AN: So I'm posting this at work since it's completely dead and I have nothing work-related to do. I hope you like this update. PLZ R&R!

Disclaimer: See first chapter.


Chapter 43: Hometown Secrecy

Derek watched as Penelope embraced the man standing in the doorway of the room where they were stationed. They finally pulled apart as he and Hotch just looked at them.

"Sorry," Penelope turned to Derek. "This is Miguel Vargas; everyone calls him Mickey. His brother Enrique-or Ricky-was, still is actually, friends with my brother Joe."

"Nice to meet you," Hotch shook his hand.

"You too," Mickey smiled at him before turning to Derek.

"Did you two..." Derek looked between them.

"We technically dated, if you want to call it that."

"What do you mean?"

"My prom date canceled on me just two days before," Penelope explained to them. "Rather than having to watch me wallow in self-pity, my brothers started calling around to see if they could find anyone who wouldn't mind taking me. Mickey here was in town after finishing his first year of college."

"We would always hang out whenever our brothers did," Mickey told him. "I figured that hanging out with Penelope for several hours was better than a boring night at home with my parents. And after the dance, we kind of helped each other out."

"Helped each other how?" Derek looked at them.

"We had what was called a smoke screen relationship," Penelope told him. "We pretended to be involved for our own selfish reasons. He helped me stick it to my protective brothers and I helped him keep a secret that he wasn't ready to share with his family."

"So you guys faked a relationship?" Hotch spoke up.

"For almost a year and a half," Mickey smirked at him. "They eventually figured it out, but it was fun trying to pull it over on all of them."

"If you don't mind me asking, what was the secret you were trying to keep from everyone?" Derek asked.

"You don't have to tell them," Penelope told him. "But they definitely won't judge you."

"I told my family a long time ago," Mickey told her. "They took it well. And the entire police force knows by now."

"How are they taking it?"

"Most are accepting, but you know the sheriff. His whole family consists of racist homophobes."

"Wait, you're-" Derek looked between them.

"I'm gay," Mickey confirmed. "I knew in high school. I just wasn't ready to announce it. Penelope helped me keep my secret."

"That's how she is," Derek kissed her cheek. "Protective of everyone."

"Since you seem to be more welcoming of us than the sheriff, do you mind working with us directly?" Hotch looked at him.

"Sure thing," Mickey nodded. "I was the one that convinced the sheriff that we needed outside help with this case. I just didn't know that Half-Pint here was on your team. If I had known-"

"It's ok," Penelope told him.

Derek saw a look pass between the two old friends before Mickey nodded and Penelope turned back to her equipment. In that moment Derek knew that his plans to get Mickey alone and ask him about Penelope's past were dashed. Mickey may know what she went through when she was younger, but he was still her friend. There was no way that he would betray her though. Which meant that Derek may never know what she's trying so hard to keep hidden from all of them.


The rest of the team returned to the precinct and started into the room where Hotch, Morgan and Garcia were set up. They stopped when they spotted a uniformed officer with them.

"Uh, Hotch?" JJ looked at him.

"He's on our side," he assured them as he led them out. "He's the deputy sheriff, but he knows Garcia. His brother is friends with her brother Joe. He's the one who convinced the sheriff to call us in. He just didn't know that Penelope was working with us since they haven't talked in years."

"We need to get more information from her," Emily stated.

"It's a very interesting one," Hotch smirked. "So what did you guys find out from the crime scene?"

"Not much," Dave said. "Except that it's a wide open space. Tourists mostly go there to see the botanical gardens."

"But the bodies were found right out in the open which means the unsub wanted them found fast." Emily added.

"That could suggest remorse." Hotch turned to JJ and Reid. "Did you two find out anything at the ME's office?"

"They were all blitz attacked and then strangled," JJ told him.

"But they all had an interesting symbol carved into their skin just below their ribs," Reid showed them the piece of scrap paper he had scribbled on. "I tried to sketch it on our way back here."

"It appears to be some kind of monitor-maybe a TV-with another symbol over top of it," JJ told them.

"I'll have Garcia run a search on it," Hotch told them. "But let's all head to the hotel for the night and start fresh tomorrow."

Hotch went to go tell Morgan and Garcia and they started packing up all their things. They met everyone outside as Penelope was talking on her phone.

"Penelope made plans to stay at her brother Tim's house," Derek told them. "I'm going with her."

"She's not still mad is she?" JJ asked.

"No, she just wants to be with her family. Tim lives in the house where she grew up. Besides it's only a couple of blocks from here, closer than the hotel is."

"It's fine with me," Hotch handed the keys to one of the SUVs to Derek. "Just keep your phones on in case there's a break in the case."

"Got it," Derek led Penelope to one of the SUVs as she hung up the phone.

"It'll be interesting to see where you lived growing up," he looked at her as he pulled away from the precinct.

"Don't you go getting any ideas," she told him.

"What do you mean?"

"I already told Tim to hide all the pictures of me from when I was younger. So don't you go looking for them."

"I'll be good," he smiled at her as she pointed out a house to him and he pulled into the driveway. "Whoa. You grew up here?"

"Yep," she smiled at her old house.

It was a big white Victorian three-story house that led right out onto the beach. Derek started to gather their things as he saw some woods set off behind the house.

"We had four-wheelers and dirt bikes and mini bikes when we were younger," Penelope told him. "Along with paintball and BB guns. There was a lot of competition between us all growing up."

"But she could hold her own against all us boys," the door opened and Tim greeted them. "Don't let that Princess exterior fool you."

"Aunt Pen!" Jazzlynn ran out to them and embraced her aunt.

