Derek stepped off the plane and wandered over to his car. It had been a long week. The team had been on a case in California, and the son of a bitch was good. He had completely covered his tracks for five years before finally slipping up, but the local department still needed some help piecing it together. Finally, they caught him, the man who was responsible for the rape and murder of fifty women in the last five years. The Unsub had started with just one victim every two months, but had evolved and perfected his method. When he was finally brought to justice, he had killed one woman per week for three months.
It still amazed him that people were capable of such things. Sure, he had been known to be a player, but that didn't mean he hadn't been raised right. His mama had taught him from a young age how to treat a woman right. He just chose to treat multiple women right, not only one, though not all at the same time. A fair number of women had fallen victim to his many charms, and he wouldn't deny it. But it was usually the woman that left him, due to his fear of commitment and lack of desire for a steady relationship.
But this man, he had no concept of what it meant to treat someone correctly. The women were all bound, beaten, and then raped before he finally put them out of their misery. Even that wasn't a quick process, as he found his pleasure in the pain and torture of each victim. The team was just in time to save his last victim before he disposed of her too, though she would be forever both physically and mentally scared, and she would be able to eventually go on with her life.
Morgan couldn't even imagine what it would be like for her though, at just seventeen, to see his eyes peering down at her every time she closed hers. Sure, he himself had had his way with many women, but the second they resisted he was quick to stop himself. Never would he even think about taking something so special from a person against their will. This case was one of the most difficult he had ever faced, but he couldn't pinpoint why. Maybe it was the fact that he hadn't talked to his baby girl all week, or that in the face of every victim he could see the face of the perky tech analyst. Each had been blond and reminded him in some way of his best friend. All he knew was that he needed to talk to her, make sure she was okay. Only then would he be able to rest.
Dialing her number, speed dial one in his phone, he listened to the ring. Her voicemail kicked in after thirty seconds and he listened, taking in the sound of her voice. "Hey baby girl, it's me. Answer your phone woman, you're torturing me here. I'm on my way over from the airport. I need to talk to you. See you soon."
"Hey Hotch!" Derek jogged over to his boss. "Have you heard anything from Garcia?"
"She took some personal time. I don't know if she is still in town or not, I didn't press her. She looked like a wreck when I talked to her last week."
"Do you have any idea what happened? Is she okay?" His brow creased in worry as he frowned at Hotchner. Usually the man knew everything about the members of his team. Now was not the time for him to have no answers.
"I don't know for sure, but I think she may have mentioned something about Kevin. It's not our business, Morgan, so please don't press the issue. When she is ready she will contact someone." Even as he said it, the unit chief knew it would go in one of Derek's ears and out the other.
"Thanks man," the younger agent hurried back over to his car and sped out of the lot in the direction of Penelope's apartment.
Just the thought that something may have happened to hurt his baby girl had the usually composed agent to be on edge. Since they first met, Derek had been very protective of the woman. Something about her just drew him in. They were best friends and had been for years. It was very unusual that she kept out of contact for so long. Even if he wasn't a profiler, he would have known something was wrong.
Those close to the friends could see that they cared about each other as more than two typical friends of the opposite sex usually would. They were all just waiting for the day the two in question would figure this out themselves. Penelope and Derek had been dancing around a relationship for years. Everyone knew they would be a great couple. They already had the foundation of trust and love that successful marriages were built on. If they wanted to be together, they could easily make it work. They just had to choose to take the first step.
Stopping to wait for a red light, Morgan slammed his hand on the wheel. "Dammit, hurry up!" Speeding just a little he reached the apartment within twenty minutes. It was now close to midnight and Derek was really hoping Penelope would still be awake. Either way, he had to make sure she was alright. Running up the stairs to the third floor, he pulled out his phone. Calling first would be best, in case she was asleep. He didn't want to scare her.
…
Penelope finally made it to her bed for the night at around ten. This was the first time all week she had been in her room. It held so many memories. Penelope wasn't even sure she would be able to stay there the whole night. Kevin had regularly slept over in that very room, in that very bed. It's where he told her they would be together forever, where he proposed. This was where they made love for the first time, what seemed to be so long ago. The woman tried to push those thoughts from her head as she eased down under the covers. All of this seemed alien to her. Her room, her sheets, her pillows, everything about her life was different. It was as if she was seeing the world through someone else's eyes, on the outside looking in. Laying her head back, Garcia gazed up at the ceiling. Closing her eyes, she finally drifted into a restless sleep. For what must have been hours she dreamed on and off about Kevin, each time he turned into another one of the criminals she had profiled, and each time she was the target.
