The booking process had been a blur to Morgan the sound of the cell door locking behind him did nothing but confirm that he'd been shoved into the worst nightmare of his life. What wasn't a blur however, was seeing Penelope laying on the floor so still and the blood…so much blood. He wanted to see her with his own eyes he needed to touch her to feel that her skin was still warm but he was here like a caged animal and he felt lost, hopeless and alone. Even with his splitting headache, he could see the anger and confusion in Hotch and Rossi's eyes; did they believe he could do such a thing? He loved Penelope with all of his heart and anyone who knew him had to believe he was innocent…but would it be enough?

BAU Headquarters – Morning

"What do we know about the witness?" Hotch began.

Rossi, JJ, and Reid sat at the conference table with copies of the arrest report, witness report and crime scene photos just like every other case before. This time was different; the victim and the accused were one of their own and they had been ordered not to work the case. Not only were they going to work the case they were going to do whatever it took to protect Garcia and prove Morgan's innocence.

"Tara Carlton from Chicago, Illinois." Reid began reading from the case file.

"She met Penelope earlier this week at Milly's Coffee Shop."

JJ stopped for a few seconds before going on. She couldn't help but think about the time Garcia had met Battle in a coffee shop and a day later he tried to kill her.

"Penelope noticed that she was upset and she befriended her."

"Morgan said the same thing." Rossi added. "He was upstairs when the doorbell rang, he heard voices and then he heard the gunshot."

"Did Morgan hear or see anything else?" Reid asked.

"He says he saw Garcia on the floor and then nothing until SWAT burst through his door. Someone must have hit him from behind because he says he woke up with a headache." Said Hotch.

"So the UnSub waited until he came downstairs so he could make sure that the police thought he did it." JJ added.

"Something's wrong."

"What do you mean, Reid?"

"The UnSub was either in the house when Morgan and Garcia got home or…"

"Our witness is the UnSub." JJ finished.

Home of Stan Gordinski – Chicago, Illinois – Morning –

He hadn't slept since Fran's murder and he wasn't sure if he really wanted to even though he knew he couldn't last much longer without sleep. He had been working the case nonstop all week and had absolutely no leads. The commissioner wanted him off the case but he wouldn't have it. He was willing to quit the force if necessary and find the killer on his own luckily for now he was still in charge of the case and with each passing day he was more determined than ever to find the killer.

Gordinski couldn't shake the feeling that he'd seen a familiar face at the services; a young woman had arrived just after the family was seated and sat next to him. Her presence was disturbing but he brushed it off blaming it on his emotional state but it seemed odd that she had insisted on squeezing in his row next to him when there were plenty of other places to sit. She was oddly familiar but he didn't know why and like a dog with a bone he couldn't let it go.

Morgan had called Gordinski every morning since his mother's death, 7 a.m. on the dot without fail. It was ten now and his phone hadn't rang. Picking up his cell he dialed his number and after two rings the call went to voicemail. It was odd but his mind was so focused on his feelings of loss and hopelessness that he pocketed the phone and headed out of the house. He needed to know who the young woman was who'd rudely forced herself next to him and who'd purposely allowed her body to make contact with his. He couldn't see her face behind the dark glasses and oversized hat but maybe that was the point. Her dark smooth chocolate complexion and coarse shoulder length hair reminded him of a precocious ten year old that used to run and jump in his arms and sit in his lap when he and an old friend would meet for lunch.

Then his heart stopped; he hadn't seen or heard from her since…since Carl Buford's trial. That was eight years ago she was so angry she wouldn't talk to him and refused his attempts at comforting her. What was she doing at the funeral of the mother of the man who'd sent her father to jail? She and the Morgan family hadn't known each other and he was almost positive that neither Fran nor Derek even knew she existed but she'd come and sat next to him without saying a word. He'd seen her at the repast entering the house caring a white envelope no doubt a condolence card.

Potomac General – Afternoon –

Penelope was the only one who could ruin her plans and she was still alive much to Tara's dismay. She'd survived the surgery and now was lying in a coma in ICU. It was no time to get sloppy Derek Morgan was going to pay for what he'd done to her father. She could have killed him last night but that would have been too easy and he deserved to suffer.

Tara exhaled and looked slowly around as she stepped out of the elevator. The unit was quiet but busy as staff moved around barely noticing her.

"May I help you?"

Tara looked down into the hazel eyes of the young woman at the desk and smiled confidently.

"Penelope Garcia please."

"Are you family?"

"She's a good friend so I guess you can say I'm family."

The woman examined her not moved by her smile and casual behavior.

"I'm sorry only close relatives are allowed in right now but if you want to leave your name, I'll let the family know you came by."

"I just wanted to make sure she was okay. I heard what happened and I've been worried sick."

"I can't release any information but why don't you wait and I can call her family to see if I can get you cleared for a visit."

"Uh, no, no I don't want to bother them. I 'll just come back when they come in later today."

Tara noticed two uniformed officers mingling in the hallway near a room at the far end of the corridor and she assumed that was where they were keeping Penelope. She needed to leave and regroup.

"Are you sure? I don't mind…"

"I'm positive, but thanks anyway."

Tara rushed away from the desk and headed toward the elevator. Then she noticed an older woman dressed in light gray scrubs nearby step into a small room; she was close to her size and Tara headed toward the room.

The white haired woman didn't see the stranger following her. Her sigh of surprise was the only sound she made before the butt of Tara's gun came crashing down on her head.

BAU Headquarters, Quantico, VA – Afternoon –

Hotch's phone ringing was a much needed distraction he was surprised that it was Stan Gordinski maybe he had good news…they needed it.

"Aaron Hotchner."

"Hello agent, Stan Gordinski."

"Detective."

"I'm sorry to bother you but I've been trying to reach Derek Morgan. He normally calls me every morning to check on his mother's case but…"

"Derek's been arrested detective."

"What? Why?"

"He's been accused of shooting another one of our team members. He's scheduled to be arraigned in the morning."

"That explains it then. I know he was upset but what made him snap?"

"He claims he's innocent but the evidence points to him as the shooter."

"I think I may have some information for you."

"Anything that you can tell us will help."

"I think Carl Buford's daughter was at Fran Morgan's funeral."