a prison bar door, electronically locked in place. The owner of the eyes scowled.

'Jemma.' Muttered James, as he tried to imagine what the three year old looked like. His mouth twitched, his mind going over his choice again and whether he should give in. Eight, or was it nine, weeks ago his father had attempted to visit, to talk. James however had snarled at him and refused the request.

A few days later David Rossi had tried again to see James, and refused to leave until he got a chance to talk. It'd been very brief, since the younger man was stubborn, but Rossi had managed to tell James that Jemma had been found. Alive.

James, having been convinced it was impossible, had ignored everything else his father had tried to say. He hadn't believed the older man. Nor had he considered Rossi's offer to bring a photograph of the toddler. He'd even shouted at his father that he'd just sell the photo to some inmate if Rossi sent one.

The older man hadn't bothered coming back since.

James grimaced, flexing his fingers. He stretched his arms out and then his legs, mulling at the wall. His hand closed into a fist, his lips twitching as he squeezed it tighter.

"Damn it..." He mumbled and relaxed his fist slowly, stretching out his fingers. His eyes narrowed, lips pressed into a thin line as he sat up, glowering at his hands.

"Hey." The sound of someone tapping on his cell door drew James' attention, and he scowled. It deepened when he noticed the wheeled cart of books that the inmates who worked in the prison library pushed around once a week. "I got a book here for you."

"Go away."

"Don't be like that. You'll love this book. I guarantee it." The inmate paused, making a face as though mulling over the other man's silence. "No? Well, I guess Somerfield's Treatise on Experimental Psychiatry is a bit banal for most..."

James tensed at the name, his eyes darting from the inmate to the book. Without more than a blink of thought, he rushed forward and grabbed the book from the inmate. It nearly fell from his hands as he grabbed it, and he cursed.

"...guess you're not like 'most'." The inmate smirked, watching James closely as the thirty-six year old glowered at the book. Without another word, the inmate studied James as the latter opened it, reading the title page. Then the dedication.

"What..." James stared at the dedication page, confused. He barely noted as the inmate who'd brought the book left, nor had the knowing smirk on the inmate's face registered to him. James merely reread the dedication page, sliding his finger over the name which was, aside from the initials, handwritten.

0"Yes. I understand." William Reid spoke into the phone, standing just left of the door leading to Alsie's hospital room.

He was close enough to glance inside, which he did briefly to see his daughter packing up her stuff. Her clothes and books, and all the little things that had made it to her over the past nine weeks. All which had been brought to her to make her stay a bit more comfortable once it was prolonged.

"No, I haven't decided. It isn't as simple...it's not just my decision." He sighed, his eyes widening the next moment at the disparaging tone of his caller. His expression grew stony, exuding an undercurrent of anger at the comment. "Look, I'll call you back when I've come to a decision. I...what...? Fine, whatever, do what you want."

He growled and clicked his cell phone shut, shaking his head in frustration. Taking a second to compose himself, he knocked on Alsie's door before swinging it open. He smiled at his daughter as she glanced at him demurely before returning to her things.

"Are you all set? Did you need any help?" He offered, his smile faltering a little when Alsie quietly shook her head. The petite woman lingered over a few drawings laid on the bed, each vibrant in color. William recognized them immediately as those Jemma had drawn for her mother over the past couple of weeks.

Alsie shook as she reached for the drawings, uncertainty in her eyes. Not that her father could see it, her hair curtained her face blocking her eyes from his view. And that was on top of the height difference that made it difficult for the taller man to see her face without bending down. She took in a slow breath, her fingers shifting the drawings to reveal the photos beneath.

William recognized the top photographs immediately - those were of Jemma, taken and brought to Alsie over the last eight weeks by the BAU. The other photos took a moment longer to place, for one they were older and partly obscured by the others lain on top of them. It was evident that one of them was clearly a sonogram. He hesitated. "Elsie...?"

"...this..." Alsie picked up the sonogram after noting her father's eyes being drawn to it. She held it out towards him. "This was the sonogram I had just a few weeks before Jemma was taken...and the first one James missed."

