Derek had been back from feeding the twins for about an hour when he noticed Pen was restless. He leaned over her and whispered to her, brushing the hair back. That seemed to settle her, so he pulled the recliner next to her bed and settled to sleep until they called him again to feed the twins. He had barely closed his eyes when he heard his name. He gazed at Pen and she was murmuring his name. Before he could get up she screamed. As soon as he neared the bed, she opened her eyes.
"I remember." She whispered. "I remember."
"What do you remember?"
"I remember being pushed from behind." She whispered. "I heard a noise. I thought it was you. I called your name but you didn't answer. Then I heard the creak of the stairs. I went to the door but didn't hear anything. I crept down the stairs, avoiding the one that creaks. I had just past it when I felts hands on me. The next thing I knew I was falling. I don't remember anything until I woke here. Oh Derek, I'm so sorry I didn't listen to you. it's all my fault."
She started crying and he held her. "Pen baby listen to me. It isn't your fault. I don't blame you for checking to see what that noise was. You were in the house all by yourself. I should have taken you with me or have someone stay with you. I need to ask you. Did you see who pushed you?"
"No. They were behind me. They must have been hiding in one of the rooms." She said then she looked at him. "You found me on the floor didn't you."
"We had just gotten back from therapy when I went to unlock the door and it was unlocked. Hotch drew his gun and went in. I was behind him. That's when we found you. You were bleeding, a lot. We called an ambulance, they came and brought you here. Hotch searched the house but found nothing."
"There was someone there. They pushed me."
"I believe you." he said. "I do. You need to tell the police and Hotch what you told me."
She nodded. "How are the boys?"
"They're stable. Noah hasn't had any issues with his heart."
"That's good. I want to see them so bad. I want to hold them in my arms."
"Hopefully you can see them in the morning,"
"I hope so I really do."
"You think you can go back to sleep?"
"If you were next to me, maybe."
"Scoot over then but gently. I don't want you to hurt yourself."
A short time later she was asleep in his arms. He was just getting comfortable when his phone vibrated. It was the nurse telling him that it was time to feed the twins. He sent a text that he was going to stay with Pen and to go ahead and feed them. He would be there at their next feeding. He slept for two and half hours before it was time to go to the twins.
Penelope was eating breakfast when Fran walked in with Sarah. She sat her fork down and stared at her visitors.
"how are you doing Pen?" Fran asked.
"I'm good."
"You look good for just having the twins." Sarah said. "How are the they?"
"They have some problems."
"Have you been able to see them?" Sarah asked.
"No, hopefully today." She said. "Did Derek call you?"
"Not exactly." Fran said.
"What do you mean?"
"Momma."
"You really think she had anything to with this."
"What are you talking about?"
"You were the one that told him didn't you?"
"I don't know what you are talking about."
"Momma don't."
She kept ignoring her daughter. "I know she's done things that hurt you but you can't possibly think she had anything to do with your accident."
"Who are you talking about? I don't understand."
"Des. She's been arrested."
"What? She pushed me down the stairs." She said. "No. No. tell me it wasn't her. My sons are in the NICU because of her. Get out. Get out now."
Pen was screaming at them and crying at the same time. Her nurse must have heard her screams because she came running into the room, trying to calm her down. Nothing worked and they ended up giving her something to calm her down and sleep. The nurse told them to leave. Fran asked where the NICU was at. The nurse hesitated for a minute before she told them where it was. She also told them only parents were allowed in the NICU.
Derek got off the elevator holding the coffees and his breakfast. He was just walking by the nurse's desk when Pen's nurse stopped him.
"Mr. Morgan."
"Yes." The worried look on her face gave him a bad feeling.
"I had to give Penelope something to calm her down and sleep. She had some visitors and I don't know what they told her but she started screaming and crying. I tried to calm her down but nothing worked. I didn't want to take the chance that she tears her stitches out."
He didn't wait to hear anything else. He rushed to her room and set the food down on her table. He noticed her breakfast if liquids were half eaten. He saw her tear stained cheeks and wiped them off gently.
"What happened baby girl?"
The nurse came through the door. "M. Morgan, the visitors that were here wanted to know where the NICU was at. I told them but I also told them that only parents were allowed in there."
"How long will she be asleep?"
"A couple of hours."
"Will this prevent her from seeing the twins?"
