Hurt

Chapter 7

Hopefully you all enjoyed the last chapter. Thank you to everyone who has read and reviewed and is enjoying this story! I hope you enjoy this update :)

Penelope sighed contently as she snuggled deeper into the couch. She knew she was in the beginning stages of waking up; she could tell that daylight was entering her apartment, even through her closed eye lids. But she didn't want to wake up just yet, for some reason. Penelope couldn't recall why she felt better sleeping last night than she had in months. With eyes still shut, she pondered the thought another moment when felt a hand slowly creep its way across her waist…

Penelope's eyes popped open as realization dawned on her; she was entangled in a spooning position with her best friend! On her couch! Penelope turned her head back slightly to look at Derek's face, only to notice he was still fast asleep. She had to fight the urge to pinch herself because she still couldn't really believe that he was here. Penelope noticed that he looked relaxed for the first time since she had seen him last night at his remodeling house. The first time she had truly seen his face since the almost 6 months he had been gone. Derek was still handsome, no denying that, but her Hot Stuff's scruff of his goatee was a little bit scruffier than usual. Penelope also noticed the somewhat bags of tiredness around his eyes, which she assumed that was a toll of him adjusting to daddy life.

That thought made Penelope's heart ache for Derek. How could Savannah do that to him? she thought. That's not love. Penelope inwardly sighed. No, that wasn't love. Love was being faithful. Love was not a liar. Love was supposed be pure and unconditional. All of these inward thoughts ran through Penelope's mind when she felt Derek breathe deeply and he pulled her closer to him, even though they were already as close as humanly possible on her couch. During this movement, Penelope could swear she heard breathlessly say her name. It was so faint, she wondered if he was awake but his breathing evened out again and she knew Derek was still fast asleep. Penelope moved to tighten her own arms around his around her, using one hand to drag her nails softly up and down his arm like the same ministrations she had done to settle him after his nightmare.

She remembered how frightened he seemed when he woke up and realized that she was there. Like he was afraid she was going to disappear. Penelope understood; she couldn't help but let her mind wander to thoughts of him disappearing again. Not again, Penelope thought. I can't loose him again she thought as she felt tears pricking at her eyes. She closed her eyes and willed them away. Thoughts of the memories of her pain from when he left started to push their way up to the surface and she pushed them back down. He's here now she thought, her pattern for a mantra and a prayer spoke softly in her mind. He's here now.

Speaking of someone being here now, she was brought back from her thoughts when she felt his arms shift again and in the process pushed up an expanse of her night shirt, exposing her stomach. Penelope went to pull the fabric back down when she felt Derek's hand snake its way to her exposed flesh, his hand felt hot against her bare skin. Penelope's breathed hitched when this happened and she froze for a second. Oh my God! She slowly tried to maneuver to move his hand without waking him, but it was no use. His strength dominated in so many areas of his life, even in his sleep. Her breath hitched again when she felt him rub his hand back and forth slowly. The sensation was not an unpleasant one. There's just a little bit more of me than what he is probably use to. She felt his hand move a little bit lower, his long pinky catching under the elastic of her pajama bottoms and her panties. Penelope felt her cheeks flush from slight embarrassment and also of the heat his hand was leaving on her skin. She could feel the faint beginning of a delicious tight coiling in her stomach, when she felt something poke her from behind. Is that…? Penelope thought and wasn't sure until she felt the push again, stronger this time. Oh my, it is! she screamed inwardly. Her best friend had morning wood and it was knocking against her! Penelope was caught up in a million thoughts that she didn't register she had to sneeze until it was too late.

"Achoo!"

"Ahh!"

Her sneeze had scared Derek and caused him to awake suddenly, rolling off of the couch and onto the floor pulling Penelope with him. They both hit the floor with a resounding thunk. Penelope had landed on top of Derek, who was trying to register what had happened.

"Oww," Derek groaned, as his back throbbed from hitting the floor so abruptly.

"Sorry!" Penelope scrambled as leaned up slightly until she was hovering her top half over him, her bottom half was still collapsed on his bottom half. "I didn't mean to scare you. Are you alright?"

"First, bless you. Second, good morning, Baby Girl," Derek said as he smiled up at her still somewhat sleepily. Hearing that made Penelope want to cry, but only happy tears. When he left, she never thought she would hear him say that again.

"I'll show you a good morning, Hot Stuff," Penelope smiled. She felt him chuckle underneath her. "Oh God, here let me get off of you," she rambled as she moved to get completely off of him. It was then she noticed that Derek'slittle issue from earlier, which was anything but little,had waned itself down. She was grateful for that. No need for feelings she had long since stomped down to resurface. Not now, when he needed her the most. She reached her hand down to offer it to pull him up, even though she knew that her strength was nothing compared to his. He took it and of course used his own weight to pull himself up. They both moved to sit back on the couch, facing each other.

"Thank you, Baby Girl. For last night," he said as he ran a hand over his face. "I didn't mean to wake you and pull you away from your bed."

"Don't sweat it, Handsome," she said. "And you didn't pull me away, I was just fulfilling my best friend duties."

"Still, it must have been cramped for you here."

"Hey, did you sleep better?" Penelope saw him nod his yes. "Then my work here is done," she said with a matter of fact shrug of her shoulders. She heard him chuckle.

