After applying the cream to Penelope's marred skin he kissed along her stomach through the valley between her breasts up to her neck. He knew he needed to stop; he should only be giving comfort right now. He reached her neck and pulled away looking into her eyes. "Sweetheart, let me take care of you?" He reached for her arm and put it behind his neck, scooping her up from behind the knees.

He carried her into the bedroom and placed her on the edge of the bed. "I'm going to grab some sweats for you."

She kept her head down but nodded. He could only imagine what she was feeling. Probably ashamed, embarrassed, he knew she was stronger than what Chris had done to her. He vowed he would do anything to help fix her. He grabbed some sweats and kneeled down in front of her ready to put them on when she looked up at him. "I can do this, Derek. I don't need you to dress me." She grabbed the pants from him and pulled them on. She then reached around him grabbed her bra and went to hook it on when he stopped her. "Let me, please?" He took the clasps and hooked her bra for her.

She sat back down at the edge of the bed defeated. "What now?" Her secret was out; there was no way to take it back now. A part of her was glad it was finally out though; she had been living in fear for months, fear someone would find out and fear of Chris and his wacko family.

He cupped her face in his hands as he kneeled in front of her. "Now we tell the team. Chris isn't going to get away with this, sweetheart. I won't let him. I'll have Hotch and the girls drive over to your house and get you some things until we know Chris is locked up, I won't let you back in that house."

"Derek, you don't have to do this. I can take care of it, I'll see if I can stay with JJ or Emily for a while." She grabbed the shirt he placed on the bed and put it on.

"No, honey, I'm not going to let you do this on your own and you know damn well you'll be staying right here in this bed with me every night."

"I can find my own place to live you don't have to give up your home for me."

"Our home and I'm not giving anything up. You belong here right next to me in our bed every night."

"Derek…" She went to protest.

"I have to ask you something. When he attacks you, I'm guessing he doesn't use anything, right? Are you on the pill?" He knew he shouldn't be so intrusive but he needed to know where they stood right now.

"I really don't want to talk about this."

"I can take you to the hospital." Derek said a little firmer.

"No, he doesn't use anything. I'm on the pill yes but I'm really bad a taking it. When we work two days straight and I forget what day it is I lose track." She looked away from him ashamed.

"It's okay, no matter what happens you and I will be together." She looked up at him and what she saw made her heart melt. He didn't look at her with pity or sorrow he looked at her with love and understanding.

"The team will be here soon. Do you want me to tell them or do you want to?" He rubbed her cheek with his thumb.

"I don't know; I just want to get this over with." He kissed the top of her forehead and stood up going over to his nightstand grabbing his phone.

JJ; don't ask questions now, but I need you to buy me a pregnancy test. When you get here come up to my room.

He looked back at his best friend sitting there on the bed. She was such a strong person; she just needed some help right now.

He crawled back onto the bed and pulled her into his arms to hold her until the team arrived. Twenty minutes later there was a knock on his door. He got off the bed and opened it to a worried looking JJ. "Is everything okay, Morgan?" She tried to push her way into the room but he wouldn't let her.

"Have everyone meet us in the living room in ten minutes, okay?" She wanted to see Garcia but knew not to push. She nodded and turned on her heel to head to the living room.

"Alright sweetheart, we are going to take this." He took the test out of the bag and started to read the instructions. "Come on, princess." He grabbed her hand to lead her to the bathroom when she pulled away.

"Derek, you are treating me like I'm a child. I can pee on a damn stick by myself." She grabbed the test and scurried to the bathroom and slammed the door.

She looked at herself in the mirror; she looked a mess. Her hair was everywhere; her eyes were read from the drinking and crying. She didn't want to take this test, what if it did come back positive? Yes, all she has ever wanted was a family, but Derek was right. Chris had been in the wrong this whole time. She splashed some water on her face and proceeded to take the test.

She placed the test on the counter washed her hands and walked back out to Derek. He was pacing his bedroom like a mad man. When she opened the door he paused his strides and turned to her for an answer.

