Disclaimer: I own nothing
Penelope walked out of the conference room and to the elevators, as she waited for the elevators Agent Anderson came up behind her.
"Are you officially my shadow?" he nodded, "I'm sorry for the shitty detail," she said.
She went outside and paced; what could she have done differently she thought. Who ever this man was he knew her—Christ he knew what she was wearing today, she said looking at her green wrap dress. When her parents died, she always knew it was her fault. She was a stubborn girl back then and a know it all. When she blew her curfew to hang out at the pit she knew – it's like she had a feeling that something bad was going to happen. She couldn't shake it - that feeling was with her today. As usual, it was her fault. She knew it wasn't Stella no matter what they said—when you lose a parent you aren't focused your crush, or bugging their house—you're focused on the time you had with them and all the time you wasted. You think about the times you should have sat at the dinner table a bit longer and talked with them, or hugged them every time you left for college. You start wishing that you called them more and asked for their advice. When you lose a parent, you don't escalate to stalking you descend into a deep depression
Something about that phone call seemed forced, she thought. She only worked at the BAU for two years but she knew stalkers felt passionate about their objects of affection and he – who ever he was—seemed to be watching her in disdain. As if he wanted to hurt her and her family just because the spirit moved him, a true psychopath not a stalker. Nevertheless, those guys up there are the best and if the profile is Stella then it is Stella.
As the tears continued to stream down her face, she thought of her kids. Did she put them in danger by bringing this to their doorstep? She needed to see them; she returned to the building and headed towards daycare.
She entered the day care and apologized to the attendant for disturbing them. She gave her kids a hug and sat down to draw with them. Her mind finally slowed down and she felt calm. The first time she could remember – she was just Penelope Morgan.
Chris scowled at her for her color choices and it reminded her of Derek. She knew that today's events reset them and they were back to where they were this summer or even worse. He now had physical images to document what he called his worse nightmare. Their life wouldn't be the same for a while or ever she thought. These thoughts invaded her peaceful time and she realized that she had to go back and help them solve this case.
When she returned to the conference room, the tech team recovered 14 cameras from their house and Kevin was currently trying to check who purchased them. "The problem is that these cameras can be bought at radio shack—they used nanny cameras—which stream a audio and video feed to a dedicated IP address."
"That's how they knew our nicknames—he called me baby girl," Penelope said, "Maybe we can track the serial numbers to see how long they've been in our house, or track the IP addresses and see who watched the feed."
"We've got one car that will trail you and a PD Squad car at your home. You will always have police protection until we get this unsub. We will bring Stella in first thing in the morning for questioning. We want to try to find more evidence before we reveal our hand. Right now, all we have is our suspicion. With that said lets go home and come in tomorrow with fresh eyes," Hotch said.
"I will track all of the gifts and see if any of them lead to Stella before your meeting in the morning," Penelope offered.
"Great," Rossi and Kevin said simultaneously.
"I'll get the kids and meet you downstairs, Derek," Penelope said as she collected necessary paperwork and put it in her bag. She knew it was unrealistic to avoid Derek but she wasn't ready to face the blowback of today yet. Is it bad, she thought, to use the kids as a shield against the wrath of Derek Morgan?
They arrived home and they were greeted by Officer Nolan and Officer Kwali. They explained to her and Derek that they were the first shift and the second shift came in at 1am. She thanked them and offered them coffee – they respectfully declined. The kids ran to their play table in the living room. Penelope looked at Derek and she knew she had some explaining to do. "Derek," she began, "I'm so sorry for bringing this to our doorstep," she said holding back the tears.
"Hey now, we don't know the who and the what yet," he said placing a hand awkwardly on her shoulder, "I shouldn't let me prejudice influence the case."
"Derek, I love you and - and I'm sorry about today."
"Hey will get through this- now, I wish I could get my hands on this unsub— but " he said with another uncomfortable pat on her back, he said "baby girl, don't worry we will get through this, and I'm sorry for being an ass earlier."
She smiled and leaned to kiss him and he quickly kissed her forehead – "now, let's get dinner ready for these rugrats.," he said smiling a smile that never reached his eyes.
She woke up and she was praying that yesterday was just a dream. She looked over to his side of the bed and he was already up and gone. Nope this was definitely not a dream she told herself. She heard her family downstairs and she began to start her day. She sent an email to her students and canceled class for today. She decided to stay home today and help the BAU solve this case. If they couldn't find the unsub today she had to let Franklin know – that he may need to replace her for the week. Traveling to Philadelphia with a stalker lurking made her skin want to break out in hives.