William took the proffered sonogram silently, unable to speak as he gazed down at one of the earliest images of his granddaughter. It still felt surreal, finding out that his daughter was alive and that he had a grandchild. He took in a breath, staring at the sonogram and feeling nostalgic as it brought forth a memory from years ago. The day when Diana had had her third sonogram done, and the day they first found out she was carrying twins. In both the sonograms prior, due to fluke or the inopportune placement of the twins, only one had shown up. It had been such a surprise to him and Diana that they'd be the parents of twins.

"...afraid."

Alsie's voice interrupted William's reminiscence, his ears catching the distraught tone despite missing the words. His eyes locked on Alsie's face. "What is it? I'm sorry, I didn't hea..."

"...I'm afraid." Alsie repeated, her eyes glassy with tears she refused to let fall. She picked up one of Jemma's drawings, before turning to William. Her voice was so small. Unsure. "...what if...what if I get...frustrated and...hurt..." Her voice choked up, unable to finish the thought let alone the sentence.

"Don't even think...that's..." William replied, immediately realizing what his daughter meant. "You'll be a great mother. There's no way you'll hurt Jemma."

Alsie's lips twitched, showing a brief sad smile, before replying in a scoffing, self-deprecating tone. "...my blackouts...the...my dissociative..."

William shook his head, surprised a moment at his daughter bringing up her DID. Due likely to Spencer's insistence and reassurance, Alsie had started to come to terms with her diagnosis. "You'll be a great mother. You love Jemma. And you have so many people around you willing to help in any way. Spencer, Rossi, the BAU...and myself."

"...you're transferring to D.C?" Alsie asked, piqued by her father's inclusion of himself. During one of his previous visits, when she brought up him possibly taking custody of Jemma and staying in D.C, William had hesitated.

"I...I'm working on it." He replied, before turning his attention back to the photographs. His reluctance to discuss it obvious, not least because of Alsie's request a few weeks ago that he take custody of Jemma if anything happened to her. It had been while Spencer had left to visit Diana, and the BAU was off on a case, one that Rossi couldn't sit out on.

William had immediately offered to watch Jemma, until the BAU returned. His offer had been accepted by Rossi, who was determined for Jemma to know both her grandfathers, despite Spencer's animosity for William Reid. Rossi had even argued against Spencer when the latter found out about William babysitting Jemma and called the senior agent to insist he find someone else to watch Jemma. William learned this because Spencer had called him afterwards, demanding that he find someone else to watch Jemma. It had quickly turned into a berating session, where Spencer brought up all the things William did wrong through the years. From every argument William had with Spencer's mother, to him walking out on his family when Spencer was ten. Even the fact that William had never bothered telling Spencer about him having a twin. Everything that could be blamed on his father, Spencer brought up and insisted it meant William had no right to be in Jemma's life.

The phone call had quickly escalated into an argument when William's temper got the better of him. The two men had hung up on each other, still no closer to resolving the matter.

It was Alsie who settled finally settled it, calling up Spencer the moment she found out about the issue. William still didn't know exactly what Alsie had said to Spencer, as the petite woman had called her brother when no one was around, but he'd received a text from his son that night. In it was an apology and acceptance of William as a babysitter for Jemma. Of course, how Spencer worded it, it was clear his son accepted him as a babysitter only as a last resort.

It was further clear that Spencer expected William to go back home to Vegas at some point and officially no longer be a fixture in Jemma's life. Not wanted nor hoped, but expected in an almost fatalistic way, that the elder Reid would abandon his family again. William was unable to come up with any response, and had simply sent back his own apology for losing his temper.

The very next day, when William was visiting Alsie after dropping Jemma off at daycare - the hospital wing Alsie was in didn't allow children younger than six to visit patients - his daughter had asked the question. Would William be willing to become Jemma's legal guardian should anything happen to her? With the only condition being that he move to D.C.

