Home of Penelope Garcia –
She could still feel his presence in the house, his smell still in her nostrils and his touch, still on her skin. She longed for him and she had no idea how she could possibly go on as if he'd never entered her life.
The doorbell rang and Penelope made her way to the front of the house. She wasn't expecting company and she was surprised to see Sheriff Gillespie through the peephole. Puzzled, she opened the door.
"Sherriff Gillespie?"
"Hello Penelope, sorry to disturb you."
"No worries. How can I help you?"
Penelope looked past the sheriff at the strangers with him.
"These folks are with the FBI; they work with Agent Morgan."
Hotch stepped forward and introduced himself and the others, showing his badge as confirmation of their identities.
"Please come in."
One by one the others walked in and filled the small room with their presence.
"Is something wrong? Is Derek okay?" Penelope asked.
"That's why we're here, Ms. Garcia." Hotch began.
"He didn't want to leave, he wanted to stay." She began.
"Can you tell us about the two people who came to pick him up?" JJ asked.
"The man, said his name was Kevin Lynch and the woman, Savannah Hayes. He was Derek's best friend, and she was his fiancé."
Reid stepped forward and faced Penelope.
"I'm Derek's best friend..."
Then JJ stepped forward and stood next to Reid.
"...and Derek doesn't have a fiancé."
Penelope's hands flew to her mouth in shock. Everyone saw the terror and sorrow in her eyes.
"Oh my god! I didn't know; I'm so sorry."
"It's not your fault." Said Dave. "There's no way you would have known. I'm sure Lynch had FBI credentials too."
"Yes, yes he did, and she had an ID from a hospital."
"So, you see, there's no way this is your fault." JJ began. "From what Sheriff Gillespie told us, you saved Derek's life; if it weren't for you, there's no telling what would have happened to him."
Penelope shook her head acknowledging JJ's words; still she was heartbroken at the thought that Derek may be in danger.
"How about you and I go make coffee?" JJ said gently taking Penelope's arm.
The two women headed to the kitchen as the others remained in the living room to discuss their next move.
JJ watched Penelope move nervously around the kitchen, fighting tears and trying but failing to remain strong.
"You're in love with him, aren't you?"
Penelope continued to work not answering the question.
"We're profilers which means we're experts in human behavior." JJ added.
Penelope shook her head, yes.
"He told me he loved me too." She began. "I made him go with them; he wanted to stay."
"You did the right thing." JJ assured.
"Did I? because now he's out there somewhere in danger or worse."
"You did the right thing." JJ repeated firmly.
The Journey Home – Virginia State Line – Evening –
Kevin turned the car down a dark unmarked street. It was quiet except the dirt road crunching under the weight of the car. It was unfamiliar to Savannah and Derek sat up suddenly looking out the windows; his gut was warning him of danger, but he remained silent.
"Kevin, I thought we were going home?" Savannah asked.
Kevin smiled and sped up.
"We are baby, we are. I thought it would be a good idea if we all stayed at my old farmhouse for the night; it will give you two lovebirds a chance to have some quality time before we return to the real world."
"That's sweet, but I really think we should head to Quantico."
"I thought you said you trusted me, Sav?"
"I do but...I..."
"Then don't worry. I'm going to take care of everything."
"I think she's right; I want to go home too."
Kevin felt his emotions begin to heat up as he shot an angry glare at the man in the back seat. Before Derek could notice he replaced the frown with a wicked insincere smile.
"No worries, bestie just relax. We'll head home in the morning; right now, I'm exhausted and I need to get from behind this wheel."
Derek saw the shocked look still on Savannah's face as she watched Kevin pull up a driveway and kill the engine. Something was wrong, Derek felt his gut screaming out loud. Kevin came around and opened Savannah's door. It was obvious that no one had been here in ages. Then Derek's door opened, and Kevin stood waiting.
"I want to go home." Derek uttered.
