Chapter Twelve

Hey, just wanted to thank everyone again for reading reviewing, alerting, whatever! Makes me feel happy-I think I'm having way too much fun with this story. I think I've responded to everyone as much as possible—sorry if I missed a chapter or two! Now onto the tale! It's about time we see more of the rest of the team, even though M/G is so cute.

Disclaimer: It is much to my chagrin to announce that I do not own Criminal Minds.

Two Weeks Later

"Jayje, you know you don't have to do this, right?" Penelope tried to protest, crossing her arms with as much dignity as she could muster with her current injuries. JJ simply shook her head.

"Garcia, you're staying at my place. There's no way you can take care of everything by yourself." She was right. Changing the bandages, getting herself to and from appointments with the doctor—all would certainly require assistance. Nodding in disgruntled agreement, Penelope sat herself down in the wheelchair.

"This is so stupid. I can use crutches, you know. Hospital regulations be damned."

"Hey, at least you get out, right?" Emily sensibly pointed out. "The doctor could've made you stay even longer."

"Oh, gosh, if I had to be stuck watching the same old soap operas and getting pricked by needles for tests that showed nothing, someone would've gotten hurt." All three women laughed. Garcia's smile faded though, as her partial joke held some truth. No one really knew why her memories weren't coming back. The only explanation most specialists had was that it was psychological, that deep down within her, something was refusing to let her remember. Perhaps it was the trauma she'd suffered, who could say?

What hurt her most was that she couldn't for the life of her recall Derek as anything other than that guy she saw when she first woke up. Every time she saw him, she'd scrutinize his every feature, every line, trying desperately to find a glimmer of recollection. Her efforts proved fruitless. He was still a name and a face. Nothing more.

"Don't worry, Garcia. You'll remember," JJ murmured softly, reading Penelope like a book. It was this kind of connection that made them practically sisters. But this reassurance didn't help too much.

"Yeah, but JJ, what if it isn't for years until I do? What if he doesn't want to have contact with me again? What if he doesn't care about me any more?" JJ almost laughed, and Garcia frowned.

"Pen, don't worry. Derek will never stop caring about you. Ever since you landed in that hospital bed he's done nothing but worry about you. While you were unconscious, he never left your side, and the only reason he isn't here now is because Hotch forced him to get some paperwork done." Prentiss nodded in agreement.

"Wow. We must've been close then," Penelope muttered, using the past tense because she didn't really know what they could be considered now.

Under her breath, Emily mumbled, "You don't know the half of it." They still didn't want to reveal the fact that she and Derek had been an item. It was getting difficult, though, to keep this hidden. After a while, Garcia probably would piece all of the tiny pieces of the puzzle together and figure it out, with or without the memories.

Soon they reached JJ's car. She and JJ helped Penelope into the front seat, a process that proved difficult with all of the bandages.

"Can I meet you guys at your place?" Prentiss asked JJ. "We could hang for awhile."

"Of course, Em. The more the merrier, right?"

For the next few hours, most troubles were cast aside as the girls enjoyed chick flicks and carryout Chinese food. It was nice sometimes, Garcia decided, to forget one's problems. However, her eyes kept darting to the framed BAU team photo JJ had on the wall. Derek or whoever had his arm wrapped around her waist, and she was leaning against him. Both of them looked completely comfortable with each other, and she could tell from the expressions of the rest of the team that this behavior wasn't abnormal at all.

Who was he? Who was that man in the picture?

Five Days Later, Derek's Apartment

He couldn't sleep. Of course, rest hadn't come easily for several weeks now, but tonight especially was rough. Maybe it was because it had now been more than a month since they'd shared a bed. It was always easier to relax when he and Penelope were together. The refreshing scent of her hair, her rhythmic breathing, her head lying gently on his chest—it made him feel like he was right where he was supposed to be. Like everything was safe, like there was no more evil in the world because all that was near him was good. But Penelope…..she didn't miss those nights. She didn't remember them, remember him, remember the connection they shared. He needed her more than he needed oxygen to breathe, but to her he was just….a stranger.

Suddenly, Derek bolted out of bed. He slipped a pair of pants on and rushed down to his car. Hastily, he drove to Pen's apartment. He knew from Prentiss that she was no longer staying at JJ's place. Although he knew he seemed stalker-like, his heart just couldn't take it any longer. He walked business-like to her floor. Pulling out the key she'd given him more than a year ago, his mind finally caught up with the rest of him.

What the hell are you doing, man? She'll throw you out, maybe call the cops! To her, you're just some random guy that happens to work in the same building! Face it, she doesn't want you here! Derek realized he should settle for the logical voice in his head, for the time being.He was about to turn away, about to just settle for yet another sleepless night…..

When a scream echoed through the apartment.

And just when y'all thought I couldn't possibly come up with another cliffhanger:P