Forgetful || Penelope Garcia

Chapter 2: Pink Cadillac

Penelope Garcia was a kind person. Anyone and everyone knew that. When she entered a room, people's days got better, that is just a fact. One person who knew this, in particular, was Derek Morgan. Penelope and Derek. Morgan and Garcia. However you put it, they were inseparable, so it came as no surprise when Calypso Makri walked in the door to the Bullpen.
The Surprise for Garcia was that Calypso was so pretty. Like wildly out of this world knocking your socks off beautiful. Penelope was also surprised by the fact that she hugged the girl. She loves hugs but this was practically a stranger. No this was a stranger but Pen felt that this girl needed the hug, hell Penelope herself needed the hug.
During lunch, everyone was engaged in their own conversations but Calypso just sat by herself at Derek's desk, writing in a black notebook. It made Penelope sad that there was no color or personality on the binding.
All of a sudden, she found herself standing up and walking over to the woman.
"What're you writing?" She asked, with a smile. Imagining that Calypso was depicting a story, drawing a picture, journaling. Apparently, Penelope had scared the girl who ended up dropping her pen, so she bent down Picking it up realizing that it was a regular black pen.
"You know I have some more funer pens if you want something a little more... colorful?" Penelope offered. Calypso just stared at her and Penelope started to feel a little stupid for asking. Morgan cut in and asked Penelope something about a show they were both watching.
"Derek," Calypso called, Penelope looked over to see the woman speeding off towards the exit. "I'm just gonna go yeah?"
"Caly," Morgan called back but it was too late. She was too far away. He had already started to stand but now that the doors closed, he sat back down with a sigh.
"Forgive me if I'm wrong, but I thought you said she was a nice friend of yours, Morgan," Rossi spoke into the awkward silence of the room.
"Yeah, she was extremely closed off. You guys noticed that too?" Emily asked and the rest of the room nodded except for Penelope and Morgan.
"Hey," Derek said in a stern voice. He looked extremely upset. "Like you said, Rossi. That's my friend. I can't believe you guys would profile her like that."
The team looked down and muttered their apologies. Even if he didn't fully understand how a profiler's mind worked, she assumed that it was only human nature for them to profile a new person especially when they could be a possible danger to their coworker.
The rest of the day was spent in tense short conversations as each agent continued with their consults. Eventually, Morgan ended up moving to work in Penelope's Batcave.
"I mean common Garcia. I've been talking and talking about Calypso and as soon as they meet her they profile her?" Morgan ranted to the tech analysis. Penelope however wasn't paying attention to him. She wasn't paying attention to anything, she was just staring off into space. Thinking about the girl with the notebook.
"Garcia," Morgan called. Penelope jumped, sitting up straighter in her chair. 
"Yes, yes. I'm listening, mhm," She hummed and nodded, scrunching her eyebrows as if she were just as distraught about what the hell Derek was talking about. If he were in a better mood, Morgan would have laughed but instead, he gave her a look.
"Really. Baby Girl, I'm serious. What happened today with the team really upset me."
"Why?" Garcia asked but then spoke with an immediate apologetic tone. "Not that I don't agree. I do agree. They were out of line but... they weren't wrong. I mean yes they shouldn't have asked how they did but she was a little strange. And I swear to you Derek, my sweet sweet Hot Chocolate Thunder, I mean it with love in my-"
"I can't tell you," Morgan interrupted, sighed, rubbing his hands down his face. He looked at her with a sorry expression. "It's not my story to tell."
Now Penelope couldn't help but have so many questions. What do you mean you can't tell? What story? What is happening to the famous Calypso Makri? Penelope's fingers were just itching to find out on her federal computer but she controlled herself... For now.
They continued on with lighter subjects, cat videos, and some paperwork whenever Hotch came around to check on their progress. At around nine o'clock the whole team migrated to the Batcave.
"Morgan, we're sorry for being rude to you and your friend. Do you think maybe a round of free drinks could make up for it?" Emily asked with a hopeful smile on her face. The rest of the team behind her nodded.
