Hotch stopped the SUV and killed the engine. He warned the others to be careful, quiet and fast as they got out and approached the house. There were no lights on in the small house and it wasn't until they entered that they heard voices. Indicating with the mere motion of his head and hands he sent them all in separate directions. Morgan was still alive and for that he breathed a shaky sigh of relief.

"Kill me!"

Hotch listened from the hallway. He wanted to give his friend as much time as he needed to decide what he was going to do with the man who'd sent his life into a tailspin.

"You've spent a lot of time and money trying to destroy me. I want to make sure you live long enough to see that you haven't."

"After all I've done. You won't pull the trigger? Any man would. Are you a man, Agent Morgan?"

Morgan renewed his grip on the gun steadying his hand and his resolve not to let this man provoke him. He still had unfinished business and he was just as determined as Omar was to see it to the end.

"Omar Bastione, you're under arrest for conspiracy to kill a federal agent, kidnapping, assault with the intent to kill, terrorism and about a dozen other charges but I'm just too tired to name them all."

He was done. It was Hotch's cue to give the others the go ahead to enter the room. Morgan looked toward the door as his team entered the room. Rossi and Reid took over cuffing Omar and dragged him from the house. JJ and Hotch flanked Morgan on each side. Morgan felt as if he'd been drained of so much energy as he watched Omar disappear through the doorway. As he fought the tears and the fatigue he was grateful for the silence between them; no questions of why he'd left without word, no accusations…just silence, wonderful glorious silence and their warm touch of love as they placed their hands on his shoulders.

Bethesda Memorial Hospital – Later –

He remembered the last time he'd run through these doors. He was carrying his wife who'd just been shot her life ebbing away. All that was running through his mind was Savannah and his unborn child. Now his arms were empty but his heart was heavy carrying the burden of uncertainty, numb with the weight of the truth on his shoulders. Passing several agents and uniformed officers he headed toward Savannah's room. There was so much to say, so many questions and so little time.

He entered Savannah's room. It was empty. Quickly turning around to leave he nearly collided with the nurse who'd been taking care of Savannah.

"Agent Morgan, you're just in time."

"What happened? Where's my wife?"

"We're taking her down to the O.R."

"Why, what's wrong?"

"The baby's heart rate dropped and we have to perform an emergency C-section."

His heart stopped and he froze.

"Come on you'll need to change into scrubs."

He was still frozen as the nurse headed down the hall. Suddenly he wasn't sure what he was supposed to do. It was then that he saw her, the woman who always seemed to appear just when he needed her. Penelope stopped next to him and her touch seemed to un-thaw him enough to begin thinking again. He grabbed her and pulled her into a tight embrace and held onto her for dear life.

She felt him trembling against her. He was safe and in one piece but he didn't have to tell her that something was wrong. Her heart broke again for him; it had done that a lot over the last year. How much more could he endure she asked as she held onto him. Then he pulled away avoiding her stare while trying to clear his mind.

"Derek?"

He knew she needed to know what was wrong but he couldn't have that conversation…not here and not now.

"I-I need you to do me a favor."

"Of course. Anything."

He pulled away and tearfully looked into her eyes.

"I need you to find everything you can on Savannah Hayes."

Then quickly he pulled completely away from her reach.

"What?"

"Just do it…please…"

"Agent Morgan!"

He heard his name being called from down the hall. Then with a final pleading look at his best friend he ran down the hall.

"Okay." She whispered.

Penelope felt her tears crawling down her face. They were not just her tears; they were his too.

Dressed now in faded pea-green scrubs he stood for a moment outside of the surgical suite and peered through the small window. He watched the medical staff feverishly yet orderly rushing around the room and Savannah lying on the table awake and alone. He slowly pushed open the door and walked in taking the small stool and sitting behind her head.

She breathed a sigh of relief. He'd made it in time and he was here…with her. She wondered if it was too much to believe that he didn't know the truth. She wondered if he'd forgive her if he did. She wanted to be ignorant…blissfully so, to the fact that he'd come out of obligation and not love. Savannah wanted to know…needed to know that he was there because he wanted to be…because no matter what he'd been told he still loved her. She wiped away the single tear as it ran down the side of her face and moved her focus from the drape that blocked her view of the doctors working in front of her to him. He was so quiet and for a moment she was sure she heard a slight sniffle above her head. She was so cold; so afraid and he hadn't moved or spoken a word to her.

"I'm so glad you made it, Baby."

The chill in the air made her teeth chatter as she spoke. He didn't respond to her it was then that she realized that the cold breeze was blowing from his direction.

"I'll never be late for you, again."

He'd made that promise almost a year ago and he'd meant it. He knew he wanted her and their baby and a life of marriage, of trust. All the things he'd never been sure he wanted until he opened his eyes and stared into her teary eyes. It seemed like eternity now. After almost twenty-four hours of being beaten, drugged and tortured and forcing his mind to seek refuge in a hidden place, he survived sharing conversations with his departed father, convincing himself of what was important in life.

"Do you know how much I love you?"

She knew. She knew that he'd done everything possible to survive and come back to her. She knew that he'd given up everything to be with her. She knew that his love had made him chose her above everything and everyone else. She knew.

"Just focus, Savannah. Focus on having our baby…"

She looked up into the blackness of his gaze. His mood always changed the shade of his eyes. Another tear drifted down her face. He was so still, focused…distant.

"Derek? Where did you go? You were gone when I woke up."

Now his eyes were on the drape that covered the bottom half of her body. He couldn't look at her…his stomach flipped and he felt nauseated…he felt like a fool.

"No where. I just needed some air."

"I'm glad you're here."

"Where else would I be?"

"Thank you."

He ignored her tears…her emotions.

"Just focus…just focus on our son."

Her heart stopped. She'd kept the fact that their baby was a boy from him. She'd secretly gone to her doctor while he'd been away on a case. Omar had gone with her insisting that she not go alone. For a moment he was like the man who'd been like a father to her. She felt the panic welling in her chest as she watched Derek refuse to look at her. She could no longer deny what she'd known since he walked through the door and sat down behind her. There was no touching, no kissing; no words of love and reassurance…

He knew.