A/N: Hey all. Here's (another) Penelope/Aaron ongoing fic, as I'm wrapping up Take Care. I hope you enjoy it! I've been writing chapters to both, while I've had down time at work.
Love,
Anneryn
I DO NOT OWN CRIMINAL MINDS OR THE CHARACTERS.
Chapter One:
"A woman must not depend upon the protection of man, but must be taught to protect herself."
-Susan B. Anthony
I dry heaved, after the last of the contents of my stomach splashed into the porcelain bowl below me. Everything hurt. Kevin had gone overboard. Again.
As far as I was concerned, we weren't together and hadn't been for months, but Kevin refused to accept that. If I ever got away from him – truly away from him – it would only be because one of us was in a body bag. He has made that abundantly clear.
I was raised to believe that I needed to protect myself and that I couldn't rely on anyone else to save me. That has been my mantra for months. But I know that I can't do it alone anymore.
He almost killed me tonight. I need help, or I'm going to end up dead. Tonight just reaffirmed that. I need the team, but Kevin has a gun and he won't leave. I'm in no shape to try and leave, myself.
I locked the bathroom door and I turned on the shower and the sink faucet. I dialed Hotch's number. If Derek showed up, I didn't think Kevin would do anything, but shoot first. If I called Reid, I didn't know if Kevin would even let him inside. I couldn't picture anyone saying no to Hotch.
"Penelope? Is everything alright?" Hotch answered, quietly, but alert.
"N-No," my voice broke. "Kevin has been violent. He has been physically abusive for months. I tried to end it so many times, but it doesn't make a difference. He has a gun. We're at my place. I locked myself in the bathroom. He almost killed me tonight. I-I… I need help. I need you to come get me. I'm afraid he'd shoot Derek. I don't think he'd let Reid come inside. I don't think he would tell you no. Bring the team. Have them stay out of sight. I can't leave myself. It's really freaking bad, Boss Man." I cried into the receiver of my cell phone. He was eerily silent.
"Stay put. We're coming for you, Penelope. You'll stay with me, until all of this gets sorted out." He hung up and I slumped against the side of the tub. All of the residual adrenaline and all of my energy left me.
Hotch was coming. The team was coming. They're coming for me. I can finally breathe, again.
Knocking on the bathroom door jarred me from unconsciousness. I opened my eyes and tried to focus, but everything was blurry. I heard a gunshot and I jumped.
"Penelope, it's Aaron. Can you unlock the door for me? It's safe. Kevin has been subdued." Hotch's voice was music to my ringing ears. I crawled over to the door and unlocked it. I used the last of my energy to pull it open.
Everything was starting to go dark, again. Everything just felt so heavy. I felt so heavy. I felt arms wrap around me and lift me up. I finally felt safe.