#also the dynamic between the team and reid in this ep is so sweet and so heartbreaking

[multifandombullshitbabes]

oh god i just watched maeve's death episode. oh god. no. i knew what was gonna happen and yet here i am heart fucking broken, oh my god

[okimargarvez]

Me & you

This time I will analyze each time when Penelope and/or Luke talked or acted like they, I mean just them two, were a team (we, us, me and you, you and me… and shades like dynamic duo).

I already said why the fact that Penelope first considered Luke and her as team is really really important for their relationship. I will make a trip through their relationship focusing on this theme.

At the beginning, when Luke started work with BAU, they were separate enteties. The first time that they (Luke, to be honest) considered themselves as team was in 12x17, when he saw her crying for Spencer and he offered to help the young doctor (and in that way, also her) and she accepted with her silence. This was confirmed at the end of the same ep, when Luke said that after the case and the discussion about Reid… he thought that there was a slight chink in her fluffy armor.

I don’t consider the moment when he showed his worries during Reid trial, because Penelope wasn’t so present in it, she was too shocked by the news. This is a bit different in 13x1, when Luke ran to console her, before Walker dead body. Because she was totally aware of the person that was touching her. She knew that was Luke.

They were a winner duo in 13x7, when they gave Lou to Phil. Luke prepared his best friend, then signed to Pen to join them with the puppy, and he also hugged her, full of happiness; she didn’t reject him, even if didn’t reciprocate him.

Then, they had another chance in 14x3, but she refused his attempt to help her or to show her that there was (and still is) someone who has time for her sensitiveness. Like in 12x17, Luke is worried for her and wanted to help, but she didn’t want.

They had to work together, only they two, in episode 14x8 (even if they also did it in 14x7, but there was also Tara and Rossi). Penelope wasn’t happy at all, but we should think that she never liked to have people around (all the time in her office) when there was a job to do (think about Elle, Gideon, Reid…), the big exception is JJ. So I don’t think that her behavior in that episode was a personal thing against Luke. Surely it was totally opposite to her attitude in 14x6, when she was so friendly and nice… but that because they were talked about Luke and Lisa. It was a safe argument. Anyway, after the team resolved the case, Penelope and Luke were setting the office, but he wanted to manifest his happiness that they were so good together. He said it: we’re the dynamic duo. But she refused his offer to give him five, and pointed out that they would have never been a duo. She didn’t want also to admit that he helped. But then, she had to ask his help again, to set the bullpen for Rossi and Krystall engagement party. And in that occasion, we finally saw their first hug.

Another important moment for them as a “couple” is in S14 finale, episode 14x15. They danced together and especially shared the slow dance. As I said many times… they were the only two not engaged, that we saw in that moment (the other were Rossi & Krystall, JJ & Will). They never said in this episode something that implied “we’re a thing”, “we’re one” or similar. But they did it with the gestures. Especially Penelope. Luke was just so fucking happy. She didn’t wear glasses and shoes. She seemed really vulnerable and open to him. Even if there wasn’t his girlfriend, evocated like a ghost. But the reason, in my opinion, is that it was an event out of the ordinary. So she could showed herself really really sweet, and came back to her defenses at the end of the party. 

In the first episode of S15 Penelope was again in Luke’s girlfriend place, and the latter is again evocated, but never appeared. They were a couple for the gesture, the body language, the complicity, the comfort between them. But also in the speeches, because, when Kristy thanked them for host the event… who were the “them” she referred to? Lisa wasn’t there, so it seemed that the two were Luke and Penelope. Surely Kristy wasn’t talked to BAU team, in general, because the place is only Luke’s.

They worked together whole episode 4, but this time for Penelope initiative. She chosen Luke to go to Elizabeth apartment and searching proofs of stalking. Was it because she wanted his protection? Was there more? All we know is that she looked at him asking the “permission” to talk with Elizabeth, because the latter needed someone who could understand. And she did. But Luke was with her, and she pointed to him, including him, reassuring the young girl that she would have been safe at BAU. Then, Luke, who had suspected all time, asked her directly if she wanted to talk about… what was going on. He demonstrated that he knew her very well. She couldn’t ignore it. And she wanted, a part of her, at least, wanted to tell him all. Not to someone, whoever, no, right to him. Luke Alvez. Ex-ex-Newbie. That’s why she told him also another thing she never told anybody, and Luke is almost incredulous. At the end of the ep, she thanked him in her way, using Elizabeth between them. She was too scared to do more.

