Six months had crawled painfully by and Derek was headed back to work. He was nervous and he wasn't sure how his team would feel having him back. Perhaps they had discovered that they could operate without him, maybe even preferred things without him around. He needed to get back to work and convince himself that he hadn't failed to protect himself and that he hadn't failed at what he thought he did best.

He'd married Savannah shortly after being discharged from the hospital five months ago and he was beyond excited about their future and the baby that was due in a month. It was a boy just as he suspected. Every man wanted a boy and he was no exception. Savannah had proven her love patiently standing by his side throughout his recovery and he loved her with his whole heart. He'd been blessed. He couldn't help but wonder if God was making up for some things, and for all the prayers he'd prayed as a child that he was sure God had ignored. Whatever it was, Derek was happy…and afraid.

BAU Headquarters –

He purposely scheduled his arrival hoping that the rest of the team would already be in their offices working. He'd made Rossi promise no welcome back parties and after a few minutes of haggling, Rossi consented to honor his wishes. It was blissfully quiet as he stepped off the elevator. He couldn't help but pause and take it all in before hurrying to his office. This felt like home, solace, he knew immediately that this was what he'd been missing for the last six months of his life.

"Hey, there you are."

He'd missed that too. His best friend who'd kept her distance while he healed and settled into married life. He wished she hadn't stayed away in an effort to give him space. He stopped and turned to face her.

"Baby Girl."

He waited for her to catch up. She noticed his mega-watt smile had lost a few watts. His eyes were sad and his movements had lost a tad of the Derek Morgan swag. She pretended not to notice gobbling him up in a familiar bear hug. He didn't want to let go.

"I missed you, Handsome."

He kissed her on the cheek and released her.

"I missed you too."

He pulled out of her embrace and continued down the hallway toward his office. He didn't want to reveal his nerves and emotions that were rushing to the surface. He needed to be alone even if it were just for a moment. Puzzled, she followed behind him worried not knowing what to say or do. He'd changed.

"Derek…"

He stopped just before opening his door and again waited for her to catch up.

"What's up, Garcia?"

"I-I just…if you need…"

"I know Baby Girl. I'll be fine."

He couldn't look at her just yet. He felt her come closer; close enough to feel the heat radiating from her body. He closed his eyes and exhaled his forehead leaning on his office door.

"I'm here for you, okay Derek? I'm here for you."

"Yeah, I know you are."

Then in an instant he slipped into the office closing the door quickly behind him. Penelope stood speechless as the lock slid into place. She placed a shaky hand on the closed door silently praying for her friend who was still broken and still struggling.

Hotch closed the case file in frustration. Wichita needed them and he was reluctant to leave. Morgan was back and he wasn't sure if his most fearless, dependable and strongest agent was ready. So much had happened that would have destroyed any of them. His kidnapping and torture was still an unsolved case and would threaten Morgan's focus. Hotch remembered his ordeal with Foyet and how it had taken his wife Hailey and nearly his son. That pain still followed him it was unshakeable. He'd tried to walk past it and live ignoring the fact that it followed him everywhere he went. Morgan had always relied on his strength and had always been the one to protect the others; he'd saved all of their lives countless times. Perhaps it was time they saved his.

Home of David Rossi – Evening –

The Wichita case was wrapped up in less than twenty-four hours and it was good to be back in Quantico. Rossi had convinced Morgan to fill the empty chair in his standing poker game. For a few brief hours Morgan was able to relax and push back the heavy weight that seemed to have take a permanent seat on his chest. The case had been a tough one and he kept wondering if any thing they did mattered. This was the world that his son would inherit and his heart broke. Now surrounded by Dave's distinguished friends, who welcomed him into their circle, willing to give up twenty-five percent of the pot to his son's future he genuinely smiled for the first time in a long time. It was overwhelming and again he choked down his emotions.

"Ain't no sunshine in this hand."

Losing the third straight hand was his cue to leave; he'd promised to meet Savannah for La Maze classes. He'd promised never to be late for her again and so he bid adieu to his new friends. The game resumed quickly and as he stood at the top of the stairs he felt a solemn sense of dread overcome him.

Bethesda Memorial Hospital –

Derek waited patiently for Savannah to arrive. They'd agreed to meet near the fountain and walk in together. So many thoughts ran through his mind, the case still chasing him as he kept seeing the bodies of dead children…dead eyes seeming to stare into his soul asking, 'why?' He wondered when he would feel normal again and when he would feel as if he no longer had to look over his shoulders.

Then almost magically his wife, belly swollen appeared smiling and glowing in front of him. He stood smiling pulling her into a sweet embrace kissing her lightly on the lips.

Omar watched the couple as they stood near the black truck that Derek had arrived in. The sounds of the large fountain just to the right of the truck would muffle the sound of his rifle. He normally left this sort of thing to someone else but this time he needed to make sure that everything went perfectly. This mission had been in the making for over a year and they were too close. It should have ended six months ago, but Derek Morgan had proven to be a bigger adversary than he'd expected. Savannah had been his secret weapon but even she had become a liability. She was like a daughter to him. In fact he'd raised her after marrying her widowed mother. He could still remember the skinny little girl with the light brown eyes and auburn hair; they connected immediately and he knew he'd love her like his own.

Now here he was perched on the roof of the hospital's administration building watching the soon-to-be parents through his rifle's scope. Nothing mattered now except ending her life and proving to Derek Morgan that he could be broken. No matter what mind tricks he played there would be no escaping the pain and agony that he had planned for him. He wanted to spend time watching him endure every moment of torture. He needed him to remember what he had done and the pain he'd caused him so many years ago. He wanted to see the shock in his eyes when just before he took his final breath he finally remembered who he was.

Then with expert precision he settled on his target and pulled the trigger.

"Derek!"

Omar watched his little angel fall like a feather into her husband's arms.

"NO! SAVANNAH!"

Derek saw his world suddenly collapse and turn black and red with her blood. He caught her just before she hit the ground. Her fearful eyes met his just before she lost consciousness. Later he would not remember how he got to the emergency room entrance.

Omar watched as the two disappeared from sight and patiently packed his belongings and all evidence of his being there. He was confident that he would not get caught until he was ready to see them again.

"Now…let the games begin! I'll be seeing you soon, Agent Morgan." He whispered as he disappeared into the darkness.