Chap. 13 Help her

Disclaimer: I don't own Criminal Minds

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Derek was outside the hospital. He had been there for nearly one hour when he finally could phone his mother.

"Hello?"

"Mom it's me..." he whispered.

"Derek, baby… what's the news? Is she…?"

"No mom, we found her before he could kill her but…" his voice broke and he waited a few seconds to regain composure.

"What happened?"

"She was naked, he was on top of her, choking her… I could have killed him but Penelope needed me. She hasn't said word, since we have found her. She… I don't know…"

"How is she now?"

"I don't know yet… they are checking on her… but I fear…"

"Yes?"

"I fear that she didn't recover from what happened. She was staring blankly into space. She never cried or uttered a word to us… to me. What if…?" he couldn't finish his sentence.

"You have to help her… she will need you more than before… Have you told her about your feelings again?"

"No, I didn't have the chance… this bastard took her before…"

"Baby, she'll recover and you'll be able to talk to her."

"Thanks mom. I think I'll return inside."

"Ok, keep me updated please."

"No problem. I love you."

"Love you too honey."

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It has been one week since they had found Penelope. She was not really hurt physically, apart from the cut in her forehead and the bruises on her ankles and wrists, besides the bruises on her inner tights.

The more worrying was that she hadn't said a single word since that day. She never once stared at her friends or the medical staff. She was staring into space, lost in her own world.

At first the doctors thought she was in shock, but then it was obvious that Penelope mind was elsewhere, probably where nobody could hurt her.

Her friends felt helpless, despite all their efforts to communicate with her, Penelope hadn't replied, cried or anything for that matter.

The doctors found themselves obligated to nourish her via an IV since she refused to eat.

As the days passed Derek became more and more worried.

The doctors were talking about sending her in a psychiatric unit… he couldn't let them do that.

How could he help her, there?

After two weeks, he came to a conclusion and phoned his mother.