After a moment of fake consideration, Derek agreed that it would help mend the wound but they had to go to a bar of his choice. They all agreed, mostly because Morgan was the one who knew the best bars in town. Making their way out of the Bureau, Hotch stopped Derek before they left.
"I wasn't here for lunch, and I'm not going to judge before I see for myself. But I am worried, Morgan. She doesn't sound-" Hotch's lecture is cut short by Derek with a firm voice.
"She's a good kid, Hotch. She's just—" Morgan sighed, argued with himself, reasoned that this was his boss, and told himself he would apologize later. And then Calypso would beat his ass. "Calypso has Alzheimer's. Part of that is being disconnected and blunt. That's why I wanted her to meet the team. I'm trying to help her branch out, make connections."
"Why couldn't you have just explained that to the rest of the team, Derek? Everyone would have understood," Hotch said.
"It's not my story like I said, Hotch. Calypso tends to be very... Agitated when it comes to her memory. I'll apologize after everyone finds out, and they will find out eventually I promise."
Hotch nodes and the two men make their way to their vehicles to go get some drinks. Calypso was gonna have a lot of motivation for sparring tomorrow.
Penelope concluded that this bar was the best in town as Derek had mentioned, but that was because she was ignoring the sticky stuff on the floor and the smell coming from everywhere and nowhere. She was ignoring the music that was rattling her collarbones and the perverted looks that every female in the entire room was getting from every other male in the entire room.
When ignoring all these things the only aspects left are the good quality drinks and the bartender. Penelope assumed that Calypso didn't expect to see Morgan's team again so soon based on the surprised look in her eyes, but there was also no familiarity; it was strange how they were not angry or upset at all; they were just confused.
After everyone says their hellos and Calypso awkwardly says hi back everyone is wrapped up in their drinks too busy to notice that Derek has to lean across the bar and whisper something in her ear. The bartender reaches down into her pocket and pulls out the black notebook from lunch. She reads through some of the notes that Penelope can not see then looks up close to the book and puts it back in her pocket. Clipso scans the group again, this time with familiarity. Penelope also sees that Spencer notices.
Then the most shocking event of the night is when Clipso looks over to Penelope and smiles. It's not really a smile, more of a different shape of her mouth. The joy of the gesture doesn't reach any part of her face and she actually kind of looks like she's in pain. Penelope grimaces and takes another drink of her fruity drink.
The smile drops and it looks like Penelope is thinking hard. There are several movements of her mouth where she looks like she's about to say something and then stops herself or sometimes it looks like she forgets what she was trying to say in the first place then finally.
"How long have you been a Fed?" Calypso winces as the words tumble out and it has caught the attention of the rest of the team. Partly because Calypso spoke and partly because she rather yelled the question at Penelope.
Ignoring the awkward tension that has now followed the question Penelope nods. "If you don't count the illegal stuff, about four years."
Calypso seems to digest her answer and her hands twitch toward her pocket where the black notebook is but doesn't move to grab it.
"How long have you been a bartender?"
For this question, she does pull out her notebook which is rather odd because how do you not know how long you've been working your job?
She is trying the beginning pages of the notebook and afterwhile doesn't seem to find what she's looking for; she lets out a frustrated grunt before slamming the notebook down and walking away. Penelope is hurt but more so confused. Was it a touchy subject?
Morgan clears his throat and leans closer to Penelope so she can hear him over the blaring music.
"Calypso's been working here for about six months," Derek explains without mentioning her walking off. Penelope just nods, her expression still confused. This beautiful woman who was "Derek's best friend" was taking up so much space in Penelope's mind. Questions flicked through her thoughts faster than she can count. A little while later after some more conversations, Calypso comes back, refills their drinks, and stops at Penelope again.
"I've been working here for about eight months," Calypso says and nods to herself, a silent congratulations for answering the question.
"It's not as cool as catching bad guys but I do get to kick some perverts out every once in a while. Why do you wear those hair clips?"
Penelope smiles and when she does Calypsa smiles too. Morgan stares at Calypso, suspicious but Penelope ignores it and answers the bartender's question.
