Thank you so much for the reviews for the last chapter as you know there was a problem with the site. Thanks you Karma84 for giving this one a once over.
Seeing the way the team was running toward her she turned and froze seeing a car come barreling toward her. It took her a few seconds to see just who was behind the wheel, Margret, and she was coming faster.
She blinked her eyes and didn't even get a chance to take a step before she found herself being push to the hard pavement then covered by muscular body. She shook her head and opened her eyes as she looked in the deep brown eyes of one Aaron Hotchner.
"If you're going to continue to lay on top of me, not that I mind, mind you, you really should buy me dinner first." She couldn't help smiling up at him.
He laughed she could feel him laughing as he looked at her. Hearing the gunfire he pulled her closer making sure she is covered and protected.
He hears Rossi, shout "Clear." He gets up and pulls her to her feet. It is then they see that the car that Margret was driving has three flat tired and shattered windshield.
Penelope is astonished to see that Margret is bleeding from her shoulder and is now in handcuffs being held by Rossi.
"You Bitch. This is all your fault, you chased my son away from me." Margret screams at her.
Penelope just looks at her, giving her a blank expression in return. Hotch takes her elbow and moves her just a little bit behind him then he signs to her what Margret said. Seeing that the she is finally coming to realize what happened Penelope starts to shake the spike in adrenaline is leaving her body just as fast as it was made.
The team sees Tim run over from the other side of the parking lot with his weapon drawn. He put the weapon back in it holster once he sees that they BAU agents have everything under control.
Tony soon followed after hearing Rossi call the all clear. He knew better than to try and run and help, but he did put a call into the local police department. He soon followed scanning the scene and he nods his head. "I called the LEO's"
He sees Penelope with Hotch so he walks toward were Reid and the girls are talking. It didn't take a genius to figure out what had happened. Just from the way Margret is still screaming and trying to get away from Rossi.
"So are we still going for breakfast after the LEO's come for this loon? Because I really need coffee." Tony asks as he twirls his cane.
"Should have stopped and picked some up on the way DiNozzo." Gibbs says as he walks up behind him. "Is she okay?"
"I haven't found out. Look at her she is shaking like leaf. Hotch will take care of her."
Hearing the sirens and he sees Hotch sign to Penelope that there are sirens that the LEO's are on their way. He sincerely hoped that this would be enough of a shock for Hotch to admit to Penelope how he felt. Penelope was blind to how people saw her, how they felt about her and it drove Tony crazy. Hotchner could kiss her right now and it wouldn't tell her anything, she would think it was either in the heat of the moment or he was doing it out of pity.
Hotch talked to the local police telling them what had happened. Handing Margret off to them with a promise that they could have the bust. The agents would be down later in the day and give them their reports and to fill out any needed paperwork.
Sitting at the largest table the restaurant has, they were served coffee even before they were given the menus. It said a lot for the staff knowing their clientele as well as they did.
"Next time you invite McGee to breakfast to give his report, how about just coffee at the office, you're looking a bit green there Penelope. So tell us do you have any contact with Sam at all?" Gibbs signs.
"No, last thing I heard from him was the letter he left with Tony just before he left, and before you ask I have no idea where he is, and I haven't looked for him either."
"Good for you, P.G." Emily say with a smile.
'She's going to do time isn't she?" Penelope asks looking at her friends. Seeing them nod their heads she lowers her. "I feel bad for her, now she has no one in her life." She whispers to them.
Hotch touches her shoulder making her look up. "There is going to be an arraignment, I will be talking to the D.A. I'm going to be asking them to ask the court for no bail. I don't know if they will agree with me."
"I'll have to go to court again won't I?"
When she sees Hotch nod his head, she pushes her plate away having lost her appetite completely. When she looks up again after only a minute, he signs to her. "You won't be alone we will be there too."
Rossi drains the last of his cup. "The sooner we finish the paperwork the sooner we all can go home. I want to make a pie for Father Jimmy and one for me."
"I have my report here for you. Well at least the part I played in finding the information. It's on NCIS format."
"That will be fine Agent McGee, and thank you for helping Garcia doing the research that was required. I'm also sure your footprints are almost as invisible as hers." JJ tells him with a straight face making everyone laugh. Even Hotch smiled.
Gibbs tried to glare at Penelope but he just didn't have the heart. "Send McGee a copy of your report too please we need it for our files."
Seeing her try to smile as she nods her head, well it was a start. They team knew that this was going to be a set back for her, after all the hard work she had done to move forward now she has to move two steps back again.
"Call me Blondie we can go to the arcade, you can teach me the fine art of cheating at the milk can ball toss for starters." Tony adds standing he tosses some bills on the table to cover his part of the meal plus part of the tip.
"Cheating? How do you cheat at that game?"
"Ah Dr. Reid there are some things that have yet to learn, I think I like that. Don't you all?" Emily says with a laugh.
"I didn't think it was possible for him not to know things like that." Tara admits.
Reid frowns then looks at his friends. "I don't know everything you know."
Seeing the lights flicker she went to the door and looked in the peephole seeing Hotch she unlocked it and moved to let him in.
He looked at her and had to suck in a breath of air. Then let it out slowly as she walked away after locking the door. Wearing sleeping shorts and a tank top he can see the bruises that are starting to form on her shoulders and the back of her thighs.
He followed her into the kitchen, standing there for a few minutes watching her slice, red chili peppers and, jalapenos before she tosses them into a pot. "Have you eaten? I'm making veggie curry, hot and spicy with coconut milk for extra richness."
"Not yet." He signs to her.
"Where's Jack?"
"At JJ's sleepover with Henry."
"Stay then, do you want a beer?" she doesn't wait for him to sign she just point to the fridge. She does turn and opens a cabinet reaching for the can of coconut milk she groans slight. Pulling back she rubs her arm and shoulder before reaching again only to have Hotch get the can for her.
" How badly are you hurt?"
"Not, just bumps and bruises, feels like I've spent too much time at the gym, I'm just sore from the landing. So how hot is too hot for you?"
"Make it as hot as you like it, I like hot and spicy."
He could still taste the chili pepper on his lips as they cleaned the kitchen. He put the last glass away in the cupboard then turned an looked at her. Making sure he has her complete attention he signs to her.
"We need to talk."
"What about?" she signs back not trusting her voice or her emotions.
"How about we start with how much you miss hearing my laughter and wanting just to touch me so you can at least feel it in my chest and throat."
"I'm going to kill Tony."
"Please don't, the paperwork is horrible and I don't want to have to go see you in prison."
"Aaron." she says softly, in the same whisper he remember from before.
"I wouldn't be here if I didn't want to be. Now you said something about me buying you diner before I get to lay on top of you. I hope you were being serious because I. . . ."
Is as far as he gets before he feels her lips on his. A kiss he deepens, he brings her closer, so close that there is not even a hairsbreadth space between them.
