For years, buff, tattooed FBI agent Derek Morgan has worked side by side in the Behavioral Analysis Unit with the unusually resourceful—and just plain unusual—Penelope Garcia, their one of a kind relationship providing nearly as much tension and suspense as the serial killers they track week after week. Sure, they’ve never had an out and out romance, and Garcia is currently dating the equally geeky and adorable Kevin, but still….
Morgan has sheltered Garcia when she’s been in peril, shored her up when she’s doubted her professional acumen or personal style, and proven time and again there isn’t anything he wouldn’t do for her. In turn, Garcia hasn’t been shy about confiding in Morgan when she needs a shoulder to lean on, and if he needs a push in the right direction, her neon-polished fingers are going to be the ones doing the pushing, because, well, what woman doesn’t want to hear such a man utter the immortal words, “Woman, you are my God-given solace. Don’t you ever stop talking to me.”
In the episode “Snake Eyes,” Garcia wakes to the early morning phone call those in her line of work should come to expect: There’s a bad guy who needs catching, and the BAU needs her skills in doing so. There’s also a shower running, clearly not for the slumbering and hung-over Garcia, who stumbles through an account of an argument with Kevin the night before. Cue knock at the door. It’s Kevin, with flowers, so if Kevin is at the door, then Kevin can’t be in the shower.
Garcia slams the door, and turns to find a freshly showered Morgan wrapped in one of her towels, asking if she’s also received the call to arms. Oh, she has, she tells him, and proceeds to head out the door exactly as is. Garcia being Garcia, she’s made herself presentable by the time she arrives at work, and for most of the episode, they’re able to focus on the fiend of the week, though the looks Morgan shoots Garcia fan the flames of speculation.
At last, the killer’s rampage stopped, Morgan corners a flustered Garcia, insisting they have to talk about last night. He fills in the blanks of her memory, detailing how she’d asked him to keep her company after the argument with Kevin. Their night together consisted only of movies and popcorn and falling asleep on the couch. Garcia thanks Morgan for his friendship and promptly heads out on a date with Kevin.
No sooner is Garcia out the door than the camera pans to a wistful Morgan, staring after her.
My heart, oh my heart. Will Morgan keep silent or make his case? Criminal Minds fans will have to stay tuned.
Anna C. Bowling considers writing historical romance the best way to travel through time and make the voices in her head pay rent. She welcomes visitors to her blog, Typing With Wet Nails and to follow her at Twitter.
