Title: Santa Barbara Blues
By: protejerinnocencia
Pairing: Prentiss/Morgan
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Morgan and Emily spend a weekend in Santa Barbara CA at a friend's beach house. But it's not as relaxing as they would have hoped.

***

Headquarters was quiet as Emily grabbed her bag and jacket. She'd stayed late to get some paperwork done. She figured she was the only one still there when she heard footsteps approaching behind her. Emily spun around and came face-to-face with Morgan.

"Oh God, you scared me," Emily gasped, hand clutching at her chest.

"Sorry. I didn't know anyone else was here," Morgan commented.

"Yeah…neither did I," she sighed.

"Stay late often?" he asked as her breathing returned to normal.

"Sometimes. I just had a lot of paperwork to catch up on," she answered. He nodded and they started for the elevator. Morgan pressed the 'down' button and they waited.

"So what kept you here until all hours?" Emily asked as they waited.

"Honestly I was in the break room and I fell asleep. But don't going telling people that. Have to keep up my image," he said, smiling.

"I wouldn't dare tarnish all that is Derek Morgan," she teased as the doors dinged open. They stood in silence as the elevator descended to the ground floor. They headed for the parking garage when there was a 'beep' from the depths of Emily's bag. She stopped and reached her hand in, fumbling around until she pulled out her cell phone. She flipped it open to find a text message from her mother. She glanced over it and let out a groan.

"You ok?" Morgan asked.

"Yeah…my mother just bailed on something we were supposed to do this weekend," Emily muttered. Morgan gave her a sympathetic look as she tossed her phone back in her purse. They walked a few more paces without speaking when she turned to look at him.

"Do you have plans for this weekend?" Emily questioned.

"I don't know. Why?" he responded.

"Well some friends of my mother have a house in Santa Barbara. They're going away for the weekend and offered to let us stay," Emily began to explain.

"We were all set to go and my mother just got a new assignment tonight. So I don't really want to go by myself," she muttered.

"I don't know Emily," Morgan breathed. They stopped walking in the middle of the garage.

"Come on…some sun, sand and surf," Emily said, elbowing him in the arm.

"The last time I went on vacation with a co-worker…she got arrested for murder," Morgan said. Emily paled and her eyes bulged a little.

"She didn't do it," he said, cracking a smile.

"Of course I'll go with you," he murmured after a few seconds. He wrapped an arm around her and gave her shoulder a squeeze.

"When do we leave?" he asked as they finished the trek o their cars.

"Tomorrow at two," she answered.

"Alright…aren't giving me much warning," he teased as they reached her car.

"I really appreciate you coming with me," she sighed as she tossed her purse onto the passenger seat. Morgan took her hand in his and turned her around. She raised her eyebrow at him before he gave her a quick kiss.

"Want me to pick you up in the morning?" he offered.

"Sure," she said and climbed into her car. He shut the door for her and gave her wave as he walked over two cars and climbed in. They exchanged another wave as they sped out onto the main road.