The team stayed a little longer with Penelope and then started heading out But before they left, they all hugged her and told her that if she needed anything, all she had to do was call. She smiled, nodded her head, and said that she would as she sat watching them as they walked out of her temporary room.
Derek, Fran, and Dave all sat and talked with Penelope for a little while before she started falling asleep on them, they all got up and left her alone after Derek laid her down and covered her up. Before walking out he leaned down and gently kissed her on the forehead and said, "good night baby girl, I love you," he then smiled at her one final time before he turned around and followed his mom and Dave out of the room.
He stayed up for a few more minutes before turning in for the night, her guards were outside, they were either in the car or doing patrol around the grounds making sure that everything was okay and safe for Penelope. Clooney and Mudgie were of course laying on the bed with Penelope, one was on each side of her cuddled close so that they could watch and protect her and keep her safe.
Derek laid down for a while but couldn't sleep so he got up and walked into Penelope's room and sat down in the chair at the foot of her bed and watched her as she slept, she seemed to be resting comfortably so he relaxed and sat back in the chair and closed his eyes and soon fell asleep.
Penelope was sleeping soundly and she was having a good dream, she was laughing and talking with Derek, they were watching a movie and they were cuddled up together but then her dream quickly changed. She was walking into her apartment just like she did that night, she did everything the same way and was soon walking out of the bathroom wrapped in that same towel.
She turned around and reached for something in her dresser that's when she felt his hand on her mouth, she tried to get away from him, just like she tried that night but he was so strong as he tried to pull her down onto the bed. She said, "no, no please, please don't hurt me," she then started struggling with the man in her dream and the only thing that got her was slapped again and again for her trouble.
Derek woke up when he heard her voice saying no, he got up and walked to her bedside and said, "sweetness wake up, it's okay, you're here with me, you're safe, please wake up for me". She could hear Derek's voice but couldn't wake up, it was like that masked man was holding her in her dreams and not letting her wake up and no matter how hard she tried she couldn't get away from him.
She felt the towel being ripped from her body and then she struggled a little more and then he stabbed her in the chest and stomach and she screamed out in pain and then seconds later he slapped her face again and she fell to the ground but not before hitting her head again on that stupid bed frame.
This time she woke up screaming, "nooooooooooo, pleaseeeeeeeeeeee, noooooooo" and Derek said, "it's okay sweetness, he's not here, he's not here, it's just me, Clooney and Mudgie, he's not here, he's not here". She looked at Derek and said, "it was so real, it was like it was happening all over again Derek, he was in my apartment and he did the same things he did to me before and I couldn't stop him, I couldn't stop him".
Derek sat down beside her and said, "he's not here baby girl, he's never going to hurt you again," she looked at him and had tears streaming down her face and she said, "why me Derek, why did he do this to me"?, Derek wrapped his arms around her and said, "I don't know baby girl, I don't know" and it was only a matter of a few seconds before Fran, Dave, and the girls ran into the room.
Dave said, "kitten are you alright, we heard screaming," Penelope said, "I'm so sorry that I woke you all up," Fran said, "honey it's no problem, no problem at all but are you alright"?, she looked at them and said, "it was happening all over again, everything was happening just like it did then and no matter how hard I tried I couldn't get away from him."
She blew out a deep breath and said, "I could hear Derek talking to me and telling me that I was alright that he wasn't here that I was safe but that didn't matter, it was like he wouldn't let me wake up, that's stupid right?" Fran sat down beside her and said, "no honey that's not stupid at all, how about I go make us some tea and then we can sit and talk for as long as you want?" Penelope said, "tea sounds great, but" and Fran said, "no buts" as she got up and walked across the room and out into the hall.
Sarah and Desi looked at her and Desi said, "is there anything we can do for you Penelope?" she shook her head and said, "no, sorry girlies I didn't mean to wake and worry you so much." Desi said, "We love you Penelope and we will always be here for you, no matter what time it is day or night if you need us we will be here for you" and Penelope smiled and said, "thank you, thank you all" as she looked at the four worried human faces.
She then looked down at Mudgie and Clooney and said, "I'm alright, I'm alright", she laid back against the headboard of the bed and said, "I guess it's a good thing that my guard wasn't in the house tonight, I might have scared him to death." Derek said, "don't worry about that, we are all here to protect you and keep you safe goddess" and she said, "I don't know what I would do without you guys" and Derek brought her hand up to his lips and kissed it and said, "we're not going anywhere baby girl, you're stuck with us" and as she looked around the room she saw three other heads that were nodding yes in agreement with Derek.
Fran brought the tea and they all had a couple of cups together before she started getting sleepy again, she looked up as Fran said, "honey why don't you lay down and try to sleep some more?" Penelope said, "what if he's there again, what if he's in my dream again?" Derek said, "how about I stay in here with you, and that way if you need anything I'll already be right here?" she weakly smiled and said, "thanks hot stuff."
The others hugged her and told her once again that if she needed anything to let them know, she nodded her head and said that she would and thanked them again as they walked out of the room. Derek then tucked her in bed again and then started to go back to the chair but she put her hand on his and said, "will you do something for me?" he said, "of course, anything baby girl, I'll do anything for you."
Penelope bit down on her bottom lip and said, "will you lay with me, l l like you did at the hospital?" he said, "are you sure?" she said, "yes, yes please", he said, "sure goddess, sure" as he pulled the covers back and climbed in beside her. He smiled as she wrapped her arms around him and laid her head down on his chest, she said, "thanks for this handsome" and closed her eyes.
"Derek said, "I'd do anything for you Penelope", she didn't respond so he knew that she was asleep, he grinned and kissed the top of her head and said, "I'd do anything for you baby girl, I love you". He then cuddled closer to her and sighed happily as he wrapped his arms a little tighter around her, closed his eyes, and soon joined her in sleep.