Potomac General Hospital – Morning –
"He hasn't left her side since they brought her back from surgery last night." JJ whispered.
"How is he?" Reid asked already knowing the answer.
"Not good. He barely let the nurses dress his wounds and he won't rest. He just sits there staring at her."
"Does he remember anything from his past?"
"There's no way of knowing; he hasn't spoken to anyone."
Reid opened the door slowly and entered the room. Derek barely reacted to the intrusion keeping his eyes on the woman in the bed.
"Morgan?"
"She can't die."
"She's strong and she's a fighter." Reid assured him.
"Why did she do it? Why did she take the bullet that was meant for me?"
"Because she loves you."
Morgan broke and the tears began flowing down his face. He felt lost and undeserving of anyone paying such a price for him. Kevin's words about what Carl had done to him made him feel dirty and ashamed. He wondered if the rest of them knew of his past.
More memories had begun to fill the empty spaces in his mind as he rode to the hospital with Savannah while she clung to life. He owed her that too he supposed.
"What if she doesn't make it?"
Reid stepped closer and placed a hand on Derek's shoulder. He'd lost count of the times that his friend had stood by his side during tragedy and hard times. It was his turn to do the same for him. He felt Morgan's body tremble and crumble under the weight of his tears and sorrow and guilt.
"This isn't your fault, Morgan."
Morgan shook his head, no. He wasn't ready to believe that it wasn't his fault. He wanted to hurt and feel the pain as the magnitude of what he had caused hit him over and over. He felt Reid wrap his arms around his shoulders, holding him tight and repeating the words again. "It's not your fault. It's not your fault."
"Reid?"
"Yes."
"I remember you...I remember..."
Home of Penelope Garcia –
Penelope was overcome with worry; the agents had promised to call when they had word on Derek. She'd heard the night before that he'd been found but there wasn't much information after that. The blonde, Agent Jareau, had given her a business card, now she was struggling with an inner battle. She wanted to call but she knew that she no longer belonged in his world. He had a family and a fiancé and that left no room for her. She jumped when she heard her phone ring.
"Hello?"
"Miss Garcia, this is Agent Jareau."
"H-Hi...how is Derek?"
"He's fine just a bit beat up and bruised but he's going to be fine."
The silence was awkward before Penelope spoke again.
"And Savannah, how is she?"
"Out of surgery and in a coma. The doctors say that the next 24-48 hours are crucial."
"She must really love him..."
"Penelope."
"No, it's okay. Please let him know that I'm thinking of him and wishing him well."
"I..."
Penelope ended the call. She didn't want to cry or sound pathetic. It was true, she did wish him well and hoped that Savannah pulled through.
"He's okay...that's all that matters!" She whispered to herself.
Potomac General Hospital –
She'd waited for hours to speak with her son; Fran had rushed to the hospital after receiving a call from Dave that he'd been found. The news about Savannah and what she had done to protect him, rocked Fran to her core. Now here she was watching him sit numbly by Savannah's bedside refusing treatment, refusing to rest; barely speaking.
Flashes of memories were returning with nothing quite making sense, like gaping holes in a puzzle. The loud bang of the gun, her blood splattering on his clothes and on his skin seemed to ignite pictures and colors like bursting balloons thrown against a brick wall.
He was Derek Morgan, FBI agent and son of Fran Morgan Rossi, brother of Sarah and Desiree Morgan. His Father Hank Morgan had been killed before his eyes when he was ten; killed because he had pleaded for his father to pull over and help a woman in distress. That was the first death on his hands and if Savannah died, she would be the second.
He remembered Carl Buford the man who'd stolen his youth and his dignity; his death would not be his fault even though his testimony had put him in prison. No, Carl's death was a watered-down version of punishment for his crimes against him and all the other boys he'd violated.
Derek remembered Savannah too; he'd broken her heart with his lies. He'd convinced her that he loved her and that he would put in the work to make them work. He'd tried to love her like she deserved but somehow the broken man that he was proved again that he was incapable of making things, work.
"Derek?"
Fran entered the room and pulled up a chair and sat next to him. He'd taken quite a beating; the bruises and the bandages nearly took her breath away.
"Hey Ma."
"How are you?" She asked, knowing the answer.
"It should be me lying in that bed, Ma not her."
"Baby..."
"No Ma it's true. That bullet was meant for me and she stepped in front of it."
"This is not your fault."
"That's what Reid said but..."
"But nothing."
Home of Penelope Garcia –
Penelope had planned to spend the day and the days after sulking and wallowing, but Sam was on a mission to cheer her up and be the hero that would perhaps win a place back in her heart. She'd tried to convince him that she wanted to be alone, but he pleaded for her to reconsider; she did.
"Sausage or cheese?"
"What?"
"Pizza; sausage or cheese?" He repeated.
"I'm not hungry, Sam."
"Okay, one of each."
Sam ordered pizza from her favorite place while she sat curled up on the couch. She didn't want pizza and she didn't want him here. She wanted Derek but that was impossible now.
"Have a glass of wine, Sweetie."
She took the glass from his hand and felt the couch dip as he sat next to her.
"Can I ask you something, Penelope?"
She nodded and waited for the questions.
"What happened between you and Derek."
"Why do you ask?"
"Because you seem to be taking it awfully hard that he's been found by his people. I mean, that was the plan, to help him find out who he was and where he's from, right?"
"Of course."
"So why are you sitting here like your world has come to an end."
She looked at him as the tears fell from her eyes. She didn't want pizza or wine or Sam.
"Because it has."