Disclaimer: I do not Criminal Minds.

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She'd woken and found Derek wasn't in the room. She really wanted him, his comfort and support would really help her out right now. The tears were streaming down her face. She had just slept and, therefore, relived the final lashings, she had felt every hit again and again, felt her body release when she screamed his name. She still wasn't entirely sure why she had yelled his name, her body and mind had just done it. She heard footsteps and wiped her tears away. He entered with a smile and she immediately felt better.

'You're awake... Hey baby girl what's wrong? Don't tell me it's nothing, I can see the tears.'

'Nightmare.' She said softly as she sniffed.

'Ah goddess, I hate seeing you cry, I'm sorry I wasn't here for you.' He sat on the bed and hugged her, he felt her bury into his chest and then relaxed on the pillow.

'You're here now.' She said as she used her arms to help her seat up, as if he knew he grabbed the spare pillows the nurse had given and helped her seat up right.

'That okay baby girl?'

'Perfect.' She smiled. He then reached the cup and passed to her. 'Thank you, how do you know what to do for me?'

'I don't actually know, intuition maybe. It's just coming naturally to me.' He smiled at her as he stroked her hair. 'So you still think you look bad?'

'Oh definitely.' She laughed. 'How can anyone look good after what I just went through?'

'Well you do look good but JJ brought your stuff want me to help you put your own clothes on?'

'Am I allowed?'

'The doctor said as long as they are loose fitting, they only really need to get to your stomach and arms so he saw no problems. JJ picked up one with short sleeves.' He said pulling the top out.

'She did good I must admit.'

'I also got her to bring some hair bands so I can braid your hair.'

'You braid?' She laughed. 'No surprise with two sisters.'

'You under estimate me baby girl. Well we got 30 minutes yet until the guys want to pop down so let's get you ready yeah?'

'Yeah okay.' She said as he pulled the curtain around, she was comfortable with him helping her get dressed; he had done it when she was shot so it wasn't a new experience. Just a distant one.

'There you go, looking better already.' He said as he pulled the long top down her back. 'I didn't hurt you did I?'

'No handsome, don't panic. My stomach doesn't feel so on fire at the moment. If that actually makes sense.'

'Perfect sense baby girl.' He got a brush out and started brush her hair. He then braided one side. 'There check it out.'

She grabbed it while Morgan got a mirror out. 'Handsome, I truly underestimated your supreme hair braiding skills.' She beamed at him. Then watched as he moved around the bed and repeated the process.

'There all done.'

'Thanks sugar. You did wonderful, I like having you around.' She smiled as he moved the bed up and sorted her pillows so she could sit comfortable. 'You're a good all rounder handsome.'

'I am, am I? From the goddess I think that's a good thing.' He said kissing her head and then her lips. He smiled to himself when he felt her lips exact his motions. Pulling back he smiled. 'I never thought a kiss could feel so good.' He watched her blush as he pulled the curtain back around. What she saw shocked her.

Standing on the other side was everyone. Hotch, Emily, JJ, Reid and Rossi all smiling. She couldn't help but smile at them, she had asked for small doses of pain meds so she didn't sleep much. She wanted to lap up the feeling of being alive regardless of pain or no pain. The pains were dull and she had promised to ask for a stronger dose as and when she wanted it.

'We thought we would surprise you.' Hotch said.

'And that you have.' She said still smiling. 'Emily are you still worrying about me?'

'Not now I've seen you.' She said as everyone stepped close. She went straight to her and hugged her. 'Thank you but you ever do it again and I will not be responsible for what I do you hear me?'

'Loud and clear but I want you to know that the things I do, I do because I love you.' She looked at JJ who was standing on the sidelines a little shocked at how good her friend looked considering. 'You too Ms Jareau.'

'You don't have to put yourself out there like that though.'

'I don't care; I would do it for any of you guys. Regardless of what state I am after.'

'We just wished we had got to you before any of this happened.' Hotch said taking a seat next to the bed after helping Emily into a chair, still a little sore in places.

