Well, let's see what will happen to whom!

Chapter 7

Penelope Garcia was walking down the street. It was dark now, and she had wondered like this for several hours. She had no idea where she was, and decided to sit down at a bus stop when she was too tired to keep walking. She knew she must have looked a mess because she had been crying nonstop the whole time. She was about to hit send for a cab when she felt something cool press against the back of her skull.

"Give me all you got on you, and you can walk away lady," a gravely voice threatened from behind her.

Normally, Penelope was never one to put up a fight, but the day had put her in a fighting mood. So, she swung her oversized purse around, effectively smacking the guy in the face. However, she didn't get far when her heels gave out in the middle of the street, and she felt rough hands grab her shoulders hard. She didn't know what else to do, so she screamed, although she was sure no one would hear her because it was an isolated side street. He slammed her down to the pavement, hitting her head hard against the ground. He jumped on top of her, pointing the gun right between her eyes. She smartly froze any more fighting movements. She was slowly losing consciousness. He ripped her shirt, running his hands along her side, this got her to protest again. He whipped the gun against her head, throwing her the rest of the way in to darkness.

The last thing she saw was a leer on his face and mischievous in his eyes. The last thing she heard was "It didn't have to be this way lady. But, since we're here, might as well have some fun."


Hotch had a bad feeling since the team had left for their case. Luckily, the case was only a couple of hours away by car. He knew that Garcia was either out walking alone, or took a cab because Ester was still in the parking lot. He didn't like the idea of her out there alone, but he knew that he had no right to go guns blazing after her. He felt incredibly guilty, and could feel his heart begin to harden because he knew there was no way she would excuse his actions after he was the one to leave her alone that night, and act outrageously overboard due to simple flowers. He very well couldn't tell her that he loved her because she would probably laugh in his face after the way he had acted. He knew this could not end good. They had not talked it out, instead there were only heightened emotions, and bottled up words.

He didn't know what he would do, but he would follow her lead. If she ignored him, then he would allow it. If she would hate him, he would take it. If she wanted him to never talk or look at her again, then he would try his best, but he knew that without her, he would crumble beneath a heavy heart.

The whole way to the case, Hotch was quiet. Fighting a losing battle between his heart and mind. Between his love for her, and his remorse for his actions. Throughout the whole case, Hotch had a sinking feeling in his gut, but overlooked it, chalking it up to the case. After all, he couldn't know that he had almost lost the love of his life.


Penelope woke up to blinding white lights and sterile walls. She went in to full panic mode. She didn't know where she was or why she was here. Doctors came rushing in, and she panicked even more. Then, she felt a sudden warmth and her muscles began to relax as she went back to sleep.

When she woke up again, she was less reactive, but still scared. A nurse was standing by her bed, reattaching her IV.

"Excuse me," she croaked, her voice sounding harsh and barely audible.

"Oh, oh my!" the nurse exclaimed, unaware that Penelope was awake. She rushed out of the room and reentered a few minutes later with a doctor.

"Hello there, ma'am. I am Dr. Sonir, but you can call me Anne. Do you think you are up for answering a few questions?" Anne asked her.

Penelope was unsure of her voice, so all she could do was nod.

"Okay. Can you tell me your name?" the doctor asked.

"Pen-Penelope Garc-cia" she told her.

"Good, okay. How about..." the doctor asked her questions for about 15 minutes, and they had made sure that there was no brain damage and she had to amnesia or anything like that. She had found out that she had been in the hospital for two days.

"Doctor, Anne, can you tell me what happened?" Garcia asked, not sure she was completely ready for the truth.

"Yes, well. You were mugged. He beat you around and there are bruises all over, but luckily, there appeared to be no sexual assault, and your baby was cleared of any harm from the assault" the doctor replied slowly.

Penelope was on full alert when she heard this. "What? What do you mean baby? I'm not pregnant, I haven't even..." she trailed off, not really wanting to realize what she knew. She thought back to her night with Aaron. There were too many emotions running around for anyone of the to think of protection, and it had admittedly been a while since her last encounter.

"Well, you appear to be two months along. The fetus appears to be doing well, but you were dehydrated when you arrived. If you want, we can do an ultrasound so you can see the little one." the doctor explained to her.

Penelope was shell shocked. She could not believe this was happening to her. However, the foremost emotion she was running on was protectiveness. She had just found out that she had a little life inside of her, but she already loved the little one more than anything in the world.

"Yes, I would thank you" she replied, and a smile, the first true one in a while, spread across her face as her hands massaged her stomach.


Penelope was just about done packing her things when she decided to take a break. She sat on her couch with some tea and her ultrasound. She had been home for three days, grateful for once that the team had a case and it seemed to be going nowhere. She had called in for the three days, and had made arrangements for an transfer, leaving her resignation on Hotch's desk even though it was already signed by the director. No one was to know where she was going, she made sure of that. She had done a lot of thinking and came to realize that Hotch, the man that he was, would do the honorable thing, but she could not do that to him, especially if he didn't really want his child or to be stuck with her as a baby mama. She would tell him one day, but until then, could not face him. She would not subject her gum drop to a broken family and a dad who didn't have time for them. No, she would do it by herself, which scared the daylights out of her, but was the only thing she could do. She wouldn't be able to face Hotch or the team, their stares would kill her a little every day. As she finished packing the very last box, she took a good look at her apartment because she would not, and could not ever see it again.


The team had been gone for two weeks. The case had seemed to go nowhere, but then a victim turned up alive and they were able to apprehend the suspect. The worst part of the case was that there was no Penelope at all. They got Lynch because she had not been in to the office. That unnerved him, so he would call, but get voicemail. He even had the other call her, but the same thing. So, although he knew it was a bad decision, he went by her place to check on her. However, he had to drop his paperwork off first. What he saw stunned him. There on his desk, was a manila envelope. He knew what would be inside, but could not bring himself to open it. So, he decided to forget his paper work and speed to her apartment. He had the extra key that Morgan had, and what he found brought him to his knees. The bare apartment was the final straw in breaking Aaron Hotchner. He let out a sob at the loss. He saw stuck like this until morning, finally able to compose himself after he got his emotions out. He knew that this was his fault, and he knew that without her, he would never be anything but a shell. He would find her and tell her his true feelings, even if it lost him her, but there was not much more of her he could lose anyway. This time, he would go guns blazing until he was down to his last bullet. He would see her again, and she would be a part of his life.

Okay, I thought it would be so much more messy if there was a little addition to the drama. So, there you go. Hope you enjoy it. Penelope's great escape, bt to where...?