"...you don't have to move, if you don't want." Alsie mumbled, shifting her gaze back towards the photos. Her eyes locked on a group of photos held together by a rubber-banded. She quietly picked it up, her vision blurring with tears though she tried to blink them back.

"I...it's not that. I want to be near you and Jemma, to watch my grandchild grow up." William Reid replied, his eyes widened by how his daughter interpreted his answer. "I just need to find a place to live and a job in the area. I've already sent out my resume to various law firms."

"Oh." Alsie glanced up at her father, her eyes round at his answer. It was clear she had been uncertain of his determination to stick around. "That's...you don't have to worry about money. Granny...Mary Schmidt set a trust for me, and left me her properties...you can stay and..."

William stopped himself from saying his first answer: an unapologetic no. He had no desire to have anyone, especially his daughter, support him while he was still able to do so himself. But he also understood, not just from Alsie's hopeful tone but also by how disappointed she was when she thought he wouldn't move, that his daughter wanted him around. The offer was a plead, and he didn't know if or how he could turn it down.

He wasn't sure if he wanted to either. A fact that made him feel guilty, as it reminded him of the day he left Diana and Spencer. His son had pleaded with him using statistics to not leave, but William hadn't listened. He had even snapped at the then ten year old, that they weren't statistics, despite knowing that that was the only way his son was confident in communicating. Especially when upset.

If he gave into his daughter's plea now, after ignoring his son's twenty-three years ago, what would that do to Spencer? It wasn't as simple as clear-cut favoritism, since he believed his daughter had been dead for thirty-three years, and he was sure Spencer would see that that made a difference. But...emotions had little to do with logic, and William wondered at what harm it would do to Spencer and Alsie's budding sibling relationship if he treated his adult daughter better than he treated his ten year old son. He didn't want to sabotage the chance for his children to develop a sibling bond, nor for Jemma to know her uncle.

He sighed then paused, an excuse dawning on him concurrently with his recollection.

"Mary Schmidt...she had you pretend to be her granddaughter Allison, correct?" William asked, enunciating each word slowly, to not accidentally appear eager for an excuse. "She would've left the trust and inheritance to 'Allison Schmidt'...hm..."

Alsie opened her mouth as though to speak, but closed it again thinking. Her hand unconsciously gripped the rubber-banded wad of photos tightly, squeezing them.

"I should take a look at the legal documents. Depending on how she worded it...they could be contested, since legally, you're not Allison Schmidt." William paused, eyes widening as a question occurred to him. "Unless...you didn't make an attempt to legally change your identity, did you? I mean from the name that family gave you - Adrienne Crawford to Allison Schmidt?"

Alsie shook her head.

"All right." William continued, his brain immediately locking on the possible legal issues of the inheritance Mary Schmidt left Alsie. He had no intention of depriving his daughter of the inheritance if Mary Schmidt truly desired her to have it, but his curiosity as a lawyer and a father piqued his interest the more he thought about it.

Depending how large the inheritance was and if Mary Schmidt had any blood relatives, how the will and testament was worded could nullify it or open it up to be contested. If Mrs. Schmidt had worded it to include not just 'Allison Schmidt' but also 'Adrienne Crawford' by name, that would potentially allow the inheritance to stand legally.

"What law firm handled Mary Schmidt's estate and drafted her will? I'd like to talk to them and go through the wording of it."

"Her private attorney handled it. Cyrus Jorgensen Cutler. He lives in and has a practice in Bethesda, Virginia." Alsie replied, her gaze back on the photographs she held. She barely noted his father repeating the name, a peculiar expression on his face. It was as though he was trying to figure out where he'd heard the name before. Nor did Alsie notice the dawning realization in William's eyes as he placed the name.

All of her attention was on the rubber-banded photographs in her hand. Her eyes lingered over the top one, a Polaroid with the initials PLLC 1998 written on the white strip.

#Criminal Minds #fanfiction #spencer reid #david rossi #james rossi #aaron hotchner #bau #oc #crime drama #case fic #mylifehadstood #and carried me away

5 notes · View notes