❛ Love Me Not ❜
★ ₊˚. ❪ too much clothes ❫
🎀 ┊ prologue ┊❝ 000 ❞
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AARON HOTCHNER held a stack of papers in his hand as he shuffled through the BAU until he landed himself right outside Penelope Garcia's door. Decorated in stickers, a whiteboard that said Come in, love! and glitter, he pushed the door open and watched as the woman twirled around in her pink chair.

"Hotch!" she beamed, tossing him a grin that reached her eyes. "What are you doing here? No case came across my desk."

He stepped inside, nodding toward the stack he just laid on hers. "This came across mine."

She stopped spinning, fluffy blonde hair swaying, as she grabbed the top sheet and flipped through. Star pins clinked together as her brows furrowed.

"This is LAPD," she mumbled, eyebrows furrowing. "Why would they want me?"

"It's abnormal, yes," Hotch said softly, "but it doesn't mean it can't be accommodated."

"You're sending me away?" Penelope asked. Although she wasn't upset - she had read everything - a small pang of pain welled up in her chest.

Before Hotch could answer, rapid footsteps echoed down the hall.

"Babygirl!" Derek Morgan hollered, bursting through the doorway. His eyes immediately clocked the tension between Garcia and Hotch. "Aaron."

Hotch raised a brow. "Morgan."

"You can't just send her off on her own," Derek said, voice taut. "I'm going with."

"That's not going to happen," Hotch replied, folding his arms. "If anyone goes with her, it's Reid. Maybe JJ. But not you."

Derek scowled, gaze bouncing back to Penelope. "Why not me?"

"Because Garcia requested to go solo," Hotch said plainly.

Penelope blinked, shocked and confused. "I - I did?"

"You did now." He offered the tiniest smile.

Penelope Garcia's heart beat two times faster. Never once had she been requested - her, not the team.

"It's a simple hacking," Morgan insisted, stepping toward Hotch. "She could do it from here."

"They don't just need her fingers," Hotch countered. "They need her brain. Her charm. Her ability to make systems sing again. To teach someone how to make the systems sing again."

Morgan's shoulders tightened. "C'mon, Hotch."

Hotch shrugged. "It's not up to me anymore. It's up to Garcia."

Derek turned toward her again, eyes gentle. "Babygirl... don't do this."

Penelope hesitated. A mix of pride and panic battled in her chest. The fear of leaving her comfort zone versus the thrill of being chosen - for once - for exactly who she was.

"How much clothes could I take?" she asked, voice small and soft, brows raised.

"However much you want," Hotch replied, a soft laugh escaping. "Everything if you choose."

🎀

PENELOPE GARCIA packed two suitcases, one duffle bag, and her pretty baby blue backpack (that only had her electronics) and had Morgan load everything up into their private plane - because yes, Hotch was sending her with their private place, why wouldn't he.

She was alone, other than the very kind pilot who she only met before take off, and the sweet young woman who was constantly asking if she needed anything or if she could be of any assistance.

Penelope kindly declined each time, but the whole idea that someone was paid to be on the teams beck and call and be so kind, kind of baffled her. To do that for a living, or even a part time job, made her curiosity spike.

"Ma'am? Your water." The young woman smiled as she placed a bottled water down on the small table in front of Penelope.

Penelope Garcia smiled, flashing teeth and cheeks bunching. "Thank you, lovely." The young woman's cheeks flushed as she scurried off, leaving Penelope to giggle at her reaction.

She kicked her feet out, the chair extending as she leaned back. She shuffled underneath her fluffy purple blanket, one she had thrifted when she dragged Reid along with her to a smaller run thrift store two years ago.

Her fingertips curled around the papers, eyes scanning the additional information that Aaron Hotchner had given her after she accepted her mission. It told her everything she needed to know in advance, what to expect, who was friendly and which cops she should avoid because they'd talk her ear off.

John Nolan, a basic id picture of an older man who smiled like he had nothing to loose. Penelope could see that he had everything to loose though - the oldest rookie, that would make for John to push himself further and to make sure he could do the job when others couldn't. This wasn't his first choice, this was essentially a mid life crisis he couldn't flunk.

Tim Bradford, and by his information, he was a hard ass who didn't like outsiders. Penelope scribbled on his dedicated page, writing how she'd sneak glitter pens into his bag and hide lollipops in his locker well she was there. Why not have a little fun, right?

Jackson West looked to be too much of a goody two shoes, but Penelope figured he may remind her of Spencer. She was slightly more giddy to meet him than she was anymore else, to be honest. A pure legacy, she didn't see that too often, and maybe he'd been willing to learn some of her tricks.

She flipped through more pages; page after page and note after note. Her pen scribbled here and there until she finally landed on the last page, Lucy Chen.

Gosh, Penelope never swung that way, but oh she was so pretty. Her hair looked like silk that Penelope would absolutely ask if she could use her pins and ties to do elaborate hair styles. Her eyes had a sparkle to them, one that resembled her pen if she was honest.

Penelope Garcia never felt like she was good enough - men never looked at her like they wanted her, they looked at her like they could use her. She had friends, so many.

This though - this moment of being on her own, it felt like a change. She felt wanted, she felt important - more important than she did at the BAU.

"Ma'am," the young lady gently placed a hand on Penelope's shoulder. "We've landed."

Her suitcases were already loaded into the police cruiser when she stepped outside, and standing there, was Rookie Officer John Nolan, and Sargent Wade Grey, waiting to greet her.

John held a bundle of flowers, a kind smile, and eyes that looked so happy.

Wade held a nothing but a smile, but he still looked happy. He looked excited, even.

"Welcome, Penelope Garcia. We're happy to have you."

"Happy to be here, boys."