Chicago Police Department –

The normal morning quiet ended the moment Morgan burst through the door rage in his eyes and headed straight to Gordinski. He didn't get far as four detectives blocked his way while two others held him back. They were expecting him; Sarah had called to warn Stan that her brother had found out about him and her mother.

Morgan struggled against the men and as he slowly pulled them along the floor toward Gordinski, the older man watched wide-eyed as the determined angry man got closer and closer.

"Derek! Don't make me have to arrest you! Please, I know you're upset just let me explain!"

"Why? Why my mother, Gordinski! Did she reject you and so you killed her?"

"Now wait just a minute, Derek! I didn't kill your mother!"

"Then what? When were you going to tell me about you and my mother? Huh, Gordinski, when?"

"Derek, I'm sorry! I knew you'd be upset!"

Derek continued to struggle against the men while the rest of the squad room watched on, confused.

"Let me go!"

"Captain?" The Detective on the left asked.

"I said, let me go!"

Gordinski watched as Morgan's struggle began to slow down; by now he had to be exhausted.

"Let him go."

Morgan stared into Gordinski's face as he stopped fighting.

"You sure, Captain?"

"We're fine, right Derek?"

Morgan didn't respond his glare unwaveringly fixed on Gordinski. He was outnumbered and even in his anger this wasn't a fight he'd win…but in his mind this wasn't over.

"Bring him in here."

The detectives pulled him into the office struggling and holding firmly to his arms.

"Are we okay, Derek?" Gordinski asked again.

Stan knew he wasn't going to get a response but he also knew that he wasn't in any immediate danger while the others were within arms reach. Looking at the others, Stan nodded and the two released their hold on Morgan.

"We'll be fine here." Stan nodded to his men. "Close the door behind you."

Derek, huffing and puffing stood watching in fury as Gordinski walked behind his desk. He didn't want him to find out this way that's why he'd pleaded with Fran to tell her son as soon as they'd begun dating but she didn't know how to tell him something that would send him through the roof.

"Look Derek, I wanted to tell you but your mother wanted to wait until you came home for a visit…"

"You've been after me for years longer than I can remember! You know how close I am to my mother, so what, you thought you'd take her? That would be the last nail in the coffin? What?"

"No. I didn't…we didn't plan this. It was the last thing we ever thought would happen but, Derek…"

"No, no don't tell me any more. I don't want to hear any more."

"I know how you feel about me and I can't blame you! I was horrible toward you and you didn't do anything to deserve what happened to you!"

Morgan began pacing the small office looking for something, anything to smash into a million pieces. Everyone in his family knew about this sick nonsense except him. His mother, his sisters had had a hundred opportunities to tell him but they didn't. Now she was dead and he never had a chance to stop her from getting involved with this man. Why would she do it? It didn't make sense and he felt betrayed.

He needed Penelope here with him; now for the first time in his life he felt utterly alone. He didn't know what to do or to think everything and everyone seemed different now.

"I loved her."

Stan waited for a reaction from Morgan but he just stood there with his back to him and his forehead leaning against the glass window. He wasn't even sure if the younger man heard him.

"I loved her, Derek."

"What?"

Morgan slowly turned to face the man his fury renewed.

"I said I loved her. This isn't about you and there was no plan to hurt or destroy you! I loved your mother."

"No, no I don't want to hear this! Not now, no!"

"She was my life. Hell, I didn't see it coming. From the moment she spoke to me, I was done."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"You need to know. We should have told you the moment we got together and for that I'm so sorry. You didn't deserve that either but please believe me when I say, this wasn't about you."

Morgan held up his hands to stop him from going any further; he shook his head to clear his mind from all the visuals running through his head.

"The thought of you and my mother makes me sick to my stomach and I don't want to hear about how much you loved her!"

"Derek…"

"No, just stop talking!"

Derek placed his hand on the doorknob and opened the door. The detectives who'd been standing outside jumped to attention ready for trouble.

"Derek… I'm sorry…"

"Just…just find my mother's killer and our business is finished!"

Without another word or a look back, Derek slammed the door and headed out of the precinct. Stan stood watching fumbling with the small velvet box in his pocket as the troubled man rushed through the room and out the door.

