Home of David Rossi –

He'd been a profiler too long to not know this was serious. The woman he'd gotten to know intimately over the last year was not easily shaken and more importantly, she wasn't a runner. Her son had inherited her strength and resolve and had faced loss and adversity all of her life. He wasn't going to let her leave without a fight even if he had to tie her down until she talked to him.

"Talk to me Fran."

She felt his hands on her shoulders holding her in place.

"I promise you there is nothing you can tell me that will change how I feel about you."

"Dave…"

"Nothing!"

He gently pulled her to him her back resting against her chest. She couldn't stop the tears she wasn't sure if she wanted to if she could. It felt good to just be held against him. David Rossi had become her solace she'd almost forgotten how it felt to be loved by a man. Not since her late husband had she'd been this close to anyone. Slowly she turned to face him and taking his hand in hers she led them both to the bed where they sat for what seemed like hours in silence before she began her story.

Home of Penelope Garcia –

Jason neatly folded his napkin and placing it next to his plate he exhaled. He'd eaten much more than he had planned but it had been a while since he'd had a home cooked meal. He pretended not to notice her watching him no doubt she was curious about his visit. He wasn't sure how he'd ended up here but he did and he was grateful that she had let him in.

"That was amazing! Thank you!"

"My pleasure. Besides, I always make way too much when I cook."

He loved her smile it was bright, honest and it had a way of making him feel better. He wanted to tell her about his run in with Fran but he knew they were close and he'd promised the woman he wouldn't cause problems for her.

"So, Mr. Jason Morgan what really brings you by?"

Where to begin, he thought.

Home of David Rossi – Later –

"My husband and I had been dating for about a year before he proposed and of course I accepted." She began. "He was just a rookie then but he was so serious and mature for his age."

Dave noticed her expression change as she stood and moved toward the large bay window. He remained seated on the bed allowing her the space she needed.

"He and his twin brother had joined the force together right out of college. Everybody made such a big deal having twins on the force together." She chuckled.

Dave had a feeling where this was leading; with almost forty years as a profiler there wasn't much that could surprise him. He watched the tears running down her face as she turned back to face him.

Flashback…

Chicago, Illinois- 47 years ago…

"Charles! What are you doing here?"

She was surprised to hear her doorbell at this time of night. The only person who'd dare come over after ten was James and because he was a gentleman, he would never come without calling first. She peered through the small peephole and saw him standing on her porch with his back to her.

"It's awfully late, I've already turned in for the evening." She said without opening the door."

"Come on, Fran, it's cold out here!"

"Charles, go home. James wouldn't appreciate you being here this late!"

"Let me in Fran, it's about James something happened!"

She jerked the door opened her heart was beating wildly fearing the worst. Charles rushed past her as she closed the door waiting to hear the news about her fiancée.

"What happened, to James?"

He turned to face her, she was so fragile and beautiful. He hated his brother for always being the lucky one, the one who always got what he wanted. They were identical twins but the women always favored James. He was going to win this time tonight was going to be the night he took what he wanted no matter the consequences.

She saw the darkness and intent in his eyes as he approached her. He was larger and faster than she was and he read her thoughts as she tried to run toward the door.

"James is just fine, Fran, just fine."

"But…you said…"

"I know what I said but it was the only way you'd let me in the house."

Present Day…

Rossi gently pulled her into his arms he didn't need to hear any more to know what had happened. Everything made sense now; her reaction and behavior toward Jason made sense. He held her tightly against his body as she cried uncontrollably as she shared the details as if the rape had happened yesterday. He felt guilty for insisting that she stay and tell him what had happened and he felt his own tears welling up and spilling down his face.

"Jason…is my son." She spoke softly. "My firstborn child conceived because my husband's brother raped me in my own home."

"I'm so sorry, Bella. I brought this pain back into your life, I'm so…"

"No, no Dave this isn't your fault. After all of these years I should be over it, right?"

She pulled away and stared into his face until he looked at her.