Morgan sat down and took her hand again. Reid and JJ taking the plastic chairs and sitting next to one another while Rossi stood learning against the window sill. He spoke, after being the most silent of them all. 'We know you don't want to talk about it but what can you remember about the place?'

'Coldness.' Emily said. 'The first thing I felt when I came too was the coldness from the floor.'

'The darkness.' Penelope said after, replaying the first moments, everyone shifted their attention. 'There was hardly any light, I heard Emily talking and she said that there was someone else with us and I said it was JJ.'

'And she was right, it was. Even though there was little light and JJ had her back to us she knew.'

'You know me too well. I remember the headache.' Both Emily and Penelope nodded in agreement.

'Then the lights came on and the bloke came in asked me to follow him. He grabbed my arm when I got up and dragged me down a corridor, it was dimly lit but I could tell it was small. Then he threw me in this room that had a cage like door to it.' Penelope looked up from her hands and at the girls. 'There were 3 together in a row.'

'He then got me and did the same thing.' JJ said.

'And finally me.' Emily finished. 'He had those rag things ready for us and we were just left in the room for a good ten minutes before coming back.'

'He came to me first, unlocked the door and grabbed my arm before leading me to another room with 3 chairs in it, kind of like a triangle shape. I mean you saw them, you must have in the pictures.' All the men nodded remembering the first message they had got, as JJ gave minimal descriptions. 'He tied me down and left, bringing Emily in next and finally Pen.'

'That's of course when Pen here started to fight back; he was saying he was surprised at her for not breaking. We knew you had thought a plan out Pen.' Emily said looking directly in Penelope's eyes. 'I knew what you were up to and I couldn't let you do it completely alone.'

'And you didn't but Henry needed his mommy back with him and I was willing to give my all for that.' Penelope said smiling slightly as Derek squeezed her hand tenderly. She looked to the men. 'I told JJ to cry, scream whatever and Emily joined me in that part.'

'And then the bloke entered the room with a camera. Telling us he had sent you the pictures and now it was time for a new update. He ran a hand over my face and Pen just nodded so I cried, he then turned to Pen and said 'Why can't you be more like that?'

'My response was to the point and clear, and most importantly truthful.'

'What was it Garcia?'

'Because I don't feel the need to cry.' She looked at Derek and then back at Hotch. 'He then ran a hand up my body trying to get some reaction and came right up to me and goes 'You are stubborn aren't you Ms Garcia? Well I think I'll have fun with you.' I can still hear it echo through my head, and the look of anger when I didn't give in, he didn't do anything else just walked over to Em.'

'I looked at Pen and let some tears fall, he told me 'Ah, no need to cry Ms Prentiss. Actually there is' and that's when he told us about making a video for each of you.'

'Starting with me.' JJ said staring at the ground, her eyes in a stare as she obviously went over everything again and again. 'He put the camera on me and I couldn't help but cry. The things he was saying, the stuff he was doing and my own thoughts. He turned the camera off when he was done and praised me for crying and whimpering and then sorted the camera out so it was on Emily.'

'That's when he beat me for effect.' Emily said silently.

'He finished up Emily's video's and turned to me going 'Ahh Ms Garcia, now you see cry and I'll go lightly, see the show for Agent Morgan, is going to be slightly different. See I think you need to come to terms with the situation of this that I am only trying to help.' And all I could say was 'Kidnapping and hurting women is helping?'

'He kind of let a laugh ring out at that point.' Penelope smiled, thankful she didn't have to continue it all but this needed to come from her.

'He replied 'Yes, so shall we get started?' and that's when he turned the camera on and started talking to you handsome. I didn't see him take the lighter out until he mentioned about it and you basically saw the rest.' He left us after that.'

'Which meant our concern was now on Pen, who still did nothing but stay calm!' Emily said. 'All we got from Miss hard head was 'Look okay, I'm fine. Yes, it is killing me and its complete agony but I will not give up, not until you are out and safe, with the men who love you.'

