#bestillmybeating

The BAU team had just returned from a difficult case in Seattle.  Penelope was so exhausted and just wanted to get home.  As she stood by the elevator, she did not even hear Luke come up behind her.  “Going somewhere, chica?” Luke asked, miming clicking some castanets.  Penelope stared at him ,  “Not in the mood, newbie”, she answered brusquely.  Luke sighed, “I know that was tough and you saw some intense things.  Are you ok?”. Penelope looked at him, “I’m fine. Just another day on this job, right?” she said with a hint of sarcasm.  Luke turned towards her, “I guess.  But that doesn’t mean you can’t feel - “.

The door to the elevator opened and there stood Kevin.  “Penelope! I was hoping I’d catch you”, he exclaimed when he saw her, throwing his arms around her.  Penelope couldn’t stifle her gasp of surprise.  She was acutely aware of Luke’s presence and his curious glance.  “Kevin Lynch, this is Luke Alvez.”  The two men shook hands and Penelope asked, “What are you doing here, Kevin?”  

Kevin looked down at his feet and shyly said, “Can we talk?  I have been thinking about you.  I was a little worried when I heard about you out in the field for that car hacker case”. Penelope awkwardly responded with “Um, ah, sure”, clearly looking confused.  Her eyes darted to Luke.  Luke cleared his throat.  “Ah, I had better get back to my paperwork.  Nice to meet you, Kevin.” Then turning to Penelope,  “See you tomorrow, Garcia”.  With that he walked back to the bullpen.  

The problem was that he couldn’t concentrate on any of the case files piled in front of him.  What was it about this girl that got to him so much? He watched as Penelope and Kevin walked out towards her office and he couldn’t stop a pang of - what? Jealousy? What was he so jealous about?  The woman could hardly stand him.  Although he had thought she was coming around of late. They were hanging out together a little more and there was a few less biting retorts from her.  She had even called him by his first name.  He had liked that more than he could have imagined. He sighed, switched off his computer and started to put some files in his backpack.  

Luke couldn’t resist going past Penelope’s office.  Looking in he saw that Kevin and Penelope were deep in conversation and they looked really comfortable together.  Really comfortable.  Another pang of – whatever.  Kevin leaned over and grabbed Penelope’s hand and, without meaning to, Luke knocked loudly on the door.  He saw Penelope start and pull her hand away immediately.  He stood there for a minute, frantically searching for something to say as Kevin and Penelope stared at him.  Kevin looked a little annoyed, but he couldn’t decide what Penelope was feeling.  Was it possible that she felt relieved?  “Sorry, Garcia, I was just wondering what the plans were for tomorrow’s start? I forgot”, he hastily said.  “Oh, I think that Emily said we could start at 11am tomorrow”, Penelope answered looking straight at him.  Luke’s words stuck in his throat, but he couldn’t look away.  Kevin broke the silence, “So we will see you tomorrow, Luke?” He walked over to the door and held it open.  Luke dragged his eyes from Garcia.  “Yeah, right, thanks.  See you tomorrow”.  As he walked out, he fought the urge to turn to look at her again.  He heard the door slam behind him.