They watch Hotch as he makes his way back to his office, each one of them wonder what happened and what could have put that look on his face.

"You kids go back to work." Rossi tells them as he puts the coffee pot back.

As the oldest and the only one in the building that can take what ever Hotch dishes out without batting an eye. He doesn't knock when he comes to the open door, he does close it behind him though. Stepping in the office he sits and waits while Hotch makes his call.

"Derek, how would you and Savannah like to go see Garcia, tonight. She got hurt three days ago while we were in Pennsylvania. She went to see our doctors here and they found a new fracture that was missed. Also you should know she was caught in a bomb blast she has lost most of her hearing. There is a possibility that some might come back, but it's doubtful. She already tried to resign. Chief Cruz told her to take the time, and she will always have a home here that he would find the perfect place to put her."

Derek sighed, "Why didn't I know this already?" Hotch sat forward resting his forearms on his desk. "You know Garcia, she didn't want you to worry about her, You have your own family now to worry about."

"Yes we'll come, my mother is visiting I'm sure she would love to spend some alone time with Hank."

"I'll text you the address of her new apartment."


The men didn't stay long after they wired in the new doorbell. Having Gibbs around was a god sent as far as Tony was concerned. He didn't know who he would have asked to do the work.

She closed the door after a promise to text if anything came up or if she had a problem. Leaning against the door she knows she wants one thing and that is to cry, she is in pain and she really, really wants a drink, not just one drink but lots of drinks. She wants to drink until she in numb .

Her marriage is over her apartment she shared with Sam is gone. Now her hearing could be lost forever. She never was one to have a pity party before but right now all she wants to do is cry and be held in someone's strong arms. To be held and protected she is tired of being stoic and not letting anything bother her. Ever since the divorce she had been playing that role not letting anything get to her. But if she has to tell the truth, she is sick of pretending.

Gong to her bedroom she strips down to nothing, showering is not possible right now nor is a bath until she can get some plastic wrap for the cast. But she can do a sponge bath if she goes slow and is careful.

As she is getting dressed she sees the lights flickering in her hallway tossing a rob around her the best she can. She goes to see who is at the door. Peeking in the spy hole she sees Hotch and a shadow of someone else.

Holding the robe around her as tight as she can she opens the door she sees that it is her whole team including Derek and Savannah.

It is Savannah that takes charge seeing the way she is holding the robe and arm close to her body, with JJ's help she guides Penelope back into the bedroom.

"I'll start dinner" Rossi tells them as he carries the bags into the kitchen, Hayden follows him carrying the last two bags.

When he opens the cabinets he surprised to see, a plate setting for four people still in a box, next to a box of glasses. An assorted set of pots and pans also still in the box. In the fridge he sees hot sauce, jalapenos, a few lemons, and a bag of salad mix, must not forget the all important cream for tea and coffee. In the freezer vodka and tequila, and coffee beans. A stack of paper plates and plastic ware in a drawer. Three bottles of good wine, in the wine rack, next to a few coffee mugs on the counter. But for food very little; garbanzo beans, tahini, peanut butter and jelly, wheat bread and finally a tin of tea from England.

"I'm glad we brought food. The cabinets are bare." Rossi calls out over his shoulder

"Make a list, I'll shop and bring it by for her." Hotch orders as he looks around the apartment frowning.

"I hate it too." Emily sayss as she comes to stand next to him. "It's so..."

"Not her, its like she has given up or she just doesn't care anymore."

"Maybe she wants a fresh start." Hayden says, "From what Dave has told me, and from what I've seen she is a wonderful person. Some times a new apartment needs new things and not old baggage. I'm sure she'll add some color when she is ready."

The profilers know that she is right, but something is off, Penelope is not like this.

Helping her take off the robe Savannah sees that Penelope has managed to put on lounge pants and a tank top with a built in bra. It is the matching top to the pants that is still laying on the bed.

She knows better than to fight, the sooner they see she is doing okay the sooner they will leave. So she let Savannah and JJ do as they please. It doesn't take them long to get her trussed up like a goose because of her clavicle and ribs she has to keep her arm completely immobile until she is given the go ahead to change into a regular sling.

Knowing that she will need to talk she slips her cell phone into her pocket before she leaves the bedroom.

They each take their turn in hugging her gently, Hotch is the last one he pulls back and looks into her eyes not liking what he sees in there. He frowns then takes out his cell.

"Are you in pain?" He types and says out loud so everyone knows what is being said.

