Disclaimer: I don't own CM

A/N: I hope you guys enjoy this chapter, sorry it took so long. I wasn't sure where to take it

Hotch followed Derek out to the car and got in a cranked up the car. Neither of them said anything the whole way there. Hotch knew why Morgan had to leave, he didn't have to ask. He knew Morgan was right. Kevin would blame him for what happen to Pen and Derek could not sit there and listen to Kevin say everything he was thinking in his head. Kevin never understood that Derek would do anything to keep Garcia from getting hurt. The team knew that, but Kevin wasn't part of the team. He didn't see Derek's face the night Garcia was shot or the days that followed. Hotch pulled up to the ER entrance and let Derek out. Derek waited for Hotch just inside the door.

"Go sit down, I will go cut through the red tape. The sooner we get this over with the better."

"Hotch."

"Morgan, you don't have to say anything I know what is going on in that head of yours. I am a profiler too remember. I know you love Garcia and I know you believe with all that you are that Kevin will blame you, and I also know you are probably right, he will. This is going to be the end of Penelope and Kevin, you know that as well as I do, but that won't be your fault. Now let me go get the ball rolling," he finished as he walked to the front desk.

Derek sat through the examination and the x-rays praying that he would be able to get out of there quickly. He needed to be sure Garcia was okay.

"Agent Morgan, you are a very lucky man. Nothing broken but definitely some bruising deep bruising so it will hurt for a few weeks. We will clean it, wrap it, give you some pain meds, and let you be on your way."

"Doctor, I don't need pain meds. I will take some over the counter stuff. I am on a case and I have to get back to it, so could we speed this along."

"Of course Agent Morgan."

Derek walked out several minutes later. Hotch was on the phone when he came out.

"Yes, JJ, I understand you are upset that we didn't tell you what was going on with Penelope and Derek, but you have understand the situation is critical and Penelope didn't want anyone outside of Morgan to know. Morgan just came out, I have got to go. I will call you when we get back to Derek's."

"Boss Man, I take it the cat is out of the bag and JJ is not too happy with us."

"Just JJ knows for now apparently Kevin is none too pleased with us telling him Garcia was on assignment and he railed at JJ for lying to him."

"When this is over Hotch I want five minutes alone with Lynch."

"Morgan."

"What? He shouldn't be giving JJ grief, she didn't do anything."

Derek was quiet the rest of the ride back to the house. Hotch let it go because he knew what was on his mind. The same thing he thought when he received the call from JJ. Penelope's conversation with Kevin had not gone well at all. Hotch knew the last thing either of them needed was Kevin's anger and threats hanging over their heads. He would have to talk to Dave in private when they got back to the house. He took a deep breath as he pulled into Morgan's driveway and parked the car. Derek got out and particularly ran to the door, only stopping long enough to unlock the door. He didn't say a word to Rossi when he walked into the bedroom, he didn't have to, he knew by the look on Rossi's face the phone call had went as bad as he had expected. Rossi stood up, gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze, and headed out the door. Taking off his shirt, Morgan climbed in bed, he slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her in against his chest and closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"You okay, Hot Stuff?"

"Yeah, Sunshine I am good, nothing broken just bruised. How did the phone call go?"

"Not good, not good at all."

"Want to talk about it, Angel?"

"No, can we just lay here for a while?"

"Sure Baby Girl, if that is what you want, but we will talk about the phone call later, huh?"

"Why?"

"Why, what?"

"Why do we have to talk about it Derek? Why can't we just let it all go?"

"Because Baby Girl, I need to know."

"Derek, this is not your fault you know."

"I know, but I am your best friend Pen and what kind of friend would I be if I weren't there when you needed me most."

Oh Derek, I just don't want you to think this was your fault. No matter what Kevin says this was not your fault."

"Baby Girl, I don't know what to say other than I am so sorry. I would never want to the cause of your pain."

"I know that Hot Stuff, but I don't see how rehashing my conversation with Kevin will help our situation."

"Sunshine, why don't you just go to sleep and we will discuss this later. By the way, I am sorry to have to be the one to tell you but JJ knows now too."

"I guess they will all find out soon enough Derek, but what am I going to say to them. I know they will be hurt I tried to keep it from them."

"Pen we love you and no matter what you have to remember that. I love you Pen and no matter who is mad or angry at you for whatever, I will deal with it. Now go to sleep please," he begged. He knew her had to shut her up before he said all the things she wasn't ready for, that he wasn't ready for. He watched her eyes close and felt her breathing change and it was only then did he close his eyes and fall into an uneasy sleep.

Pen woke up and forgot where she was for a minute. It wasn't until she opened her eyes and saw Derek's beautiful dark eyes that she realized she was safe, but she knew she wasn't safe for long because she knew Derek would want to talk about her phone call with Kevin as would Hotch and Rossi, but she didn't know if she was ready to admit her failure to them. She had failed them all and by telling them what Kevin said she would have to admit it.

