Summary: Derek Morgan tried like hell not to let his feelings get involved. Ever. But when it's one of his closest friends who is attacked, all bets are off. Penolope Garcia is trying to pick up the pieces of her life by concentrating on work. But with Derek glued to her side, it's virtually impossible. With him, it's easier, but what happens when he decides that she doesn't need him anymore? Maybe she'll never have to find out...

Awoken by the sound of his cell phone, Derek Morgan rolled over onto his back and looked at the clock. 2 a.m. He'd just gotten home from the office an hour and a half ago. He might as well have just stayed. He grabbed his cell phone off the nightstand and flipped it open. "Morgan."

"Derek Morgan?" a woman's voice came from the other end of the phone.

He sat up in bed in surprise, the sheets falling to his waist. This wasn't Hotch. And he didn't recognize the voice. "This is Derek Morgan," he said cautiously.

"My name is Elise and I'm calling from Potomac Hospital. We just had a Penelope Garcia brought in and you were listed as her emergency contact."

"What's going on?" he asked, already jumping out of bed. Not even stopping to turn on the light, he pulled a pair of blue jeans off his floor and slid them on.

"The doctors are examining her now," she explained. "So nothing is conclusive yet. The EMTs said that a 911 call came in from a convenience store worker. They were switching shifts and Ms. Garcia was discovered unconscious in her car. She was attacked, Mr. Morgan. Are you immediate family?" she asked.

"No," he said, shaking his head as he buttoned up the shirt he'd worn to work the day before. It was rumpled, but it didn't matter.

"You may want to call them. She's going to need someone here when she wakes up."

"I'm on my way," he said as he closed his phone. "Be all right, Baby Girl," he whispered. When he reached his car and was on the road, he hit one on his speed dial.

It barely made it through the first ring. "Hello?"

"Hotch," Morgan said. "It's Garcia."

"What's going on?" Hotch asked.

"She's been attacked."

---

It only took Morgan twenty minutes, but by the time he arrived at the hospital, Hotch was already there. "Morgan," he said as the young man came sprinting up to him.

"Is she OK?" he asked. He'd run the entire way, but thanks to his extensive endurance training, he wasn't even out of breath.

"Morgan…" Hotch said hesitantly.

"Hotch!" Morgan snapped. "I don't need you to skate around me. What's goin' on?"

Hotch took a deep breath. "She was attacked outside of a convenience store," he started.

"I know that part," Morgan said impatiently. "What I want to know is how she's doing!"

Hotch cleared his throat. "She's still unconscious and she's…pretty banged up," he said softly. "And there's evidence of rape."

"What?!" Morgan shook his head. "No," he said fiercely.

"What was she doing out so late?" Hotch asked. He wasn't directing the question at anyone, just thinking out loud.

Morgan sat down in the nearest chair and rubbed his face with his hands. "She was helping me with a case," he whispered. "We left at midnight and I walked her to her car. I thought…I thought she was safe. My God, Hotch. This is all my fault."