Cuba – Morning –
Savannah slowly eased her way out of the bed and headed toward the bathroom. Last night was amazing and Derek had made love to her as if he really loved only her, but she knew better. He wanted to believe and more than that, she knew that he wanted her to believe that their marriage stood a chance. She'd convinced him that they needed this week alone together, but she was afraid not even a tropical getaway would be enough.
Just as she reached the bathroom door, she turned back to glance at the man who had meant everything to her. He was a good man and he had done the best he could to fight the demons that told him that he could never be truly happy. He'd saved so many others, but it was a shame that he wasn't able to save himself.
Quantico, VA – 2 Days later – Afternoon
Home of Dave and Fran Rossi –
Dave had enjoyed the last few days home with his wife. It had been too long, and it took this down time to realize how much he needed a break from the demanding and horrific things he and the others experienced each day. The constant smile on Fran's face and the extra perks of being married to an amazing woman, confirmed for him that she felt the same way. Having their grandson under the same roof was an extra blessing and it no doubt would be hard to give him back to his parents at the end of the week.
Savannah pulled up the long circular driveway and killed the engine. Her plans for a romantic week with Derek had come to an unexpected halt and now she was here to retrieve her son from his grandparents. She knew there would be questions and she had prepared herself the best she could. As she climbed the steps, she took a deep breath and waited.
Dave and Fran exchanged puzzled looks as he headed toward the front door. They weren't expecting company and salesmen had long learned not to waste their time coming by. Peering through the peephole Dave quickly opened the door.
"Savannah?"
"Dave, what are you doing here?"
"I live here. Why wouldn't I be here?"
"But…"
Dave ushered her inside just as Fran joined them in the foyer.
"Well hello, Savannah. I didn't think you'd be home until Sunday; it's only Thursday."
"I took an earlier flight since Derek…Dave I don't understand, why didn't you go with the rest of the team?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Derek got a call and he said that you all had a case and that he had to leave."
"No. We're off for the week."
"Wait, I don't understand?"
"Start from the beginning."
"Two days ago…"
"Two days? Are you telling me that you haven't seen my son in two days?" Fran interrupted.
"He got a call and he said he had to leave for a case. He packed his bags and rushed out. He told me to stay for the rest of the vacation and he'd call me later."
"We didn't get a case and that doesn't sound like Derek."
Home of Penelope Garcia – Afternoon –
It had taken Sam two days to pull it together for their mini vacation; not too bad for a man that didn't have a spontaneous bone in his body…he was learning, slowly but he was learning. The closer it got to their departure the more excited she was. That surprised her given the fact that she'd been overly concerned with the reality that Derek had suddenly left the country to spend time with his wife. He'd been so unhappy, and she was ashamed to admit it, but she wondered and even hoped that maybe this was something that they wouldn't recover from. But now here she was packing to go away with Sam to one of the most romantic places on earth and she was giddy.
Just as she managed to get the over-stuffed bag closed and locked her cell phone went off. She assumed it was Sam calling to let her know he was on his way to pick her up. It was JJ instead.
"Well hello Blondie!"
"Hey Garcia…"
"I wish I could talk but Sam's going to be here any minute and I..."
"Garcia…"
"Jamaica! Can you believe it?"
"GARCIA!'
"What? JJ what's going on?"
"Something's happened…Morgan is missing."
BAU Headquarters – later
"Okay Savannah, start from the beginning."
The team had all gathered at the BAU to begin the hunt for Morgan. None of them saw this coming and Savannah seemed shaken at the thought that Derek could be missing.
"Do you think this could have anything to do with his kidnapping almost two years ago?" Savannah asked.
"We won't know until we begin to gather the details. Now please take us back to the beginning when you two arrived in Cuba." Hotch urged.
"We took a cab to the resort and we checked into our room."
"Did anything seem odd? Was there anyone following you or watching you?"
"I don't know, I don't think so. We were just two people on vacation. I didn't notice anything out of the ordinary."
"When did you see Derek last?" Rossi asked.
"Tuesday morning. We were getting ready to go out for the day and his cell phone rang. I knew it was one of you because of the ring tone."
"He looked at me and said he had a case."
"Didn't you think that was odd since you two were on vacation?"
"Yes! Yes, in fact, I asked him about it. He said that the message said that the case was bad, and it even had an apology for interrupting our stay."
"The first thing we need to do is find out who sent that message. Garcia…"
"On it!"
Garcia rushed from the room and headed to her lair. Something was off. There was no way any of them sent that message so why did Derek think it was from them?
"Savannah, how did Derek get to the airport?" Reid asked.
"What?"
