This piece is for the PYOP Challenge 4:

Pairing: Morgan/ Garcia

Assigned scenario: Character A gets taken hostage while out shopping with Character.

Disclaimer: I don't own Criminal Minds, our any of the companies affiliated.

The Only Exception

September 23, 2010 11:57 p.m.

If anybody had told Penelope Garcia-Morgan, that when she woke up this morning she'd have to say goodbye to the man that she loved, she probably would've called you a liar. In fact, she probably would've taken her Hot Stuff's gun and shot you herself. However, as the first day of fall came to an end, the only thing she could think about was the fact that when she went home, she'd crawl into bed alone and wonder what she would do now?

She placed her hands on the table top and strummed her fingers along. She was antsy and terrified all at once and she had staunchly refused to go home. So here she was sequestered in a tiny office inside of Potomac Mills Mall waiting for final contact. There was nothing in the room to distract her; nothing but purse with the brown paper bag with three used pregnancy test inside, sitting beside her chair.

The door opened and Jennifer Jureau entered with a cup of coffee in one hand and a steaming cup of apple cider. Jennifer handed the apple cider to Penelope who had graciously accepted it. She took a nice sip before setting the cup down on the table.

"You okay?" Jennifer asked her.

Penelope shook her head as she sighed, "Hell no. I'm worried out of my mind and I'm scared."

"Pen, it's going to be okay."

Penelope looked up at Jennifer and shook her head, "Is it really, Jayje? Every day I pray for him. Every day I pray, faithfully, and ask God to bring him back to me. What if today is the day my prayers aren't enough?"

"You can't think like that. You just got to know that the team is going to get them out safe."

"That's not enough for me, Jayje. My life is on the line."

"I can't give you an empty promise, Garcia."

Penelope looked up at her, the tears in her eyes threatening to fall, "Then you can't say it's going to be okay."

Jennifer never got the chance to respond for, Penelope's phone rang. Penelope looked down at the caller id and stared at the ten digit number that Penelope had managed to hate in a span of less than twenty-four hours. She finally picked up, clearing her throat before speaking.

"Hello."

"Hey, Mama," His sexy baritone came in on the other line.

Penelope took a deep breath before responding, "Hey, Papa Bear."

He was silent for a moment bef ore he sighed, "Know that I love you."

"I love you, too."

"And know that I am so grateful that you are my wife. I love you with everything that is in me and I thank God every day for you and for us."

"Derek-"

"Hold on, Mama. I gotta say this," Derek said softly, "I am sorry, Penelope. I am so sorry."

And before Penelope could say a word, the sound of gunshots being fired was heard and as the tears flooded her face she heard his last breath, his words were a painful, "I love you." She dropped the phone that was in her hands and the howl she let loose was enough to wake the devil.