Erin sighed as she made herself comfortable in the back of the car, and Penelope gave her a tender smile as she got behind the wheel, assuming that Alex would want to sit next to Erin on the drive back to the hotel. It was going to be a long drive, since the hospital was almost eighty miles away. To her surprise, Alex climbed in next to her, and fastened her belt. "I think that we should head to the hotel first, and Erin can nap while we pack up our things. We'll head home in the morning, and then see about making reintroductions."

"Whatever you feel is best, Lexie."

There was a moment of silence as she exchanged a short look with Alex, seeing her nod a little. "Sleep can cure so many things," she finally whispered as she started the car and began the long drive back to the hotel. "I have the pleasure of driving James's car, since we wanted something inconspicuous while we were searching for you. I am so glad that we were able to find you so quickly, but I was prepared to dedicate the rest of my life to searching for you, if need be."

"Why?"

Penelope had been expecting that question for a few hours, and she glanced up at Erin in the rearview mirror, smiling warmly at her. "Because, buttercup, you were being denied what Emily received, someone to watch over you, to bring you back home, to restore you back to life. I never thought that I would become a knight in shining armour, but I always knew that I would be the friend that sticks closer than a brother."

Erin met her eyes for just a moment, smiling sweetly at her, and then they sighed in unison as Penelope turned her attention back to the road. At some point, Alex reached over and rested her hand on Penelope's leg, as if she wanted to assure herself that they were all together, that everything was okay. She found that she didn't mind the warmth that bled into her, as it helped to steady her as they went, as if she needed the touch to anchor herself to the present as well.

Finally, she was pulling into a parking spot, and they were bringing Erin inside, flanking her as they went down the hall to their room. Penelope pulled out the key and let them inside. Erin made a beeline for the bed and collapsed upon it, kicking off her shoes before curling up on the mattress, not even bothering to get beneath the covers before she fell asleep. Penelope shook her head a little as she quietly crept over to closet and pulled out the extra blanket, dropping it around Erin's body before lightly brushing her lips across the older woman's cheek.

"All right, I'll tackle the bathroom, if you want to start packing away our clothing, Alexandra?" She blushed a little at the use of her full name, and Penelope bit her lip a little as she tried to come up with something else to say, to fill the awkward silence between them. "I think it's going to be difficult to call you anything else now, because it sounds so right on my tongue."

"I don't mind, truly. I just worry about how James will react. We're heading home, and I think the reality of everything is starting to become clear. We've had issues, we've grown apart, but there's still a part of my heart that loves him. Just as there is a part of my heart that is starting to be shaped to fit you." Penelope nodded as Alex stepped closer to her, reaching out to cup her face with her hands, staring into her eyes before leaning in and kissing Penelope's forehead softly. "Go, clear the bathroom before I lose my control and kiss you senseless."

Penelope nodded as she stepped backwards carefully, unable to keep her gaze off Alex's face as she made her way to the bathroom, only turning when she absolutely had to. Stepping inside, she closed the door and quickly packed away their makeup, trying to keep everything separate, even though there were a few products that they both used, though in different shades. She found that it didn't take her too long to get everything in the right makeup bags, and then she was bringing them out into the main room, handing Alex's her before stuffing her own in her bag. "I'm going to join Erin on the bed for a bit, I am exhausted."

"You did a lot of driving today, I don't blame you for being tired. Take a nap, and I'll wake you up in a few hours so that we can go out to eat." She nodded a little before shuffling over to the bed, curling up next to Erin and picking up the blanket, wrapping it around herself before allowing her eyes to close heavily as she breathed in the scent of Erin's body as she relaxed herself into a deep state of sleep.

When she woke up a few hours later to Alex gently shaking her shoulder, she was surprised to find that Erin had cuddled into her at some point, and that her arm was securely wrapped around her waist. "Is it time to eat already?" she asked as she sat up and stretched, noticing that Alex was paying close attention to her chest. She chuckled lowly, winking at the woman as she climbed off the bed and stepped into her flats. "I don't have the heart to wake her, but we really do need food. I haven't had a thing all day, and who knows when Gideon last allowed her to eat."

"I understand." Alex gave her a quick smile before leaning over the bed and placing her hand in Erin's shoulder. "Erin, honey, you have to wake up now. We're heading out to eat."

The older woman came to wakefulness slowly, turning and stretching. In a move that was heartbreaking to Penelope, Erin automatically reached for her ankle, as if to check and see that the manacle was still there. "I'm free?"

"Yeah. It wasn't a dream, we really rescued you, and we really need to eat. I don't think any of us has had anything all day. What are you in the mood for?"

"Anything, really, as long as the restaurant is quiet."

Penelope nodded as she pulled out her phone, quickly scrolling through the choices available to them before settling on a local place called Callen's. "All right, let's head out. I can feel my stomach grumbling now that we've brought up the subject of food." She smiled sweetly at Erin and held out her hand, not knowing if she would take hold of it or not. To her pleasure, Erin grasped it firmly as she got out of bed and stepped into her heels. "I hope that they have something vegetarian on the menu. Small towns like this, that can be hard to find. Though right now? I think I could eat an entire cow."

Erin let out a little giggle, so muffled that Penelope thought she was hearing things, but from the quick grin that flashed across Alex's face, she knew that she had heard it as well. "I doubt that very much, Penelope. But I would not mind tucking into a steak right about now." Erin squeezed Penelope's hand once more as they started for the door, followed closely behind by Alex.