No one knew of the troubles she had had since Kevin had decided to take that job overseas without telling her. Even though he had decided not to take it, it has been a blow to their relationship and she felt she had to pull away from the team as a result, especially Morgan. Morgan scared Kevin and she knew that, but chose to ignore it for her own selfish reasons until Kevin almost left and she felt like she needed to give their relationship a real chance, but now that was over and all Penelope had left was the tattered friendship that she only hoped would survive a second blow.

Derek watched Garcia's eyes glazed over and he knew she wasn't there with him but elsewhere and he wasn't sure if she was back with Rodney or with Kevin and all he could do was tighten his arm around her waist and hold on to her as tight as he could until she came back.

"Hey Hot Stuff."

"Hey Princess, how are you this morning."

"I don't know Hot Stuff; all of this is just too much."

"I am so sorry Baby Girl, so so sorry."

"Derek Morgan, how many times do I have to say you have nothing to be sorry for before you will believe me?"

"Pen, I know you say that, but it is not that easy for me and you know it. Can we talk about your conversation with Kevin now?"

"Derek, Hotch and Rossi are probably sitting out there twiddling their thumbs waiting on you to come out there and work with them."

"Nope, nice try Goddess, but the boss men have went back to the office and left me in charge of you and I want to talk about Kevin."

"Can I go to the potty first?"

"Of course you can sweetheart, but don't think I will forget because I won't."

"I know you won't sweetness," she said as he helped her up and guided her to the bathroom. He waited outside while she used the bathroom. "Can I have a shower today Derek?"

"Later Goddess I promise but you need food first and we need to talk," he said as he helped her out of the bathroom. "Bed or sofa, ladies choice."

"Sofa please, I need to get out of this room for a little while."

"Whatever you wish my queen," he said as he picked her up and carried her to the sofa.

"Derek, put me down, I am too heavy on a good day and today is not a good day, and your arm is hurt."

"Shush, woman you are not too heavy," he said as he laid her down gently and adjusted her pillows. "I will be right back with your breakfast and your pain pill and then we will talk about what happened while I was gone last night." He went into the kitchen and got her a cup of coffee and a scone that he picked up from the coffee shop this morning before Pen woke up and took it into the living room, along with a glass of water and her pain pills He couldn't help but smile at the sight of her laying there on his sofa flipping through the channels on the television, he knew she was trying to avoid the conversation she knew was coming. He took the remote out of her hands and replaced it with the coffee and scone before taking a seat at the end of the sofa, putting Pen's feet in his lap as he did so. "Talk to me, no run around this time."

"Angel Fish, it was not a pleasant conversation. He wanted to know why if you were the cause; I called you instead of him, my boyfriend."

"And, why did you?"

"I told you Derek, you are my best friend and I don't blame you for any of this. Kevin does and would have started something at work. I am sure of it now more than ever."

"Pen, what happened between you two, before this. I mean I tried to stay out of your relationship with Kevin out of respect for you, but something happened before this I mean."

"He applied for a job out of the country without asking me what I wanted or even considering my feelings on the subject."

"He has to be the stupidest man on the planet."

"No Derek, we just weren't meant to be, I know that now and so does he."

"What did he say last night Pen?"

"He accused me of choosing you over him that he should have been the one I called not you. He asked how I could turn to you when you were the reason it happened in the first place." Pen looked at Derek's face and saw the anguish he tried so hard to hide the last few days. "Derek, there was no one else I trust to protect me more than you. You have chased away the nightmares for me more times than I can count. I don't know what I would do or where I would be without you. That is something Kevin never understood. I will not let you blame yourself for anything else when it comes to me, do you understand?"

"But Mama---"

"But nothing, Hot Stuff, Kevin and I were through before this happened, this just gave him an out and I told him as much last night. You are my best friend and have been long before Kevin Lynch came into my life and I almost lost what we have because of him, but I absolutely refuse to push you aside anymore for anyone."

"Pen,"

"Hush Derek, you wanted to hear about Kevin and I am going to tell you all of it, because you deserve to know the truth. He was afraid of you. He didn't like how close we were. He didn't like that we went out as a team and you drove me home, cuddled with me, or slept in my bed and I let him talk me into pulling away from you. Do you have any idea how much that kills me? I let him come in between me and the only family I have. I am angry, not with you, and not with Kevin, but with myself."

"I don't know what to say Baby Girl."

"Don't say you're sorry." Say that you will quit blaming yourself for everything bad that has happened to me. Derek, I am every bit to blame for what happened to me in the last few years as you are."

"Penelope---"

"No, listen; I went out with Battle because I was mad at you. You told me and I didn't listen. I went out with Kevin for over a year because I decided to settle and nobody should ever settle. And Rodney, well, I wasn't paying attention and I didn't fight hard enough. Now can we please can we move on from this conversation I am getting kinda tired and would like a nap and you look like you could use a nap yourself."

"Penelope Garcia, are you asking me to take you to bed," he said with a wink.

"I believe I am Agent Morgan," she said with a giggle.

"Come on Baby Girl," he said as he picked her up. "That is the best offer I have had in a while." He gave her a kiss on the forehead as he laid her down on the bed. He hurried over to the other side of the bed and let out a sigh of relief as she snuggled against her chest.