"This isn't how the internet is supposed to be used!" Penelope wailed the moment that the team ended their conference with her. They were on their way to Idaho, to try and stop another maniac, though she felt this one much more keenly, since they were using her beloved internet to broadcast unimaginable horrors to a willing, wanting, public. She shuddered once more as she pushed away from the desk and escaped out onto the walkway outside her office, passing back and forth a few times in order to calm herself down.

She was so lost in thought that she didn't realize that someone was walking alongside her until she went to turn around, only to run into a warm body. "You seem to be distracted this morning, Ms Garcia. Do you need to talk about it?"

"Yes?" she whispered as quick tears flooded her eyes. "But it will have to be in my office, Chief Strauss, since I have to be available if the team calls for information."

Erin nodded as she placed her hand on her shoulder, guiding Penelope over to her office and closing the door behind them. She made a quickly beeline for her chair and slumped down in it, burying her face in her hands as she struggled to keep from bursting into tears. "I had to watch what was basically a snuff film, Erin. I know, you're not supposed to make cases personal, but I can't help it with this one, since they're using my turf so well. I can feel, deep in the pit of my stomach, that once more I'm not going to be fast enough or good enough to keep another woman from being hurt, and I am finding that realization to hurt. A lot."

"Because you're a good person." Erin curled her hand around Penelope's shoulder and squeezed softly, trying to offer her some support. Penelope looked up into her face, taking in the gentle smile, and let out a small sigh. "All right, lean in."

She nodded as she leaned against Erin's torso, letting her arms encircle her in a loose, gentle, hug. She could hear Erin hum lowly as she stroked her shoulder, and that caused her to start crying a little, finally allowing herself to be overwhelmed by what she had seen so far on this case. "I want to just bleach my entire brain clean of everything I've seen already. I've been backtracking the ISPs of all the people, if you can call them that, who were watching that live, but I haven't gotten too far yet."

"How long have you been doing that?"

"Ten minutes."

Erin let out a sigh of her own. "That's not very long in the scheme of things, Penelope. Because you can only work as fast as your system works. Try not to be so hard on yourself." She nodded as she took a deep breath, returning the hug that she was receiving. "And the reason why I happened to be in the bullpen is I have a request."

"And that would be?"

"Tabitha would like you to come to our next supervised visitation. There's this movie that she wants to see, and since she knows we're friends, she wants to meet you. And I think I might have a little easier time seeing her with the nanny if you were by my side. I've…"

Her voice trailed off, and Penelope wondered what she had been about to say. She didn't pry, though, since she wanted to continue growing closer to Erin as a friend. "I would be more than honored to go with you. Just tell me when and where to meet you!" She pulled away from Erin and reached over to pick up her phone, opening her calendar and looking at her expectantly.

"Wednesday, at five. We're going to meet at IHOP, her choice, and eat before heading to the movie theatre. You could swing by my office at half past four, and we could ride together. I, I think that I would prefer that, actually."

There was something about the way that request was worded that made her pause, but she nodded all the same as her computer dinged at her. "I'm down for that, too. Whatever is easiest, after all. I'm sorry, I have to see what the system found, and then relay this information to Aaron and the team. But you could come by for lunch, and we could plan more then?"

"I have a lunch meeting with the Director today, Penelope, otherwise I would. But I will look forward to Wednesday."

Penelope nodded as she hugged Erin tightly. There was something about the tone of her voice that called for that tenderness in the moment, and she hoped that her friend understood the meaning behind the embrace. Hesitantly, Erin returned the hug before stepping away from Penelope, giving her a small wave before she almost fled from her office. Sighing a little, Penelope turned back to her monitors and looked at what had been dragged up. There wasn't much, but she took down the name of the people in the area who had watched the stream, and then called Aaron.

"Hey, Penelope. What information do you have for us?"

She quickly told him the names and addresses of the three people she had identified, listening to him tell Morgan and Reid to head out to the places he had written down. "Before you go, I need to talk to you in private, if possible."

"All right."

He sounded confused and she hoped he didn't think that she was breaking up with him over the phone, realizing that she could have phrased things a little better. As soon as she heard a door close, she opened her mouth once more, hoping to assuage his anxiety. "I know, that must have sounded super dramatic, lover, but I have to ask something that you might not be able to answer in a group. Um, how does Erin seem to you when you've been interacting with her lately?"

"Why? Has she hurt you? I knew that being friendly with her would bite you in the behind, but I didn't want to say anything to you, because it was your choice. I can still warn her off, if you need me to."

A part of her loved how defensive he was of her, but she knew that she had to nip that ire in the bud before he did something foolish. "No, no, she didn't upset me! Well, I mean, she did, but it wasn't a bad upset? More like a worried, concerned, upset? Anyway, has she seemed a little off to you lately?"

"Come to think of it, she has been a little more standoffish, to me and Rossi. What's up between you two?"

"You have to promise me that this goes no further than us. Seriously, I'm trusting you with this, since I know that you don't particularly care for her just yet." Taking a deep breath, Penelope rubbed her temple with her free hand before launching into her next few words. "So, she asked me out to a movie and dinner with her youngest daughter, the one I sourced the Christmas present for. And there was just something about the way she asked me, as if she was afraid of slipping up in some way, that set off my hinky senses. Again, not in a bad way, but in a I am very concerned for her way. I guess that I just wanted some sort of confirmation that maybe I'm not blowing things out of proportion?"

There was a short pause before he spoke once more, and Penelope found herself worrying a piece of her skirt between her fingers as she waited. "I trust your instincts in this more than I do my own, honey. You're closer to her than any of us, expect maybe Rossi. There's some history there that I don't know, but I know you probably don't want to ask him about this. So trust yourself and keep a close eye on her. That's what friends do."

"Okay, sugar. Thank you for listening to me. I guess I just needed to talk things out to solidify my thoughts on this. And thank you for not castigating my decision to be friendly with her. I really think that this is one of the few things keeping her sane right now."

"I see." In the background, she heard the door open, and knew that he would have to go. "I'll be right with you, Prentiss. I'm sorry, Penelope, I have to go now. I'm assuming one of us will be calling you soon for more information."

"All right, Aaron. I'll talk to you soon."

They hung up, and Penelope let out a deep sigh as she rubbed her temples once more. There had to be a way to get more information on this puzzle, and she took a deep breath as she tried to think of what she could do. The only other person who was close to Erin in the BAU was her assistant, but would she talk to her? Deciding that she had to take that chance, she looked up Helen's number in the internal directory before dialing. "Chief Strauss's office, how may I help you?"

"Helen, it's me, Penelope. Listen, I'm having dinner with Chief Strauss on Wednesday, but I had a few questions that you might be able to answer for me. I'm a little concerned about her, there was something in her voice that told me everything is not all right with her, but she wouldn't tell me what. I know that you're close to her, so you don't have to tell me anything, but should I be worried?"

There was a brief pause before Helen spoke once more. "You're not alone in your concern for her, but I don't know what is going on. If I did, I would tell you, truly. All I can say is that your kindness and friendship have been a bright spot for her, so please, don't tell me that it was all just a ruse to get you permission to see Agent Hotchner."

"I could never do that to her, or anyone. People who use people for their own gain are scum."

"That is so good to hear. And I'm glad that there's another person looking out for her. After Mark decided to be a jackass, I was worried that it would be only me. Oh, I have to go. There's another call coming in."

Before Penelope could say goodbye, the call was disconnected. She felt a little better, knowing that she wasn't alone in her concern for Erin, and she was more certain than ever that she would be keeping an eye on Erin, ready to jump in and help her friend when she truly needed it.