Home of Derek Morgan-

She 'd been holding her breath for what seemed like forever and when she saw his name flash across her phone, she exhaled. Her imagination had been running wild after Sarah's call and she could only imagine what he had done after hearing the news about his mother and Gordinski.

"Hey…" She began. "How are you?"

"I don't know."

"So, Sarah called…"

"Damn! My sister has a big mouth."

"Baby, don't be mad, she's just worried about you."

"Everybody is acting like I'm some out of control little boy who needs to be protected!"

"No, no that's not it…"

"It's exactly, it!"

"Derek Morgan, please tell me you didn't do anything that you'll regret."

Derek closed his eyes and leaned his head against the headrest of his car. He didn't answer her question. She waited but all she could hear was his breathing.

"Derek, talk to me."

"No Baby Girl, I didn't do anything."

"Good. Where's your head at right now?"

"I'm pissed! I don't understand why my mother would have anything to do with…Stan Gordinski! I'm pissed because my family didn't think enough of me to tell me! I had to find out while packing my mother's stuff!"

"Oh! Okay, I get it!"

"You get what?"

"You think this is about you! This was all a great big conspiracy against the great Derek Morgan!"

"No! Yes! No! I just don't like secrets! My family should have told me!"

"Baby Boy, they didn't tell you because they knew how you'd react…just like you're reacting now! And, you know how you get when you're pissed!"

"I'm not that bad."

"Uh…yeah you are…but I love you."

Derek smiled she knew just what he needed and when he needed it and he loved her for it. He sounded like a little boy throwing a tantrum but she had a way of reeling him back and gently pulling him away from the edge. So he sat in his car and relaxed a little wanting so desperately not to be in Chicago but back in Virginia with her.

"I'm sorry for acting like an idiot. I love you too."

"Don't be sorry. You have the right to be upset I just don't want you getting in trouble."

"I won't I promise." Then changing the subject. "So, what are you doing today?"

"Hotch has us working on some local consults so that we can be free to come out for the services on Friday. Then I'm meeting Tara for dinner."

"Tara? Who's Tara?"

"She's the young lady I met at the coffee shop. Remember I told you about her?"

"Oh right, I'm sorry my mind has been all over the place."

"No worries totally understandable."

"You two seemed to have hit it off."

"She's had a hard life and I think she could use a friend."

"Well, she couldn't ask for a better friend than you, Baby Girl."

"Ahh…thanks Sugar. Maybe we can have her over for dinner when you get back."

"Sure any thing you want."

Carlos' Pub and Bistro – D.C. – Evening

Tara followed the hostess through the crowded restaurant to a booth near the back; Penelope was already seated and halfway through her first strawberry margarita and her smile made her feel guilty and welcomed all at the same time. Tara thanked the hostess and slid into the booth. She was caught off guard as Penelope captured her in a quick embrace hugging her tightly like a long lost relative.

"I hope you like margaritas; it's the house specialty and I took the liberty of ordering you one I hope you don't mind."

"No I don't mind at all, thanks!"

"Good because this has been quite a day and I sooo needed one!"

Tara noticed something behind the smile and the hug; the bubbly woman who seemed to spend most of her time taking care of others was hiding something behind the smile…she could only imagine that it had something to do with Derek Morgan.

"What's going on? You seem a little off kilter tonight."

Penelope welcomed the chance to let go of the load she'd been holding onto all day. She wanted to be strong especially around the team who seemed to lean on her for strength now she needed a shoulder to lean on; Tara was a stranger and she had no expectations of her and so without much prodding she began to talk and talk and talk.

"My boyfriend's mother was killed a few days ago."

"Oh Penelope, I'm so sorry." Tara responded.

She wasn't sorry at all and it took all she had to sound sincere. She hadn't been there to see his face when he'd gotten the news but perhaps hearing about it now would make up for that.

"I don't want to dump this on you. Besides, we don't even know each other that well yet."

"No, please, you've been so kind to me, a complete stranger. I can tell you need to talk and I'm here."

Tara saw the sadness in the woman's eyes as the waitress delivered their margaritas to the table taking Penelope's empty glass away as she left. Tara smiled as Penelope took a long sip from her glass; the alcohol seemed to relax her as she began to share the details of Fran Morgan's death.

"I wonder how he will feel once you're gone?" Tara thought as she listened intently to Penelope's story.