Luke and Penelope- A BAU Story

Chapter 2

It's early the next morning and I'm off to work. When I get to the elevator, Luke's already standing there.

"What, missed me so much you're waiting for me at the elevator now?" I joke.

"Actually, yes." He says smiling. When the elevator opens, he puts his hand behind my back lightly, leading me into it. "I was wondering if you would like to go see Phil and Lu with me this afternoon?"

"Are you kidding? Don't ask dumb questions, newbie. I'd love to! Oh, I can't wait to see that cute little fluff-ball again!"

"I hope you're talking about Lu?" Luke jokes smiling from ear to ear. Gosh, that smile... It does things to me...

"Of course, I am! I'll have to go find something adorable for him to wear, or an awesome toy to play with during my lunch break. Actually, while I'm there I can go find something for Roxy too! I just saw these super-cute neon pink socks they make for dogs... Maybe I can get them each a pair."

"Penelope, it isn't pay day for another two weeks. Maybe you should wait with the spending for now. I don't want you to spend your hard-earned money on Lu and Roxy." Luke seems panicked.

"Don't worry! I'm kidding about the socks. I know how you feel about pink dogs clothing." I say and roll my eyes.

We walk out of the elevator and each go our separate ways. "See you later." Luke says.

Just as I step into my office, an alert appears on my computer screen. Great, we've got a case. I quickly scan through the details, skipping the gory pictures and send notifications to everyone's phones. Clowns... Perfect. As if murder isn't horrifying enough, there has to be clowns involved. I shudder as memories from a birthday party back when I was twelve, run through my mind. Thank goodness I don't have to accompany the team on this one!

I walk the team through the case, turning my back to the screen, as I always do. I prefer not seeing the horrifying images on the screen- it makes my job easier and my nightmares less.

"Okay guys, wheels up in thirty." Prentiss says, like Hotch always did. Almost as one, my team members rise from the round table. Instead of going out the door like the rest, Luke walks around the table towards me. "I'm sorry. It looks like we'll to have to take a rain check with our visit to Phil. We'll go as soon as we get back from the case. On the bright side, this gives you more time to find the perfect gift for Lu."

"Don't worry about it. Duty calls and all that jazz. But yes, now I have more time to shop around."

"Well, I better get going. See you when I see you." Luke says and starts to walk out the door.

"Luke!" I shout after him. "Be careful."

He has a serious expression on his face when he nods. "Always."

It's four days after the clown case and finally my babies arrive home. Each time they get back safe and sound I send up a prayer of thanks to whoever wants to hear. "Hey, Garcia. I guess you'll never be cured of your coulrophobia after this case, huh?" Reid asks, as I give him a tight hug.

"Nope. Lucky for me, this case kept me so busy I didn't have much time to think of sleeping, but I don't know how I'll manage to keep the nightmares away tonight. I don't suppose you have any tips stashed away in that humungous brain of yours Boy Genius?" I ask jokingly.

"Actually, there's a Guatemalan legend you might like. According to the legend, if you express your concerns to a worry doll (it's colorful- almost like you) before bedtime, the doll will worry in your place, so you can sleep peacefully." He says very seriously.

"Thanks, Reid. What would I ever do without you and your vast knowledge of Guatemalan legends? I'll make myself a worry doll tonight."

"Do I even want to know?" Luke asks amused, only having heard half of our conversation.

Embarrassed I answer: "No, you really don't. Are we still on to visit Lu and Phil tonight?"

"Uh, I was meaning to talk to you about that. I'm going out with Lisa tonight, so I told Phil we'd come tomorrow. I hope that's okay with you?" He looks guilty.

"Yes, of course! You should totally go. Have fun, be merry! I promise I won't interrupt you guys this time." I say shooing him away.

At home that night, eating some of Rossi's famous Carbonara (well, my version of it) I can't help hoping some case will come up so I can break my promise and interrupt Luke and Lisa on their date. But the universe is totally against me. Deep down I have to unwillingly admit to myself that they are the perfect couple and the universe knows it as well. With their dark skin, brown eyes and obvious good looks, they would make gorgeous babies and both of them have worked in hell holes like Iraq and Yemen, so she obviously understand Luke on a whole different level than I do. Plus she's a doctor who can look after his bruised body after tackling an unsub to the ground and she understands unpredictable working hours. I mean even their names sound like they are a match made in heaven.

But you can bring the color to Luke's otherwise dull life. You can fill his large, empty house with your many, many things and take care of his emotional scars, You're a counselor for a survivors support group for goodness sake! My inner voice tells me.

The support group! We get together tomorrow night! I completely forgot. This means I won't be able to visit Lu and Phil with Luke after all. I'll have to text him to tell him. I take out my phone.

You promised not to interrupt him, my inner voice says accusingly.

Well, a text isn't the same as interrupting in person. Besides, his phone's probably off, so he'll only see it when he gets back home.

IF he gets back home. Maybe he's spending the night at Lisa's. My inner voice taunts me.

I decide to ignore that horrible possibility and start texting him, thumbs moving at the speed of light.

Two minutes later, he replies back. "No worries. I'll go to support group with you. Can go to Phil's afterward. Maybe get some of that black cherry ice cream you like on the way? Have a good night. 😉"

Have a good night, "wink"? Why wink? Is it some sort of suggestion that HE's going to have a good night? I don't need to know that. Actually I do, but I don't WANT to know that! The thought of black cherry deliciousness, however, takes most of my depressive thoughts about what Luke and Lisa might be up to, away.

I go to bed that night, feeling guilty for once again letting another day pass without telling Luke how I feel. Derek is going to be so disappointed when he finds out...