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Chapter 10:
"What do you think Mama?" Derek said sliding the last dresser drawer into place.
"It looks beautiful. Dave and Erin spent way too much money, but I do love it," she said as she placed a few of the baby items she had washed into one of the drawers.
"I really think you should have stayed at Strauss's. I felt you were safer there."
"I know, but her kids came back from school and it felt crowded, I'm not part of their family and it just didn't feel right."
"When they go back to school, you should go back to her house."
"Maybe, but I think I'm safe now, James hasn't tried to contact my at home or work for some time now. I think it's over."
"It's not over until he is in jail. What the hell case is that jerk working on anyway. It's taking forever."
"Derek, don't talk about him here, in my baby's room."
"My bad. Sorry, baby girl." Derek watched as Penelope carefully folded and continued to put her shower gifts away, wishing he didn't have to worry about her so much. He made a mental note to check with Strauss on the status of Agent Michaels' case.
"So how much longer does this jerk get to hang around? This is ridiculous. We've cleared so many cases and this idiot can't clear one." Derek fumed as he and the rest of the team minus Penelope hung around the conference room, waiting on Strauss to return from her meeting with Agent Michaels' supervisor.
"Cyber crimes can be much harder to close. The average…" Reid stopped himself when he looked at the very angry expression on Derek's face.
"Hopefully Erin will have good news for us." Rossi pointed to Strauss who was making her way to the conference room. The glum expression on her face told him otherwise.
"So…" Derek said before she had even officially entered the room.
"His case is over," Erin said in a tone that left the team confused by Erin's words instead of relieved.
"There's a problem though, isn't there?" Aaron asked.
"His case has been over, Aaron. It's been over for some time and everyone at cybercrimes seems to have forgotten about what he did to Penelope, and think he deserves a second chance," Erin said angrily.
"This is a joke right?" Derek asked as stormed around the room, anger consuming him.
"I'm afraid it's not. I talked to Michaels' supervisor and the head of cybercrimes and they don't want to let him go. They think what happened with him and Penelope is over and forgotten. There will be a disciplinary note in his file, but without consenting with us, are allowing him to keep his job."
"Over and forgotten?" Emily asked incredulous. "She's having the man's baby, he threatened to hurt her, he put his hands on her. We're supposed to just ignore all of that? I'd like to hurt him."
"You and me both," Rossi added.
"You know I want in on that action," Derek added.
Hotch held up his hand to get their attention, "This kind of talk is useless. Erin what guarantees do we have from cybercrimes than about Penelope's safety?" Aaron asked.
"Other than their word, not much at all. I'd like to think they are correct, that he has moved on, but I was really looking forward to the day he was terminated and we had one less thing to worry about."
"Can't she still press charges on him?" JJ asked.
"She could, but she'd have to do it on her own. Sounds like the bureau doesn't want to be involved. We would all support her of course, I think the best thing to do is ask Penelope what she would like to do."
A few minutes later the team were sitting down with Penelope explaining the situation to her.
"So he will still be here?" Penelope asked a tear sliding down her cheek. She was looking forward to the day she no longer feared taking the elevator or coming into the lobby by herself.
"Unfortunately, but nobody says you couldn't pursue charges against him on your own," Strauss said putting a comforting hand on Penelope's shoulder.
"We would you support you in pressing charges. We could all be witnesses," Reid offered.
"Maybe even hit the jerk up for child support. He should at least pay financially if he gets to get keep his job," Emily said angrily.
"What do you think baby girl? Should we get you a lawyer?" said Derek.
Penelope didn't answer. Instead, she looked around at all of their faces, faces which displayed emotions ranging from concern to anger and the one she was truly growing tired of: sympathy. She felt the walls closing in on her and really needed to be by herself for a while so she could decide what she did want to do. "Umm… I'm not sure what I should do. I need to think about it." She raised herself up out of her chair, "Alone."
"Are you sure?" JJ asked willing to follow her if she indicated affirmatively.
"Yes, I'm sure," Penelope said taking JJ's hand and meeting her eyes. "Thank you."
Penelope thanked the rest of the team for their concern and left the room, headed to her office to be alone.
"We can't leave this unresolved," Derek said after he knew she was out of earshot.
"We have to give her time to decide. She has a lot to think about," Strauss said.
"Think about. There is nothing to think about. She presses charges, he goes to jail, loses his job and maybe even hit him for the child support. That's what is going to happen," Derek said about to go follow Penelope and tell her as much when Reid blocked him from leaving the room. "Step aside pretty boy."
"No," Reid said firmly.
"Seriously?" Derek asked stunned.
"She needs some space right now to think and you bullying her to agree with what you have decided for her is not fair," Reid answered.
Derek rubbed his head angrily, "Kid…."
Before he could finish, the rest of the team agreed with Reid.
Derek was annoyed at them but relented, "I just don't have a good feeling about this."
"Nobody does," Rossi assured him.
Derek was even more annoyed when an urgent case found them headed to the jet, without even a chance to say anything more than a quick goodbye to Penelope. He texted Kevin to ask him to check in on Penelope and Strauss promised to keep a close eye on her. And to relentlessly harass cyber crimes' head honchos until Michaels was no more than a bad memory, and knowing Strauss like he did, he knew it was only a matter of time before she succeeded.
Strauss found Penelope sitting staring blankly at her computer screen, "How about some lunch? You must be hungry."
"No thank you, I'm fine really."
"I wasn't really asking." Strauss handed Penelope her coat.
"Oh, ok…Mom." Penelope met Strauss's eyes as she said the last word. She hadn't meant to say it out loud. The older woman just smiled warmly, not saying a word she took the coat and helped Penelope to put it on.
When Penelope turned back to face her, Erin could see the tears welling in Penelope's eyes. Erin pulled Penelope into a hug and just let her cry. Which she did for a good while. "I'm sorry," Penelope said as she finally pulled away.
"No need to apologize,"
"I just miss my Mom so much."
"I know you do," Erin said buttoning Penelope's coat.
"I have so much to tell her, to ask her. I need her more than ever." Penelope swiped at a tear.
"I know it's such a confusing time, and you have so much more on your plate then most mothers-to-be. If it's any consolation, I have done this three times, and I would be more then glad to try and answer some of those questions for you."
Penelope looked into Erin's eyes, "I'd really like that. Thank you."
"You're welcome, now let's get out of here. Also, on a side note this kid is not calling me grandma. I prefer Section Chief."
"Isn't that a bit of a mouthful for a baby?" Penelope asked laughing.
"Always set the bar high," Strauss laughed.