"Not time for pain pills, I'm waiting until I go to bed they make me sleepy. I take over the counter during the day piggy-backing ibuprofen and acetaminophen."

Hearing her response Savannah nods her head. "It's fine that way, Just make sure you're drinking lots of water."

Hotch gives his place up to Derek and watches as he taps her nose then shakes a finger. "You should have called and texted me. I'm still your best friend aren't I?" He texts and says aloud just like Hotch did.

" You have your own family, besides Hotch called reinforcements to get me home. Tony sat with me on the train made sure I didn't lack for anything." She types in return watching a he reads it out loud for everyone.

"Go sit Garcia , I'll inform the rest of the team what happened in Cruz's office today." Hotch tells her.

Nodding her head she goes and sits in the recliner once she is comfortable she takes her cell and is soon going through the email.

She watches as Hotch tells them what is going on with her and what Cruz decided. She Also knows them well enough to know that they are going to start to talk about her and how they are going to help.

"I'm sure if I ask at the hospital they can direct us to a course or teacher, so we can learn sign language." Savannah tells them.

"So, which one of you hot shot profilers has an idea how she is going to rest and be stress free." Hayden asks them.

"One day at a time." JJ answers.

"Maybe a pet to keep her company, a hearing dog. I know the waiting list is long but we have to know people and as for money if we all chipped in." Emily suggest.

Hearing a loud whistle they look to see Garcia sitting there with her arms crossed over her chest doing her best impression of Hotch. Feeling their cells vibrate they look at them

"It's very rude to talk about people when they are in the same room." They read.

Gabbing their plates and drinks they go and sit near her, some on the floor some on the couch. Rossi hands her a plate of ravioli and salad.

"We were talking about getting you a hearing dog." Emily texts to her.

This one on one texting is going to take all night she thinks. So she sits upright and pulls on the small drawer hidden in the coffee table, she takes out the remote and a keyboard for the TV.

Soon after a few keystrokes they have a blank page for them to type on. Smiling slightly as she sees the looks on her friends faces, she shrugs her shoulders.

- No dog.- She tells them handing the keyboard to Emily

-Why not?-

Not bothering to take the keyboard back she types with her cell.

-In my lease, not pets, no smoking, no painting the walls and no nails in the walls.-

Well that explained a lot. They think as they look around the sparsely decorated room.

"Kitten, service dogs don't count as pets." Rossi types

She shakes her head. -No dog. I don't want the responsibility.-

- Where are all of your things, you had in the old apartment?- JJ asks

- Gone, when I got married I down sized, new beginning and all that.-

- We can go shopping, swap meets and out of the way stores, get you some funky things."

- I like the less cluttered look, besides it's so much easier to clean. Time I grew up and let go of the of past anyway don't you think?-

They all knew better than to push, it was a collective decision to let it go, at least for the time being.

Catching up with each others lives was difficult, taking turns with the keyboard was easier said than done.

It was Savannah that made the decision that it was time to leave, after observing Penelope for fifteen minutes. She had barely touched the food, but she did drink the tea. She watched her holding her arm closer. Then she started to count her breaths, when she saw Penelope breath out slowly like a woman in labour does to blow away the pain she knew it was time to go. She was barely holding on from the amount of pain she was having if Savannah had to guess. Having see enough patients hiding pain because they didn't like the feeling of being drugged, she knew what to look for.

After gathering up all of the take away containers they cleaned up any mess that was made leaving her kitchen the exact way it was when they came. Except for the dinnerware and pots, Rossi had turned a blind eye when Hayden opened the boxes washed dried and put them on the shelves.

When most of the team had walked out of the apartment Hotch looks at her and sends her a text. "Do I get an emergency key for this place too, just in case?"

She gives him a simple almost smile before getting the key from a kitchen drawer.

"Thank you." he says out loud without the text.

When he sees her nod her head then take his hand to show him how to say thank you in sign. He does it again. Then ask, is this the sign for thank you?

She nods her head once and whispers yes.


Once in the parking lot they stand around their cars. Not wanting to leave just yet.

"She needs someone to take care of her, where is her mother?" Hayden asks.

"Her parents died a long time ago. She has been on her own since she was eighteen, she has no family, just us." Hotch tells her. "I have to go, Jack is going camping tomorrow with a school class. I have to double check his list."

The rest of the team can see the stress in his shoulders as he walks away.

"Before you all ask, he feels guilty, he is the one that called her out into the field that day." Rossi tells them.

"So who takes care of him?"

They look at each other leaving Hayden' s question unanswered.