She was just returning from the vending machines when she saw Alex enter the department, a worried look on her face. "Alexandra!" she called out, drawing the woman's attention to her. A relieved look spread across her face as she hurried over to Penelope's side, wrapping her arm around Penelope's waist. "I was just heading back, she wanted me to get her something to eat and drink while the nurse did the rape kit. How did it go back at the house?"

"We don't have to worry about a trial. Erin didn't need to go through the rape kit process. He killed himself sometime yesterday, as if he knew that the noose was closing around him. It's a bitter win, Penelope." She nodded, feeling defeated with the news, and then Alex was pressing her lips against her temple. There was something so sweetly sad about the gesture, and she wished that her hands were free so that she could hug Alex back, but all she could do was nuzzle her cheek against her cheek before pulling away a little and gesturing with her head towards the room where Erin was. Nodding, Alex stepped away from her a little, keeping one arm around her waist as they made their way back to Erin.

The woman was in a hospital gown, leaning back against the headboard of the bed with her knees drawn up to her chest as she stared ahead at nothing. "I brought Lexie back with me, honey, and I got you coffee and a Milky Way. Do you want to eat before we tell you the news?"

Erin looked between them, a shuttered expression closing her off from them as she hugged her legs tighter. "I don't think you have to tell me. He's dead."

Penelope nodded as she crossed over to Erin's side, handing over the coffee before taking a seat on the bed, leaning against her legs as Alex sat across from them in the chair, her eyes darting between the two of them. There was a long moment of silence as Erin drank down her coffee, tears rolling down her face. "What do you need from us?" she finally asked as Erin set the drained cup aside.

Picking up the candy bar, Erin stared at Penelope's shoulder as she shrugged. "I wanted justice. I wanted to face him in the courtroom and ask him why he believed I should suffer so. I wanted to see him locked up behind bars, so far away that no one would ever see him again, and I could have a starting point for how I could move on. I have none of that now, and he won."

Erin savagely tore open the packaging before wolfing down the sweet, and Penelope felt her heart shatter into a million pieces as she threw a desperate look to Alex. The same shattered look appeared on Alex's face, and Penelope slid her eyes closed as she gently slid her arm around Erin's legs, holding her lightly as she waited for Alex to say something that would heal them both. Instead she was so quiet, avoiding their gazes as she stared down at the floor. "He wins nothing that you don't give to him, Erin," she finally said lowly, her voice husky and strained, as if she was fighting back tears.

"But what about what he stole from me?" Erin asked brokenly as she sat up and swung her feet around to dangle off the edge of the bed, scooting close to Penelope as she focused her gaze on Alex. "What about the time I lost with my children? With David? With the two of you? What about that? He deserved to lose time, too!"

And then Erin was turning into Penelope, burying her face into her collarbone as she started to cry quietly. It was so easy to close her arm around Erin, to protect her from whatever demon that she was currently battling, and she held out her free hand to Alex, beckoning her closer. The woman nodded a little as she stood and took hold of Penelope's hand before resting her other hand on Erin's shoulder. "He did lose time, Erin. Even though he's dead and can't pay for his actions, he also can't see his grandchildren grow up, or find love again, or feel the sun on his face. You will get to do all those things now, even if you did lose almost a year to him and John. You're home, Erin, and I will make damn sure that you stay home from this moment forward!"

Penelope let out a light laugh as she watched Erin lift her head to stare at Alex. There was a moment's hesitation before Alex leaned in and kissed her cheek tenderly, and Penelope's heart lurched a little at the tender sight. "So, when were you two planning on telling me that you were this close before?" she teased, wanting to break the tension that crackled between them all.

Alex shook her head a little as she stepped back, turning to look at her. "You're not jealous, are you?" she shot back, winking at Penelope as Erin let out a little gasp. "We've both vowed to not let things get physical between us until I talk to James. There are boundaries that neither of us want to cross, because we both know that vows are important to keep."

"That sounds rather familiar, Lexie. I just hope that it works out better for you this time. After everything that happened between us, I just want happiness for us all."

Alex nodded before reaching up to caress Penelope's cheek and then taking her seat once more. That seemed to be a good move, as a doctor and the nurse from before bustled into the room, serious looks on their faces. "The police have informed us about what happened to the perpetrator of your rape, Ms Strauss. I'm sorry that we didn't know this beforehand, so that we could have saved you from the more invasive procedures that go along with the rape tests. I didn't see any major damage that would warrant you staying here any longer, if you have someone to watch over you."

"I believe that my friends would be more than willing to do that," she primly replied, her hand tightening over Penelope's knee. "Does that mean you're going to release me to their care now?"

"Yes, along with orders to rest and hydrate yourself. The tests that came back showed that you were a little low on potassium as well, along with vitamin D, though I hope that those level will rise now that you're not being held captive in a basement. Please follow up with your GP in a week, so that they can look at those levels. I'll also mail you the results of the STI tests that we ran on your blood, just in case there's something that you need to take care of, although those results won't be back for another twelve hours or longer. I have the distinct feeling that you would not like to be kept here for that length of time?"

Erin nodded before curling up closer to Penelope. "You have assessed that correctly, sir."

"Take good care of her, ladies. And thank you for being the type of friend who steps up in this situation. Not everyone does, and that speaks volumes as to your character." He nodded to them all before leaving the room, the nurse staying behind.

"I have your clothes here in this bag, Ms Strauss. Once you're dressed, I'll return, have you sign some discharge papers, and then wheel you out to your vehicle. I hope that you find the peace that you so deservedly need after this ordeal." The nurse handed over the bag, smiling at them all before she left the room, closing the door softly behind her.

"We'll just be out in the hall…" Penelope started, only for Erin to tightly grab hold of her hand and shake her head. "All right, we'll stay right here. Just let us know when we need to avert our eyes." Erin gave her a tight smile as she slipped off the bed, opening up the bag and pulling out her borrowed clothes so that she could get dressed once more.