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[personal profile] innerslytherin
Title: Observation and Need
Fandom: Criminal Minds
Character: Penelope Garcia, Morgan/Reid
Rating: G
WC: 521
Summary: Penelope Garcia isn't a profiler. That doesn't mean she's blind. Preslash.
Spoilers: Slight for Seasons 1 & 2
Thanks: To [livejournal.com profile] severity_softly for betaing and recharging my interest in this fandom. This comes after A Sleepless Flight and 18 Days, 21 Hours, 40 Minutes.



Penelope Garcia isn't a profiler, but she is one smart chica.  Just because she sits in front of six computer screens all day doesn't mean she has no understanding of the human mind--or, more importantly to her, the human heart.  As she sits in the noisy bar, surrounded by her friends, the people she has come to view as her family, she has never been more aware of just how mysterious the human heart can be.

Yes, her gorgeous specimen of male beauty Derek dances like a panther and acts like a dog, but she knows he does it to guard his heart.  Just like JJ is always trying to outdo the men she meets, whether at darts or pool or drinking, because they're intimidated no matter what--so she might as well intimidate them intentionally.  And Reid spouts Star Trek trivia and random serial killer facts because he thinks he's only as good as he is smart, and has no idea of his own beauty.

And Penelope?  She watches Derek, lusting openly because he is safe, and because it keeps her from having to look at men who might be attainable...and might reject her anyway.

Yes, Pen's an observant girl.  So when Emily leans over and whispers for her to look at Reid, she isn't surprised to find Reid watching Derek, who is dancing, a tall redhead plastered against his side.

"Do you think Reid's ever jealous?" Emily whispers, to which Pen thinks, All the time, knowing Emily doesn't mean it that way.  "He's good-looking," Emily goes on.  "He should get out there more.  I'll bet the ladies would like him."

Quite possibly they would, Pen thinks, nodding to Emily.  Not that he would notice.

That's when Reid jumps a little, and she jerks her gaze away, thinking they've been caught staring.  But her gaze has gone naturally to Derek...and Derek is looking right at Reid.

"Oh," Penelope breathes, and then quickly looks away and takes a drink so Emily won't notice.  Oh.

Because Derek has pulled himself away from the redhead and is making his way to the bar.  The bartender's been watching Derek, too, and she's instantly attentive. He leans over, smiling and holding out a bill.  A moment later he has two beers in his hand, and he's walking back, not this way, but to where Reid has been sitting alone since JJ found her latest pool jock to defeat.

He isn't smiling. Instead he has the look of a man who is concentrating very hard on not fucking up.

Oh, Pen thinks, and hops off her stool, her heart suddenly pounding in vicarious anxiety.  "Let's dance, Em! I love this song!"  It's one of her least favorite radio hits from the 80s, actually, but she doesn't care, she just has a sudden desperate urge to protect whatever is happening from prying eyes--even those of a friend.  Because Morgan trusts so few people, and Reid wears his intellect like a shield, and this, whatever it is, seems fragile somehow, overexposed...precious.

And Penelope may not be a profiler, but she knows need when she sees it.

Date: 2008-04-14 12:19 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] quasiadastra.livejournal.com
Eeee! I love Garcia! XD Wonderful, as always. ;)

Date: 2008-04-14 12:40 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] forgetfulone.livejournal.com
You could easily have a part two to this story if you wanted. I would love to see what happened to Morgan when he went to Reid with the two beers.

I absolutely love Morgan/Reid. They are both needy in different ways and excel at hiding their neediness. I love watching the non-verbal communication between the two. It's so telling. ( I do wonder if the actors play into this)

Date: 2008-04-14 12:54 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] mnemosyne-1.livejournal.com
Oh, fantastic! I love the outside perspective on this and how Penelope protects Morgan and Reid from prying eyes. Love it...

Date: 2008-04-14 01:41 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] hhhellcat.livejournal.com
Awesome! I love the opening line and the way you tied it the ending one. Nice wrap, and of course, it's GARCIA so that made it fantabulous, right there. Oh yes, and this line: She watches Derek, lusting openly because he is safe, and because it keeps her from having to look at men who might be attainable...and might reject her anyway. That summarizes her banter with him so completely!

Date: 2008-04-16 11:06 am (UTC)
sperrywink: (Garcia by Bettina)
From: [personal profile] sperrywink
Awww, that was so wonderful. I love Garcia seeing the truth to Reid and Morgan and trying to protect them.

Date: 2008-04-17 06:46 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] knowingdivine.livejournal.com
I am officially in love with your writing.

Date: 2008-04-17 06:20 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sunrunnersioned.livejournal.com
i'm such a fan of this couple and you write them beautifully! thanks for sharing you're amazing work!!~

Date: 2008-04-17 11:42 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fireness.livejournal.com
Eeee, you make me very happy. There's not nearly enough Morgan/Reid love out there, and I can't wait to read more from you!

Date: 2008-05-08 09:55 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] nouveau-monday.livejournal.com
i just found this community, and this story, and i want to have it's babies it made me so happy. this is beautiful.

Date: 2008-05-08 11:25 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] nouveau-monday.livejournal.com
not as happy as your story made me! if i float around your lj, would i find more? do you have a morgan/reid that you love so much and think it's your best that you want to share with me because, seriously, I just know I'll love it.

Date: 2008-05-09 12:06 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] nouveau-monday.livejournal.com
you have to clean the rest up immediately and put them up because i love love love love love this little world and want it to go on forever and ever and ever and be the happy place i drift into wednesday, thursday, friday, well heck, every day of the night.

they're all so thoughtful in mind and gesture, in a way that rings completely true to the story.

Date: 2008-05-17 12:12 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] 8-letter-love.livejournal.com
He isn't smiling. Instead he has the look of a man who is concentrating very hard on not fucking up.

LOVE this line. It just makes it more real to me, that Morgan, the ladies man, is worried about messing up with Reid. So adorable :D. I can't wait to see more from this cute little series!

Date: 2008-06-29 09:55 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] missaffliction.livejournal.com

Aaaaaw! Too freaking cute :D

Date: 2009-03-28 10:57 pm (UTC)
ext_19682: (Lucy Pevensie)
From: [identity profile] oximore.livejournal.com
Beautiful & clean. I really like the way you write! :)

Date: 2009-10-07 07:12 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ranilos.livejournal.com
Oh, this is wonderful! ♥ I really like how we see this through Garcia's eyes, and it's beautiful writing.

Thank you for sharing! :)

Date: 2009-10-13 05:18 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] thedoublefold.livejournal.com
All kidding aside - this right here choked me up. I have no other words, unexpectedly moving. *blushes* I have to go find a tissue now.

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