Disclaimer: No matter how much I wish it weren't so, I don't own Criminal Minds.

Chapter 12

"Penelope!" Derek screamed as he heard the gunshot and felt her fall forward against him. When she didn't respond, he immediately thought the worst. Unable to move because of the bullet in his leg, he just wrapped his arms around her limp body and hung his head as he began to cry into her beautiful golden locks of hair. "Dear God, don't let her die!" he prayed as turned her over to feel for her breath and a pulse.

Suddenly a bright light shone in his eyes and a familiar voice called out to him, "Morgan? It's me Reid, are you guys all right?" Reid said as he hurried over to where Morgan and Garcia were crumpled on the floor.

"Kid! Get down, Carmichael's here and he's got a gun! He's already shot both me and Garcia" Derek yelled at Reid, wondering what in the hell the young agent was doing there in the first place but thankful as hell that help had arrived.

"No, it's okay Morgan, I got him. He's dead. "

"What the hell do you mean he's dead? He just shot Penelope, I heard the shot and she fell right into my arms," Derek barely managed to get out as the thought practically strangled the words in his throat.

"No, Derek, look again. I just shot Carmichael. He never got his round off. I don't think Garcia's been hit, she just passed out."

Just at that moment, Penelope groaned and struggled to release herself from the tight hold that Derek had on her as she came to, "What happened? Reid, what are you doing here? Where's Artie?" she began spilling out questions as she looked around her. "Derek, are you all right?"

"Whoa, slow your roll Mama," Derek said with tears of relief in his eyes as he took a good look at her. "You're all right? He didn't shoot you?" he asked as his hands traveled up and down her body searching for any wounds.

"No, I don't think so. I mean, I remember looking back and thinking he was going to kill both of us. I heard a shot and I guess I passed out, thinking he had killed you," Penelope remembered with some confusion. "What the hell just happened here?"

"That's exactly what I want to know!" Hotch's voice chimed in as another beam of light from his flashlight crossed the threshold of Penelope's apartment.

"Hotch?" Derek questioned. "Would somebody please tell me what's going on here! How did you guys know to come? Not that I'm not glad to see you."

"Penelope's neighbor called us. She heard a commotion in here and evidently after the trouble with Battle, Garcia had left her with our numbers and strict orders to call if she was ever in trouble. I assume the rest of the teams on the way. Good thinking, Garcia." Hotch said as he took a good look around the damaged apartment and towards the body of Carmichael that was now laying in a lifeless heap on the floor.

"Thank God for Natalie! That girls going to get a lifetime supply of my special recipe, homemade cookies for sure!" Penelope cried. Hearing Derek moan softly, she suddenly remembered that he had taken a bullet in the leg from Carmichael. "Derek, I forgot! My God, are you okay? Hotch, we need an ambulance…Derek's leg!"

"There's one pulling up right behind us," Emily said as she and the rest of the team members ran into the apartment. "What the hell happened here?"

"I think it's sufficient to say that Carmichael decided to move up his schedule. Evidently the whole meeting time and place was a ruse to get us to let our guard down so he could get to Garcia easier," Reid observed.

"Yeah, well, it almost worked," Derek said as he shivered with the thought of how close he had come to losing her. Feeling him shake, Penelope's worries about the severity of his gunshot wound rose. "Where are those damn paramedics?" she wondered out loud.

"It's okay, Baby Girl, it's not my leg. I don't think it hit any major arteries or anything, I'll be okay. I'm just thankful that Carmichael didn't get to you, I couldn't make it without my Baby Girl," he said softly as he reached up and cupped her face in his hands.

As the reality of what had just taken place began to set in, tears began to fall down Penelope's cheeks and she began to tremble. Pulling her face close to his, Derek leaned his forehead in so that it was touching hers. Speaking tenderly he declared, "I love you Penelope Garcia and I heard you say the same thing to me when you thought Carmichael had us in his sights. I want you to know that having heard those words come out of your beautiful mouth, I would have died a fulfilled man knowing you loved me. It's all I've ever wanted since the day I first met you and I swear to you right here and now, in front of everyone that I will spend the rest of my life showing you just how true that is."

Not giving her a chance to protest Derek pressed his lips against her and pulled her into a soft, loving kiss. At first the sheer surprise of it kept Penelope from responding and then after a few seconds, she let her body relax as the wonderfulness that was Derek Morgan's sexy mouth convinced her to give in and what started as a tender kiss soon turned into something more passionate and intimate.

"HHHmmmHHHMM" The sound of Hotch clearing his throat brought Morgan and Garcia back to the real world. "While I can see it's evident that you aren't hurt too badly, Morgan, I still think the paramedics would like to get a look at that leg."

"Uhm, yeah. Sure, Hotch," Morgan stammered as he looked around and saw the rest of the team watching him and Garcia with huge smiles on their faces.

Getting up to let the paramedics in, Garcia looked around and saw Carmichael's body. She could clearly see the blood that had seeped from the hole in his chest where she had stabbed him with the screwdriver. Cringing she asked Hotch, " What's going to happen now?"

"It's all right Garcia, we'll clean all of this up and get him out of here. I'm going to need to get full statements from you and Derek, but that can wait until the morning. I'm sure there'll be some questioning by IA but it's just routine. Strauss will make life hell for you and Derek for a few days but we'll make sure she knows what happened here and there'll be no problems" Hotch explained. Of course I can't guarantee you she won't give you any grief over your relationship with Derek but I won't let her do anything drastic."

"Don't worry, I'll take care of the Ice Queen. She won't have anything to say by the time I get through talking to her," Rossi promised.

"Thanks, fellas," Penelope said with a sigh of relief. Looking over she saw that the paramedics were ready to leave with Derek.

"Go with him Penelope, you two need to be together right now. We'll come to the hospital when we're done here," Hotch told her as he leaned over and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "It's over, Garcia…go take care of him." Penelope nodded back as she smiled, Hotch's words and actions leaving her speechless. Grabbing a hold of Derek's hand as the paramedics pushed him by on the gurney, she left her apartment with the love of her life next to her and the rest of her family watching as they left.

TBC

Of course there will be more but after three chapters in under 24 hours my muse is wiped out! I hope you have enjoyed it so far…it's been a blast to write and all of your comments have made my last few days. The muse and I thank you! I promise more good M/G moments coming!