Only you | Derek Morgan

Did you just blush?

D E R E K ' S P O V

"Would you rather...know the date of your death or the cause of your death?"

"The cause," I say like it's obvious. "If I knew it was a plane crash, I wouldn't fly anymore. Simple."

Penelope playfully narrows her eyes at me. "What if the plane fell from the sky and crushed you?"

I click my tongue, pointing my pen at her. "Then I'm extremely unlucky."

"Okay, I have one," Emily says, swivelling around in her desk chair. "Would you guys rather have a bad haircut or bad dye job?"

Layla snickers, shooting me a teasing look across our desks. "Derek doesn't have that problem."

Everyone laughs when I give her the middle finger. Hotch and Rossi have their offices and Spencer has his office down the hall, so I am well and truly outnumbered by women in the bullpen.

Usually by around four o'clock every day, we are all finished our paperwork but we get paid till five so you best believe we all sit around for that last hour, wasting the time away by asking each other random questions.

"Alright," I sigh, knowing it's my turn to ask a question. "Tattoos or piercings?"

Penelope and Emily say they prefer piercings and JJ, Layla and I say we prefer tattoos and in what I'm assuming is trying to get to know Layla better, JJ asks her if she has any tattoos.

"I do," Layla smiles, shifting in her seat. "I would show you but it's not in an office appropriate place."

I am making it my mission to see that tattoo one day.

When we slept together, it was more of a 'move the necessary clothes out of the way' situation and I'm sure it was a good thing for Layla and I's friendship that we haven't seen each other fully naked, but that doesn't mean I'm not majorly regretting the fact that I didn't get to see everything.

"And...it's five o'clock," JJ says, checking her watch as she grabs her bag. "I'm out of here."

Grateful that we got through the day without a new case, we all start filing out of the office. Penelope spends the whole ride down the elevator showing Layla all the photos of her new kittens.

"This is Romeo and Juliet," Penelope beams like a proud parent. "Look how cute and small they are. I just want to squish their little faces and squeeze them with all my love."

I shoot Penelope a look, knowing we discussed this topic already. "But.."

Penelope rolls her eyes, holding her hands up in defence. "But I won't squeeze them too hard."

"They are adorable," Layla smiles, handing Penelope back her phone when we all step out of the elevator into the parking garage. "I need to come over and meet them sometime."

"Text me and we'll make a plan," Penelope says, stopping by the driver side door of her car. "Actually, do you need a ride home?"

"No, thank you," Layla smiles at her, patting her hand to my shoulder. "I'm putting Derek to work already. He's coming to my apartment to build my new furniture."