"Hey Jazzy," she smiled down at the nine-year-old. "Where's your sister?"

"In her room," she told her. "She refuses to come out unless Dad starts being more reasonable."

"Sky is sulking," Tim told them. "And apparently I just don't get it."

"Of course you don't, you're her parent." Derek told him.

"You're here," Shelley came out to them and embraced Penelope tightly. "We're in the middle of some remodeling so don't mind the mess."

"I totally understand," Derek told them. "I renovate houses."

"But your old room is ready for you guys." Tim added.

"Great," Penelope started towards the winding staircase. "Come on, Handsome. I'll take you on a tour."

"Right behind you, Princess." he started up the carpeted stairs behind her.

Penelope led him down the hall as she pointed out a few rooms and told him what they were used for the last time she was there.

"And this was my room," She opened a door at the end of the hall and led him inside.

"Away from everyone else's rooms," he pointed out.

"My dad always said it was because I was a girl and needed more privacy."

"Ah, a picture." Derek picked up a frame off the dresser. "Not to worry. I don't think this one is embarrassing. It looks like a group photo."

"Let me see," she took it from him. "I think that was just after me and mom moved in here. I was still going through rehab after what Kenneth did."

"Yeah, I see the braces." Derek put the photo back. "This is a nice house."

"It's a family home," she told him as they started to get settled. "It's been in my dad's family for years."

"Hi Aunt Pen," they looked and saw Tanner standing in the doorway.

"What are you doing here?" she embraced her nephew.

"We're all here now," he told her. "We're having dinner out on the patio."

"You're all-Tim invited everyone?"

"Are you that surprised?" Derek asked her. "It's a very big deal to them that you're out here for the first time since your parents' funeral."

"I guess,"

"Where's Ryan?" Tanner looked around.

"We're out here on a case for work," Penelope told him. "We couldn't bring him with us."

"We should probably check up on him," Derek took out his phone and brought up his video chat icon.

"Dad?" Ryan appeared on the phone. "Nana said I could answer it when she saw you calling."

"It's all right buddy,"Derek assured him. "We just wanted to check in."

"Where are you?"

"San Francisco,"

"Is mom ok?"

"I'm fine sweetie," Penelope took over the phone. "We're taking a break from the case for the night and guess where we're staying?"

"Where?"

"Uncle Tim's," she moved the phone so he could see Tanner.

"Hi Ryan," Tanner smiled at him.

"Hey,"

"When this case is over, we're going to see about staying a couple extra days and try to bring you out here so we can show you all the sights," Derek took the phone back.

"Yeah!"

They continued to talk to Ryan for a little bit longer before Fran came on. Penelope said her good byes and handed the phone off to Derek as she heard one of her brothers calling for her. Tanner followed her out of the room as Derek turned back to his mom on his phone.

"So how is she really?" Fran asked her son. "Dave told me that she didn't talk to anyone on the way there."

"She's fine now," he assured her. "She ran into one of her old friends at the precinct, but she wants to solve this case fast."

"I'll bet,"

"Do you know-"

"She's never gone into details about that part of her life."

"She talked to Reid before we boarded the jet, but he said he couldn't tell us."

"Just hang in there and trust that she'll let you in eventually."

"Uncle Derek!"

"I got to go," Derek told his mom. "I'll call tomorrow to check in with you."

"Don't worry about a thing. Just solve that case so you can get back here fast."

"Will do," he ended the video call and started downstairs.

Derek made his way back downstairs and found everyone filing out a set of glass double doors that led out onto an enclosed patio. He spotted all of Penelope's brothers with their families as they all helped set everything out on the long rectangle table. He scanned the area for Penelope and saw her off towards where another set of double doors led down to the huge backyard. She was conversing quietly with Skylar who seemed to have a scowl permanently plastered on her face.

"Dad says she's just being a teenager," Derek looked and saw Hannah, Michael and Sarah's daughter, standing next to him.

"What?" he looked at the ten-year-old.

"Sky," she gestured to the pair still talking. "I overheard her arguing with Uncle Tim. This college guy asked her out."

"What?"

"Freshman in college, but he's still three years older than her. When Uncle Tim said no, Sky got really upset. Uncle Tim just told her that he knows what it's like to watch someone you love get hurt and have to pick up the pieces."

"It's ready!" Shelley announced and everyone came over to find their seats at the table.

"This looks amazing," Penelope commented as Derek pulled a chair out for her and pushed her in close to the table. "What's that look, Handsome?"

"Nothing," he smiled at her. "But once we tell the team about this wonderful meal we're having-"

"Let them be jealous," she told him. "Do you know how often I got jealous of all of you going out to those fancy restaurants during a case while I was stuck in Virginia eating from the work cafeteria? And trust me, that food is never appealing."

"Well I hope this make up for it." he told her.

"Maybe a little," she smiled at him as she got drawn into a conversation that her brothers were having.

Derek kept a close eye on Penelope all throughout dinner as he listened to her nieces and nephews tell him all about their schools and what activities they were involved in.

As the kids moved inside to watch TV or play video games after supper, all the adults stayed out on the patio reminiscing. As all of her brothers took turns telling stories about their childhood, Derek couldn't stop thinking about his conversation with Hannah earlier. Could Tim have been referring to Penelope when he was arguing with his daughter?


AN: So what'd you all think? I hope you liked this. PLZ R&R!

On a side note, if anyone wouldn't mind PMing me and helping me brainstorm with this story I'd really like this. I would post some questions here, but I don't want to ruin it for the people who don't like spoilers. If anyone would like to help me brainstorm, please PM me. Thanks!