"No. It shouldn't. The plan was to get her moving today. That still should happen but I did tell the doctor what happened but I also told the doctor that something the visitors said upset her. Dr. Addison will be here later."
"Thank you for telling me."
He leaned in and kissed her head and then left for the NICU. He had a feeling he knew who were her visitors were. As he got closer to the waiting room, he saw them sitting in chairs. He was glad that there was no one else in the room. He stood at the entrance trying to calm down.
"What are you doing here?"
"We came to see Penelope and I don't like that tone."
"I told you to stay away."
"I'm your mother Derek. How can you ask me to stay away? Those are my grandbabies in there."
"Your right. They are. They are fighting for their lives because of your daughter."
"How many times to I have to tell you. She didn't have anything to do with this."
"How many times do I have to tell you to take the blinders off. She had everything to do with this. They have a witness that puts her at my house at the time of accident."
"The police officer."
"No another witness who saw her and another woman going to the back of my house."
"Who is this witness?"
"I don't have to tell you anything." He said. "What did you tell Pen?"
"That Des didn't do what she said."
"What the hell is wrong with you?"
"Don't talk to me like that."
"She didn't remember anything until last night. You had no right to come and talk to her. I told you to stay away for a reason. She had major surgery, just delivered our babies. She was asleep until yesterday and you have the nerve to come and try to talk to her. What did you think you would accomplish?" he ran his hand down his face. "You know all I hear about his Des. What about Pen? I don't hear you saying anything about her. What about what she is going through?"
"Derek …"
"No momma. I love you but I don't want you here. You need to leave. I'm done trying to talk sense to you. I have a family to think of now. They come first."
"Can we at least see the babies?"
"No. Only parents are allowed in there. Besides Pen hasn't seen them and she needs to before anybody else does."
"What are their names Derek?" Sarah asked.
He sighed. "Hunter Alexander and Noah Austin."
"Those are great names. Let's go momma." Sarah said. "Tell Pen to call me if she wants me to come by. I don't want to pressure her."
"I will."
He watched them go and went back to Pen's room. He wanted to be there when she woke up. He knew she would have questions that he would have to answer. Derek couldn't believe his mother had the nerve to show and pester Pen. Des was guilty and he had no doubt about that. He just didn't know exactly what role she played but sure hoped to hell it wasn't her that pushed Pen down those stairs. There was no coming back from this and his mother was just going to have to live with what her daughter did.
Derek sat in Pen's room watching her sleep. He had made a call to Hotch and found out the Mr. Carson had told them what he had saw and recognize Des from a line up. Hotch also told him that she wouldn't give up who the friend is but they knew it was Tamara. They showed Mr. Carson some other photos and he picked out Tamara from them. They were now looking for her but couldn't find her. it was only time that they found her. Hotch also told him that the police wanted to formally arrest Des or they were going to have to let her go until they had further evidence. Cause what they had was circumstantial at best. He told hotch what happened with his mother and that Pen remembered so they were going to send detectives to interview her. He sighed when he hung up.
He heard her moan before she opened her eyes. She gazed around the room until she settled her eyes on his. She patted the bed and he went and sat. She touched his face.
"Why didn't you tell me?" she said softly.
"I was going to tell you but I was waiting for you to remember something."
"I didn't see who pushed me."
"I know but she was there. An officer saw her parked on the street by the house. Mr. Carson saw two women going to the back of the house."
"two women?"
"We believe it was Tamara."
"Does your sister hate me that much that she would be a part of this?"
"Des is at the police station right now. She says she wanted to talk to me but what our neighbor saw contradicts that."
"So Fran came here thinking I was the one that told the police that she pushed me."
"I called her to ask where Des was and she was visiting a friend in Chicago. She rented a car here in her name. That's how we found out she was here. She refuses to say who her friend is that she was visiting here. We all know who her friend his."
"I want them punished for this Derek. What if we had lost one or both of the boys? I can't believe she would go along with something like this. I don't want her around my children after this. I was always hoping that we could somehow fix what was wrong but after this, I don't think I want to."
"I completely agree with you." he said. "Sarah is here as well. She said she will wait for a call from you before she shows up. She doesn't want to pressure or anything. She will come without momma."
'What are you going to do about your momma?"
"Even with the evidence against Des, she doesn't believe mem the police. If I have to choose between our family and my momma, you know who I will pick."
