"What are you doing?" She yelled. "You're not supposed to be out of bed!"
The pain was excruciating but he didn't care. The cold tile against his bare feet made him reconsider but he was here now, ready to prove to her that he would not allow her to walk out of his life.
"Pen..."
He reached for her the pain hit him again. He thought how odd it was that the tile seemed closer now...then...
"DEREK!"
Derek hit the floor hard sending shards of pain through his body. He closed his eyes in hopes of blocking the agony and the screams as she dropped to her knees next to him.
"Derek! Derek!"
He wanted to respond but he had to catch his breath first. He couldn't catch his breath.
"Penelope...I'm..."
"Shhh...I'll get the nurse."
He nodded as she stood and ran from the room. That was stupid, he knew better, another bone head move. No wonder she wanted to leave him. He tried to get to his feet and made it to his knees, just as two male nurses ran into the room followed by his wife.
"What were you thinking?" Penelope yelled.
"Let's get you back in bed." Urged the larger of the two men.
Each man gently helped Derek to his feet and back in bed. He felt foolish. It wasn't that he couldn't stand it was just that he'd overestimated his ability to reach her at his normal ease. His chest was on fire, his head hurt, and he knew that he was in big trouble; the two nurses knew it too, shooting him a sympathetic look as they got him settled.
"How about something for pain?" The other nurse asked.
"Yes, please. Thanks."
Penelope stood across the room fuming and worried. She wanted to strangle him. She remained silent until the two nurses left the room. Derek watched her approach his bed.
"Damn it, Derek! What were you thinking?" She asked.
"I was just trying to get you to stay. I'm sorry. If you want to leave me, I get it. I won't try to force you to..."
"What on earth are you talking about?"
"You've had enough I get it."
"What?"
"You said you couldn't do this anymore. I get it."
Just as Penelope was about to speak, Fran and Dave rushed through the door.
"What happened?" Fran asked looking frantically at her daughter-in-law.
"Your hard-headed son decided to get out of bed."
"And he bought himself another day here to boot!"
Everyone's attention was drawn toward the door. The doctor entered glaring seriously at her patient.
"Come on, doc..."
"You're very lucky Agent Morgan. You could have undone all of my hard work with that silly stunt."
"He's batting a thousand in that category, doctor." Penelope added.
The doctor smiled slightly as she worked her way toward her patient. While the others looked on, she gently checked Derek's dressings. He flinched at her touch internally kicking himself for the looks on his family's faces.
After a few minutes, the doctor stood looking down at Derek with concern in her eyes.
"Okay, it doesn't look like you did any additional damage, but I'll know more in the morning. In the meantime, I'm going to delay your discharge..."
"Come on Doc..."
"...and..."
"I just want...
"...AND... if you behave, then I will let you go back to Quantico, where you are to spend at least two more days in the hospital under observation."
"...but..."
"No buts, Agent." Then looking at his family, "if you all need anything, please have the nurses call me."
"Thanks Doctor." The three said in unison.
The four remained silent until the doctor was out of the room. Fran was the first to speak.
"Dave why don't you and Penelope go and get us lunch. I need to talk to my son."
Dave knew that tone, she meant business and without protest, he gently grabbed Penelope's arm and led her from the room. Fran pulled a chair close and sat down.
"What am I going to do with you?" She began.
Penelope didn't want to break down. She was tired of crying. This was supposed to be a time of joy but all she could feel as she walked out of the hospital was anger.
"He saved my life, Kitten. I'd be dead right now if it weren't for Derek."
"I know, I know, and I didn't mean to yell at him but, when I heard what had happened all I could think of was the worst possible scenario. I can't lose my husband! Not now, I can't!"
"And you can't change him either, Penelope. He'd be better off leaving the bureau because if he's in the field forced to second guess every move, every decision, that will surely get him killed."
"Then what do I do?"
"You accept him for who he is. You love him with no conditions on that love because that's how he loves you."
"You're right and I know it, I do really." Penelope wiped away her tears and exhaled in exhaustion. "This time was too close, Dave way too close."
"I think Pen is leaving me." Derek began.
"Your wife is not leaving you, Derek."
"No, she's tired of me putting my life in danger; she said so."
"I think you and Penelope need to talk, calmly. You two are so stubborn and hotheaded that you don't listen sometimes."
Derek closed his eyes for a moment, the pain medication was slowly taking affect, but he wasn't ready to sleep. He needed to talk to his wife but for now, he'd listen to the lecture his mother no doubt had prepared for him.
Fran watched her son fall asleep. She hadn't even begun to read him the riot act. There was so much she needed to say, but it would have to wait. He still didn't know that what Penelope wanted to say, had nothing to do with walking away from him and their marriage; quite the contrary, but that would have to wait as well.
2 Hours later...
Derek was surprised to see Penelope sitting quietly at his bedside. She looked a million miles away and he knew she'd been crying. He blamed himself for everything. How many times would he have to apologize before she would believe him enough to give him another chance.
"Pen." Derek whispered.
"You're awake."
"I'm sorry, Baby Girl."
"Yeah, I know."
He watched her as she gently took his hand in hers.
"Are you leaving me?" He asked.
"What?"
"Are you leaving me."
"Why on Earth would I do that?"
"You said that you'd had enough."
"Baby Boy..."
"Look Penelope, I didn't mean to break my promise."
"Yeah, I know."
"So..."
"Listen to me, Derek. I'm not leaving you, okay? I'm not leaving."
"But..."
"Listen to me, Mister it took me too long to reel you in, so don't think I'm letting you off the hook that easy!"
Derek chuckled, forgetting the pain in his chest. He moaned then chuckled again, this time pressing his hand against his bandaged chest to stave off the pain.
"Ouch! Don't make me laugh."
"I'm serious, Hot Stuff!"
"I know, I know but I think you have the facts all wrong."
"Me, wrong? I'm the Oracle of..."
"...All-knowing, I get it, I get it."
"When I said I'd had enough, it didn't mean that I was done with us. It meant that I am tired of seeing you beat up, bruised, shot..." She took a deep breath before continuing. "I needed to get your attention. I'm sorry."
"Well, you definitely have my attention."
Penelope exhaled and slowly pulled her hands from his. She saw the questions in his eyes.
"I wanted to wait until you all got back from this case, but then everything went crazy and..."
"Baby Girl, what's wrong?"
"I'm pregnant, Derek."
"Did...did you s-say..."
"...I'm pregnant...we're pregnant." She nodded as she answered him.
His jaw dropped. A million thoughts and emotions raced through his mind. He was happy, deliriously happy.
"A baby. Penelope, is this for real?"
"I know we wanted to wait but..."
"No, no I can't believe this!"
Derek beckoned for her to come closer. Then pulling her down he kissed her passionately on the lips. He could feel her smile against his lips and he was smiling too as he kissed her again and again.
"Baby, I'm so happy! I've been a fool and I promise not to do anything stupid in the field again, I promise..."
Penelope pulled away and placed her finger against his lips to silence him.
"Shh...stop it. You are who you are, and I love you, Derek Morgan."
"I love you too Penelope Garcia Morgan. I'm sorry for making you worry. Please forgive me."
"There's nothing to forgive."
Then before he could speak again, Penelope kissed her husband. She loved him and nothing he did could change that fact. He was a man who'd been her knight-in-shining armor and he'd saved her a million times over. She was wrong for expecting him to change, of all that he was capable of, changing was one of things he would never be able to do. So now what? Now she would love him with every breath in her body, just like Derek loved her.