Fran and Penelope clung to each other as if their very lives depended on it. Dave paced the floor outside of Derek's room while doctors and other hospital staff surrounded the bed talking frantically and working feverishly. The monotone beep of the monitor still hummed as the doctor in charge yelled, "Clear" for the third time. Dave looked back at the two women clinging to each other and rocking and crying not caring about anything else except the man lying in the bed twenty feet away. Dave wanted to call the others but he was afraid to move from the small path that he'd created with his constant pacing.

"CLEAR"

Damn! Damn! Damn! This wasn't happening he was fine last week and he was young and happy and expecting a baby with the woman of his dreams. He needed more time, more time to live and enjoy being happy… happiness had been a precious thing to all of them and an illusive beast but he'd managed to grab a piece of it. Dave understood the price that they had all paid to do what they did everyday and he also knew that all of them deserved to be happy…not this, not being a victim to the evil they fought everyday.

Then beep…beep…beep. It was the sound that he'd beat the odds. He was back among the living even if for a little while longer. Dave glanced over at his wife feeling giddy as their eyes met acknowledging the sound of life. Such a sweet sound, He hadn't realized how a little high pitched annoying sound could sound so much like heaven.

Fran and Penelope stood and joined the doctors as they wearily met them in the hallway.

"He won this round."

Fran, Penelope and Dave's sighs resonated like a choral response as the doctors warned them about being too optimistic. Things were still perilous and time was not on their side.

"We've put him in a medically induced coma. His body is shutting down too fast for us to stay on top of. "

"So now what?"

Penelope's voice was weak and trembling as she held onto Fran's arm.

"We keep working to find an antidote. I'm afraid if we don't find something soon he'll be too weak for it to matter."

"NO! He has to be okay! My son…he can't die…"

Dave wrapped his arm around Fran's shoulders and pulled her close. He didn't know what to say or do. This would destroy her. This was a loss that would shred her into a million pieces.

"Can we see him?" Penelope asked.

"Yes. Just give the nurses a few more minutes and you can go in."

Home of Savannah Hayes – Morning –

She'd gotten up showered, dressed and left without so much as a goodbye. He pretended to be asleep as she started her day without him. He heard her brewing coffee downstairs then a few minutes later he heard the door closing.

The morning hadn't changed how he felt about what they were doing. This wasn't him and no matter how much he felt justified this was wrong. Savannah had made it all seem so easy and she'd distracted him with sex. Even now he knew that if she were there he wouldn't hesitate to screw her brains out.

It was getting late and checking his watch he dragged himself out of her bed toward the shower. It was then that he saw her note on the dresser telling him that she had been called in early to replace a sick colleague. He felt a twinge of remorse for thinking that she had been thoughtless.

His thoughts and feelings of guilt had caused him to linger longer than he should have and now he was running late rummaging through drawers to find a stray pair of briefs that he'd left on a previous visit. Drawer after drawer he searched filled with lace and silk…nothing was his. There was absolutely no sign in her home that he was a part of her life…no shirts, no pants and no briefs…nothing!

He refused to acknowledge the truth he couldn't admit that he'd been nothing but a pitiful horny fool. His hands searched and searched wading through every garment until he found it. His fingers wrapped around the small clear vial he held it up to the light catching his reflection in the mirror. He nearly dropped the small shining container it was as if a stranger was looking back at him watching him maniacally searching for what he knew he would not find. He froze for several seconds staring and for a moment he almost saw a smirk appear on the face staring back at him. He'd gone utterly mad. Then for a brief moment he experienced a millisecond of clarity and he knew what he had to do.

Savannah had grown tired of pretending that Sam would do; he wouldn't. The only thing that would make her happy was seeing Derek's cold body lying in a casket. She didn't have time to waste on a weak pathetic creature like the man she'd left sleeping in her bed. So, as she drove toward Bethesda Memorial, she shook off any previous notions of spending her future with Sam. He was becoming a liability and he'd shown her with his doubts that he wasn't up to the mission that drove her now. She wasn't kidding herself anymore there was no future for the two of them. Derek was the only man she'd wanted for the long haul and he'd chosen Penelope Garcia. Of all the women she imagined him with he chose the blonde tech geek. It didn't matter now things were going to work out and in a few days, Derek Morgan, the love of her life would be dead and no one would ever suspect the true reason behind his death.