"I wish you didn't have to go through this."
"You worried about me after what you just went through."
"I love you Derek, I don't like to see you suffer."
"Same here. Seeing you with all that blood is an image I will never get out of my head."
The door opened and Dr. Addison walks in with a smile on her face.
"Hello Penelope, how are we doing today?"
"Fine. Still sore."
"You will be sore for a few days. Let me check your incision. I heard you had some excitement this morning."
"I wouldn't call it that."
She pressed and Pen winced. She listened to hear stomach asked her questions. Derek just watched and listened.
"We are going to get you up and moving today just for a few minutes several times a day increasing the time as the days go by. We'll take out the catheter. You can eat solid foods but let the nurses know if you become nauseous. Your incision is healing up nicely. There is some reddening but I don't know if that was because of this morning. I wouldn't worry about your milk coming in. I think that will happen when you hold them beautiful babies, which you will see today." Pen squealed and Derek laughed. "I want you in a wheelchair when you go down there but maybe the day after tomorrow you can walk there. We'll keep an eye on your incision to make sure that it's not getting infected. It's almost lunch time. Eat and then go see your babies."
Dr. Addison left Penelope with a smile on her face. The talk of Des and everything that happened was not thought about. She was going to see her sons and that was all that mattered.
Penelope sat in the wheelchair holding her stomach. It hurt the first time she got out of bed but she swallowed her moan. Nothing was going to stop her from going to the NICU. As they got closer to the door, the more excited she got. She saw Derek pick up the phone and said he was there to his babies. She heard a click and Derek opened the door. He helped her stand and showed her how to wash her hands. She sat back down gently and he pushed through another door. She looked all around and saw all the little babies. She never realized how many babies could be in the NICU. They were met by a nurse.
"Hi I'm Rachel, the twins nurse. If you have any questions at all, let me know. How are you feeling today?"
"I'm good, a little sore." She said. "How are the boys?"
"They're stable, meaning no new problems. We feed them at almost two hours ago but they still didn't want a bottle. Which is ok since they are only a two days old. I know you've seen the pictures of them connected to the machines but seeing it in person is different. Just remember that every machine they are connected to is helping monitor them."
Rachel led them to the twins and all Penelope could hear was crying as she got closer. She knew it was her son.
"Is that Noah?"
"How did you know?" Rachel asked.
"I just did."
"Yes. He's been crying a lot more today than the other day."
Derek parked her in front of two warmers and she gasped. Her hand moved to her mouth.
"Oh Derek, they are small but oh my they are beautiful."
As soon as she spoke, Noah stopped crying. He moved his little feet and arms. Hunter did the same.
"Look at that mommy. They recognize your voice."
"Can I hold them?"
"Sure let me get Noah first."
Pen watched as she carefully took Noah out, adjusted his wires and wrapped him in a blanket. She handed him to Pen, who took him gently into her arms. She started crying as well as Derek, who knelt by her chair.
"It's ok baby."
She nodded. "He's so small. He hardly weighs anything."
"He has lost a little weight since birth but honestly all babies due."
"How much do formula are they eating?"
"We try to get them to eat two and half ounces. So far Hunter has done it a couple of times but Noah hasn't don't it yet. Do you want to hold Hunter, Derek?"
"I'll get him."
Pen watched as Derek did the exact same thing with Hunter as the nurse did with Noah. He sat down with him next to Pen. She touched his head and he turned toward her.
"Hi, mommy's here. I'm sorry that I couldn't come sooner but I'm here now." She said. "You both are such handsome little men. You look like your daddy."
"I see you in their faces too."
"Look at all that hair." She touched Noah's then Hunter's. "You think it will get curly. It's so smooth right now."
"We have to wait and see but you see how lighter Noah's hair is compared to Hunter. Hunter's skin is lighter than Noah's."
"That may darken." He said. "How does it feel mommy?"
"Like I waited my whole life for this moment." She whispered. "I just wish that they weren't in here."
"They are going to get better."
Noah had fallen asleep in her arms and Derek made a switch and he held Noah while she held Hunter. Like with Noah, she moved the blanket and touched him all over. He too had fallen asleep. They just sat there holding their babies with big smiles on their faces.
They sat there for about thirty minutes when she started to feel uncomfortable. Derek noticed had called for Rachel. He told her to put the babies back in their beds.
