This was one of those ideas that just popped into my head from nowhere... and so I am going with it. Thanks dusty tiger yet again. JJ is one of Penelope's emergency contacts as is Derek Morgan. They find her first to tell her about what happens.

A Shadow Falls: Penelope Garcia

Jennifer Jareau was cleaning up the dinner dishes at her house and running water in the sink with dish detergent when her cell phone buzzed. "Jareau." "Yes she's a friend of mine, we work together. I'm on my way, I have some other people to tell. Thank you."

She turned off her cell and then turned the water off in the sink.

"Will." She said softly. "I have to go to the emergency room, there was an accident with Penelope."

"Ok I've got bedtime."

"Thank you I'll call when I know something. Let the dishes go." She hugged him for a moment and touched his face gently.

He ran his finger along her cheek. "She'll be fine."

"I know, she has to be. There is no other alternative."

She swallowed for a moment and then got her cell phone and keys off of the counter. She had some lounging pants on and flip flops along with one of Will's hoodies that she liked at home.

"I love you."

"I love you back, give Penelope my love."
"I will honey thank you."

Then she headed out the door while dialing her phone.

"Hey Hotch, Garcia was in an accident. I'm headed to Good Shepherd and the ER. They said she was there but not much else on the phone."

"All right I'll call Reid and Rossi." He replied

"Thanks I need to tell Morgan and Emily."

"They'll call Morgan too and he said he'll call Emily, he has the same agreement with Reid."

"Good. I'll see you when you all get there then."

She hung up and drove to the hospital then

A short time later: JJ went to the desk in the ER and asked about Penelope Garcia with her creds out. She always kept them in her car out of habit.

"Where is Penelope Garcia?"

"Follow me", a nurse told her.

"Thank you." JJ walked down the hall to a room and saw Penelope on a bed. "She's going to be in and out for a while. She had a collapsed lung on the left side when she got here that was repaired. Also she has a broken left ankle and leg and bruises. She's going to be off her feet for a while. We would like her to try and rest as much as possible. Since you're FBI I can tell you that the other driver who hit her was a fatality. These wet roads are causing a lot of fender benders tonight. He slid into her and pushed her to the side into someone's retaining wall. He was coming out of a turn and had bad tires. We haven't told her that yet. It can wait but it was the weather that played a factor."

"We'll make sure she rests, thank you."

"You're welcome. We're going to move her upstairs to a regular room once there is one available but for now she is in good hands here." "I'll be out at the desk if she needs anything, talking to her is good."

"All right thank you so much."

"You're welcome."

It was strange JJ thought as she sat on a chair by Penelope's side. Her friend wasn't her brightly colored butterfly self.

She was in a drab hospital gown with some stripes on it. JJ held her hand and just sat there. "Will told me to give you his love."

She reached into the pocket of Will's hoodie and found some lotion in it that was eucalyptus and mint scented. She opened the plastic tube and squeezed some out and then rubbed some into Penelope's arm that wasn't attached to the IV pole. At least her skin wouldn't feel dry and Will liked this because it was mild scented. After she finished rubbing it into her arm and washed her hands there were footsteps outside Penelope's room and Derek Morgan walked in.

"How is she?" He said quietly.

JJ said "She did a number on herself. Broken left leg and ankle and had a collapsed lung. She's also got bruises all over. She's going to be off her feet for a while and need time to heal." "The other driver who was involved was a fatality but she doesn't know that yet. The nurse said she will need to be told but they want her to rest as much as possible right now."

He nodded. "I brought one of the blankets she made me. She hates hospital ones. "

JJ smiled. "Oh the Superman blanket, I remember that one."

"She says it's the softest one."

"Well then why don't we tuck it around her feet? That way she will know it's there."

Derek nodded and they carefully put the blanket on to her bed and over her body in the gown.

Then they both sat at her side. Derek held her hand in his.

Penelope stirred for a moment. "Am I at the spa?" She asked groggily. "I smell eucalyptus."

"Not quite baby girl." Derek replied

"Ok." Then she yawned and her face got slightly red."

"Hey if you need to sleep it's ok."

"Your Superman blanket angelfish." Her voice softened and one tear slid down her cheek that Derek wiped with his thumb.

"You said it was the softest when you gave it to me now get some more beauty sleep hard head." He said it softly.

"Ok." She mumbled and went back under again. Her breathing relaxed after a few moments.

JJ said "She's something."

"And stubborn." Derek commented.

"I should go update Will for a few minutes. I'll be right back."

"I'll be here with her." Derek said softly. His hand moved over hers slowly.

JJ went to a room down the hall that read visitors lounge and pulled out her phone. She dialed Will quietly.

"Henry says you owe him two books tomorrow."

"I can do that."

"How's Penelope feelin?"

"She's going to have a long road ahead of her. Bruises, broken left leg and ankle and she had to have a collapsed lung repaired. The other driver didn't make it but she doesn't know that yet. They want her to rest as much as possible."

"Well she'll need time to heal and we'll all be here for her. "

"Yes we will. I'll be home soon, Derek's with Garcia now."

"I'll be here chere." "I bet you'll need a backrub before bed so you can sleep."

"I just might take you up on that. Have I said how lucky I am that I have you today?"

"It's implied darlin and it goes both ways."

She smiled and hung up after a few more words.

When she walked back to the room Hotch was there.

He put a small but faded looking black bear toy on the bed beside her arm. "Jack wanted to send this. He didn't want Penelope to be scared here."

"That boy has a big heart." Morgan smiled

"How is she? I heard the details on her injuries from the nurse at the desk."

"She's going to be off her feet for a while. The other driver didn't make it so that's going to hit her hard. Right now at least they want her to rest and be quiet as much as possible."

Hutch nodded. "We'll help her through it. I'll be out in the hall until the others come."

He went out the door and found a chair to sit in. It looked like Fornell had some plain clothes agents watching the floor as well. Garcia helped his team with cases when the profilers weren't in the field and he brought her cherry and raspberry pie as a treat afterwards.

Then Rossi came into the room. "Kitten, someone did a number on you." He kissed the side of her face gently.

"Wait, what?" Derek said.

"We were going to tell everybody soon."

"Damn baby girl wouldn't even tell me she was happy with someone." He was quiet and went to one of the windows in the room for a moment.