"That's all I could dig up, Sam. If I find more through my other search engines, I'll call you back and let you know." She took the mug of tea from Erin's hand. "Thanks, luv."

"What case is Sam's team working on?" she asked as she sat down in the recliner, pulling her blanket over her legs.

"Five women have gone missing in as many days on the Michigan-Canada border."

"So, they're in Detroit?"

"No, actually. They've gone to Paradise."

"Very funny, Penelope. I would hardly call Michigan that."

"See, that's the irony. They are in a town named Paradise. It's literally a ten minute boat ride over to Canada. But what do you have against Michigan?" she asked, looking up from her computer screen.

"My parents made me go to a really awful, rustic, Bible camp there every summer."

"You don't strike me as the camping type."

"No, I'm not. They insisted it would build character, and I insisted I'd be better off spending my summers reading. As my parents, they pulled rank and forced me to go. I've hated Michigan ever since."

"You never had any happy times?" Penelope asked, leaning back against the sofa, sipping her tea.

"When we had free time and I could disappear on the nature trails with one of the books I'd managed to sneak up in my luggage." Erin smiled as she thought back. "There was this lovely clearing six miles back in the woods and I spent most of my time there, reading and watching the birds and animals go by. I was closer to God there, than in the chapel sessions we had."

"That sounds wonderful. I wonder if the camp is still open?"

"Why? Do you want to go?"

"A little peace sounds like what we need these days. The cases seem to be getting worse all the time, and I can only call George so much. He has his own work to focus on."

"But he likes talking to you, and praying with you. I must ask, are you in love with my brother, my darling girl?"

Penelope felt herself blush and broke eye contact with Erin. "Is it that obvious?" she whispered, biting her lip as she stared at her tea.

"To me, yes, and only because you've let yourself become an open book to me."

"Well, I should be. After all, you're walking around with a piece of me in you. Speaking of that, how are you feeling today?"

"Better than the day before," Erin responded.

"Wonderful." Penelope felt herself tear up and struggled not to cry.

"What's wrong?" Erin asked, picking up on her distress.

Penelope shrugged and felt the tears course down her cheeks. Erin stood and made her way over to Penelope, sitting next to her. As soon as Erin was settled, she pulled Penelope close, putting her head on her shoulder. "What if he doesn't love me back that way?" she gasped out, wrapping her arm around Erin's waist.

"I don't think you have to worry about that, sweetheart. I know my baby brother, and I think he's as smitten with you as you are with him."

"Really?"

"Yes. Now, let's go out into the garden. I think the sun would do us both some good." Penelope nodded and they stood. She grabbed her laptop, following Erin out to the gazebo. She set up the computer and relaxed on the swing, waiting for another call to come in.

Erin moved the swing back and forth with her foot, humming under her breath. "I forgot to tell you. Dr. Elijah called earlier, and you have awesome bone marrow. As far as he can tell, the cancer has been knocked into remission."

"Oh my gosh, Erin, really?" She nodded and Penelope reached over and hugged her. As Erin's hand brushed over her incision site, Penelope hissed in pain.

"Are you okay?" Erin asked, concern filling her voice as she looked into Penelope's eyes. Reaching up, she felt Penelope's forehead with her wrist and then sighed. "How long have you been in this much pain and running this high a fever?"

"Since last Thursday. I didn't want to think it was anything, so I've been ignoring it."

"And there could be something seriously wrong, Penny. That's it we're going up to the guest room and checking your back out."

Reluctantly, Penelope nodded and they went inside. She felt herself tear up as they ascended the stairs and she tried to wipe them away without Erin noticing. It was a failed attempt, as Erin reached out and took hold of her hand, squeezing lightly. "I'm sorry."

"You should have said something about the fever, Penny."

"But you had just got out of the hospital when I began to notice both the pain and the fever. I really did think it would go away." She laid down on the bed, and felt Erin lift her shirt.

"Oh, honey," she heard Erin whisper and felt the ghostly touch of her fingertips over the incision. "I'm going to have to call someone about this. It looks so very inflamed. However did you manage to function like this."

"I focused on other things. Is it really that bad?"

"It could be." Penelope heard her dial a number on her cell phone. "Hi, Dr. Elijah. No, I'm fine, it's Penelope. Her incision wound looks infected, painfully so. Yes, I know it's been about three and a half weeks since she had surgery. One moment." She looked at Penelope. "When did you first notice it becoming painful?"