"Catching bad guys isn't as glamorous as it seems. I wear these clips to brighten up the space a little bit so that the darkness that we see every day gets squashed by my sunshine." To push her point further, Penelope slams her hands together and makes exaggerated explosion noises. She wants to hear Calypso's laugh.
It looked as if Calypso was about to ask the third question, a smile on her lips, but some guy down the bar waves her over and she is harshly reminded that she was at work.
The next time she comes around it's to hand the team the bill. Penelope watches as her hips sway, her long muscled legs exposed with the ripped jean shorts. She's got a lot of muscle, even on her legs and Penelope has to quickly look away, her gaze lands on Calypso's face but it doesn't help because her face is focused in the most stoic, Xena the Warrior Princess way, and Penelope blushes. She sees in her periferal vison that some guy is staring at he butt as she walks past him.
"Hey, "Morgan hollers. "That isn't where her eyes are, buddy. If you're confused I'll gladly help you out of this bar right now." The guy scoffs and rolls his eyes, turning back to his buddies who are sniggering at him. Calypso doesn't even flinch, in fact, she looks completely unbothered by the whole ordeal.
"Here's the bill, whenever you're ready," She says in a stale voice and walks back to the other drunken customers. Her cold shoulder makes Penelope want to frown.
Garcia had driven here with Emily and JJ but Emily went home with a girl and Penelope told JJ to just go home to her son. The rest of the team filed out not long after with different claims of kids and early nights. Penelope sat at the bar, the tab closed, and sighed to herself. Calypso hadn't even looked at her since she gave them the check.
Penelope decided that she should start the trek home, it was a long walk back to her apartment and she didn't want to be out all night long. She makes it all the way outside and shudders at the chill. The late September air is shocking compared to the warm atmosphere of the bar.
Penelope makes it a few feet before the door opens behind her.
"Hey...uh, Penelope!" Calypso stumbles over a crack in the pavement and her bag is practically falling off her shoulders. "Everyone else went home so if you need a ride I have a car."
Calypso's words are generous but her tone is straight, emotionless even. But her hair falling out of its bun and her nervous hands messing with the strap of her bag has Penelope swooning and she can't help but agree to the offer.
Wordlessly she follows the bartender through the parking lot, Calypso is looking at her phone the whole time, having focused on nothing else. Penelope tries not to be hurt but as they keep walking she gets distracted by a beautiful car. Then the realization that this gorgeous vehicle is going to be her ride hits her and she starts to jump up and down.
"Holy shiitake mushrooms!" Penelope practically screams as she runs up to Calypso's car. "You drive a pink Cadillac! That is fantastic and so out of character for you. I did not peg you as an Elvis fan."
Calypso just shrugs. "My name is Priscilla," Calypso said as she opened the driver's side door and sat down. Penelope ran over and jumped in.
"You're kidding. I thought your name was Calypso?" She asks excitedly. She can't take everything in fast enough, the seats are perfect and the carpets looked freshly cleaned. A quick glance in the back tells Penelope that the front is the only clean part of the vehicle. At least she doesn't have a completely perfect car. I don't think she'd be real if she did.
"Priscilla Calypso Makri." Calypso's tone and gaze are straight as the starts the engine and reverses the car out of the parking spot.
"That is awesome," Penelope gasps, and she has a goofy smile from the alcohol running through her system.
Calypso plugs her phone into the auxiliary cord and starts to play some music. Then she opens something on her phone and passes it to Penelope. (She was still in the parking lot don't worry. No texting and driving here.) When Penelope looks down at the phone she see's its the map app. Ha that rimes. Map App. Map App. Map App.
"I uh, need to know where to take you."
Penelope blinks and realizes that she's been kinda just staring at Calypso's phone. Penelope was about to tell Calypso her address but the driver cut her off.
"Can you just put it in the GPS?" Calypso winces at her tone of voice. "Please." She adds weakly. Penelope does as she asks and the music starts to play from the stereo. She scrolls on the playlist, looking at what's going to play next but Calypso is too engrossed with the road to notice Penelope's snooping.
