She touched base with her team, her old team, as she liked to think of them. She emailed and texted each of them at least once a best part of communicating that way is, it is very hard for the profilers to "profile her" no inflection in her tone and she kept her 'voice' the same wacky and inappropriate. The time passed quickly as she healed, and she followed her doctors orders. She left the apartment for doctors appointments and grocery runs other than that she stayed home. It had become her safe haven, it wasn't that she was feeling sorry for herself, she just used the time to reevaluate her life and her feelings.

Well at least that was what she wanted, Tony had other ideas he made sure she didn't spend to much time alone so he brought her to the Morgan house. He also brought her to Gibbs house at least once a week, movies & out to eat, anything. He just didn't want her to brood. He also didn't monopolize her time he left her alone too, just like she knew when to back he did too.

She had come to realize just how much she depended on her hearing. It just wasn't something she ever thought about. The final evaluation for her hearing, the news was not as good as they had hoped for, even with hearing aids her hearing would be no better. It was time to put her big girl panties on, so she did by starting by making a few phone calls.

So she came to a decision in order to keep them safe she would ask to be transferred to another department. She couldn't in good conscious continue to work with them knowing that she couldn't hear. They needed someone who could get them the information they needed quickly. She couldn't take the risk of anything happened to them any of them. They all had families that they needed to come home to safely, while she didn't.

She still had one more week home before she had to report back to work. Tony had been hinting that he wanted one last hurrah before she got back into the grind.

She finally relented, and they made dinner plans for Tony and Gibbs to come over for a meal and some drinks, she put her foot down telling him the meal would be home cooked. It wasn't good for any of them to eat take out as much as they had. She made a menu of sorts, Ravioli di Portobello in a nice light alfredo sauce and a good steak for her boys. Not to mention the fixings for a nice big salad of course. After going to the grocery store and picking up everything she will need to make dinner for the night, she stopped at the liquor store to pick up some beer and wine.

As she made her way to the check-out she realized there was a commotion at the front counter, there was a young girl about 16 years old signing frantically to the very bored looking cashier. She had no idea what the cashier was saying but she caught some of the sign. She touched the girls shoulder lightly before signing,

What's wrong?

The girl looked very relieved, and began to sign frantically to Garcia. My mother and I were in a car accident about two stores up, the car that hit us took off but my mother is unconscious and bleeding a lot.

Garcia looked to the cashier, "Don't talk to me because I can't hear you but call 911, there was a bad car accident on this street. Hit and run, driver is unconscious and bleeding heavily. Nod your head if you understand me." The cashier looked terrified and nodded her head frantically while picking up the phone, Garcia followed the girl back to her mother's car to wait for the ambulance.

She signed to the girl asking her name and she replied by saying her name is Kerry Jonas, her mothers name is Bella Jonas and 39 years old. Then she asked Garcia if she could hear, Not anymore. I lost my hearing a few months ago to a work place accident. But I've known how to sign for ages. I'm glad I was able to help you Kerry.

They saw the flashing lights at the same time, as the EMT's approached Garcia spoke and signed at the same time so Kerry would know what was going on; "Please understand that the daughter of the driver and I are both deaf and can't hear anything you say. The driver name is Bella Jonas, 39 years old. Her daughters name is Kerry Jonas. If you need any information from Kerry you have to write it down so she can read it. Do you understand?" the EMT nodded his head and headed for Kerry's mother.

She talked the police that came to fill out the report, well she wrote because it was easier. Gave her information so they could contact her if there were any problems. Her day was anti-climatic after that. She went home and started the meal and then went over her small home making sure noting was out of place. She even managed a dessert of tiramisu because, well who doesn't like coffee and chocolate.

Tony dropped the weight back in place with a thud swearing as he exhaled. He really didn't like getting old, but he hated the man that destroyed his career. He was lucky to be alive and for the he was grateful. He looks over and sees Sam as he works the machine rebuilding strength, he had come a long way, he didn't need the wheel chair anymore. Just a cane when he had to walk long distances. He didn't slur his speech either, it was almost like the stroke never happened unless you knew what to look for, Sam tended to get tired easily. If you knew him before the shooting you could see the pain in his eyes, that wasn't there before, too.

