Derek couldn't get out of the office fast enough. He wasn't expecting to see what he had just seen. Just the night before he'd finally worked up the courage to tell Penelope how he felt; he was happily surprised that she felt the same way about him. But now, less than twelve hours later, she was in Sam's arms. Maybe she had changed her mind and come to her senses and realized that she could do better. Whatever the case, Derek's heart was broken, shattered into a million pieces and all he wanted to do was go home.

Penelope had heard the gasp, then saw the hurt and shock on his face when she pulled away from Sam and turned around. It wasn't what it looked like; not by a long shot. Sam had dropped by the office, something he'd rarely done in the past. This time it was simply to drop off the keys to her apartment. They had mutually agreed to part ways several weeks before and with the team gone on back to back cases, she hadn't taken the time to tell anyone Including her best friend. Even though she had admitted to herself that she wasn't in love with Sam, she still loved him as a person and the thought of him not being in her life made her sad. He was a kind man and he'd worked hard at trying to make her happy. But he couldn't…she was hopelessly in love with Derek. Sam had kissed her for old time's sake; nothing more was meant by the embrace and the kiss; both had caught her by surprise.

Sam loved Penelope but he had gone into their relationship with his eyes wide open knowing that she was in love with Derek. The fact that she had not even admitted it to herself did not change the fact that she loved him and more than that, Derek loved her. Still Sam had hopes of changing her heart and her mind and for a while he had tricked himself into believing that he had succeeded, but almost a month ago he had overheard a conversation between JJ and Penelope that forced him to accept the fact that he had not.

"You never answered my question, Sam."

"What question?"

"When we broke up a few weeks back, I asked you how you knew that I was in love with Derek."

Sam wasn't sure he wanted to admit that he had been eavesdropping but at this point he had nothing to lose.

"I heard you talking to JJ on the phone. I had dropped by to see if you wanted to go to lunch. Your door was cracked, and I heard you talking…you admitted that you finally realized what everyone else had already known; you were in love with your best friend."

"I'm sorry Sam. I never meant to hurt you."

"No, I have to admit too; I knew you loved him."

"You did?"

"Penelope you two are so obvious. You've never looked at me the way you look at him. I was foolish to think that I could make you love me instead."

"Sam…"

Sam pulled her into his arms and held her tight against his body. He wanted a life with her but more than that he wanted to win but that wasn't in the cards for him. She had always accused him of not being spontaneous; this would be his last chance to prove her wrong and so without warning he kissed her, hard and deep. He watched her eyes widen in shock and for a moment it gave him a lot of satisfaction that he had finally proven to her that she had underestimated him. It didn't matter that her body was stiff as a board, what did matter was that Morgan had witnessed it all.

"Derek!"

"Let him go, Penelope."

"No, I have to go…I need to explain…I'm sorry Sam."

And then she was gone leaving him alone in her office as if the last three years of their lives together had never happened.

Derek had taken the long way home. In fact, he'd driven around the city for several hours before finally arriving home. Penelope had called and left several messages on his phone; he didn't want to talk to her or anyone else for that matter. He just wanted to be alone. The image of her…of Sam kissing her was burned into his brain…he needed a drink.

Penelope looked everywhere for him; he wasn't home, he wasn't answering her calls and she was beside herself with worry. She needed to explain that Sam had kissed her and that it wasn't anything she wanted or expected. She was furious with Sam for possibly ruining everything. She'd loved Derek for twelve years; since the first day she had laid eyes on him. It had taken them this long to finally get together and she wasn't going to lose him now.

Penelope drove to his house again. His truck was in the driveway now; she pulled in next to him and killed the engine. She saw that the lights were on perhaps that was a good sign. Her nerves were getting the best of her as she climbed the steps to his front door. She rang the doorbell, once then twice. There was no answer. It was now or never she wasn't going to leave his house without making him listen. She knew how stubborn he could be, but she loved him too much not to have her say.

Penelope rang the doorbell one last time before using her key to let herself in. She didn't see him at first; the house was eerily quiet. Except for the light in the far corner, the other parts of the house seemed to be dark. Then she saw him…she froze in her tracks. Derek, the man of her dreams was lying still on the floor, a pool of blood slowly growing beneath him.

"Derek?"

Penelope rushed to his side trying desperately to will him awake. His chest barely moving up and down gave her no hope and no answers.

"Baby wake up! PLEASE!"

Penelope pulled her cell phone from her bag and dialed 9-1-1. She wanted to scream she wanted to plead with him to forgive her but there was no guarantee he would hear her.

"Don't leave, me…don't leave me, Derek! I'm so sorry…"

Sam watched from the shadows of the large hallway. Poor Penelope, he thought. He loved her so much; more than he had loved any other woman in his life. He had told her that it was okay, that he understood; that all he wanted was her happiness. He lied.

Penelope held Derek's hand tightly in hers as she cried hysterically. Sam quietly slipped down the hallway toward the large room at the end of the hallway. Without being noticed he climbed out of the same window that he had used to enter the house and watched from the yard as the ambulance pulled up.

"This is what happens Penelope…this is what happens when you don't choose me."