The following morning the team arrived early to see her off. She had forced Derek to get freshened up and pick up breakfast with everyone leaving Hotch to keep her company.

"You absolved him didn't you?" Hotch said almost accusingly with a smile on his face. Penelope grinned,
"It didn't feel right holding all that in, especially if…"
"Penelope no," Hotch interrupted not wanting her to finish that thought let along sentence.
"I'm just covering all my bases Aaron. I'm not jinxing myself or going all negative. I just want don't want that in my conscience, well more his. He would crucify himself for the rest of his life and it would haunt me for all eternity. Truth of the matter of is, on the scale of everything that's going on, it truly no longer matters." She explained placing her hand over his sensing the panic that had crept through his somewhat controlled demeanor.

"How are you holding up?" Emily asked as she handed Derek his coffee
"Doing okay, scared to death of losing her, but aside from that. I'm okay"
"Well, if you need to debrief, you know where I am." She said just as she was about to walk off to join JJ and Reid who were walking ahead with Rossi. Derek gently grabbed her arm to stop her. Emily looked back at him curiously
"What's up?"
"I'm sorry," he said solemnly meeting her gaze. Emily dropped her eyes to the floor before looking back up to his,
"It was just easier to cut myself off from everyone, it didn't mean that I don't appreciate your friendship, nor do I not value it, it was just so hard. Being with Tamara, I knew it put me in a compromising situation, which in turn put you guys in a compromising situation. I dug myself a hole and I didn't know how to dig myself out. I'm sorry if I bailed on you too. You know Pen aside, you're one of my best friends. Your friendship means a lot to me Em."
"It's about time you realize that Morgan," she replied giving him a light shove with her shoulder. Derek grinned and draped an arm around Emily's shoulder dropping his lips to her head
"Thank you," he murmured gratefully in her ear. Emily knew it was a multi faceted thank you, that he was thanking her not only for forgiving him, but for being there for Penelope in his absence, though if she were honest, he owed that Thank You to Hotch who was the one who picked up the pieces when he left her friend broken.

"We'll be here when you get back Pen." Reid assured her giving her hand a meaningful squeeze
"I look forward to it G-Man. You look after my girls okay? You're in charge of keeping them in line." Emily and JJ rolled their eyes and poked their tongue out at them in mock protest.
"I will." Reid promised. Derek stood back and waited as Hotch bent down to hug her
"You promised." She murmured so softly that if Derek hadn't been standing so close awaiting his turn he would have missed it. Penelope did not release Hotch till he nodded,
"I promise." He said as his voice cracked with emotion, Penelope nodded and thanked him softly knowing that she had placed a heavy burden on his shoulder and his heart. Derek wrapped his arms around her carefully but tightly
"I love you P. Heart and Soul, I love you."
"I love you too Derek." She answered with a nod as she rubbed the back of his neck reassuringly. He wanted to tell her that he loved her in the way that a man loved a woman. That he longed for her as a soul mate longed for its partner, but he knew it wasn't the right time. Instead he chose to be grateful that she believed that he loved her in any capacity and that she loved him in return.

As they wheeled her away Emily was torn between trying to comfort Derek to comforting Hotch who seemed shell shocked. Sensing her dilemma, Rossi made a move towards Derek and placed his hand on his Derek's shoulder. She threw him a grateful smile,

"Let's walk?" Emily said slipping her hand into Aaron's
"Okay," he nodded in agreement wanting to get out of that hospital room, to get some air, to clear his head.
"You want to talk about it? It may make you feel better?" Emily offered as she hugged his arm as they walked. Aaron stopped walking and wordlessly pulled her into an embrace, tucking her head beneath his chin. Penelope knew what burden she lay on his heart, and gave him the blessing to share it with Emily so that he wouldn't drown in it alone.
"She has appointed me to execute her medical decisions should she be incapacitated." Emily's heart literally skipped a beat,
"She's also signed a DNR (Do Not Resuscitate)." She gasped as her knees buckled thankful that Aaron had a firm hold on her.
"She's scared that something might happen during the operation, which is why she didn't want her brothers here. She's organized Em, she's updated her Will, she's tied up loose end," he said to her panicked
"She's Pen Aaron. She just wants to make sure that God forbid something should happen, she wasn't leaving a stone unturned. It doesn't mean she's giving up the fight, it just means, she can concentrate on fighting for her life without having to worry about all the other things that could take her energy from it. She's going to be okay. I believe that with all my heart." Emily said looking up at him. Aaron pulled her closer to him and buried his face on her shoulder,
"I am so grateful to have you Em."
"Back at you Hotchner." She murmured into his chest savoring being in his arms.