Alone In Paradise-Ch 21
The next several hours passed and there was still no improvement in Penelope, Derek was pacing back and forth across her room waiting, hoping and praying that they would find out what was wrong with her. He looked up when the doctor walked into the room closely followed by the team, he said, "do you have the results of her tests"?, the doctor nodded her head yes.
Derek took a deep breath and glanced at Penelope before the doctor said, "I'm sorry that it has taken so long but I wanted to double check everything before I started her on meds". Derek said, "so you know what's wrong with my baby girl"?, the doctor nodded her head and said, "I'm afraid that Penelope has double pneumonia".
Reid glanced down at his very sick friend and said, "how bad is it"?, the doctor said, "both of her lungs are filled with infection", JJ said, "how did it hit her so fast, she was fine before Sam took her out of here". The doctor said, "it took a couple of days to start effecting her, we did x-rays on the first day and her lungs were clear but they quickly filled with infection".
The doctor said, "we are putting her on several different antibiotics to try and get a hold of the infection", Emily said, "how long before she starts doing better"?, the doctor said, "her condition is very serious, the next several days will be the most dangerous for her". Derek said, "are you saying that she could die"?, the doctor nodded her head and said, "I am hoping that the antiobiotics will start helping and bring the fever down".
Hotch said, "how high is her fever now"?, the doctor looked in her chart and said, "the last time it was checked less than 15 minutes ago it was almost 104 and still climbing". Derek said, "what about cool compresses, would that help"?, the doctor said, "they might, the nurses are going to try several different things to try to bring her fever down".
JJ said, "what are her chances as of right now doctor"?, she took a deep breath and said, "right now her chances are 50-50, this infection has a strong hold on her we just have to find the right combination of meds that will break through and start breaking the pneumonia up". She then checked Penelope one final time before walking out of the room.
Hotch put his hand on Dereks shoulder and said, "is there anything we can do for you"?, he shook his head and said, "the only thing I want is my baby girl all better". Seconds later Hotch's cell started ringing, he pulled it off his belt and looked at the ID and said, "I have to take this", he then walked out of the room.
When Hotch walked back into the room a few mintutes later he looked at the team and said, "we have a case in Texas, a bad one, we are wheels up in 60 minutes". He put his hand on Dereks shoulder and said, "if anything changes with her please call us no matter what time day or night", he nodded his head and said, "I will, you guys be careful".
JJ and Emily hugged him and then kissed Penelope gently on the forehead before heading toward the door, Derek walked to the door and watched as his team stepped onto the elevator. Once the doors closed he walked back over and sat down beside his baby girl, he put her very hot hand in his and brought it up to his lips and kissed it and said, "I love you so much baby girl, please wake up and look at me with those beautiful eyes".
Seconds turned into minutes and minutes into hours and hours slowly passed away into days and still there was no improvement on Penelope, her fever was staying high and her vitals were staying low. Penelopes room stayed constantly filled with nurses as they closely monitored her condition, the doctor looked up from Penelopes chart and said, "her lungs aren't getting any clearer so today I am putting her on new medications".
Derek looked up from his baby girl and said, "why aren't any of the medications working"?, the doctor shook her head and said, "it must be a combination of the spider bite and the pneumonia that has severely weakened her system". Derek gently squeezed her hand and said, "she has been in here for almost 2 weeks with no little to no change", the doctor nodded her head in agreement and said, "what are the chances that the new meds are going to help"?, she put her hand on his shoulder and said, "there is a great chance that they will help where the others have failed".
Derek watched as the doctor put new bags filled with medication on the IV pole and then she hooked the tubing up to Penelope and stepped back and said, "we should be seeing a change for the better in a few hours, or at least I hope we do". She looked down at Penelope and then at Derek and said, "if anything changes please let us know".
He nodded his head and told her that he would and then his cell started beeping, he pulled it off his belt and saw that it was from JJ, they had finally caught the unsub and was heading home. He sent them a text letting them know that the doctor had started Penelope on new meds and that there was no change yet".
Derek leaned back in the chair and rubbed his eyes and then jumped when he felt two hands on his shoulders, he looked up and saw his mom standing there and said, "still no change momma, the doctor started her on new meds a few minutes ago". Fran handed her son a cup of coffee and some lunch, he opened his mouth to decline it and she said, "when Penelope wakes up she is going to be mad when she finds out that you aren't eating and you know it".
Derek laughed and said, "alright momma, alright, I give, I give, I'll eat", she kissed him on the top of the head and said, "it's your favorite", he kissed her cheek and said, "thanks momma, thanks for being here with me". She smiled and said, "I'm always gonna be here for you and Penelope honey, always, now eat your lunch".
She took the foil off his lunch and smiled as he sat down on the couch and ate his dinner, she closed her eyes and said a prayer for the woman she knew would be her future daughter in law, a prayer that their lives would be filled with nothing after this but love, joy and happiness and for her lots and lots of grandbabies.