The Slow Burn

Chapter 5: Darren Fricken Carter

Authors Note:
Had time to slam out a second chapter today and Lowkey felt proud AF about this! Please Feel free to vote, leave any comments or anything for me 🥰🥰

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Two months had passed since the birth of Rose Mary Simmons. Megan had actually been living it up per say. She had begun dating Darren Carter about a month ago and things were going great. The man was a complete gentleman. It was cute how he had asked her to be his girlfriend. He had swung by the BAU with a coffee and a dozen roses. He said, "Megan Ryan you are by far one of the most extraordinary woman I have ever met. We've been hanging out these last few weeks but I would love to make it official." Of course Megan was in absolute shock and completely embarrassed as it had happened right in the middle of the bullpen. The brunette was a private woman and to have this happen in front of the whole BAU crew made her freeze up a little. It wasn't until JJ nudged her that she had responded with a yes. She liked Darren. He was a great guy and someone that Megan hoped would be the one to spend the rest of her life with. But she'd be lying if she said that she had moved on past Emily. She'd be lying if she said she wasn't actually settling for Darren Carter.

Emily had watched Darren ask Megan out and she felt an anger bubble within her stomach. Leading up to that day, the older woman had a front row seat to watching the brunette get wooed by a complete stranger. He'd show up and offer her and the rest of the team coffee's while talking about the plans Megan and him had for the evening. The raven haired woman always opted to avoid the fresh latte he brought her and instead went straight for the lukewarm coffee that sat in the coffee carafe. She would scowl as he spoke about the mini gold date or movie date they had planned. But the day he asked Megan to be his girlfriend was the day nobody saw Emily afterwards. She had stood just outside her office door when the spectacle happened but quickly went back into her office and hid away. Nobody questioned it. The team knew she had a lot on her plate due to the Everette situation so they simply assumed she was handling the mountains of paper work from that.

Now present day everyone was enjoying a relaxing day in the office. Officially Everette Lynch's case was closed. The BAU's jet blown to smithereens with him inside it. Megan was cooped up in her office, finishing up her report on the matter when Darren showed up, his knuckles lightly tapping the wooden door. She looked up from her computer and smiled warmly up at him. "Hey babe. What's up?" she asked as she rose from her chair, her eyes watching as she stepped inside the small space. "I just wanted to see if we could do lunch today!" he said as he walked closer to her, their hands linking before he leaned down to kiss her forehead gently. "Mmm, lunch seems like a great idea but I have to finish my report before I leave today. How does tomorrow sound?" she offered with a sheepish smile crawling up her lips, her hand squeezing his gently. "I'm sure Agent Prentiss will allow for you to take a well deserved break my love." He said as he lifted his free hand to run his fingers through her long brown waves. She let out the softest of sigh, leaning lightly into his touch before gazing up into his piercing eyes. "I'm sure she would. But I know I need to get this report done Darren. After all its about one of the biggest pains in the BAU's ass." she said earning the softest chuckle from the dark haired man. "Perhaps I can bring something here and we can sit here and eat while you work. Maybe?" he suggested earning a warm smile from the brunette. "That sounds like a wonderful plan."

He leaned down and planted a deep kiss onto Megan's lips before pulling away and quickly departing her office. She smiled as she watched him leave, her eyes remaining on him through the windows as he walked down the hallway. She moved to slump down in her chair, her left hand lifting so she could lightly bite the knuckle of her ring finger. This ear had been hell. With everything going on with Emily and the whole ordeal with Everette Lynch, she saw Darren as a light in what was extremely dark times.

"Hey cutie!" Garcia said as she stood at the brunettes doorway, successfully pulling her from her thoughts. "What's up Blondie?" Megan asked as she shifted to properly sit in her chair. "You seem very happy." The blonde commented as she moved to sit on a chair opposite of the brunette. The younger woman chuckled as a blush crawled up her neck and onto her cheeks before she tilted her head slightly. "I kinda am." she said in a small voice that could have been covered from the laughter Garcia broke into. "Megan Sophia Ryan. You are the happiest you have been in a year and it is thanks to that tall, heavenly cup of pure britishness." Garcia commented causing the blush on the younger woman's cheeks to darken. "Okay okay, what is it you actually wanted? I know you didn't come here to talk about Darren, happiness and I." Megan said with a wave of her hand before the both of them laughed softly in unison.

Meanwhile Darren was walking out, saying a quick goodbye to the team that sat around in the bullpen. "Excuse me, Darren? May I have a quick word with you?" Emily said as she leaned lightly against the bannister just outside her office. He raised a brow curiously before nodding and moving up the stairs to follow her into her office. "What can I do for you Agent Prentiss?" he asked as he closed the door behind him before turning to watch as she took a seat at her desk. "I don't think it is overly professional to have you here as often as you are." she said, the tone of her voice as even as she could keep it. He raised a brow once more, confused by her statement. "I come perhaps once a week. Maybe twice but I hardly think it is a problem." he said, crossing his arms over his chest. Emily inhaled deeply through her nose before her dark eyes darted up to stare at him. "And you are distracting my agent when you come in." she said as she leaned back in her chair some, following in suit of him and also folding her arms over her chest.

"I highly doubt this has to do with distracting her. You know she is dedicated to this job and hardly ever gets distracted by outside things. So what is this really about? Perhaps it has to do with our relationship. Jealousy perhaps?" he stated, a smirk gracing his lips when her expression turned from one that was unreadable to one of shock. "I would hardly say I am jealous of your relationship." she stated as she shifted in her chair, her eyes dropping for a second to regain her bearings. "I never said anything about our relationship. You are jealous that someone else can make her happy." he said as he moved closer to her desk, his hands settling onto her desk as he leaned in. Their yes locked onto each other as they glared.

"I'm here to stay Emily. Megan is my girlfriend. I make her happy and you can't do anything to change that. Not after what you did." he stated firmly his eyes moving to watch the brunettes neck as she swallowed the lump in her throat. With that he leaned back and gently ran his hands over the front of his suit jacket, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Don't worry Agent Prentiss. I won't tell Megan about our discussion but please feel free to stay in your lane." He said as he moved over to the door of her office only to turn to look at the clearly angered woman sitting there.

"Have a wonderful day Agent." He said before opening the door and departing from her office. Emily continued to sit there, staring at the open door as her fingers gripped the leather material that wrapped around the arms of her chair. "Darren Fucking Carter." she growled out lowly before standing up from her seat. She moved to the door and watched as the man sauntered out the double glass doors before successfully slamming her office door shut.