…
"You've always wanted this Penelope, from the day we first met." Kevin knelt next to the chained tech. analyst. A layer of duct tape stretched across her mouth, preventing the screams that echoed inside of her from leaving her body. "Every time you looked at me, I could see it. There was desire in your eyes."
Pulling at the chains that held her to the floor, Garcia tried to escape. Straining with every inch of muscle she possessed, Garcia finally managed to gain an inch more wiggle room. It wasn't enough though. The man she had once loved smiled as he lifted her skirt. Tears ran down her cheeks as he brought his hips down to hers and smiled, entering her.
…
Morgan called twice. No answer either time. Picking the lock on the door, Morgan entered her house. Looking around, seeing all of the dirty dishes, Morgan was sure that something was really wrong. Everything about her was neat, her appearance, her office, and most certainly her home.
"Garcia? Baby girl?" A whimpering sound was coming from her room. "Baby girl, what's wrong? Is everything ok?" Derek moved in and pulled the beads that covered her door to the side. Tears were running down her cheeks and she was clutching the blankets around her so tightly that her hands were the palest white.
Derek hurried over to the bed and shook the woman by the shoulders. She cried out and sat bolt upright, eyes wide and afraid.
"It's ok Penelope, it's me, Derek. Everything is ok, I promise."
Penelope reached up and wiped her eyes. "Derek?" she peered at him through the darkness, reaching for her glasses. "What are you doing here?"
"I just came by to check on you, baby girl, I hadn't heard from you in so long and I was getting nervous. Is everything alright?"
Penelope looked up into his face, illuminated by the moon, and tears immediately formed in her eyes again. She had missed him so much. He had always been her rock, and she needed him now more than ever.
Derek noticed the look on her face and stretched his arms out to her, "It's on baby girl, come here. Everything is going to be alright, I promise." Tears were flowing down her cheeks and she shrank into his embrace, comforted by the feeling of his arms and his familiar scent.
"It's just been so hard Derek! I didn't even know what I was going to tell everyone! I feel so ashamed and stupid for not knowing and I just feel so lost!" She was sobbing to much to say any more.
"Shhhh, it's all going to be alright. Just take deep breaths now, it's all ok. I've got you." Derek was pretty sure he had an idea of what she was getting at and was struggling to keep in the rage he felt towards that pitiful excuse for a man. He had cheated on her, and she had caught him. The things he could d0 to him…
"I probably sound like I'm crazy, don't I?" Garcia sniffed and Morgan wiped the tears from her cheeks. She seemed more composed now.
"No, I have a feeling I know what you're getting at and I don't need details. I should have been able to see what kind of person he was, but you liked him so much I didn't want to interfere."
"There's no way that you could have known he would do this, Derek, you can't blame yourself."
"I know I can't, I just wish I could have seen it coming, I wish I could have helped, made this easier."
"I don't think much could make this easier, baby. Thank you though. Don't go getting yourself all worked up over it. You have a job to do, one that requires all of your focus."
"I know very well what my job entails. But I am here for you first, you hear?"
"I hear, but I couldn't keep you away from work, from friends. It just wouldn't be right. Just because I am having trouble doesn't mean you should feel like you need to see me through."
"I don't feel like I have to, baby girl, I want to. And until I know you're ok, everything else can wait."
"Derek.."
"Don't even try to argue with me woman. You know very well how that ends." He flashed her an amazingly bright smile.
Garcia laughed, she did indeed know how that would end. She might as well not waste her time.
"Now, you look like you could use some of Derek Morgan's famous omelets." Garcia made a move to get up and follow him out of the room but Derek stopped her. "You just stay right there now, princess. We deliver, you don't have to lift one of your pretty little fingers."
She laughed and sat back down, smiling. He always knew how to make her feel better. Come on now, omelets in bed at one in the morning? What woman wouldn't enjoy that? Combine that with the company of what Penelope thought to be just about the most attractive and charming man on earth, and she was in heaven.
She thought for a minute. Kevin had never done anything like that for her. The thought of Kevin made her smile fade again. She was as close to heaven as she could get anyways, all things still considered.
Thanks for reading! I appologize profusely for the delay in uploading, school is taking up all of my time at the moment. Thank goodness for spring break! Anyways, please please please review! i hope you enjoyed this chapter :)