"The airport, how did Derek get to the airport?"
"I-I'm not sure a taxi, I guess. I was pretty upset with him and we said our goodbyes in the room."
"We need to get to Cuba. I'll call the director and have him clear it."
Hotch pulled his phone from his pocket while the others rushed from the room. Savannah watched them leave as she slowly made her exit. Now was not the time for her to lose her focus or fall apart. Everything depended on it.
Las Joyas Resort - Santa Maria Del Mar, Cuba – Two days ago (Tuesday) Morning – (Flashback)
Things had been going better than expected and both she and Derek seemed committed to making the best of their time together. Savannah was happy that Derek had been so attentive to her and he'd made love to her the night before like he used to when they were first together. She appreciated his efforts, dinner, moonlight walk on the beach, she felt like a newlywed. Still she had other things on her mind as she pulled her phone from her purse.
"Cara mia, I was wondering when you would call."
"Of course, you knew I would call you, mi amor."
"I saw you last night, still just as beautiful as the last time we were together."
"Where did you see us?"
"At the restaurant. I could barely stop myself from snatching you out of his arms when you were dancing."
"Armando."
"I know, I know. He's your husband but it doesn't change how I feel about you."
"Nor how I feel about you, but it has to be this way."
"Then of all the places in the world, why did you choose Cuba, especially Santa Maria if you didn't want to see me or at least remember our times here?"
"I was my happiest here with you. If only things had been different."
"Does he know?"
"Know what?"
"The baby. Does he know?"
"Hank means everything to Derek. It would destroy him if he…"
"Where is your husband now?"
"He went for a run on the beach. He'll be back soon."
"Are you sure about that?"
"Armando!"
"Just say the word and I will make him disappear then you me and our son will live happily ever after."
Then the sound of the patio door made her jump.
"Savannah! Baby, I'm back!"
"He's here. I've got to go."
"When can I see you?"
"It's impossible…I-I want to see you, but I don't know…"
"Baby?"
Derek noticed his wife slide the phone into her bag.
"Who were you talking to?"
"I was just calling to check on our son."
"Why didn't you wait for me?"
"I was getting anxious, forgive me?"
Derek leaned down and kissed her lovingly on the lips.
"Of course, I forgive you."
She smiled and watched him, glistening and sweaty from his run, she still loved him, loved how he so desperately wanted to love her. It was in his eyes, the regret, the determination and the sorrow all doing battle to win supremacy over him. She knew she'd play a part in his demise and for that her heart broke for him.
END OF FLASHBACK…
BAU Headquarters – Present –
It was all she could do to keep the tears from blurring her vision as she desperately searched for him. Penelope knew too much about what evil could do and what inhumane things humans did to each other. She wondered what had happened to him and now she knew that the uneasy feeling she'd had in the pit of her stomach all week wanted to pull her into a deep dark pit of dread. Derek had endured the unthinkable almost two years ago and she and the others still wondered how he'd survived with his sanity intact. He managed to literally crawl out with his life, beaten, and tortured to find happiness now with Savannah and their son. How would he fare if he was required to do it all again? Most people couldn't survive it even once, let alone twice.
"He's going to be okay; he's going to be okay; he's going to be okay…"
Unknown Location – Havana, Cuba – Present –
He slowly pulled himself to his feet. It was pitch black but even in the darkness he could tell that the room was small, half the size of a bedroom. He hated the dark and he hated small rooms, so he needed to find a way out. He was hungry and thirsty too and since he'd been brought here, he hadn't seen anyone.
Derek ran his hand over the wall tracing his surroundings with his fingers trying to find a weak spot, a door, a window, anything that would give him a hint of hope. By now Savannah would be worried about him. He had made plans to surprise her with a special dinner on the beach. Somehow things had gone terribly wrong and now, he was here alone and with no way to let his wife and his family know where is was and that he was alive.
"Hello!"
Derek began pounding his fist against the wall that felt as if it were made of brick or cement.
"HELLO! SOMEBODY!"
There was no answer just the sound of his voice bouncing off the walls with a thud.
"You can't keep me here! I'm a federal agent with the US government! Let me OUT!"
Then suddenly, the door sprang open and the light from the small narrow hallway illuminated the room in golden muted light. Instinctively, Derek took a step back, his body hitting the wall. A well-dressed man stepped into the room and Derek could see that there were at least two other men in the hallway.
"Why am I here? Where's my wife?"
"So many questions…all in due time."
"I'm an agent with the US government! You can't keep me here!"
A wide grin spread across the face of the man as he shot a quick glance at the others.
"I know exactly who you are agent Morgan."
