Chapter 26

AN: As always, thank you for the reviews...Hope your 2011 is everything you hope for, and more...

Emotions were running through Penelope—a virtual kaleidoscope of feeling. She was relieved that Derek was there, worried that Derek was there, upset that Derek was there, angry that Derek was there. Every single emotion ran to the forefront, flooding over her in hot and cold flashes. She was exhausted from the ordeal, limp from having been beaten.

She stared at him, at his beautiful, enraged face, the dark brown eyes that never wavered off of Lenny's, the solid control in his stance and the deadly menace in his eyes, and a strange calm started to sweep over her. There was something so strong, so unwavering in his determination to see this through, she couldn't help but feel some relief.

Watching him, she knew two things: First, Derek was ready to take down an UNSUB. He would do whatever to took to take him down, and he would get his man; Second, that man loved her with all his heart, and he would rather die than see harm come to her. It filled her with hope and made her assure herself that she needed to fight like heck for him, too.

Feeling re-energized and ready to stand her ground again, Penelope conserved her breath and waited for all hell to break loose.

Derek was ready to kill a man.

The moment he laid eyes on Penelope, on her lovely, tear streaked, stress blotched face, he'd never been so furious—and so frightened—in his life.

"You do, and I will take her fucking head off!" Lenny snapped back, his expression growing wild and unsteady.

Derek tried hard to keep his calm, to take the emotion out of the situation. He could help Penelope so much more if he could take his emotions and put them aside. That was nearly impossible; that bastard held his very heart and soul under his knife.

He had to do this. He had to approach him with calm, with humanity.

"Lenny," he began, raising his hand slightly.

"Don't move!" To show Derek he meant business, Lenny pressed the knife closer to P's throat, causing her to flinch and gasp in pain.

"You spill one drop of her blood, harm one hair on her head," Derek growled menacingly, "and I will tear you apart piece by piece. Mark my words."

Lenny laughed, but it lacked all humor. It was ugly, bleak, and nasty, like the light in Lenny's eyes. "Go ahead. I think it would be worth it, my friend."

Derek narrowed his eyes and kept his gun aimed at Lenny's forehead. "Worth what?"

"Worth it just to see you suffer like I suffered for years, you bastard!"

"All of your suffering was your own fault," Derek said, his voice controlled and flat.

"What!" Lenny asked, sounding immediately outraged. "Bull-fucking-shit, you sonofabitch!" He held the knife steady against Penelope's throat. "You...you...! All the pain I have ever had has been because of you!"

Derek didn't say a word, just continued to aim his gun directly at Lenny's head. He was waiting... waiting for this high piece of shit to screw up, waiting for his perfect shot.

Lenny's voice changed, like he was hinging on a sob, ready to break down. "You took my wife from me, my kids..."

The knife began to shake, scraping against Penelope's throat, causing her to wince again.

Derek wanted to throttle Lenny, beat him senseless for causing her pain. Instead, he kept his voice controlled. "You did that yourself, Lenny—"

"You left me with Buford!" he snarled, those wild eyes glaring at him. "Abandoned me!"

Derek shook his head. "I was strong. I moved on. I needed to do that myself. You could've been strong, too."

Lenny gaped at him, like he was completely astounded at what Derek had just said. He was shaking his head slightly, making a tsking sound.

"Derek Morgan." He gave that mirthless chuckle of his. "So high and mighty, Mr. F-B-I. Better than everyone else, but everyone's friend, too."

"Not everyone's friend," Derek said, not missing a beat. "Not yours. Not anymore."

He narrowed his eyes, glaring icily at Derek. "Maybe I should knock your ass down a few pegs, hmmm, brother?"

Derek heard the clicking of a gun, one that he hadn't noticed before now. Lenny had held it concealed behind Penelope. He saw him pressing the gun against the side of Penelope's abdomen.

"Your fiancee, eh?" Lenny asked, a smile similar to a snarl on his face.

Derek tried to hold back the panic he felt, and feared that he couldn't.

"Is she pregnant yet? I hope she's pregnant," Lenny hissed. "I want to take your wife, your kid, your future, like you did from me!"

"NO!"

It all happened in less than a minute...

That sound came from Terry as she roared from the floor, launching her diminutive and still bound form behind her ex-husband's knees, knocking him off balance. He jerked his arms away from Penelope in an attempt to keep balanced.

In survival self-instinct, Penelope sunk her teeth into his forearm as hard as she could, causing him to drop the gun, and then twisted herself free under his arm.

He screamed as he fell, landing on his own knife, the blade digging deep into his ribcage. He sputtered and shook, before finally stilling.

A moment later, all four other members of the BAU, along with a swat team, entered the small house.

Derek ran over to Penelope, wrapping her in his arms, coating her with kisses. "Baby Girl...my God...Baby..."

"I'm fine," she said softly, trying to smile, noticing he was paler than she was at the moment. "Just help me get these ropes off, and I'll be okay."

"Don't do that to me ever again, woman," he said sternly, working the ropes. She could tell he was only partially teasing.

"I don't plan on it," she said with a sardonic grin. "I'll save the lifesaving stuff to highly trained professionals!"

He smiled back, gently brushing the hair from her face. "You are one incredible woman."

She nodded, actually feeling quite incredible at that moment.

"The paramedics are here," Reid said, walking over. He smiled at Garcia. "They'd...um...like to take you to the hospital to check you out."

"What about Terry?" she asked, thinking about the other woman for the first time since she'd been held by Derek.

"She's on route to the hospital," Reid explained.

She smiled gently, grateful to the other woman for her bravery when it really counted. "That's good. I'm glad."

"Baby, let's go, get you checked out," Derek said, rubbing her back softly, continuously touching her.

"Okay." She attempted to stand, but failed. She was too wobbly kneed and weak from being bound.

"I got you, baby," Derek replied. He stood, and then scooped her up in his arms. "Up we go."

"I love you," she said, laying her head against his shoulder, sighing in relief for the first time that evening.

Being in his arms, she knew everything was going to be okay.

Derek kissed her forehead, caressing her face with delicate, gentle touches. "I love you, too, sweetheart."

He laid her on the gurney, the paramedics loaded her into the ambulance, and Derek climbed in behind them, holding her hand as they sped away.