"You have fantastic music taste," Penelope says after a while. Calypso glances over to see her phone screen light up the face of the woman in the passenger seat.
"Yeah. Derek made it for me, it's all my favorite songs I guess," Calypso says as she stops at the red light. She doesn't realize her mistake till Penelope questions her.
"You guess?" Penelope asks, curious. Calypso tensed as the light turned green and she starts to move forward.
"Oh, uh. Yeah, I don't really have a specific taste in music so Derek picks out all the songs for me." Penelope thinks that she's lying but it's too late at night for her to care to much.
"That sounds like something my Chocolate Thunder would do." Calypso instantly relaxes, and her brows furrowed in confusion but Penelope doesn't have any more energy to explain the nickname.
The rest of the car is filled with  Calypso's playlist and the occasional humming or snoring from Penelope. Calypso smiles. All too as soon they're pulling into the parking lot for Penelope's apartment. Penelope was snoring, her mouth hanging open slightly and her head leaning against the window. Calypso gently nudges her shoulder and clears her throat.
"We're here. Do you need me to walk you to your door?" Her voice is rough and her face is flat but Penelope can't help but smile at her. She nods, not really understanding the question but as long as she gets to be near this girl a little longer, she's happy to go along.
Calypso awkwardly gets out of the car but Penelope is practically falling out of the seat by the time she makes it around the vehicle. Penelope stumbles (with heavy assistance from Calypso) to the door. It hits Penelope that this night seemed to fly past as time took so much away. Her eyes fill with tears and she can't help but wrap her arms around the other woman. Calypso just stands like a stone statue but it doesn't bother Penelope at all.

Penelope wakes up with a massive headache and a text message. Her alarm clock is piercing her brain and she can half consciously read the line.
Calypso :)))))) 9 hours ago
Hey. Just sending you the message you asked me to. I got home alive.
She smiles, wonders at what point in the night they had exchanged numbers, and then sits up in her bed. When Penelope looks over to see two ibuprofens and a glass of water, she is slightly mortified that Calypso has been in her house. She's even more embarrassed that she doesn't remember it.
Getting to work spirals Penelope's emotions from horrified to giddy. It's not everyday that she meets a cute girl and it is even less likely that said cute girl has Penelope's number. Penelope's memory from the night before might be faulty but she remembers the music, the pink Cadillac, the way Calypso looked as she was driving, like she couldn't give less of a shit what the rest of the world thought of her.
Walking through the common area of the third floor  of the FBI, Penelope was still lost in her thoughts about the dark haired woman when Morgan walked by.
"Good morning, Princess."
"Good morning," Penelope replied without stopping.
"Pump your breaks." Penelope sighed to herself, she loved and adored that man but she so badly wish that she could keep this one thing to herself. Plus, she hadn't even thought about how he would feel. Calypso was his best friend outside of work. Before she could overthink anymore, Morgan beckoned her over with one finger.
"Every day I say good morning. Every morning you say, "I'll show you a good morning Hot Stuff. Every day. Not today?"
"I hate profilers. You know that." Penlope was hoping to deter this impending conversation.
"Spit it out," Morgan said with playful intolerance. Penelope tried to retreat but was glued to the floor with Derek's profiler magic.
"I got her number," Penelope mumbled, her words barely clear enough for Morgan to understand.
"Who?" Morgan asked, his eyebrows furrowing together.
"Calypso." With the mention of her name, Penelope let the word vomit flood gates open. "She drove me home from the bar in her pink Cadillac and we listened to her music. I fell asleep. And when I woke up, she had texted me. So I got her number somehow in the middle of the night.
"And you just," Morgan trailed off, waiting for Penelope to finish.
"Don't remember a wink of it. Can you believe it? A total babe and I got her number. And I couldn't tell you about a second of it. Little old me."
Morgan couldn't believe it at first, and he had to weigh out the pros and cons in his mind, Penelope could tell, and when he finally seemed to come to a conclusion, he smiles and threw an arm over her shoulders.
"Tell me what you know, little lady."