"How can I repay you, oh Goddess, of mine?" Derek said as he extended his hand to take hers.

"Hmm," she said as she put one hand in Derek's extended one and tapped a finger against her mouth with her free hand. "I shall think of a payment for you, mere mortal. In due time," said as she grinned at him.

Derek went to reply when they heard Penelope's cell phone go off on her kitchen counter. She got up and retrieved her phone and walked back to stand in front of the couch.

"What's up, Baby Girl?"

"It's a text from Hotch," she said as she continued reading. Without her glasses, she had to squint a little bit until her eyes adjusted and allowed her to see. "Oh no," she gasped.

"What is it, Baby? What's wrong?" Derek asked as he stood up suddenly and moved closer to her.

"We need to get ready to meet Hotch," she said quickly as she looked up at him with sad eyes.

"Okay, we'll get dressed and meet him. But Penelope what did he say?" Derek said as he pulled Penelope to face him, keeping his hands on her shoulders.

"He said—he said heard from one of his other attorney contacts," she said as she felt Derek squeeze her shoulders gently, urging her to continue. "He found out Savannah is filing for divorce," Penelope said and her eyes met with Derek's, tears brimming and threatening to fall down her cheeks. "He said you can expect to be served the next time you go back to your home," she said the tears finally fell down her cheeks.

"Oh, Derek," she started with a shaking breathe. "Savannah's filing for full custody of Hank."

Derek looked as her with a heartbreaking and stunned expression. He knew a divorce was in their future, he just figured he would be the one to file first. But for Savannah to file for full custody of his son—yes, even though he may not be his biologically, Hank would always be Derek's son; Penelope had helped him see that. Savannah was crazy to think she could just take him away. He released Penelope's shoulders and moved to sit back down on the couch.

"She really thinks she can just take him from me? After her betrayal? She owes me more than that," he said as he put his head in his hands.

"But that's not all Derek," Penelope said and Derek snapped his head back up to look at her. "Hotch says there's a name on the custody petition," she said and she slowly sank down on her knees in front of Derek. "He says it's the name of the father."

Derek felt the weight of a familiar pain all over again. Except this time he knew Savannah had lied again. Her one time dealing with this mystery man was not so after all.

Derek jumped up from the couch and began to pace, coming closer and closer after each pass with the corner wall near the entrance of Penelope's bedroom. Penelope watched helplessly as his steps became more pronounced and angry, until he let out a sound of anguish and punched the wall with all his might.

"Damn it!" he yelled and held his right hand.

"Derek!" Penelope shouted and jumped up off of the couch and ran over to him. "Let me see."

"I'm fine-."

"No arguing. Let. Me. See," Penelope said each word slowly and reached out to look at his hand. "Oh, Baby," she sighed. "You've really busted them this time," she with a shake of her head. She could tell this was worse than when he hit the wall the night before. He didn't have to tell her, she knew as soon as she saw his hand when she came to the house he was flipping. "Come on and let me rinse your hand off," Penelope said softly.

She guided him to her kitchen sink, turning on a slow run of warm water. Penelope carefully rinsed off Derek's knuckles and grabbed a clean dish towel to pat it dry. Upon further, inspection she noticed his knuckles we not as bad as she thought, they just wanted to bleed a bit. She pulled Derek along to the other side of the counter and found her first aid kit she kept near the kitchen. She opened it and found some antiseptic wash and a roll of gauze. She removed the cap off of the wash and positioned her hand to spray it.

"This might sting a little," she warned and sprayed a couple of sprays.

"Shit!," Derek said through ground teeth.

"I warned you," Penelope said as she went to unroll the gauze. "Let this be a reminder to you the next time you decide to go all caveman in my apartment!" she snapped back as she finished securing the gauze with some tape. "There. All done."

"Thank you, Baby Girl," Derek said quietly and sighed before pulling her into his arms. There they stood hugging each other tightly. "Thank you for putting up with me, too, when I get like this." Penelope pulled back to look at him.

"One thing I'll suggest first is that you go back to the gym and use the actual punching bag for your punching urges," she said as she eyed him. Derek let out a chuckle.

"Deal, Baby,"

"And the second thing I'll suggest is that you take better care of this gorgeous body. All of it," Penelope said as she picked Derek's injured hand up to examine it again.

"I will, Sweetheart. I promise," Derek said as he pulled her back into a hug.

"Good," Penelope said as she nuzzled her head in his chest. "Now," she started and pulled herself out of his arms. "Let's get ready to meet Sir Hotch. He'll know what to do."

"Okay," Derek said and then started to walk back towards the front door where his bag was. He turned around and saw Penelope walking toward her bedroom. "Hey, Baby Girl," he said and saw her stop and turn around. "I love you. You know that, right?"

Penelope smiled as she remembered the first time that Derek had ever said those words to her. In her apartment, and his situation was just as dire as hers was then.

"I love you, too," she smiled back and then motioned towards his bag. "Now get dressed," she said and turned back toward her room.

Derek shook his head and silently thanked whatever entity that had allowed him to be blessed with the presence of Penelope Garcia in his life. He knew that with her by his side, he could face anything.

Which was good, because little did he know his troubles were just beginning…

So.. the real baby daddy is filing for custody with Savannah… I wonder who he is… No really, I do because I haven't thought about writing him yet! Lol. But I guess we will all see in the next chapter. Thanks for reading!