At the end of S15, not only Luke finally asked Penelope out (and it was a true romantic proposal) and she accepted enthusiastically, but also they danced all night long. It was her farewell party. We can guess he waited for this moment. In the previous episode he told her and Tara, Matt, Spencer, about his break up with Lisa; Penelope told them about her offer job. Then she said that BAU is her family, looking directly at him, not randomly, and Luke echoed her, doing the same. With the date incoming, they were finally a “we”: “we’ll eat”, said Luke, rambling because he was so happy in that moment.

At the beginning of new season (16 or CME), we discover that their date wasn’t as we expected. We’ll talk about it, but not now. Penelope made clear (or tried) to Luke that she was happy with her new life, without gore, crime, BAU… and that implied also him. But she flirted, she teased, she cared a lot about his opinion on her (when he told her that they didn’t find a good replacement). She leaned to his kiss on her cheek. So, with words she said “We are separate entities” (or "frenemies"), but with the body is another speech.

They worked together again in ep 4. Penelope had an idea to make Tyler Green collaborate, she told Luke and he was enthusiast. He was so supportive with her idea, trying to convince her to tell it also to Emily, and helping to explain better when the boss didn’t understand at first. They acted like a married couple, arguing about who should go to Prentiss, because was Garcia idea, but involved Luke abilities. As always, they were a perfect team. In this occasion they didn’t consider themselves as “them”, in their dialogues; they said “you” and “I”, defining a line of demarcation between one and the other.

Penelope was so worried for Luke in ep 6, regretting all her mean words. Then, when they came back, they hugged and she was so in, compared to the first time they hugged. But then, there was TG situation. Luke guessed and guessed, until he decided it was time to make her spit all. She did and he maybe regretted… He was jealous and sad. Penelope called him friend, the one she could talk to… but acted not in a friendly way. In episode 9 we see the flashback of their date. In this scene they weren’t a thing. Not verbally and not physically, with their body language. That was Penelope fault, for her fear to make real things with Luke, letting him closer. And also Luke’s, because he was too respectful of her and even scared… to ruin everything he built in their relationship. She said there is absolutely something between them, but not that. Luke staid silent, but didn’t agree.

All I said until now changes, or better, assumes a different meaning, considering last episode of S16. Penelope had to fly with Luke, JJ and Will, to find Rossi and stop Tyler. That latter was shot. Luke was so supportive and caring all the time. He consoled her, helped her and TG, reassured her, and then… he made to stay alone with her. Knowing that the moment of breaking would have come. And it did. Between Rossi disappeared and TG under knife… she broken. Luke was there, as he promised (begged) her in 12x17. And she finally opened with him. Totally. She showed herself vulnerable and accepted his offer to talk. To share the anxiety and pain. She told him her fears, what if both Rossi and TG die? Luke didn’t repeat “it will be okay”, a white lie. No, he told her the truth. They could lean on each other and maybe in this way they can survive to this. And this implied that Luke also was suffering for this situation. Off course it was so, because he cared a lot of Rossi, but Penelope realized it before he made his offer? And probably she realized also that he was concerned even for TG… but especially because this made her suffer. So, she could do nothing but nod and hug him. And then, here we are. She said it: “We can do that���. She included him, then came back to her alone: “I want to do that”. And at the end, she found a compromise: “I want to do that because they need us”. “Us”, for Penelope, meant a lot. She knew that she couldn’t do it without him. She needed him as much as he needed her. Luke agreed with her. And she said something even more important: “Me and you”. Looking straight at him. Luke echoed her. She reaped “We can do this”, while he offered her the tea bottle. We see that it wasn't just empty words, because they worked together and when he told her suggestions, she followed them. They stayed so close, even after they saved Rossi. Walking out of elevator embraced as a couple. Last thing to say. Penelope changed her way to consider and seeing Luke after he red her mind and quoted that Emily Dickens phrase. Like a man, a man that she can considered in many ways. Not only as a coworker or a friend.

All my ramblings