Chapter 9: Freedom
She can see the landing strip lights below them. How did time fly by so fast today? The plane is touching down in Quantico and she is only about 30 minutes away from seeing Kevin and saying good bye. Derek carries her bag to her car and places it in her back seat. "Sure you don't want me to come home with you? I really don't mind," he asks. She just shakes her head no and climbs into Esther. He kisses her on the forehead and she drives away. She's glad to have gotten away. If Derek knew that she was going to end things with Kevin tonight there is no way that he would have let her go alone. She needs to do this the right way. She has to explain this to him so that he understands.
She reaches her apartment door and lets herself inside. She can tell he is there even before she sees him. She can smell the whiskey that he's drinking the second that she walks in the door. "Hhey K-Kevin. How are you?," she asks timedly. "I'm glad you could make it so that we can talk," she continues.
"You know I wanted to see you. I've been so needy since you've been gone. I couldn't wait for my chance to get in bed with you again," he says excitedly.
"I guess I should explain why I invited you then," she begins. "I just don't feel like this is working for us. I don't want to live in a relationship where I am getting hurt. I just don't feel like we are meant to be. We are toxic for each other Kevin. I love you, but sometimes love just isn't enough," she gushes trying to get it all out before he can respond.
Kevin's expression changes from one of love and excitement to anger. "You are with that man for a just a few days and you come home acting like this?" he shouts at her. "You will not live one day without me. Do you understand that Penny?" he asks as he walks towards her. He punches her in the side and stomps out of the door.
She lays there for a while until the pain radiating in her ribs has dulled enough for her to move. Once she feels she can move again she crawls over to her phone and calls Derek, "Hey Hot Stuff, can you come over?" she asks.
"Sure Beautiful. I'll be right over is everything okay?," he asks worriedly.
"I just broke it off with Kevin. I really just don't want to be alone right now," she responds trying to keep her voice even.
"Baby Girl are you okay? Did he hurt you? Is that why you sound weird?" he interegates her.
"I'm okay. I just want to see you. I'll see you shortly. Love you Hot Stuff," she forces out before hanging up the line. She knows she needs to get off of the floor before he arrives, but the pain is too great. She instead decides to just lay back down where she is until Derek gets there.
Derek knocks on her door and then immediately opens it. He's not one to knock, but he wanted to make sure she knew that someone was coming in. He walks through the door and see Penelope laying on the floor in her living room. "Baby Girl is there a reason why you are laying on your floor? Are you alright?" he asks her sweetly.
"Um, well, Kevin might have hurt my ribs and I can't get up," she replied ashamed.
"I thought you said you were fine! Let me check you out. He could have broken another one," Derek yells at her.
"I just need my medication and it'll dull the pain enough for me to get back up. I'm really okay, just sore. I didn't feel anything break," she defends herself. Derek lifts her up off the floor and carries her to her bed. He goes back to the kitchen to retrieve her medication. After giving it to her he decides to give her a look over. He lifts her shirt and slowly rib by rib pushes to check for any futher breaks. After roughly 5 mins he is relieved to find nothing else broken.
"Let me hold you sweetie. I'm sorry I was so mad at you, I just want to make sure that you are safe. I won't leave you again," he tells her. He plays with her hair until the medication has kicked in and it has put her to sleep. Once she is out he pulls out his phone and shoots Hotch a text:
Just got Garcia to go to sleep. Kevin got her again tonight. She is
sore, but nothing else apprears to be broken. We need to update
the security team at work. She will stay with me from now on.
He places his phone back on the night stand and drifts off to sleep beside her.
It's late or early, Derek can't really tell for sure which, but he is sure that he feels Penelope awake beside him. She is running her hands up and down his abs. He hears her chuckle, "Hot Stuff wake up. I need you."
He turns to her and kisses her gently. "You sound like you are feeling better. What could you possibly need me for?" he laughs. She pushes him on his back and climbs atop him and rocks the rest of his night.
Beep Beep Beep Beep
Penelope reaches her hand out and shuts off the alarm. She gets up and heads to the bathroom to get ready for work. She's in the shower when she hears a knock on her door. The bathroom door opens and in walks Derek dressed and ready for work. He carries in a cup of coffee for her, "Good Morning Sweetness. I'm gonna set your coffee over her with your makeup. I'll be waiting for you in the kitchen when you're done. I love you!" he says as he gives her a quick kiss. She finishes getting ready and they are off to work.
"It feels so nice to have the distraction of work, but I also worry that at any point he is just going to show back up here in my office. I would hope he would know better here, but then again it is Kevin," she tells the team as they work on paperwork.
"Good news is I have grounded us for the next 4 weeks so that we will be around while you are healing. You won't be by yourself so the reality of him coming to you is a very slim chance," Hotch reassures her.
6 Weeks Later:
"Guys we have a case. Meet us in the round room in five," JJ announces to Morgan and Garcia. Garcia takes a look at Morgan and grabs her notebook to head to the conference room.
"Alright guys we have a case. We will be headed to Houston. Here is what we know: we have a serial killer that has killed three men in five weeks. These men appear to have been out at the same club, but the local police department can't figure out who has done it. They have asked us to step in to see if we can help before anyone else is killed. Wheels up in 30," Hotch announces and leaves the room.
"Well, this is it. I guess we were lucky the last two weeks to not have cases, but my Superheros have to go back and save the world. I'll miss you though. My bed will feel awfully cold and lonely without you,"Garcia says to Morgan.
"I guess we will just have to warm it up when I get back,"he chuckles. He pulls her in his arms and hold her close. After a few minutes he kisses her softly then lets her go and leaves to grab his bag.
She escorts the team to the elevator, "come back safe my Superheros. I'm just a phone call away if you need me." They all waive as they leave. She stands in the hallway for just a minute more than heads to her office to start processing the case information.