"We have to wait five minutes." she walked over to the bed and sat down.

"No matter what that test says we are going to get through this. I promise you for the rest of my life it will be you and me." He kneeled down in front of her again.

"Derek, you don't have to pretend, I'm grateful for everything you have ever done for me and helping me though all of this has been a blessing but you don't have to kiss me and act like you want to be with me. I'm a strong woman. I know it doesn't seem that way right now, I did let Chris beat me down and abuse me but I am Penelope Garcia, and as long as I have you as my best friend I can get through anything."

He watched her for a moment not wanting to push anymore. He could see his best friend under all the hurt. "I'm not pretending, Garcia. I get that you might not believe it right now but you are the love of my life. I am going to be by your side every step of this and when you are ready for more. I'll be right here."

"You don't mean that, Derek."

"Our dream house has a huge red door in the front, two stories with five rooms. The master bedroom is on the second floor with a huge bathroom including a waterfall shower and a clawfoot tub big enough for two. We have a lab mix you name Bailey after we went to the kennel and he protected you from the other dogs. We flew to Hawaii for our honeymoon where we spent two weeks in an all-inclusive resort. We only left the room when you insisted on going to see some of the sights." He looked up at her with tears in his eyes. "I dream about our future every night. From our wedding day to the night you announce we're having a baby."

Her heart clenched hearing his words. "Derek..."

"I'm not asking you to say anything now, I just want you to know this isn't some pity I'm giving you. You are who I want, who I have always wanted." He got up and moved to his closet and pulled out the bags he had stored in there. "When the girls and I went to buy you these, I went a little overboard thinking you would be wearing them for me." He growled a little thinking of her wearing them. "When I got home I remembered you'd be wearing these for him so I only gave you one, but in reality I almost bought out the store." He dumped the lingerie onto the bed. She started moving them around looking at all the pieces. She looked up wide-eyed at him. "You bought these all for me? To wear for you?"

He looked down at her sheepishly "Yeah, you have no idea how bad I want you to wear these for me."

Before she could say anything the timer on her phone went off. She looked up at him as he held out his hand for her to take it. "Lets go see."

He led her to the bathroom and took a deep breath and looked down at the test. He grabbed the instructions and picked up the stick to compare it. He felt relief rush threw him. "It's negative, honey." He heard her let out a long breath.

"Come on, sweetness. We need to talk to the team."

She nodded and followed him out of the room.


Derek walked into the living room Penelope in tow. He saw all the worried expression on the teams face. "Thanks for coming over as soon a possible." He moved to take a seat on the couch bringing Penelope close to his side. When she curled into his chest he knew he needed to speak for her.

"Last night it was brought to my attention that Chris has not been the great guy he has portrayed himself to be. I'm not going to go into details but Penelope is going to be filling a police report for domestic abuse and rape."

Gasps were heard from the girls. Derek watched the emotions play across the teams face. JJ, Reid, and Prentiss all had heartbroken expressions whereas Hotch and Rossi's held anger.

Hotch let out a deep breath to control his feelings. "Penelope, I need to hear the details. We can do this here or we can go into the other room." Being her unit chief he needed to hear everything so he would be able to report it. He was going to fight tooth and nail to have Chris brought to justice.

"Wait" JJ let out. "The test. What did the test say?" she had tears falling from her eyes as she recalled the ways she had been acting recently. Praying that her best friend was not pregnant.

Morgan looked up at the group. "It was negative, but once we get her to the hospital to record her wounds I'm going to have them run a blood test."

"No hospitals please!" Garcia pleaded with the group.

Rossi took out his phone to make some calls. Penelope looked at the group ashamed. "Please don't look at me like that."

"We are just concurred about you. You're my best friend, we should have seen the signs a long time ago." Emily said sitting down beside her.