'Pen.' Derek said hearing the revelation. 'You doubted it didn't you?'

'I didn't know what to think, I mean we hardly did anything that made me think you liked me like that and vice versa.'

'Yeah she hid that side well.' JJ blurted out earning herself the death glare from Garcia.

'Those two tried their hardest to convince me until the bloke came in and told us Reid was nearly ready for JJ, he untied her and took her away. It must have been what 15 minutes before he brought her back unconscious.'

'Yeah about that and that of course caused Pen to start yelling and he came out with 'Hmm, screaming Ms Garcia, just not the type I am after.'

'Right are you guys sure to don't want to stop?' Hotch said as each woman was getting a little more emotional.

Their attention first to JJ who looked at Garcia. It was Penelope who spoke up first. 'I want to carry on, it needs to be done, I don't want to do it bits and pieces.'

'Well I'm nearly out of the picture so I'll carry on.'

'Me too.' Emily retorted.

'Okay, so what happened next?'

'I was sitting watching Pen, JJ was still unconscious at this time, and her face was blank. I told her you loved her Derek. All I got from her was we aren't certain about that. I was starting to get annoyed with Pen at this point.'

'Yeah want to repeat what you told me?' Penelope said smiling slightly.

'Of course, it would be my pleasure. I said 'Pen, stop being a hard head will you listen to me. I love you, you are like a sister to me, our love is family love. You and Derek, sparks fly when you are around each other, there's electricity and this odd chemistry that works. The way he acted when you were shot, was not the reaction of someone who loves you like a sister. Just keep faith okay, and tell him that you love him.' And then Miss stubborn goes. 'I can't promise you that Emily. I can't promise you anything not at the moment. I do know that if I get out of here, I'm going to get a massive telling off from Hotch and a spanking off Morgan for being so god damn hard headed but you know what? I haven't regretted this and I won't, not if you are safe.'

'Penelope Garcia you have got to be the more infuriating person at times. Good call that you know what me and Morgan are going to say' Hotch said.

'What do you expect me to think? I didn't want to believe something I wasn't sure about. That man was playing with our lives. I could've got hopeful, but what if he was wrong. Derek I'm sorry I didn't believe you. I don't want you with me through guilt.'

'Penelope what did I say this morning?' Hotch added in.

'Yeah and baby girl what have I told you?'

'I know, I know. I'm sorry but I do believe you really I do.' She said smiling half heartedly. She saw the truth in his eyes.

'Anyway, JJ woke up and he came in and took her.' Emily breathed out. 'Then me and Pen were just left and now I'm going to give you a run of the conversation I berated at Pen. I remember it very well Miss Garcia.'

'That can't be a good thing.' Penelope laughed.

'Let's begin shall we?' She got nods off every man. 'Penelope here broke the silence first with, 'Do you think he has actually taken her back?' All I said was 'Yeah, I think he is genuine with that promise. Pen, are you sure you're okay? I mean his already burnt you a couple of times, and each time you haven't cried.' I couldn't help but stare at the burns up her arms. All I got back was, 'Look Emily, honey, I will break but not in front of him. It's not that I'm embarrassed to but I just want you safe now. Safe back with Hotch.' My emotions were rapid as they were so I go 'What about you back with Morgan? Don't you think we want that?'

'And I said 'Honey you need to realise that me and Morgan are nothing more than best friends.' Sorry Emily you're not the only one to remember this conversation.'

'Well that's good then because you'll remember clearly that I literally shouted at you going, 'PENELOPE GARCIA! Will you stop that please! Not only is it evident to me and the team, it's evident to a stalker psychopathic kidnapper! So yeah okay you are nothing more than best friends my arse.' And finally I got, 'I'm sorry; I have never truly been loved by a man. I mean yeah okay Kevin loved me but it was ruined by my love of Morgan.' I nearly fainted when she finally said it but I needed to finish what I was saying. 'Hey look at me Pen. He loves you, please believe me. Pen, we will get out of this and when we do I am going to kick you so hard for being such a stubborn woman.'

