Disclaimer: I don't own Criminal Minds or the characters. Some "guest stars" are based on or named after people in my life while others are totally made up, as are some places and events.

FYI: Penelope's inner-monologue is in italics.

Penelope's good eye widened as the pain hit her all at once: her head, her eye and face, her chest, her leg... the pain was intense and she tried to cry out but she couldn't; the words wouldn't come out and her throat burned. She instinctively reached for her throat, to try and pinpoint the source of the pain and another pain wracked through her, this time through her hands. Why can't I open my other eye? What happened? I'm so groggy. And why does everything hurt? she thought.

"Whoa, Baby Girl, stop." Derek grabbed her arms and pulled them away. "It's all right, sweetheart. You have a tube in your throat, which is why your can't talk. Can you hear me?"

Derek! Of course I can hear you. She closed her eye and nodded. Even that tiny action hurt.

"Penelope!" a nurse greeted as she hurried into the room. "I'm Nurse Jen. I'm so glad to see you finally awake. I'll get the doctor in here right away." She left as fast as she entered.

'Finally awake? ', 'doctor?' What is going on? Where am I? Penelope's eye darted around the room.

"Everything's all right, Sweetheart. You're safe now," Derek soothed.

Safe? Of course I'm safe; You're here. Just tell me where I am! Why do I hurt so? And where are my glasses? I can't see very well.

"You were attacked, Baby. And you're in the hospital. You've been asleep for almost five days," Derek explained as if he was reading her mind.

Five days! Penelope's eye widened. I was attacked? Is that why I'm hurting?

"Do you remember anything?" he asked as he leaned in closer.

Penelope closed her eye and thought back. Do I remember what? How I got hurt? I remember going home from work and picking up my dress for the wedding. I remember the sun was too bright. After that, nothing. Wait! I remember you telling me to open my eyes. No, that just happened. Penelope shook her head just slightly. Even that tiny movement sent pain through her head and she winced.

"I'm sorry, Baby. Can you blink once for 'yes' and twice for 'no'?" Derek asked.

Can I? I can blink. I think I can. She closed her eye briefly, then opened it. Yes, I can blink and it doesn't hurt. She smiled slightly.

"I missed that smile," Derek whispered. He leaned over and her kissed her. She smiled wider and accepted the kiss. Her heart started racing and Derek pulled away. Penelope held up her hands to stop him. "Baby..." he murmured and he rested his forehead against hers. They sat like that until her heart slowed down. "Mama, I've missed you so much. I thought I was going to lose you both," he whispered.

'Us Both?' I don't... Oh, my God! My baby! Her hands flew to her abdomen.

"Penelope?" Derek sat back and looked at her hands. "The baby is fine. She's strong just like her mommy." He watched as she smiled a little and blinked twice as a lone tear escaped.

"'No?'" he raised an eyebrow. "You are the strongest woman I know and I don't want any arguments."

The two of them looked up as someone knocked on the door. Dr. Sale entered with a big smile. "Penelope! It's so nice to meet you! I'm Dr. Sale."

Penelope visibly tensed and looked at Derek with wide, nervous eyes. Who is this lady?

"It's all right, Baby Girl. Dr. Sale has been taking good care of you while you were sleeping," Derek explained. "It hurts her to move her head so she's been blinking once for 'yes' and twice for 'no'," Derek informed the doctor.

"How was she when she first woke up?"

"Scared. She tried to talk and grab the trach but I stopped her."

Hey, just because I can't talk doesn't mean I don't exist. Penelope narrowed her eyes and elbowed Derek's arm to get his attention. She gave him a dirty look and he smiled.

"Sorry, baby. I know you don't like it when people talk about you like you're not there," he apologized.

Dr. Sale laughed. "We already started weaning you of the vent so hopefully by tomorrow we can take the tube out," she explained to Penelope. "Then you can tell him off properly."

Penelope grinned. OK, I like this doctor.

"Penelope, are you in pain?" the doctor asked. Yes. Penelope blinked once. "Is it your head?" Yes. One blink. Your leg? Yes. One blink. Dr. Sale frowned. "Does it hurt everywhere?" YES! One blink. "We'll get you something for the pain. Nurse Jen should be back with it soon."

What? No... no drugs. I don't want to hurt my baby. Penelope blinked twice and reached for her belly.

"No? No pain medication? Don't worry, what we'll give you is safe for the baby."

Well, all right. She blinked once.

"Do you remember what happened?" Two blinks. No. Derek said I was attacked by not by who or why.

"And you know who this is?" the doctor prodded, touching Derek's arm. Of course I do. How could I ever forget... him.

"It appears you've lost some short-term memory, but your long-term memory is fine. You may eventually remember the attack, or parts of it, anyway. It'll be important to speak with a psychologist to help you deal with the trauma. Is that OK?"

One blink. Yes. I know it's important to get it all out. I used to run a therapy group for murder victims' families.

