The team assembled in their usual positions in the conference room. Penelope popped a Pepcid AC into her mouth to ease her upset stomach and a mint to stop her harsh breath. She looked at the loved ones that surrounded her in the room. JJ, Spencer and Morgan were all drafting their introductory notes on their iPads while Ashley grabbed a cup of coffee. Rossi was preparing the board to draft the background of the case... her case... She shuddered at the thought. She could tell that Hotch was trying to prepare what to say to his team, how he was going to inform them that Penelope was in a high risk situation once again. First, it was Battle. Now this unknown stalker.

With her fluffy pens in her hands, Penelope made her way to the seat that Derek had saved for her. Without looking up, he pushed back the chair for her to take a seat. Nodding in gratitude, she took a seat and wrung out her hands in nervousness.

When she dropped the pens in front of her, Derek chuckled and looked at her nervous form. Since their arrangement began, Penelope always appeared more cautious when they sat close at work. In an attempt to ease her tension, he lifted his hand to massage her neck. However, she stiffened like an ironing board and he immediately pulled away. "Baby Girl?" he questioned quietly.

Penelope turned to him with pleading eyes that were glazed with shame, embarrassment and a need for forgiveness. Confused, Derek moved to grab her hand, but she pulled away from him at the sound of Hotch's cough. David had closed the door and shut the blinds to ensure privacy in their conference room.

"You are all in here because of a new case we will be working on. We are keeping it low on the radar because we have not received certified permission from Strauss to involve ourselves with this case. It is extremely personal and will effect each of us. After the case, I am requiring that each of us seek a psych evaluation to determine our status with the team." Aaron spoke firmly and with purpose, which caused each member to be on alert.

"Hotch, we just had evaluations after Emily," Seaver said questioningly.

"Yes, but this case will have profound effects for all of us," Rossi answered the young agent.

"What is the case? I wasn't briefed," JJ asked curiously. Her adjustment back with the team had been interesting since her return. The responsibilities shared between her, Hotch and Garcia were still being sorted out and appropriately delegated.

Penelope felt her heart race as Hotch reached for the envelope. She wished that her voice would interrupt his thoughts and she could provide an explanation for their newest case. However, she was robbed of speech and only brave tears covered her eyes.

Hotch opened the contents of the envelope and distributed the photos upon the table. David took the note and began writing the contents of the letter upon the background board. "This was left on my desk this morning. As you can tell by the contents, we are dealing with a potentially unstable stalker whose focus is set on Garcia. She has been made aware of her new dangers and has agreed to help us in any way possible while staying protected."

Each team member possessed a different reaction. Ashley looked like she was trying to remain neutral and view this as another case. However, since the loss of Emily, Garcia had kept a special eye on the young agent. Ashley felt fear for her new friend and wanted to protect her, but felt inadequate to do so.

Spencer grew rigid while analyzing each photo. He tried to find a pattern among the photos but fought his body from throwing up or developing a head ache. He couldn't believe that another member of his family was in jeopardy. He lifted a picture of her eyes and he couldn't help but shake in disappointment and sadness.

JJ felt punched in the gut as her best friend's face lay scattered among the table. These were photos of her daily activities and personal pleasures. She was captured at her strongest and most vulnerable. "Garcie?" she asked, fresh tears gathering in her bright blue eyes. When Penelope couldn't look at her, JJ lowered her head toward the evidence and allowed her solitary tears to fall.

The man beside her is what concerned Penelope. Derek sat rigid and concerned. He held a photo of her in her bath robe in her home. Her hair was in a wet bun that had rebellious tendrils frame her face. She held a glass of red wine and was sipping it in the photo. Her eyes looked calm and vulnerable. Her lips were stained by the crimson fluid from the goblet. Derek clenched his teeth in anger at the violation his baby girl had endured.

"There's more," Penelope whispered sadly, standing from her chair and moving beside Aaron and David. "Tuesday morning was the first time I received contact from this stalker."

Derek's eyes shot up and met her gaze with fire. Penelope took an unconscious step backward as she observed the surprised expressions from her team. Instead of allowing them to speak, she continued providing details of the package she first received. "When I opened my door for work Tuesday morning, there was a bouquet of flowers and an envelope with my name upon it waiting for me. When I opened the contents of the envelope, there was a letter similar to the one on the board and photos of me from that morning."

"What were those photos of?" Spencer asked.

Penelope shifted her gaze and shuffled her feet. "The evidence is currently being processed by Michelle and Damon on third floor," she replied avoiding the question. She could feel Derek's gaze analyzing her form and Penelope couldn't stop the tears that fell from her eyes.

"I will be contacting Michelle to have her relay the evidence to us once it is thoroughly processed," Aaron said having control return to him.

"What do we do from here?" Derek asked.

David answered, "For now, we are going to resume our regular activities. Especially Penelope."

"Garcia?" Derek said startled. "She needs protection."

"And she will," Aaron said firmly.

Lifting a photo from her in the lair, Derek argued, "Obviously we aren't doing enough to keep her from this freak!"

"That's not helping," JJ said trying to calm him down.

"What Penelope needs is to run," Derek said in an attempt to be calm.

Shocked, Penelope responded to his idea, "What I need is to help you find this son of a bitch."

