Disclaimer: I don't own Criminal minds or the characters.

Chapter 10

Monday, 2 days later:

Penelope had survived the ordeal with Kevin, but just barely. Once they had gotten her to the hospital, the doctors had confirmed that she had several internal injuries and had rushed her into surgery to stop the bleeding. Surgery itself had been a risk considering the severe concussion she had suffered and the doctors weren't even sure if she would be able to recover from the anesthesia.

From the moment they left the apartment, Derek hadn't left her side, only doing so when forced to because they were taking her into surgery. As soon as the surgery was over, he was back at her side in recovery and then in the ICU. Normally, this would have never been allowed but Hotch had spoken with the doctors and had convinced them that having Derek near would be the best medicine Penelope could have. Secretly, he also knew that there was no way in hell he would have been able to keep Derek away from her anyways.

Now it was two days later and Penelope still hadn't awakened from the surgery. Hotch stood at the doorway of her room in the ICU, watching as Derek sat next to her bed, holding her hand and speaking with her. For the past 48 hours, the team had barely been able to get him to move from that same position, only leaving long enough to grab a cup of coffee or a bite of something the team would practically have to force him to eat. If Penelope failed to wake up, Hotch knew in his heart that he would be losing not one, but two of his team members. Derek wouldn't be able to go on without Penelope at the BAU.

Not wanting to interrupt such an intimate moment, Hotch leaned against the door and listened as Derek spoke to her; "Hey Baby Girl, I'm still here. I know you need your rest but I sure do miss those beautiful eyes of yours. But you take all the time you need, you know I'll be here when you're ready to come back to me, no matter how long it takes. We have our whole lives in front of us and I'm going to make sure that I spend every day making this up to you. I love you, Penelope Garcia, more than I could ever tell you. I'm just sorry it's taken this long to admit that to you and to myself. I'm sorry I wasn't there when you needed me. I'm sorry for so many things," Derek's words stuck in his throat as his emotions began to overtake him and the tears began to fall. "God, Baby Girl, don't leave me now, I need you more than I need air to breathe, you are the life in me, please come back."

Hotch knew it was time to step in as he saw Derek begin to break down. How much more of this could his friend take? Derek had blamed himself for everything that had happened to Penelope and no amount of talking from any of the team had been able to convince him otherwise.

Motioning to JJ and Rossi who were just outside in the waiting room, Hotch headed in and gently placed a hand on Derek's shoulder. "C'mon, Derek, let's take a walk. JJ and Rossi are here, they'll watch over her while we're gone. Just five minutes, I promise, she'll be fine."

Derek's shoulders slumped as he sighed and slowly got up from his seat by her bed. JJ and Rossi both smiled at him as they walked past him to take up the watch over their friend. "It's okay, Derek." JJ reassured him. If she even blinks, we'll come and get you, honey."

Placing a guiding hand on Derek's back, Hotch led him out of the room and out the door at the end of the hall. Derek was exhausted and hadn't seen the light of day since they had brought Penelope in. Hotch figured the fresh air and sunlight would do him good and might help him clear his mind.

Leading him over to a bench underneath a tree, Hotch watched as Derek sank down onto the bench, putting his head in his hands. "Derek, I wish there was something I could say to change things, but there isn't. But you do have to stop blaming yourself, you know that Penelope wouldn't want that. When she wakes up, she's going to be awfully upset to find out you've been taking this all on your shoulders and I don't know about you, but I sure as hell wouldn't want the wrath of Garcia coming down on me like that," Hotch said with a smile, trying to lighten the mood just a little.

"Hotch, right now I would gladly take her wrath, her spite, even her hatred if she would just wake up and tell me herself," Derek said sadly.

"I know, Derek, I know," Hotch agreed as he had thought the same thing about Haley many times since her death. Knowing that sometimes there just weren't any more words that could be said, Hotch continued to just sit with Morgan, allowing his presence to serve as his support.

Just as Hotch was about to suggest that they head back in, he looked up to see Reid running towards them. "Derek!" Reid was yelling as he crossed the grounds in a jog, "She's awake! Garcia's awake and she's asking for you!"

Staring up at Reid in disbelief, Derek looked straight into the young agent's eyes, "You wouldn't lie to me, would you kid?"

"No, Derek, really, JJ's with her and told me to come get you right away. She asked for you by na…" Before Reid could say anything else, Derek was up and past him in a flash, headed back to his Baby Girl. Hotch got up and slapped Reid on the back and smiled as they turned to follow Morgan. "Reid, I think that's the best news I've heard in years. Let's go see about getting this team back in one piece!"

TBC