Crash Site – Late Afternoon

Penelope couldn't stay there, and she knew it. Freezing to death was not a part of her plans and not knowing what had happened to her husband wasn't either. The pain in her chest had subsided and she hoped it was nothing more than bruising from her seatbelt. She managed to get her hand to the release and freed herself from the restraint. Now the door, that was another problem; the truck was almost wrapped around the tree; she prayed for enough strength to push the door open enough to get out.

"Are we there yet?"

Unknown location –

Derek heard footsteps coming closer; three sets, heavy footsteps; probably men. The door creaked open letting in the light then one of them flipped the switch and the room exploded with bright light. Derek squinted looking toward the door as the three men entered, closing the door behind them. Struggling Derek pulled himself to a sitting position and leaned against the wall.

"Who are you, what do you want?" He asked.

The smaller of the three stepped forward and looked down on him. Then standing he beckoned for the others to come.

"Get him to his feet!"

Derek felt himself being pulled up. His head screamed in pain and the trickle down his face began again. It was hard to stand, and if it weren't for the two men on each side of him his legs would not be able to support his weight.

"You can't keep me here! My friends will come looking for me!"

"Ah yes, your friends." The man began to pace a circle around him. "I know all about your little gathering at that outrageously large cabin up the hill."

Derek tried shifting his weight to stand on his own; the pain made him wince.

"What's this all about?"

"You don't remember me do you, Agent Derek Morgan?"

"I don't know you." Derek assured him.

"Oh, you know me, yes!" Then stopping in front of Derek, staring deep into his eyes. "You took everything from me and now I'm going to take everything from you!"

Then with another nod, the men released their hold on Derek sending him crashing to the floor. Derek was left alone in the room with nothing but the excruciating pain shooting through his leg and head.

"WHO ARE YOU?"

Cody Madden had sat in the courtroom for two straight weeks listening to the case against his father; police officers and eyewitness accounts had made it difficult for him to believe that his father stood a chance of getting off. Then there was the testimony of a young Derek Morgan; he'd witnessed his father being shot point blank. The tearful words of the little boy sealed his father's fate. Hearing the guilty verdict that had cheated Cody out of a life with his father made him determined to kill Derek Morgan and everyone who mattered to him, if it was the last thing he did.

Penelope had managed to get out of the truck; it had landed in a place that gave her just enough room to free herself. It was unbearably cold, but she began walking in the direction that they had been driving hoping to find her way to the cabin. Derek had assured her that they were almost there; she hoped he was telling her the truth and not pacifying her.

The only way Penelope knew how to survive this was to just do it. Everything about this was so un-Penelope-like she thought to herself. Her bravery existed only in cyberspace and that was scary enough, but she wasn't going to sit and wait for help that may never arrive. So here she was putting one foot in front of the other and pulling her aching body through knee-high snow looking for help...looking for Derek.

Cody pulled the van behind the wreckage of the truck; it looked worse than it did when he'd arrived earlier. He would need the woman to show his captive that he meant business. He had done his research and he knew that hurting her would destroy Derek Morgan. So, here he was, moving toward the truck with his goons in tow.

"Damn!"

"Boss?"

The two had caught up now, looking around the area and then back at the man in charge.

"She's gone!"

"I thought you said she was hurt?" Said Ralph the larger of the two men.

"She was...she was unconscious" Cody insisted. "There's no way she could have gotten out of that truck!" He whispered to himself.

But she had and now he had lost his leverage; he'd have to come up with another plan to convince Derek that he had the woman.

"Now what?" asked Jerry, the second man.

"We go back and regroup."

"You don't want to look for her?"

"Nah, there's no way she'll survive out in this weather; no way."

Rossi Cabin –

Dave made his way over to Hotch, JJ and Reid who had been given the task of choosing movies and board games for the night. Hotch saw the troubled look on his face and without his friend saying a word, he knew he was worried about Derek and Penelope.

"What's going on, Dave?"

"I know that Derek and Penelope are always the last to arrive but they're almost three hours late."

"Derek knew the weather was going to be bad and wouldn't chance it." Hotch added.

"Has anyone tried calling them?" JJ asked.

"Fran and I both have tried, and the calls just go to voicemail."

"Well cell service is always a little spotty up here." Reid suggested.

"I hope that's what it is, but it doesn't explain why they're so late." Said Dave.

Dave was a man who trusted his gut and he was tired of trying to create a logical reason for Derek and Penelope's absence. Derek was ultra-careful especial when it came to Penelope and everyone else in his life for that matter. Something was wrong, that's what his gut was telling him and for that reason alone, he would not rest until he saw the couple with his own eyes.

Unknown location –

Derek was on his feet walking and testing his leg's strength. Whatever his captives had planned, he wasn't going to take it without a fight. He had to get back to Penelope, he knew she was hurt and if she wasn't she would be worried about him.

The door opened and the three men from before rushed into the room. Derek faced the three taking a defensive stance and waiting for what may come next.

"Relax Derek we come in peace." Cody chuckled.

Derek looked around at the others who chuckled in unison.

"Why am I here? My wife needs help and I need to get back to her!"

"Well as a matter of fact, that's where we were and..."

"And what?"

The three exchanged looks and giggled again.

"You son of a bitch, if you did anything to her..."

"Well, I have to be honest, after all, honesty is the best policy, right?"

Derek took a step toward the man which caused the other two men to rush toward him.

"Now, now that won't get you far." Coby assured.

"Tell me what happened to my wife!"

"I had plans for her; she's quite a looker. Unfortunately, I was too late."

"Too late, what do you mean?"

"She's dead, Derek; she's dead but don't worry you'll be joining her soon."