It was Tony who found a way to foil Margret and her desire to control Sam's hours away from work. He parked his car by the back door making it easier for them to slip out without her knowing. They went to a little coffee house that was a favorite of Gibbs and some of the other agents. It had a table tucked away in the back that was used primarily for the staff, unless of course they knew who you were, with the amount of coffee that Tony and company drank, he was always welcome to use the little table.

After getting their coffee and a muffin they settled into their seats. "I ran into a friend from the theater company, he asked me how I was doing and if I know how Penelope was doing? I had no idea what he was talking about, until he told me. So Tony why didn't you tell me?"

Tony put his cup down never taking his eyes of Sam. "Do you remember I told you that I would never pick a side? I'm your friend Sam , but I'm her friend too. I keep your secrets as I do hers. It wasn't my place to tell."

Sam exhales then nods his head understanding perfectly. Tony is a good friend and he should have known better than to question him. "Please tell me how is she?"

"She's better, she is going back to work on Monday, but not to the BAU. She can't hear Sam, the damage is irreversible. She refuses to go back to the BAU she doesn't want to be responsible if one of them gets hurt because she can't get the needed information to them in time."

"She'll hate it. They are her family, the only one she has, sometimes I had to wonder if she loved them more than she loved me. Does she still love me Tony?" Sam asks almost whispering the last part.

"Penelope Garcia has a great capacity to love, I don't think she could really hate anyone even if she tried. She might not like some one, but hate? No, not her. Yes Sam she loves you, always will but not the love you once shared with her. Your mother killed that by pushing you into the divorce, that neither of you wanted. And before you ask, no there is not a chance that she will consider a reconciliation. You broke her heart man. Just let her be, maybe you can resume a friendship of sorts in the future."

Sam didn't say thing in return he just nodded his head then blinked away the tears that Tony conveniently didn't see.

Tony drove around to the front of the building after dropping Sam off in the back. He couldn't help but laugh as he watched Sam stretch and yawn as he walked out and made his was to the car and his waiting mother. "I fell asleep as they were giving me a message." The whole staff knew what his mother was like so they had no problem covering for him at all.

Putting his car in gear he drove off thinking about just how unpredictable life really is, he has know this, it is the one thing his job, his former job had taught him. He remembers a very old man telling him once, Tony you're a mensch, I'll tell you something that has help me in my long, long life. If you want to hear God laugh, make plans. Tony live each day as the gift that it is. Now I thank you for the tea , but you should go, let an old man enjoy his tea. That was the last time he had talk to his friend and neighbor Ezra, he died that afternoon waiting for his daughter to come for dinner. So he thought about Penelope his friend. Having long talks over the computer and signing, it was a good way to practice, she shared things that she had never shared before to anyone.

Finally admitting to Tony that the one thing she misses most is his laughter, that she would do things just to hear him laugh because he looked so sad. What was she supposed to do, touch his chest and neck so she could feel his laugh. No it was better that she just transfer. It hurt too much. When he asks why she never said anything she tells him that things didn't work that way in the real world. Her life wasn't a fairy tale, it never was.

Hearing her laugh he signed to her what was so funny. I was thinking about the second time that I saw him. You have to understand that he arrested me, I was in an integration room cuffed to the table. He walked in all serious straight back his face a blank canvas, I called him J. Edgar, he corrected me telling me his real name. It was a challenge after that to get a rise out of him. Even then he looked so sad. I think it was then I fell in love with him.

"Who is the agent Penelope?" He remembers signing to her.

"It doesn't matter, do you want more tea?" she asks standing with her empty cup in hand

He stops her by signing one word. "Why?" then hands her his cup.

She responded with her voice, something that she rarely did. "Because if you can't have the one you want, you love the one your with. Just like that old song says."

Had she giving him enough clues to find out who the agent was that arrested her, all he had to do was ask. Maybe the agent needed a slap Gibbs style if he was blind to the love that this fantastic woman was sending his way. All he had to do was figure out who she it was she loved but was to afraid to admit.