Potomac General-

She hadn't left his side. The others, Fran, Dave…her friends had all been unsuccessful in convincing her to go home and get some rest. Her eyes were heavy with sleep and she'd managed to drift off a few times resting her head on the bed next to his arm. That was all she needed for now; that and the steady beat of the monitors and wheezing of the respirator confirming that he had not left her…yet.

Dave had insisted that she go home with him. She was distraught but she knew he was right and at the moment she didn't want to be in charge. So, leaning on her husband, Fran had gone home to shower and to rest. She hadn't slept much and Dave had held her in his arms while she tossed and turned and kept them both awake. She was back now rushing through the doors with Dave close behind. She knew that she'd find her daughter-in-law next to Derek and it increased her concern. Lack of sleep and stress was not good for her or the baby. She slowly pushed the door open and the sight of the dozing Penelope confirmed her suspicions.

Hotch had met Savannah only a few times before. Morgan had not brought her around the rest of them often which he'd always thought was odd but he never questioned him about it. He had had his suspicions but they'd agreed years ago not to profile each other. It had been the same for Sam. Penelope spoke of him often however Hotch and the rest of the team had only seen him a few times in passing. Now somehow Savannah and Sam had formed an unholy alliance for the sole purpose of getting revenge against their former lovers.

Hotch wasn't allowed to participate in the case and he understood the rules but he'd kept his nose close to what was going on. The detective heading the case was a friend who owed him a favor. The facts of the case especially Morgan's last day at home were shocking. Apparently, his mother's warning had gotten through at least enough to have both helped and hurt him. Investigators had found one of Savannah's vitamins on the table next to a plate of half-eaten food. Hotch could only assume that Morgan had refused to take the vitamin and set the capsule on the table. The investigators had also found residue of an unknown substance at the bottom of an empty coffee cup that was also on the table near the plate. She had been determined to say the least and if he would not take the pill willingly then she would use other methods.

Hotch expected Savannah to strike again or at least he expected her to check on her handiwork and even interject herself into the case. That was common with many criminals. It seemed surreal to refer to her as such but that's what she and possibly Sam were now, criminals. His trap was set and he'd given the rest of the team their orders. Now all they had to do was wait. Moments later, Sam walked through the hospital doors.

Afternoon –

She hadn't heard a peep from Sam and she had to admit that she was a little concerned. He'd been showing signs of cracking recently and perhaps he'd changed his mind. She'd instructed him to pay Derek a visit on his way to work whether he'd done as he was told had yet to be seen. For the third time she tried reaching him on the phone and again her call went straight to voicemail.

Confidently, Savannah stepped off the elevator and headed toward the intensive care unit. She thought nothing of seeing Derek's team mingling around the hall way and the waiting room nearby. All of them looked shell shocked and for that she felt a twinge of joy. She was so close to a win and the thought of them all getting the news of his death made her momentarily giddy. Everyone had been friendly enough in their greetings of each other but not much was said beyond that…then once again a familiar announcement was heard overhead that sent chills down their spines.

"CODE BLUE!"

The hallway was flooded with medical staff as they rushed towards Morgan's room. Penelope, Fran and Dave were pushed forcefully from the room with the door closed swiftly behind them. They were such a family, Savannah thought as she watched them crying and holding onto each other for dear life. She envied their connection and the love they openly shared with each other. She tried to pretend that it didn't matter, that she wasn't jealous. She wanted to believe that in the end she would be the one who'd truly won…but it didn't work.

After what seemed like hours the noise and commotion in the room ceased and those standing in the hall way held their breaths as the doctor came out of the room. They saw no hope in his eyes, nothing but dread as he slowly approached them. Penelope had already begun to shake her head and muttering the word, 'no,' over and over again.

"Doctor?" Hotch began.

"I'm very sorry…"

"NO!"

"We did everything we could…"

"PLEASE!"

"He was too far gone… I'm sorry but we lost him."

Now Savannah could breathe. Now she could begin living again. Now she had finally won!