"I don't want to go Derek."
"I know but you are tired and hurting. I can see it all over your face. We can come back once you are rested. We can come as often and stay as long as we want."
"But it's almost time for the next feeding. I want to be here."
Rachel heard the anguish in her voice. "Penelope, have you had your milk come in?"
"No."
"Why don't I call a lactation come and talk to you and see about using a breast pump. That might make it come down and that would be better for the boy's. You can store it and you can have Derek bring it or you can bring it when you come back."
"I can do that."
"Sure. I call have them come see you."
"Thank you. Take care of my boys"
"I will don't worry."
Silent tears ran down her face as Derek wheeled her back to her room. Once in her room, Derek helped her get into bed. He slid in with her and held her while she sobbed. He knew it was hard for to see their son's connected to all those wires and then she had to leave them. He held her tight and let her cry it out. There were no words he could offer her since sometimes he found a quiet corner and cry himself. Seeing your son's like that is the last thing any parent would want.
"Derek, I need something for pain. I'm really hurting." She whispered.
He pushed the button and asked her nurse for pain meds. She came in and asked her at what number her pain was at and she said a ten. She gave her something for pain. Derek got off the bed because the nurse wanted to examine her incision. She commented that it was a little redder than earlier. She checked her temp but it was normal. Pen told her the pain had gotten worse the more she sat. The nurse said she was going to call the doctor and she what she said.
"Take a nap baby, I'm right here."
She woke up a couple of hours later and asked if she could get up and walk. Derek held on to her as she walked around the room, stopping for a few seconds before continuing on. Dinner came and she sat in the chair and ate. The food wasn't the best but she didn't complain. The NICU said it was almost time for the boys to eat. So down they went. They scrubbed in just as the nurse was getting the bottles ready. They had to stand at the open warmer and try to give Hunter to take the bottle. She watched as with tears in her eyes as she watched her son struggle to close his mouth and try to suck. She murmured to him that he could do it. They tried for a few minutes. The nurse showed her how to fill a syringe with milk and slowly feed her son. It took at least fifteen minutes to feed him. She kept glimpsing at Derek who was feeding Noah. They had her sit in a rocking chair so she could burp her son. Derek sat in another. The nurse had brought a screen and blocked their view. Derek had told her about skin to skin contact. He took his shirt off; unwrapped Noah, placed his on his chest and covered him with a blanket."
"How am I going to do that with a gown on?"
"I'll do it and tomorrow we'll see if you can wear regular clothes."
She nodded and started speaking to your son. "Your so loved baby boy. You are loved by mommy and your daddy. You are loved by whole bunch of other people that can't wait to meet you. so you need to hurry and get better. They can't visit you in here."
She ran her hand down his cheek and he nuzzled his head against her. She held him for a bit and then changed his diaper, which she was amazed was so little. The nurse told her they were for preemies. Derek changed Noah and then they switched babies. She held Noah against her chest, stroking his back.
"You too are loved by mommy and daddy so much. You need to hurry up and get better so we can go home and I can have you all to myself. Mommy is going to be very selfish when it comes to time with her baby boy's. Yes, she is." Noah machine started beeping when he started coughing. "What's is that? What's wrong?"
The nurse rushed over and took Noah from her. she held him in her hand while she rubbed and patted his back. He started turning red and she yelled something that Pen didn't understand. Derek put Hunter back because Pen was started to lose it. She started screaming to help her baby. He held her as they watched them work with Noah. After what seem like forever for the new parents Noah let out a cry. Pen cried harder. The doctor turned to look at her.
"He's ok now. He must have brought some milk up and he started choking."
"Has he done this before?" Derek asked.
"Just one when we first started to feed him. We did have a doctor look at him but found nothing wrong. If he continues we'll have to reevaluate him. Want to hold him again?"
"Yes."
She sat down in the chair again and they handed her the baby. She held close against her chest.
"Please don't scare mommy like that again Noah."
Derek came around after checking on Hunter and held them both in his arms. He kissed Noah's little head and then Pen's.
"Bring me Hunter."
Derek carried Hunter to her and place on her chest next to Noah. She held them both in her arms and she watched as they squirmed until they were touching. She looked at Derek and through her watery eyes she smiled.
"They are going to have a great bond."