'We stopped there because we heard a key slide in the lock.'

'He told us JJ was safe and then went to Pen. I watched as he untied her and dragged her by her wrist out the door. Then the lights went out and I was left on my own in the darkness. No idea what was happening.'

Garcia hitched her breath at this point. 'He... erm... dragged me down some more corridors and opened a new door, he literally chucked me in and I hit the ground which I'm guessing is where this happened.' She raised her hand that was in a cast. 'Before I had time to react he walked over to me really casually and whispered 'I told her we would have fun didn't I.' He then brought his leg up and kicked in my side; he repeated it until I coughed and swore and all he responded with was 'Still not what I am after' and then he walked away into a corner. He turned and I caught a glimpse of light on metal, I thought he had a knife but when he got closer I realised it looked more like a screwdriver thing.' She stopped to wipe away a tear. Derek squeezed her hand. 'He...He then just put his hand up in the air and forced it into my body over and over again. I lay there taking it but I couldn't help but cry a bit, he grabbed my arm when he was done and dragged me back all the time with a smile on his face. When we got back into the room he slammed me on to the chair and put the restraints on me. As he did he called me a good girl.' She looked up, her eyes glazed from tears that were threatening to fall. Every single one of them watching her concerned and worried.

'I asked her if she was okay.' Emily said, answering with complete shock. 'She told me she was fine, I told her it was bullshit she was bleeding badly. She then told me and I begged her to scream or cry but she just replied 'I'll be fine.' Then he came back in and told us he was going to do an update. So you saw the next part. Then the next time he came, it was to tell me I could go. I didn't want to leave, Pen told me to go and he agreed that I had no choice He then told Pen that they knew each other personally now so he started to call her Penelope instead of Miss Garcia. He then took out a taser and placed it on my side. The next thing I know I was with Hotch.'

'Looks like it's up to me to feel the blanks in now.'

'You don't have to.'

'I do, if I don't it's going to eat me alive.'

'Only if you are sure Pen.'

She nodded slightly and bit her lip slightly. She closed her eyes and breathed in deeply before opening her eyes and continuing. 'I don't really know how much time had passed but he came back and told me Em was safe. He gathered I didn't really believe him and he showed me a picture of Reid and JJ together. Then one of Hotch helping Emily and then he told me he had something just for me and showed me a video of you Derek, he had got it off his computer a couple of minutes before coming back to me. I saw you and I felt it was time to give up. I started to cry because of the pain I had put you through and all I got from him was 'No, see tears. Now they come but first I would like to hear something else much more.' That's when he took the taser our and connected it with my side.' She let some more tears out and Derek was immediately on wiping them away.

'Baby girl you're being brave telling us all this.'

'Yeah Pen. You don't have to but you are and that takes a lot of courage.'

'Let's get this finished up yeah?'

She nodded, Hotch wanted to end this as soon of. 'I don't know how long I was out of it but when I came to I was no longer sitting. I was lying down and I felt the soreness from new cuts. I tried to move but my arms were tied tightly, the pain was getting unbearable. He then came over to me and touched the cuts and burns. I whimpered but he grinned as I flinched. He told me I needed to get medical treatment soon so he wouldn't keep me much longer and then he clicked on the recorder.'

'Which is where we know what happened. Penelope, thanks for telling us.'

'I didn't expect to make it that far.'

'You did good Pen.' Emily said with JJ's agreement.

'Now I think you need to rest.' Hotch said. 'Derek, I hope you plan to keep an eye on her?'

'Oh most definitely.' He watched as their friends got up and said their goodbyes. He looked at Penelope when they were all gone. 'Baby girl, you did amazing.' She suddenly burst into tears. He got up and laid on the bed next to her. 'Come here gorgeous, I got you.' He slowly rocked her as she cried heavily. The emotional trauma clearly evident on her now. He was so wrapped up in stopping her tears and giving her the love and comfort she needed that he didn't see his mom standing at the door, just silently watching.