"This isn't your fault! It's not your fault, do you understand?"

He couldn't speak he just shook his head and pulled her against him holding her tightly against his chest.

Home of Penelope Garcia –

"Have you ever had one of those days when you wonder if what you do and what you try to be is worth it?"

She watched the emotions dancing in his eyes; she couldn't help thinking about Derek.

"Uh…yeah… with what we do for a living there are a lot of days like that."

"So what do you do?"

"You keep doing your best and keep believing that you are making a difference even if you can't always see it."

"Derek is really lucky to have someone like you in his life."

"I don't know about that. Besides, Derek and I are friends who have hit a rough patch. Sometimes, I think he'd be better off without me around."

"No way, beautiful lady you are a ray of sunshine. I'd kill for a friend like you."

There was that smile of hers again and he felt a twinge of jealousy…and guilt.

"So, what's happened today that has you questioning your calling?"

"I had the misfortune of witnessing an encounter between a woman and her child today and I never saw a mother look at her child with such…hatred. I don't know, it just really shook me, I don't know how to explain it."

She reached across the table and placed her hand on his. She felt him shudder slightly as their eyes met for a moment before he pulled his hands away.

"Listen, Jason, you're a good man of course it would shake you to see a child being mistreated."

"You don't know me, Penelope, how do you know I'm a good person?"

"I know that's all. I just know."

It would be so easy to fall in love with her. Even though Derek and Penelope hadn't admitted the truth, she belonged to him he saw it in both of their eyes when they spoke of each other. Her desire to recover was based only on wanting to be able to help him. Derek was too blind and self-centered to realize what he had. Jason wanted to know how it would feel to be loved with no strings, no judgment. If only Penelope Garcia belonged to him. What would his brother think? More importantly, what would his mother think?

Home of David Rossi –

Fran moved out of his embrace and returned to the bed taking a seat before going on.

"James' family never believed that their son…that Charles raped me. They were always against James and I being together for obvious reasons."

"That still doesn't explain…"

"Why he has the last name of Morgan? When Charles was sent to prison, his sister adopted Jason. James was torn he felt guilty for what his brother had done but he didn't want the boy to be without a father so…"

"He stepped in as the father figure."

Fran shook her head meaning yes as she continued sharing the sorted details of her life."

"That must have made family gatherings a little awkward."

"I wasn't welcomed at family gatherings."

Rossi pulled her tighter while they both sat in silence for a moment before Fran continued to fill him in.

Potomac General Hospital – Later –

The room was quiet, too quiet and the white sterile walls seemed to be closing in on him. Morgan had finally been successful in getting his family and friends to leave him alone. It was what he wanted he couldn't stand the thought of them holding vigil waiting for him to come to his senses and let them in. He'd been a horrible person in his demands for solitude especially to Garcia and now here he was unable to move from the waist down, confined to a hard narrow bed with the only visitor being the loud voice of the late Carl Buford. He was now his only constant beyond the doctors and nurses that entered his room every few hours. He had fallen not because he was injured but because he was a coward he'd thrown in the towel before even fighting which now made him a hypocrite.

He'd made a point of staying in contact with James Barfield assuming the role of big brother and confidante. He'd encouraged and challenged him to fight his demons and to seek help and now here he lay refusing to fight. This wasn't who he was and he knew it. He'd conquered too many demons in his life to simply give up. The time had given him what he needed and that was stillness to think about his life and how he had driven it into the ditch taking his family and friends with him. He'd misused and taken his friendship with Garcia for granted for far too long and he was afraid he'd done too much damage to make things right. He glanced at his phone in front of him; he needed to hear her voice even for a second. The quiet was closing in on him and he felt as if he'd go mad at any moment. Slowly reaching and picking it up he pressed, one, closing his eyes as he listened to it ring.

"You're wasting your time, Derek. She doesn't want to talk to you. She's finally given up on you. But don't worry, son, I'll keep you company."