Happy New Year! I want to take a minute and thank everyone for reading, following and reviewing this story. It is greatly appreciated.
"What do you want to know?"
"How bad did Penelope get when all this happened?"
"The truth, it was bad. She cried the first week. For almost a month she ate what would make us happy. Slept enough to get by."
"She's lost a lot of weight for 6 months."
"I know. We all know and we tried our best."
"Why is there a guard at my door?"
"Why aren't you asking Penelope these questions?"
"She won't give me the answers I want."
"When you were in the other hospital, she had left and when she came back to your room Des had snuck Tamara in and she was giving you a kiss. Penelope argued with Tamara and then Des. She had Des barred from your room. She wasn't allowed to see you."
"How was Pen after that?" He saw Hotch's expression. "Tell me."
"She fainted. Her blood pressure got too high and she was admitted overnight. They checked the twins out and they were fine. Don't get upset Derek."
"So you put a guard on the door." He asked ignoring that last statement.
"To give Penelope a peace of mind, the director approved it. The guard had a list she provided of who could enter."
Derek leaned his head back and closed his eyes. He hated how alone she must have felt.
"She wasn't ever alone, Derek. We were all here for the first week. Your family came as soon they heard. Even your friends came and Bubba stayed as long as he could. She had the support she needed but it wasn't enough. She needed you, plain and simple. The only thing that kept her going was those babies. If she wasn't pregnant she probably would be lying in a bed right next to you. You're her whole world and everyone knows it."
"I know. She's mine too and I hate to think of her not taking care of herself while worrying about me. I would be the same if it was her lying in this bed. What's going on between my mom and Pen?"
"I think we've talked enough today."
"No we haven't. I'm not stupid. They are never in the same room together and Penelope doesn't look at her. As soon as my momma comes in here she leaves. What is going on? What happened when I was lying in this damn bed?"
"No one said you were stupid, Derek. As I already told you, Penelope barred Des from seeing you. When you were moved here, Des wanted to see you and Fran asked Penelope that if Des could see you. Penelope refused and when Penelope came back from a doctor's appointment she walked into your room and Des was there. Your mother had snuck Des in and Penelope saw that as a betrayal. She knew that Penelope didn't want her anywhere near you but she didn't listen. Penelope had said that it would be up to you if and when you wanted to see her."
"Why didn't she tell me?"
"All Penelope wanted was for you to wake up and she was so happy when you did, she doesn't want anything to hinder your recovery. She doesn't want her problems to worry you. I think she wanted to wait until you were stronger to tell you everything."
"How could my momma do that to Penelope? She knew how I felt about Des and the problems we had with her."
"I don't have an answer for that."
"Where is Des now?"
"I didn't know whether to tell Penelope or not but we have been monitoring Tamara to make sure she stayed away. We found out that Des is staying with her. Your mom and Sarah are staying at your place. Penelope wouldn't allow Des to stay there."
"Where is my momma?"
"I believe she is in the waiting room."
"Ask her to come see me and take Pen out to lunch. I don't want her to spend all day inside this place. She has spent enough time in hospitals."
"She isn't going to want to go."
"I'll talk to her."
Hotch stood up. "I'm really glad that you woke up Derek. I don't know what would've happened if you hadn't."
"I'm glad to Hotch and thank you for taking care of Pen while I was in that coma. Don't tell her about Des, I will."
"It's what family does. I'll go get Penelope."
Derek laid in bed thinking about everything Hotch had told him. He couldn't believe the nerve of Des but then again he knew his sister. It didn't surprise him. His momma was another matter. How could she do this to Pen? He knew that Pen would feel like that was a betrayal by someone close to her. The door opened and he sensed her before he saw her. He opened his eyes and smiled. He hated the way she looked. She looked sick. Her clothes hung loose on her body but her baby bump was a little bigger and noticeable.
"Hey baby."
"Hey hot stuff."
"Listen its lunchtime and I want you to go out and eat somewhere. I don't want you eating hospital food if you don't have too. Hotch is going to take you out to eat."
"I don't mind the food Derek."
"I know you don't but I would feel better if you went."
"What going on Derek?"
"Nothing baby, I just want you to start eating better."
She eyed him carefully. "Fine I'll go."
She gave him a kiss and then went out the door. He was getting tired but he needed to talk to his momma before he fell asleep and twenty minutes later his momma came in.
"How are you feeling honey?"
"Better than I was."
"I was so scared when you were lying in that coma. As the days passed I was beginning to think you weren't going to wake. I'm so grateful that you did. We all are."
"I need to ask you a question and I want the truth." Fran nodded. "What is going on between you and Pen?"
Fran looked down and let out a sigh. "Derek I did something to make Pen mad at me but I had no other choice."
"What did you do?"
"I'm sure she already told you since you're asking."
"She hasn't told me anything. She changes the subject when I ask her. I've noticed how things are different between you two. Now tell me."
