Disclaimer: I still own nothing!
As the helicopters left the BAU, Kevin and Elle debated where to land. "I agree with Reid we should assume they aren't in his building. What neighboring buildings have activity right now," Elle said slight peeved that the geek was second-guessing her
"There are three buildings with four people or more in them" Kevin said, "help me narrow it down."
"There would be two people in the same room with 2 or 3 people outside the door and spread out through the building," Derek said confidently, " two guards on the ground level,"
"Ok, that's 5600 West Dock Street, right next to the Baltimore Bay mall."
"We should enter from the roof and have swat enter on the ground floor," Derek said, "No causalities, we need to interrogate everyone involved here."
Using the satellite feed, Kevin guides Derek to a room where Penelope is. He opens the door and sees a woman wearing a white dress motionless on the ground, He wants to scream her name but he knows they can't alert the entire building so he and JJ run to her. He is so relieved to see it isn't her. He feels her pulse and confirms that she is dead. JJ radios the team informing them of the status.
They meets two SWAT team members on the staircase and they all enter the sixth floor.
Kevin directs them to another body, when he opens the door he sees Penelope on the floor. Derek tells the team their exact location and to send a medic.
Penelope looks at him and can't believe it's Derek, she has seen him so many times just to have him disappear that she reaches out for his hand as confirmation. When their hands touch, she tries to speak.
"Hey, Hey—I have you," he said kissing her hand and her face. When he kissed her forehead a tear slipped from his eye to her cheek, "Medic is on the way." He takes in all her injuries and JJ points to the knife in her back.
She tried to speak, "don't speak," he says squeezing her hand. He wants to pick her up and wrap her in his arms but she is so fragile. "I love you," he said with tears in his eyes as he caressed her face.
She took a long blink and said "I" he put a finger on her lips and said, "I know. Save your energy. The medic will be here soon."
Her eyes started to close and he said "no keep on looking at me"
She squeezed his hand and opened her eyes, "Tell Chris and Izzy that" she said gasping for air to continue.
"No," he said as tears streamed down his face, "No, goodbyes you aren't going anywhere you hear me- You're not going anywhere"
"I'm so sorry—I wish we had time," she licked her lips "more time" she took a deep breath and said, "Promise me," she said, "Promise me," she started to convulse.
The convulsing stopped and he searched for her pulse. He found a faint one as the Medics came in the room
"I love you," she said as her body started convulsing again this time with blood coming out of her mouth.
They placed her on the gurney and propped her on her side not to disturb the knife. They secured her neck and body and carried her out to the ambulance. Derek informed the team he was heading to the hospital with her.
As the ambulance flew to the hospital, everything for Derek went in slow motion. He could hear her heart beat which was the most comforting sound in the world. He tried to hold her hand as they raced to the hospital. Her heart rate came crashing down and the alarms went off in the ambulance. Derek closed his eyes and said not again. Then he whispered, Dad, don't let them take her from me. The medical team revived her on the second jolt. As her heart rate stabilizes, her head starts to hemorrhage, as they enter the driveway of the John Hopkins ER.
Two hours later the team enters the hospital. Derek is sitting in the waiting area on the floor with his bloody hands on his head. JJ sees him and kneels beside him. "How is she?"
"She's in surgery," he whispered, "Her skull is fractured and she flat lined in the ambulance. They are repairing her lungs and head trauma at the same time. The surgery will take 3 more hours and then we wait and see."
"Did you call your mom?" JJ asked
He nodded, "she and the kids are coming and we will stay across the street at Hyatt."
JJ lifted his face and asked, "Have you eaten? You need to wash the blood of your hands, Derek—when she comes out of surgery you will definitely freak her out," she smiled.
He just noticed that he was covered in her blood, "Come on lets freshen you up for- Penelope," she said helping him stand up.
Tears streamed down his face as he stood up.
"I'll grab a shirt from the car and meet you in the bathroom," Hotch said as he walked away.
He nodded as Reid walked him to the men's room.
When they emerged from the bathroom Derek took a seat next to JJ and sat in the chair like a bird perched on a tree limb. JJ took his hand and held it. About an hour later a young doctor came to the waiting area and asked for Mr. Morgan. They all stood up. "I'm Dr. Steele. Your wife is still in surgery. We weren't able to start the surgery as quickly as we wanted to because the drug combination in her system was deadly—she had a mix of animal tranquilizers, ecstasy, narcotics, and benzodiazepine drugs. A normal person would have OD- your wife is a fighter. Once we were able to start, we removed the knife lodged between her ribs in her upper back, we were able to investigate the damage to the area, and it was extensive. Her Thoracic Cavity was compromised as well as her lung. We were able to repair the lung and we are currently investigating the damage to the cavity. The tip of the blade tore her Vagus nerve. We fused it together with a microscopic laser but it is too early to tell what the ramifications of that tear will be. She could have complications with her sensory organs especially the touch and pain sectors.
Our major concern is her skull fracture, sir. She has three and in transit, one started hemorrhaging. We were able to remove the bone chip causing the bleed but because they are compound depressed skull fractures, there are lacerations over the fracture, resulting in the internal cranial cavity being in contact with the outside environment increasing the risk of contamination and infection.
The next 24 -48 hours are extremely critical. I will be back in two hours to give you an update—our cafeteria is on the 4th floor, if you need a bite and coffee machine is down the hall."
"Thank you Dr. Steele," he paused and then asked "Did she have any broken bones – her wrist seemed swollen but."
"Mr. Morgan, once she makes it through the surgery we will take care of her secondary and tertiary injuries. We want to get her out of the wood first."
He nodded.
"We are doing everything we can" she said with a comforting smile.
As soon as she left, Derek turned to Reid "what is the chance that she wakes up and walks out of here, percentage wise?"
"Derek I don't"
"Come one genius."
"There are too many variables if the Vagus nerve is fine and there was only superficial damage to the thoracic cavity you are looking at 70% chance but the cranial damage makes the percentage swing between 73% to 19%." Reid paused and continued with a heavy sigh, "what she didn't mention is who knows the state of her brain with the drug combination she had. That could diminish everything if her brain is…. If her mental capacity is..." JJ squeezed his hand and said, "She will be fine."
"I should call her family, the university, and Jackson," Derek said trying to give himself a project.
"I can help," Emily offered.
"It's ok I should do it," he said walking away from the team.
"She has to pull through," Erin says.
"She must for his sake," Reid said watching Morgan walk away.
This story has definitely taken an interesting turn. I hope you're enjoying it and thank you for the love and constant reviews!