Chapter 24

A/N: Just popping over to wish everyone a happy, healthy and safe fourth of July! Thank you to all of you for your wonderful reviews and support! Also, thanks for all the follows and favorites! You guys are the best and I love you all.

Fran looked alarmed and cried out, "What is it, Derek? What's wrong?"

His eyes went wide, and he turned as white as a ghost. He abruptly raised up and just as fast his hands balled into fists. He was trying to keep his wits about him. He blurted out, "Shit, I was right, Momma! I knew something was wrong, I felt it." She gave him a confused look and shook her head. "This tire didn't just go flat, it was punctured. "

Fran asked as she stood there still shocked, "Who would do such a thing?"

Derek stood there stock still as he appeared to look right through his mother and pondered. "No…no, she wouldn't…Damnit! She would! Momma, I'm sure now, this was just a diversion to get me away from Pen. I've got to get back to her. That bitch is going after Baby Girl!"

Fran asked again, "Who Derek? Who do you think it is?"

Derek responded with, "Savannah! She's the only one angry enough TO do something like this."

All Fran could do was gasp, "Ohh my God! Go, Derek, go! Don't worry about me I will figure something out. Please be careful and save our girl! I love you both!"

In a flash, he was headed towards the SUV and as he jumped in, he screamed back, "Don't worry I will! I love you too!" All Fran could do was watch and cry in total fear as Derek scrambled into his SUV. She ran back inside the house to call Dave and bring him up to speed.

Derek backed up to where he could easily turn around, as the tires screeched the whole time, then he roared out into the street, threw on his lights and sirens and raced to save his girl. While he was driving the only thing that ran through his mind was that he had to get there before something happened to the only woman he'd truly ever loved. He wouldn't be able to live with himself if she was hurt or worse. He tried to clear the worst-case scenario out his mind. He was failing miserably. He was ready to kill Savannah if he didn't get there in time. Calm down, Morgan! Penelope is going to be fine, after all, her guard is there to help protect her, he thought.

He grabbed his phone and dialed Brad's number. He tried several times and each time it rang several times before going to voicemail. Simultaneously, Brad's phone kept silently buzzing in his jacket pocket. He had a sinking feeling! He spoke out loud to himself, "Please be alright, Baby Girl! Hang on, I'm on my way. Just be alright. I love you!"

After one last try to call Brad, he gave up and immediately dialed Hotch's number. To his relief, Hotch picked up on the second ring. Derek began hollering into the phone as he explained everything. Derek couldn't get himself to calm down. Once Hotch was able to decipher everything, Hotch told Derek they would meet him at the hospital, Hotch then informed him he would call the local police and warned him to be careful.

Hotch slammed his fist on his desk and took off running out into the bullpen. He yelled out for Spencer and JJ as he hurried down the stairs. "We gotta go, Garcia is in trouble! I'll explain on the way."

They both jumped up from their desks, took off running behind Hotch, and headed for the elevators. Just as the doors opened, Dave came sprinting around the corner. "Let's go! Fran called me with the details. I already notified the locals." They all ran into the elevator and waited for it to reach the garage. They all ran full speed to the SUV, climbed in and Hotch roared out of the garage with full lights and sirens. Dave and Hotch filled in Spencer and JJ along the way. They all prayed they would make it there in time.

Derek was going out of his mind with worry the whole trip there. He couldn't lose her, not now, after they were finally together and happy. He was mentally kicking himself for leaving her side. This was all his fault. He knew something was wrong. He would just die without her in his life. God, how he loved that woman!

Meanwhile, in Penelope's room, Savannah crept closer and closer to her nemesis, the bane of her existence. She stopped, softly laid her backpack down on the nightstand,and gingerly unzipped the main compartment. She reached in and extracted the duct tape. She ripped off a strip with her teeth and with an evil laugh, she slapped it over Penelope's mouth. Penelope woke with a start and tried to scream out. Her eyes bulged as she saw who it was. She was terrified as she struggled. The tears ran down her cheeks as she tried to squirm farther away from Savannah. But, alas, it was to no avail. All Savannah did was maniacally laugh the whole time.

Penelope was trying to think of something to do when it came to her. Without the thought for pain or further injury, she lifted her casted arm and swung wildly. She connected on the first hit, which sent Savannah flying into the wall closest to her. She was indignant and enraged.

She screeched out, "You, bitch, you're gonna pay for that! Big time! Mark my words!"

While Savannah was righting herself, Penelope grabbed for the tape with her good arm. But before she could rip it off, she felt pain as Savannah slammed her hand down on her face. "Oh no you don't, you fat cow!"

Penelope cried in pain as her good hand was violently thrown to the side and hit the side rail full force. Savannah then grabbed her broken arm and quickly retrieved the tape and tied Penelope's casted wrist to the other side rail. All the while Penelope was moaning and trying to scream out in horrendous pain beneath the tape. Savannah showed no mercy as she ran around and wrapped her other wrist with the tape before Penelope could react any further.

Once Savannah had her right where she wanted her, she caught her breath and touched her swelling cheek. She was completely blind with fury. She had nothing but hate in her heart, soul, and eyes. She glared over at Penelope who was still whimpering because of all the pain.

During the melee, Savannah hadn't realized her goon at the mansion texted to warn her that Derek was on his way back to the hospital. She stood her ground seething with pure hatred. All she could do was glare at what she thought was a sniveling, conniving, fat whore pig. She went to the side of Penelope's bed and plopped herself down in the same place Derek had been occupying not too long ago. Savannah raised up her arm while Penelope cowered in place. She couldn't do anything to save her life, even if she wanted to. Instantly, she felt another tremendous pain as Savannah landed two back-to-back punches to her eye and her cheek.

All Penelope could do was try to holler out again as a searing and horrific pain traveled through her face and whole body but all that came out was loud grumbling. Her eyesight was getting blurry and her head was spinning. Penelope had no choice but to just lay there and take Savannah's abuse. She prayed and prayed that Derek would show up and save her. But she knew he was with his mother. He couldn't possibly know what was happening at that very moment. She didn't want to die, she wanted to spend the rest of her life with her Chocolate God. Please, Derek! Help Me! Penelope was resigning herself to the fact that she would die alone and at the hands of his ex. Penelope silently begged to the universe, Please, my love, don't blame yourself! It's not your fault. You didn't know. I will always love you!

Little did she know, at that very moment that her Noir Hero was screeching to a halt in front of the hospital. Derek made it back there in record time. He just prayed he'd made it in time.

All of Penelope's focus was on trying to stay alive. Savannah had been ranting and raving, calling her all the despicable names she could muster. While she continued her verbal tirade, Savannah had reached over Penelope's head and snatched one of her pillows from under her head. Penelope watched as Savannah grabbed hold of both sides of the pillow and headed for her face with it. Savannah sneered out, "It's time to die, bitch! Say buh-bye!"

Penelope knew this was it. She was going to die. Her very last thoughts were of the man she truly loved and would forever. She just kept repeating the same thing over and over to herself. I love you, Derek! I love you! Then everything went dark as Savannah used all her might and strength to suffocate her. Penelope fought as long and hard as she could until she finally succumbed to nothing but blackness.

At that very moment, Derek busted through the door after running up the three flights of stairs to try and save his Goddess. He took one look at Penelope's lifeless body and his heart shattered. I'm too late!

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