Potomac General Hospital – Morning

Dr. Fuentes scanned the chart again. He'd run out of excuses for not discharging his patient. Agent Morgan's injuries were not life-threatening and under normal circumstances he would have sent him home this morning. The police detective had already warned him that if he were trying to delay his patient's discharge, he himself could be charged with interference. Dr. Fuentes had no desire to go to jail, and he didn't believe his patient was guilty of any crime. Despite how he felt, he made the short walk to Morgan's room to deliver the news that he would be releasing him into police custody today.

Derek and Fran looked up as the doctor came through the door. Judging by the expression on his face, the news wasn't good. Both of their thoughts went immediately to Penelope.

"Good morning to you both. I hope I'm not interrupting anything."

"No, please come in." Fran began. "Is there something wrong? You look troubled."

"My wife is she..." Derek began.

"No, no, your wife is stable, in fact, the doctors are going to take her off of the ventilator later this morning. Hopefully, she'll wake up soon."

They both exhaled as the doctor came closer. His expression of concerned remained.

"I'm sorry but I have to discharge you this morning. The police are on their way to take you into custody."

Derek's face dropped and Fran's heart sank. He didn't belong behind bars and he didn't hurt Penelope.

"Doc, I swear, I didn't hurt my wife! Please!"

"I've stalled your discharge as long as I can but they're on to me and in fact, they've threatened to press charges against me if I don't discharge you."

Derek relaxed in defeat while Fran took his hand in hers.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know." Then looking at his mother. "When will they be here?"

"Any time now."

Derek shook his head in disbelief.

"Hold on, okay Baby. Dave and the others will get this straightened out, but you have got to hold on!"

"Ma, I need you to make me a promise." He said sternly.

"Anything!"

"I need you to watch over Baby Girl. Don't let her out of your sight! I know everybody thinks I did this, and they didn't believe me when I said that there was another person in our room."

"I promise!"

"She's still in danger, Ma! Please tell her, tell her I didn't want this to happen! Okay?"

"Yes, yes..."

The door opened again, and Dr. Moore couldn't help but feel as if he were disturbing the group.

"I'm sorry, Agent Morgan, but I really need to talk to you!"

"Uh, I'll get your discharge papers together and again, I'm sorry," said Dr. Fuentes.

"Thanks doc, for everything," Derek responded.

There was an uncomfortable silence as Dr. Fuentes left the room.

"I know you." Derek began.

"Yes, I'm Dr. Moore. I was the surgeon assigned to your case when you returned from Cuba."

"You're the one who removed the implant."

"I'm the one who was supposed to remove the implant."

"What do you mean, supposed." Fran asked.

"I mean that just before your surgery began, I was removed from the case and replaced by another doctor."

"But why?" Derek asked.

"I'm sorry but I don't know."

"Are you saying that that thing is still in my head?"

"Yes."

"Oh my god!" Fran gasped.

Derek was speechless. He couldn't believe that after all he had been through, after all the pain and suffering, he was still being tormented by Villarreal and by Raphael. This couldn't be happening, but everything made sense now.

"Did I... did I shoot my wife after all?"

"No, at least I don't think so. Only your wife will be able to confirm that for sure."

"And she's in a coma," Fran responded.

JJ placed a call to Hotch as she paced the floor outside of Penelope's room. The medical staff had ushered her out while they examined Garcia. JJ hoped that the fact that they were taking her off the ventilator was good news. They needed some good news.

She was relieved that Hotch and the others were on the way to the hospital. It had been a long, lonely night and she missed them; she missed her own family, and she was exhausted. Reid volunteered to relieve her so that she could go home for a much-needed shower and rest. Meanwhile, JJ prayed, and paced and hoped that she would suddenly waken and realize that this had all been a bad dream.

"Why would you agree to this...this madness?" Fran asked.

"My life, my family...my career was threatened. What was I supposed to do?"

"Why now? Why come forward now?" Derek asked.

"Because I want to be able to sleep at night. I haven't had a night's sleep since you walked into or should I say was wheeled into my life, agent. I heard what happened with you and your wife and I had to come. I'm sorry..."

"Why would someone stop you from removing the implant?" Derek asked again.

"I don't know. I wasn't told much, but I know that the other doctor was in on the whole thing."

"Who was the other doctor?" Fran asked.

"Dr. Raphael Santiago."

"Oh my god!" Fran gasped.

The door burst open, and Det. Masters and two uniformed officers entered the room. One of the officers was pushing a wheelchair.

"I'm baack!" Det. Masters taunted sarcastically.

Derek tensed and tried sitting up in bed. He had evidence that he wasn't lying now. Surely, they would listen, surely, they wouldn't take him away.

"Detective, this is Dr. Moore, and he can confirm my story. You need to listen to him, please!"

Masters looked over at the officers who nodded and moved toward the bed.

"You have to listen! You have to let him tell you!" Derek continued.

"You've been discharged, and you can tell it to the judge at your arraignment."

"He's telling the truth!" Dr. Moore began. "He was brainwashed and forced to do things..."

"Come on doc, if you really are a doctor, I have a job to do and right now that job is taking Agent Morgan into custody!"

Fran watched as the officers uncuffed her son and began to roughly pull him from the bed.

"Don't hurt him! Please be careful!"

"Ma'am, I'm going to have to ask you to leave so that we can do our job!" Masters ordered.

"Does your job call you to hurt my son? He's still a human being!"

"A human being who's accused of shooting his wife!"

"Accused! Not found guilty!" She yelled.

"It's okay, it's okay, Ma. I've caused enough problems." Then looking at Dr. Moore. "Will you please tell my boss, Agent Hotchner what you told me?"

"Of course."

Derek shot a look at Det. Masters and then the officers.

"Can I at least get dressed?"

Masters shrugged and then nodded at the officers.

"Go see if the hospital can spare a pair of scrubs for the agent."

One of the officers turned and left the room in obedience. Derek was now uncuffed, but no one seemed to notice except Dr. Moore. Both Derek and the doctor looked at each other, both had questions in their eyes...and fear.