Penelope got released from the hospital the next day and now she and JJ were at her apartment packing some things that she could bring to the treatment centre.

She was almost done but she remembered something else, she went over to the table in her living room and pick up a picture of her the the team all together, it was taken at JJ's wedding and everyone looked so happy.

JJ smiled upon seeing the picture and was reminded of the happy memories of that day.

"I heard that Strauss tore up your contact. Your not leaving, are you?" She asked.

Penelope gently placed the photo in her bag and closed it before turning around to face JJ. "Don't worry sugarplum I'm not going anymore, well for a couple of weeks I am but I will be back very to brighten up your lives once again with my sparkling charm."

JJ laughed. "Are you gonna be ok?" She said more seriously.

"Yeah I think I will be." Penelope said and for the first time in a long time she actually believed it.

"Oh, and make sure Kevin doesn't touch my stuff or I will be forced to make him disappear, I can do that you know."

"Oh I know, after all there is a reason why you aren't allowed to enter the CIA building." JJ smiled.

"We better get going back to the hospital." Penelope said and they headed out.

———

It had been a month since Penelope went into treatment and she was getting discharged today. She couldn't be more excited to finally get to go home and see her friends again, they had visited her and called her whenever they could but it just wasn't quite the same.

It had been a really difficult month but it was very worth it, she still wasn't 100% but she was so much better then before and she now knew how to properly cope and deal with her feelings to prevent any further relapses or breakdowns.

"Hey!" Penelope said excitedly as she saw Derek get out of his car to help her with her bags.

"Hey, you look so good." Derek said genuinely as he pulled her into a hug, and he was right she looked happy again and her eyes had that familiar sparkle back.

"Free at last!" Penelope said as she and Derek drove off.

———

The next day Penelope walked into the office excited to be back at work.

"Hey what are you doing here?" Hotch asked.

"What do you mean? you know that I got out yesterday." Penelope said.

"Yeah I know and I'm so glad to see you but I thought that you would at least want to take a day or two off before coming back." Hotch said.

"I've already had a month off, I've been cleared to come back and I already spoke with Strauss, trust me boss man I'm ready to be back. " Penelope assured him.

"Well alright then, it's good to have you back Garcia." He said with a slight smile.

The rest of the day went on as per usual, it was almost as if nothing had happened, everyone was still looking out for her and making sure that she was truly ready to be back and wasn't just being stubborn but she truly was ok and everything seemed to finally be restoring itself, that was until H got a call from the head director of the fbi.

"Hotchner." He answered.

"Agent Hotchner, I'm calling to inform you that we were able to track down Ian Doyle and he has been arrested. I have already spoke with agent Emily Prentiss and arranged for her to return by tomorrow afternoon. The director explained.

"Really? She's coming back so soon." Hotch asked, he was obviously happy that she would finally get to come home but he also knew that her return would bring about new sets of problems.

"Yes that's correct, I suggest you speak with your team as soon as possible." He replied.

"Yes of course sir, thank you." Hotch said before hanging up the phone.

Hotch walked out of his office and and went to inform JJ and Rossi on the situation.

"Oh thank god." JJ said after listening to Hotch, she felt like weights had been lifted from her knowing that her friend would be coming back safe and that she would no longer have to lie to everyone else about the truth.

"How you think everyone will handle this?" Rossi asked.

"I don't know. It certainly won't be easy, they were all convinced that she was dead, we buried her there's a grave stone in the cemetery with her name on it and now we have to experience to them that she's actually alive and she's coming back." Hotch said.

"Do you think that Garcias going to be able to deal with this? I mean she literally just got out of the hospital and this would be a lot for anyone to take in." JJ said concerned.

"I honestly don't know but I do know that she is strong and I believe that she'll be able to handle it." Hotch said, he wasn't that confident but he had to at least be optimistic after all its not every day that people come back to life.

"She'll be here tomorrow by noon."

———

Hotch decision to wait until the next day to tell everyone, he decided that it would be better for them to actually get to see her in person. So once twelve rolled around he called everyone into the conference room.

"I need everybody at the round table right now! We have something very important to discuss." He said and he prepared himself for this conversation he knew that emotions would be everywhere and it wouldn't be easy in the slightest for anyone.

"First off I need you all to know that I take full responsibility for everything and of any of you have any problems you can take it up with me personally." Hotch started.

"Hotch what are you taking about?" Reid asked.

"Emily is alive."