"Things happened while you were in coma. Des brought Tamara to see you and Pen got mad. I don't blame her. I even got mad at Des myself. She barred your sister from seeing you. I understood why she did it. The weeks went by and we didn't know what was going to happen. When they decided to move you here, Des told me she wanted to see you and Pen had no right to stop her. She cried that she wanted to see you. I asked Pen to let Des you see and she refused. I begged her and she still said no."
"What did you do momma?"
"Pen had an appointment to check on the twins and while she was gone I snuck Des in to see you. I didn't think Pen would be back so soon. She walked in and Des was still in your room. Pen got mad and argued with me and Des. You woke up when Pen was arguing with us."
Derek look at his mother and saw the tears in her eyes. He swallowed and looked out the window, avoiding her gaze.
"You knew the problems she was causing us before this happened. You knew how I felt about Des and what she was doing to Pen."
"You may not know now but when you become a parent, you'll know how I feel. My son was lying in a bed, not knowing what was going to happen and my daughter was begging to see him. I had no choice. What would you have done? I couldn't tell her no."
"I understand that momma. I do. But after everything that Des has done to Pen, I don't blame her for anything. I'm not going to get mad at her for keeping Des from seeing me. I would have done the same thing if the situations were reversed. Penelope doesn't have a mean bone in her body but there is only so much one person can take. She reached her limit and I think I have reached mine. For a month Pen saw me lying in that bed not knowing what was going to happen to me and I know she was suffering not letting anyone see it. She can hide it from other people but not me. Look at how she looks."
"I know Derek …."
"No momma you don't. I know what was going through her head. I know her better than she knows herself. She needed you not your betrayal because to Pen that's what it was. Now there is a rift between you two, all because of Des. She played you just like she has always done. You just don't see it. I know she does it and so does Sarah but we have never said anything. She's not a child anymore. You can't rescue from the mess she's made."
"Derek what are you saying?"
"I love you momma with all my heart, you know I do. I have to think of Pen, of my family. I can't do much right now while I'm lying in this bed. They told me today that they want to send to a rehab facility to continue my therapy until I'm able to go home and then continue my therapy from there. When they move me to that facility I want you, Des and Sarah to go home."
"Derek you don't mean that. You need me."
"I'm sorry momma but I do. I can't get better worried about Pen. She looks sick; like she's wasting away. I can't have that for her or my sons. I need it to be just us. I need to concentrate on us getting better. She won't be do that with you here. She doesn't trust you anymore. I'm sorry but I need to think of Pen and my sons. Do you know what they told her at her appointment?"
"No because she won't talk to me."
"JJ said she lost 10 pounds and the boys are underweight. One is a little smaller than the other one. She has a little less than 3 months left and now I'm worried about her. She is blaming herself for everything when it isn't her fault. It's not her fault this happened but because she wasn't taking care of herself, she's blaming herself."
"We tried to get her to eat and sleep."
"So what, now you are blaming her."
"What? No Derek." Fran said. "I know how much she loves you, anyone can see that. She wouldn't leave your side at all. She took her baths at the other hospital. Bubba was the only one that got her to outside for only minutes at a time. When you were moved her, Hotch took over and took her home so she could sleep and bathe. Your team took turns being with her so she wouldn't be alone. They have only been on one case since you have been here and someone always stayed with her. I don't want to go Derek but if that's what you want I will."
"I think it's best for all us right now. As for Des, I don't want her coming here before you all leave."
"You aren't going to see or talk to her."
"No momma." He said. "She needs to understand that her actions have consequences. She may be my sister and I love her but the things she had done to Pen are wrong. I love Pen with everything I am but I will let no one and I mean no one hurt her or come between us. I mean no one."
Fran got the message loud and clear; that meant her too. She was hurt that Derek would think that she would hurt Pen intentionally but she could also understand.
"Where is Pen now?"
"I had Hotch take her to lunch so she could get out of these four walls."
"Derek what is Pen going to do with you in rehab. She won't be able to stay there with you."
"I know and I have thought about that. I still have a week before that happens. I'll think of something."
"I could stay …"
"Momma she doesn't talk to you right now so that wouldn't work."
"If you're sure. I am so happy that you woke up."
"I am too momma, I am too."
Penelope attacked her food like she was starving and she was. She ate while looking at Aaron. He squirmed under her gaze and she smirked.
"You told him didn't you?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Don't play with me Aaron. You know what I'm talking about."
"Fine. I did."
"Why?"
"He asked to talk to me and asked me to tell him the truth. So I did. It's what he wanted."
"Why didn't ask me."
"He said you wouldn't give him the answers that he wanted."
"I probably wouldn't." she sighed. "So he knows everything."
"The condensed version of it."
"Was he mad?"
"At you no but he is mad."
"That's why I didn't tell him anything. I didn't want him to get mad at his mother."
"Why not? You are."
"That is his momma."
"It doesn't matter. What hurts you, hurts him."
"I know."
"Let's eat and talk about something else."