"Three weeks ago," she whispered, not looking at Erin.

"Three weeks?" Penelope nodded. "Yes, that's correct, Dr. Elijah. She's at my house. All right, I'll tell her. Thank you." Erin hung up and sat down on the bed. "Dr. Elijah will be here in about forty five minutes, luv. He sounds really concerned about this."

"See, this is why I didn't say anything. The focus needs to be on you and your recovery."

"And if I lost you because of a stupid infection, my heart would break." Penelope nodded, her tears choking out her words as she felt Erin stroke her hair. It did not take long to lull her to sleep as they waited.

When she woke up, she could feel her back was bandaged and she turned on her side, looking for Erin. She was on her cell phone once more. "Yes, Derek, he just left. She's been doing remote work here at the house. When have you had time to see her? I'm the one that should have caught it. That's sweet, but doesn't assuage my guilt one iota. We're blessed, Dr. Elijah said if the infection had gone untreated any longer, we could have lost her. I wish I could have helped you more with that search, but I'm not a technical wizard like she is. I'll tell her. Goodbye."

"So, you dipped your hands into my world?"

"Or tried to." Erin smiled sadly at her, kneeling by her side. "This was too close, Penelope." She burst into tears and wrapped her arms around her, hugging her carefully. "I called JJ, and she's filling the prescriptions Dr. Elijah left for you. And then you are staying here under my watch until you are completely healed."

"Yes, Angel Face," Penelope whispered, realizing how much she had scared Erin for her to react like this.

"Good. Now call George. I know you need to feel better after I've been picking on you." Erin handed her the phone and then kissed her forehead gently.

"Erin?" Penelope said as she was about to walk out the door. She turned and looked at her. "I love you."

"I love you, too, my darling girl." She went out the door, closing it behind her.

Quickly, Penelope pulled up George's number and called him. It went right to his voicemail, so she knew he was either in class or office hours. "Hi, George. Erin said I should call you and let you know about my infection. Dr. Wormeldorf treated it in time, but I'm stuck here at your sister's until it heals. I suppose if I had said something sooner, she'd have trusted me to take care of it on my own. I'll talk to you later."

Not five minutes later, her phone rang. "Hello, George."

"Sweetheart, what's going on? What infection?" He sounded worried and she felt herself tear up again.

"Somehow the incision site got infected, and I ignored it to focus on your sister. I really didn't think it was anything serious, honestly."

"Penny, promise me you won't ever ignore something like that again. I love you, too much to lose you to something like that."

"You love me?" she whispered.

"I thought it was rather obvious."

"Sometimes, my walls are rather strong. I love you, too. Oh George, how I love you. The rest of this semester had better fly by so we can see you again."

"I'm counting the days, my love."

"And?"

"Thirty seven until I'm there again. We'll figure everything out, I promise."

"God has been so good to me, George."

"And to me. You sound tired, though, so I'll let you rest. I'll call you tomorrow morning."

"Okay. Will you leave your phone on speaker again so I can listen to your lecture? I really like that."

"Of course I'll do that for you. Until tomorrow."

"Tomorrow." She set the phone on the nightstand and looked up to see Erin and JJ. "Hey. How much of that did you hear?" she asked, blushing once more.

"Just the end," JJ replied as she sat on the foot of the bed. "Dr. Wormeldorf called in three prescriptions for you to take. Erin has them and will make sure you take them. Henry needs his godmother to teach him computers when he gets older, PG. Please don't scare us like this again." She patted Penelope's foot gently. "And don't worry, everything will be fine."

"Thanks, Jayje." The other woman bent over her, kissing her cheek softly.

After she'd left, Erin handed Penelope two pills. "One is your antibiotic, the other is a pain killer. Take both and sleep now. I'll try to do your job until you wake up again." It was then that Penelope noticed the laptop under her arm.

"If you need anything, wake me up," she replied as she swallowed the pills with the water on the table. She snuggled down into the bed, closing her eyes once more as Erin's weight caused the bed to dip slightly.

Penelope woke up feeling eyes watching her. Groggily, she sat up and looked around the room. "Hey."