Penelope was tired by the time the doctor finished her exam and explained to her all her injuries. Derek never left her side but was texting constantly.

"Are you up for visitors?" he asked as Dr. Sale was finishing.

Visitors? Who? She frowned.

"There's a lot of people outside who can't wait to see you," Derek clarified.

My team! I want to see them, too. She blinked once.

Derek went to the door and a bunch of people piled in. Penelope frowned because she couldn't differentiate them. I want my glasses! She blinked rapidly to get someone's attention.

"What? Are you all right, Baby?" Derek rushed back to her side. She blinked once and brought her hand to her eyes. She flinched when she bumped her cheek.

"Does your face hurt?" he asked.

God, this is frustrating! Two blinks. She tried to mimic putting on glasses but she felt awkward with her hands so bandaged.

"Hey, Garcia. Do you want your glasses?" Hotch asked. Garcia blinked once as he approached the bed. She felt Derek leave quickly and saw the people move closer. Hotch leaned over and kissed her cheek. "We've missed you."

I've missed you too. She smiled and settled into the pillow. My family is here. I just want to see them.

"Here, Baby." Derek moved through the crowd and took back his spot next to her."I caught the doctor before she left. She said it was OK," he explained as he dug through the bag he packed for her. He sat on the bed and gently placed the glasses on her nose, careful not to hit her cheek. "There she is. I know you." He wagged his fingers at her. "Do you remember when I first said that to you?"

The world dramatically sharpened although it was still a bit blurry. It was far better than not seeing. One blink. Of course I remember. You boosted my confidence and reminded me to always be myself. And I do love you. For real.

"Penelope! I see you have visitors." Nurse Jen weaved her way through the crowd, armed with a syringe and vial. Penelope tensed as a sudden picture of another syringe hit her. No, no! She shrank back and raised her hand to stop the nurse.

Her family rushed up and comforted her. "Baby Girl, this is the pain medicine the doctor told you about, remember? It's safe for the baby," Derek explained. He paused and realization hit. "You remembered something, didn't you? One blink. Yes, I remember a different shot and not wanting the medicine.

Penelope visibly relaxed and the nurse put the medication into her IV. Almost immediately Penelope felt the pain diminish.

That's better, isn't it?" Nurse Jen asked. One blink. Oh, yeah. Penelope felt her eyes getting tired. "The medicine will make you sleepy and you need lots of rest to help your body heal."

Penelope looked at each person in the room, smiling. Emily! You came! And... is that Shane hiding in the doorway? She felt the medicine taking her under and she relaxed and closed her eyes, then let the drugs take over.

The small man settled into his seat. He was already tired from traveling and maneuvering through LAX during the layover. He couldn't wait to get his rental car and hotel room so he could take a nap.

He put in his ear buds and swiped to the music app on his phone. He flipped through just playlists and had just settled on one when a pompous-looking businessman walked through the aisle and swung his bag into his face. The small man instinctively put up his hand to protect his face and his phone was ripped from the ear buds and his hand. It scooted under the seat across the aisle. He looked at the businessman with loathing. By the time he got done fishing it out the jerk had already stowed his bag and was situating himself in his seat. He sighed as the businessman's phone rang. He went to put his earbuds back when he heard the man answer, "Garcia." The small man's attention perked up at the name. His earlier annoyance and fatigue dissipated as he eavsdropped on the one-way conversation. A new, better plan was forming and this time he would make sure The Black Queen was finished forever.

Greg Garcia snarled as he hurried onto the plane. "Watch it," he growled as he bumped into a small ginger man seated in first class, knocking the man's phone out of his hand and sending it flying across the aisle. The man gave him a death stare as he got up picked his phone up from the ground. Greg ignored him and the flight attendant as he took his briefcase out of his bag and shoved the bag into the overhead compartment. He sat in his seat behind the small man. There was only four other people in first class and no one was sitting next to him. He had barely made the flight in time and they had closed the doors behind him.

His smile faltered as his phone rang. "Garcia," he snapped took the caller. "No, dammit," he snarled. "I will be back Monday. I just have to deal with my sister. I know. It seems she still hasn't figured out that actions have consequences. Her first name? Penelope, why? Good thinking. Keep her name out of the press. Don't tell my brothers. I'll tell them when I get back. OK. I'll call when I land in Indianapolis."

Writing this chapter was difficult for me for two reasons. First, when I was 18 I had mono and then had to have my tonsils removed right after. I spent three weeks in the hospital because of complications and basically spent the over half the summer after high school unable to speak. It inspired me to learn American Sign Language and now I teach it. Second, I wrote the majority of this chapter while preparing for my only sibling's wedding, who happens to be my big brother. He is everything "Greg" is not. His new wife is the inspiration and namesake behind "Nurse Jen." She planned their wedding while going through nursing school and working two jobs and taking care of my brother after he had surgery this past summer. They also happen to be our next-door neighbors.

As always, thanks for the likes and faves and reviews.

XOXO,

Pita(MOH)Cake