"This really isn't a big deal. I can deal with this." Hotch jumped in front of her making her look up at him. "Garcia, this is a huge deal. Come with me, we need to talk." He held out his hand and waited for her to take it. Once she did he pulled her into his arms giving her a hug. It was so unlike Hotch to do that but he felt like he needed to do something. He led her to Morgan's den where he would take her statement.

Once they were out of the room JJ spoke up. "What happened Morgan?"

"I don't even know where to start. She was lying on my bed trying to get undressed but was having a hard time so I started to help her. When I got her dress halfway down I saw them. She has bruising in all stages of healing all over her hips and thighs. When I asked her about it she tried to deny it. After a while of going back and fourth she told me what Chris had been doing to her." He gritted his teeth with anger. "I should have seen it; fuck I did see it. The first day we worked out I saw a bruise on her hip but I ignored it." He had so much anger running threw him recalling the events. "You know Saturday morning she refused to get up saying she felt safe in my arms."

"Why was she in your bed to begin with?" Reid asked.

"That doesn't really matter kid. What matters is getting Garcia safe and getting Chris locked up."

"What an asshole! " Emily said as she started to pace the room as her anger started to flow threw her. "I always knew something was wrong with him. He had so many damn rules. How did I not see it?"

"Relax Prentiss, none of us saw it." Rossi said walking back into the room. "I called in some favors. She can be examined here, and we are officially on the case. Which I don't know if it's a good thing or bad thing? Once I get my hands on that bastard I'm going to kill him."

"You and me both. It took everything I had in me this morning not to run and find him when I finally saw the extent of what he did."

JJ sat down next to Morgan. "Thank you for taking care of her."

"I will take care of her for the rest of my life." JJ nodded knowing he was telling the truth. "I need some of you to go to her house and get her some clothes, or stay with her while I go."

"She probably needs some girl time. How about you and Rossi go?" JJ said.

"If I'm lucky he'll be there." Morgan said making his way to the den to let Hotch and Garcia know of the plans.

He needed to keep his cool, beating the shit out of Chris and going to jail wasn't going to help Garcia right now. Fuck it he thought I'm sure Rossi will turn a blind eye while I teach that no good, women beating asshole a thing or two. He took a deep breath walking into his den.

What he saw broke his heart. Penelope was in the arms of Hotch sobbing. He walked up to her taking her out of Hotch's arms. "Sweetheart, come here." He placed her on his lap looking at Hotch.

Hotch nodded knowing to leave the room for a few minutes. "Sweetie, it's okay I'm here."

"God Derek, I feel so stupid. How could I have let this go on for so long? What is wrong with me?" She cradled her face in his chest.

"Nothing is wrong with you. We don't need to think of the past and the should have, could have, would have, we are going to think of the future. Our future."

"Derek, stop saying things like that, I'm going to start to believe you." She said with a small smile looking up at him.

"Pen, I'm not going to stop saying it. It's true, I dream about you every night." He kissed her cheek.

"Please don't leave me?" He looked into his eyes.

He was going to tell her he was headed to pick up her clothes, but he knew his real reason for leaving was to find Chris and beat the living shit out of him. He took in a deep breath. He needed to be here for her. "Alright, I'll get Hotch and Rossi to go get your stuff. How about I make lunch for everyone? Rossi had some connections so someone should be here shortly to record your injuries. Once that's done we can watch a movie until Hotch and Rossi get back."

She looked up at him and nodded. "I'm sorry, Derek."

"You have nothing to be sorry about, baby girl. We are going to get threw all of this." He kissed her on the lips again. "I'll be right back."

He placed her on the couch kissing her cheek again before making his way back into the living room.

"As much as I would like to go, she wants me to stay. If you guys can go to her house and pick up some clothes for her, I'd really appreciate it?" He pulled Rossi over to the side. "If he's there, leave him for me, please."

Rossi understood what Morgan wanted; hell, he wanted to do it too. He nodded his head knowing once they got Chris into an interrogation room he was going to conveniently leave Morgan alone with him for five minutes.


AN: I really appreciate all of the support. You all make me feel so good. Thank you.