"Hi, Penelope. Mama wants to know if you're coming down for supper or if she should bring a tray up later."

"Human company sounds good right about now. Whatever's in those pills gave me some really odd dreams." She threw back the covers and stood up, straightening her clothes. "So, how did school go today, Lizzie?"

"Wonderful! I'm going to prom."

"Aren't you too young?"

"Not when your boyfriend's a junior. He asked me to come with him yesterday."

"Have you asked your parents if you can go yet?"

Lizzie looked down at the steps, blushing. "No, but with you here and Mama fussing about the infection, I figure I can get a distracted yes out of her and Daddy."

"Elizabeth."

"Okay, you can stop sounding like her, Penelope."

"Well, you don't want to go behind their backs. It's better to get an honest answer, believe me. Half-truths can only get you hurt." She touched Lizzie's shoulder and the girl looked at her. "But I'll put in a good word for you if you let me do a background check on him and his family."

"You are worse than my parents, Penelope. I thought you would be the fun aunt."

"I may be fun, but the safety of my family comes first and foremost. And if he hurts you, I can make it so he never has an online presence ever again." She smiled her devious smile and Lizzie giggled slightly, unable to stop herself.

"All right, I'll ask them and let you run a background check on him." They entered the dining room together and Erin smiled up at her, patting the seat next to her.

Penelope sat and Erin clasped her hand as Phil prayed over the food. "Amen," they echoed and Erin served herself and Penelope before passing the food on.

"Mama, I've been asked to go to prom with Jason. I really want to go, but know I need your permission. May I?"

Erin looked at her daughter, arching an eyebrow. "He's a junior, right?" Lizzie nodded. "And you've been dating him how long?"

"Two weeks," she replied sullenly, sounding irritated by the question.

"I think that answers your question."

"But Mama!"

"No, we haven't met him yet, he's only gone out with you for two weeks, and you're a freshman. If he's still with you next year, you may go to his senior prom. Phil, am I being unfair?"

He shook his head. "No, dear. I am in complete agreement with you on this."

"Ugh! Really? This is so unfair!" Lizzie pouted and poked listlessly at her food, shooting glares at all three adults throughout the meal. Penelope knew Erin was right in this respect and hoped Lizzie would see that in time.

When they'd finished eating, Paul and Zoë cleared the table while Lizzie went up to her room. As Penelope watched her go, she asked, "Did you manage to figure out the search engines for the teams?"

"Derek walked me through it. By the time Sam called, I had it down, but not quickly. Thankfully, they were patient with me." She looked into Penelope's eyes. "So, Lizzie's mad at you, too?"

"Yeah. I'm supposed to be the fun aunt who supports her crazy schemes. But I'm not about to go against you. You're her parents. And having boundaries is a good thing. Like I told George, I made a lot of mistakes and those began in high school. I had two strikes against me – hippie parents and being a nerd. Sometimes, you'll do anything to belong."

She broke off her words and looked down at her place. Erin covered her clasped hands with her own, squeezing lightly. "Let's go change that bandage on your back," she said quietly and Penelope nodded, standing up. Penelope held onto Erin's hand as they climbed the stairs, needing the close contact.

Once the door was closed, she turned to Erin and wrapped her arms around her waist. "I thought by being your friend, I'd be doing you some great service. But you've given me so much, Angel Face. Like you said before, thank you seems so small."

"Isn't that how God works, my darling girl? He knew we needed each other and gave you the push to seek me out." Erin gently stroked her hair as Penelope cried. "And maybe it was time for me to change a little." She pulled away from Penelope and looked into her eyes. "Now, let's get you freshened up."

Penelope nodded and laid down on the bed, pulling up her shirt. She listened as Erin bustled around the room, getting things ready as she hummed under her breath. The salve stung as Erin spread it over the incision and she tried very hard not to cry out. "Thank you," she whispered as she sat up.

"You're more than welcome. We're going back to the office Tuesday, so you have to be ready for that, okay?" Penelope nodded in surprise. "You'll be with us until then."

"But what about clothes? I didn't bring anything with me."

"JJ stopped by your apartment and packed a bag for you. I put the clothes in the dresser. I'm going to watch some television with Phil. Would you like to join us? Phil said something about making popcorn earlier."

"Sure," Penelope replied with an easy smile. "That sounds wonderful."