"You can't stand around and let him get to her," Derek called out to Hotch and Rossi, feeling like he was drawing at short straws.

"She isn't your cousin, Morgan," Rossi interjected, causing the room to be flooded with silence.

Derek felt overwhelmed. Bringing up his lost cousin felt like a bullet tore through his heart. Derek couldn't get Penelope to meet his wounded and frightened eyes as his frustrations and infinite questions increased. No longer able to sit still, Derek got up and left for his office.

"Morgan!" JJ yelled toward him in shock.

"Let him go," Penelope said finally meeting her best friend's eyes. "This is a lot for him to process. We just need to focus."

"For now, we need to get the forensic evidence from Michelle and Damon to see what they came up with," Aaron stated. "Rossi and Seaver, I want you guys to check out Penelope's apartment and see if there are any access points for surveillance equipment. JJ and Reid, I want you to identify locations and possible date or time identifications within the photographic evidence and do the same when Michelle or Damon finish analyzing the photographs, letter and flowers. Reid, I want you to pay special attention to the letters and develop a pattern this UNSUB has within his letters. Garcia, I want you to check on Morgan. Once he is settled, have him sent to my office and he and I will check out some of your familiar spots. We will all regroup at 4 to share our findings and decide where to go from here."

With that, everyone began leaving the room understanding their assignments. JJ moved swiftly beside Penelope and pulled her into a hug full of reassurance and love. "It will be okay," she whispered in her ear. "It will be okay."

Penelope nodded tearfully and removed herself from her hold. She knew who she needed to see and realized she needed to be brave enough to face him.

When Derek entered his office door, he slammed it hard as he paced. He felt anger, despair and frustration consume him. Letting loose a growl, he moved behind his desk and sat in a huff. Closing his eyes to control his breathing, he thought of the many carefree times Penelope would come into his office, ready for any adventure they thought of. Looking up toward the door, he imagined her in one of her blue work dresses, holding her red stiletto heels in her hand with a bucket of pop corn and a smile. Was this bastard watching her then? he asked himself. Blinking to control his sights, he leaned his head back and tried to count down to ten to calm himself. Relieved that his blinds were closed, he loosened his tie and reclined in his chair.

The jingles of her bracelet were what alerted him of her approach. He stood alert as he noticed her shadow pace the office door in what he knew was worry and doubt. Making long strides toward the door, he opened it to find Penelope with bright wet eyes filled with shame and fear.

He pulled her into the office and shut the door behind her. Pushing her against the door, Derek stole her lips in a heated kiss, full of frustration and fear. Penelope immediately surrendered to their passion and held him tightly against her, needing his body to remind her of life without boundaries or fear.

As his lips traveled down her neck, she whispered, "We need to talk."

"Not now," he growled in need. His lips returned to hers, his tongue stealing entrance into her wanting mouth.

Their hands were on fire as they traveled each others bodies, knowing the exact points which sent them screaming in lust. His fingers teased her thighs as his grip remained tight and wanting. "Wrap your legs around me," he ordered against her mouth.

"I'm too heavy," she tried to argue, her arousal apparent in her heaving breasts and mews.

Thrusting his hardness against him, he lifted her to wrap her legs around him and lowered them to the carpeted floor. "I locked the door," he growled when she looked up at him with questioning eyes.

"We have to be fast," she moaned as his lips and teeth traveled between her blushing breasts.

Nodding against her, his hands slipped under her dress and violently tore her panties down to her knees. Her hands shook in anticipation as she unbuckled his belt and began to release his hardness from his clothed prison.

Once his hardness was revealed to her, he rested himself against his arms and looked down at her lust filled eyes. "Condom?"

"No time," she urged, her desire for him dominating her sense.

Derek thrust into her, the physical contrast of her clothing and skin urging their intensity. He placed his fingers over her lips to silence her moans, however her nibbles and licks produced his own animalistic hunger and grunts.

Their sex was not romantic or fairy tale-esque as one would imagine it. This moment was driven by their need for reality and passion. They knew what sparked one another to life and each needed that consistency.

"I'm close," she moaned as her hips thrust forward to meet his rapid movements.

"Come for me baby," he growled, pushing into her faster and harder.

She immediately stilled beneath him after his command and she gripped onto him tightly and her inner contractions encouraged his release. As he burst within her, she marveled at Derek's beauty and strength. His body arched above her resembling a cobra in his movements. She couldn't love him more than in that forbidden moment.

Derek relaxed above her and felt himself holding her tightly beneath him. Her fingernails made comforting patterns along his back as they shook in after shocks after their quick moment of release. Resting his forehead against hers, he pressed his lips to hers. He wanted to touch her sweetly like the goddess she was. Looking into her eyes, he made a vow, stating, "I will always keep you safe."

The intensity of his gaze warmed her heart and she nodded wordlessly.

"Believe me, Baby Girl. I will always keep you safe."

Penelope reached up and took him in a final kiss before she rolled away from him. "Back to the grind we go, Handsome," she said with a smile.

He gave her a concerned smile as they got ready to face their fears outside the door. "I believe you, Derek," she whispered nervously. "We will find him."

Pressing a final kiss to her head, he reached for the handle ready to find the bastard hunting his Penelope.