A.N: Ok so one finished another starting up. This one can be blamed on Reid and his question from way back in season, "Somebody's watching" when he asked Morgan if he ever fell in love with someone he was protecting. Set just after "Solitary man" in season five Penelope and Derek are barely speaking to one another and yes Lynch and Tamara are still there. I don't know how fast this one will be updated, but hopefully life and school will keep at bay. With that said on with the show.

Disclaimer: I own nothing but me.

Prologue

They slowed their pace coming up to his black Honda Civic, never seeing the shadows that lurked around the darkened corners.

"Penny," Kevin started placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Yeah, Kev?" she returned looking up into his brown eyes, no feeling of longing in her body at his touch.

"I had a wonderful time tonight."

"Yeah so did I," she responded turning away from him.

"Oh, how cute a couple in love makes me sick just thinkin' about it," stated a deep smoky voice.

Penelope spun around terror gripping her heart, to see a five foot ten burly hairy man standing right behind Kevin. "What do you want?" she screeched fearing for her life.

"For you to stop lookin' girly were you shouldn' be pressing your nose," came another gravelly voice from the opposite direction. Black leather jacket surrounding the powerful shoulders, underneath a dark shirt she could see the bulge of a gun at the back of his waist.

"I don't," teeth chattering as she tries to speak, "I don't know what you talking about," she got out lifting her chin hauntingly.

A humorless laugh escaped the both men, "Sure you do blondie you know all too well what I'm talkin' about."

A grunt came from behind her. She turned to see the first man grabbing Kevin in a loose hold, his arms behind his back. To her great astonishment Kevin wasn't even trying to fight him off, on the contrary, he stood there almost like it's another day at work. Her mind spinning at these thought while playing over every scenario. Conjuring up every case they had worked to figure out what they were talking about and only one came to mind.

"Just stay away from me, you jackass," she breathed backing away into the cold vehicle behind her.

The dark sneaky looking man approached her slowly, leaning into her personal space, sharing her air, and body heat. Hand resting just above her head, against the cold metal, as the other grabbed her arm fingers biting into her soft flesh, "Now listen here, missy, boss says you quit or life will get a whole lot more complicated before long." A slight nod of his head and a pained groan sounded from just to her right as Kevin's captor painfully tightens his hold. "Now little lady don't have your mouth make checks your ass can't cash. Be a good little girl and do as I say."

"And if I don't?" anger tinged words replacing the fear Penelope should be feeling.

"Then blondie," Getting in real close the heat of his breath mixes with the stench of stale cigarettes. "I'd hate to see a pretty thin like you hurt." As a reminder he lands a slap across her face hard enough to bust her bottom lip and leaving one hell of a bruise.

Tears sprung to her eyes, as she glanced at Kevin who just stood there as passive as ever.

"That's one bitch, now let it go," he replied wiping his hand on his well-worn denim jeans.

Big hairy let Kevin go hastily and lumbered after the second throwing a scowling glance back at the couple.

"Penny," Kevin breathed coming up beside her.

She filched as he put a hand on her arm pulling herself away while drying the tears that slide down her cold cheeks. "Just take me home Kevin," she answered not bothering to look the coward in the eye.

He complied silently and trotting over to the other side and sliding into the drives seat, not bothering to help Penelope in the least bit. Arriving at her apartment she turned to face him, and he could see, in the street lamp lighted darkness the shape of a handprint forming on her cheek.

"I think it's best if we part here, Kevin I don't feel like you coming up, so good night," she stated, not going to the trouble of waiting for his response.

She's already out his car and up the steps when the tires squeal away, tears flooding her eyes and she grasped her arm close to her the pain still radiating down the limb in throbbing waves. Her face still on fire from the slap, blood had dried at the corner making it hard to move her lips. Her mind working overtime as to what she should do. She knew there were no options she had a job to do regardless of what risks to her life.

Entering her quiet apartment, she glances around seeing so many memories that surround her, and yet her heart is empty and dark. Her soul grown cold with every day that passed by, with the evils they see and fight. She tired to push it all away but her family, the life line she used for those things is broken. Best friend in the arms of another woman which still cracks her heart. Eyes glancing over to the turned down picture of them at that thought. Knowing she should be over the slight but finding that holding the grudge is easier than apologizing. Shrugging carefully out of her coat, purse on the table behind the couch Penelope heads to the bath. Inspecting the forming bruises and busted lip, grabbing a wash cloth to clean off the blood. Thankful that it's Friday. By Monday things will have started to fade just like memories.