She showered but couldn't get clean—after 20 minutes of scrubbing and crying she gave up. She kept on thinking about her and Derek—he was so clinical and void of all emotion last night. She said I love you and he would change the topic or make a joke. She knew he was angry and he has every right to be but she was still hurt by the distance between them. She had to emerge from the shower, Frack she thought, it's 7:45am already! She threw on a dress and headed downstairs.
The kids were dressed and ready for daycare. They were all sitting at the counter and she grabbed a coffee and asked, "What is the plan for the day?" she asked him.
"We're bringing Stella in for questioning and after that I would love for you to come in and we can try and build a profile," Derek said as if he was talking to Hotch.
"Ok, I feel so anxious. I just want this to be over," she said grabbing his hand.
He took his hand away and said, "Come in after 1pm – Maybe you should take your yoga class. That always puts you in a good mood and maybe, something will come to you when you are more relaxed."
"Ok, I'll take my 9 am yoga class and meet you at the office."
She gave them a kiss goodbye and told her kids that she would see them for lunch. She was going to tell Derek she loved him but the silence would break her heart so she decided just smile and say "see you at the office." She turned and headed inside to change into her yoga gear as tears streamed down her face. Derek watched her go but could not find a way to cross that bridge of forgiveness that was between them.
When Derek arrived, Stella was waiting in the interrogation room, "Hotch let me interview him"
"Derek, absolutely not—this case is way to close for you. I think we should let Rossi interview him—he knows him the least and could be the most objective."
"Hotch I won't lose it—I can get in his head."
"Morgan, No!"
Their phones go off— "we have another body," Hotch said, "Let's hold him till we get back."
The team almost forgot about their main case, the women being tortured for 36 hours and then raped and killed in the last four. Hotch let Erin know that they need to come off the case yesterday but they had to transition the new team to the case—Hotch felt like their were too many wheels spinning at once and feared making a mistake and it costing another woman's life.
The team arrive to the crime scene which is 10 blocks away from the office another woman was found - this time under a park bench wrapped in green plastic. The strangulation and self-inflicted stab wounds remain consistent with the other victims.
Derek's phone rings, as he and JJ are looking over the crime scene as Rossi and Reid are talking with local PD. Emily and Hotch are speaking with the witness who discovered the body and the new FBI lead on the case.
"Morgan," he answered firmly.
"How did the interrogation go?" a computerized male voice asked him.
"Who is this?"
"Wrong question, SSA Morgan. Where am I?" the caller said with a slightly chuckle in his voice. "I think he started taking yoga so he could see her in the downward dog position. The view from behind is amazing – but you already know that."
"Listen you son of a bitch—"
"Is she as soft as she looks? I can't wait to find out SSA Morgan- Wait, she is wearing all black today—did you guys have a fight or something," he laughed.
Click, Derek's heart was beating insanely fast - driven by fear.
"Where is Penelope's yoga studio?" He asked JJ.
"Three blocks away- on 12 street NS, a block from Pete's. - Why?"
"Call the PD and tell them to make sure Penelope is secure," he said as he started to sprint in that direction
As he opens the door to the yoga studio, he shouted to the attendant,"where is Penelope Morgan?"
The startled attendant responded in the changing area.
He ran in and saw it was empty—her bag was by the electric kettle and a steaming cup of tea. He checked the bathroom and it was clear. He emerged from the back room and asked, "other exits?" He check the alley and saw noting – he ran the length of the alley looking for her and then he kicked the dumpster and screamed at god. He punched the lid and noticed Penelope's hair scarf and he picked it up with a pair of latex gloves he had in his pocket. His phone rang.
"You aren't that young football player anymore SSA Morgan," said the computerize male voice
"When I-" Derek began to say
"Catch your breath, hot stuff."
"When I catch—"
"Wait, do you feel in charge? You will just make it worse for her. The game has just begun."
Click.
With that click, Derek frantically switch the mode of his watch from standard to timer. Penelope's abduction clock started 5 minutes ago and he knew that they had 24 hours. Where was her police detail, he thought. As he stormed back into the yoga studio, the team was coming in and he told them, "Penelope has been taken."
Thank you for bearing with me- I decided that I wanted to write out both stories first Back to Love and Drowning in Chocolate because i felt that the stories would be better and stronger than posting chapters as i go. Especially Back to Love, which is harder because there is a case and unsub (and yes someone guessed correctly- the unsub will be revealed in chpt 23)….. I'm going on vacation but I will still post about 2 or 3 chapters this week- so thank you for you patience and I hope you enjoy the story… best kim