"Get out of the car, Derek." Kevin ordered.
"Come on baby, it's just for one night, okay?" Savannah pleaded.
"No. I want to go home. I don't even know where we are!"
"I said get out of the car!" Kevin ordered.
Kevin chuckled and then turned to Savannah handing her the keys.
"Savannah be a doll and unlock the door and turn on the lights please." His voice suddenly sugary sweet.
Savannah reluctantly took the keys but not before shooting a look at Derek. Once she got to the door, Kevin turned back to Derek.
"I'm really tired and you're acting like a child Get. Out. Of. The. Car!"
Kevin unzipped his jacket and pulled it open enough so that Derek could see the gun tucked in his belt.
"Now, I am not going to repeat myself. I need you out of the car or I'm going to blow a rather large hole in your head and then I'm going to kill that lovely young woman who won't see it coming."
"Okay, okay; just don't hurt her, please."
Kevin, rather pleased with himself, stepped back enough to give Morgan room to do as he was told. Without protest he headed to the house with Kevin close behind him.
"You're not my friend, are you?" Derek asked.
"Not even close."
"Why are you doing this?"
"Because you are in my way, Derek."
"In your way? What are you talking about?"
"Yes; Savannah belongs to me, not you. We would be together if she hadn't met you! It's not fair but I'm going to make it right."
"You won't get away with this."
"Yeah; yeah, I will. No one knows about this place. No one will hear you scream and I'm going to make sure you scream Derek!"
Kevin chuckled; a sick monstrous chuckle as he pushed Derek through the front door of the house.
Savannah had never seen anything like this. The house hadn't been lived in for years and what little furniture there was, was old, worn and from another time period. She flipped on the lights in the kitchen, then the small living room. Just before heading to the bedrooms, she heard Kevin and Derek come in.
"Kevin, when were you here last? It's filthy..." She stopped at the sight of the gun.
"Not to worry, it will do for tonight."
"Kevin, what are you doing with a gun?"
"I'm going to do what I should have done a long time ago."
Home of Penelope Garcia –
"Kevin and Savannah have at least a three or four hour head start." Hotch began.
"And we have no idea where to start looking for them." JJ added.
"I can make a few officers available." Sheriff Gillespie offered.
"Thank you, Sherriff. We'll need all the help when can get." Said Hotch.
"With a three or four hour head start, they're in Virginia." Dave offered.
"Why do you say that? Maybe they're still held up around here." JJ asked.
"Neither Kevin nor Savannah have ties here. So, they'll go somewhere that they're familiar with; like near home." Reid added.
"JJ call Mavis and have her dig up everything on Kevin and Savannah. If they bought a skateboard, I want to know when and where." Hotch ordered.
"On it."
Journey Home- Farmhouse –
He was so excited about going to Carl's cabin. He'd been chosen over all the other boys. He felt special, and on the drive up the mountains, Carl had said as much. He missed his father; this would have been something the two of them would have done had he been alive.
"We're going to have so much fun, just the two of us." Carl promised.
"I've never been to the mountains before."
"We'll after this weekend, you won't be able to say that again." Carl chuckled.
The drive seemed a million miles from his home in Chicago, but it didn't matter. He was going to fish and camp and sleep under the stars.
He hated the bitter taste of the brown drink. Carl insisted he drink it; all of it. He felt funny, relaxed and sleepy. It was hard to talk; hard to ask Carl why his hand was on his thigh. He wanted to run but his legs were wobbly.
"Please..." He whispered.
"Just relax, Derek. You're going to like it. It's our secret...
"No..."
"You're so soft. I like soft and that mouth. I have so many things to teach you about that mouth..."
"Derek?" Savannah called out to him.
He seemed so far away. Even with the gun against his back he seemed transported, untouchable.
"Shhh...stop crying! You're gonna like it!"
"Derek!" Savannah called again.
"That's it...juuuussssttt relax...look up to the sky!"
"DEREK!"