Survival-Ch 7
The next 7 months flew by as the team tried to heal after the loss of their beloved friend and technical analyst, JJ and Emily were finally physically healed and back to work. Derek sat in his office looking down at a picture of him and his baby girl, it was the last picture that was taken of them together before everything went haywire and he lost her.
Hotch was working on paperwork when there was a knock on his door, he looked up and said, "mam", she said, "Aaron we need to talk", he closed his file and said, "please have a seat". She sat down and said, "we have a situation", he said, "a situation, what kind of situation mam"?, she said, "it has been made clear to the director that the men that kidnapped 3 members of your team has resurfaced".
He said, "where"?, she said, "they are here in Virginia", he said, "have they made contact"?, she said, "in a matter of speaking, they are causing computer systems to crash but not before they transfer funds to other accounts". He ran his hand over his face and said, "can't it be traced to get an exact location"?, she shook her head and said, "they have their best hackers working on it but so far they aren't able to find anything".
Erin said, "it's time Aaron", he said, "time for what mam"?, she said, "time to bring back the big guns", he said, "you mean"?, she said, "yes Aaron,
I mean Penelope". Hotch said, "she she isn't dead"?, Strauss leaned forward and said, "no Aaron she's alive and safe", he said, "you need to fill me in on exactly what you've done".
Strauss spent the next hour explaining her decision to fake Penelopes death, Hotch looked at her and said, "so she knew their complete plan and you knew that as long as they thought she was alive that she would be in danger"?, she nodded her head and said, "yes and with her injuries it was crucial that we take her some place where she could be taken care of".
Hotch stood up and said, "you made us believe she was dead, hell Erin you've seen Morgan, how could you do that to us"?, she said, "Aaron you need to calm down and remember it wasn't done to hurt you or the team it was done to save Ms. Garcia". Hotch sat back down in his seat and said, "mam where is she right now"?, Strauss crossed her legs and said, "she is on her way to Virginia now and should be here in a couple of hours".
He laid his head back against his seat and closed his eyes as memories of Penelopes funeral filled his mind, the church was filled with well wishers and friends of the blond beauty. Derek gently squeezed his moms hand as person after person talked about her kind and loving heart and hwo she would do anything for her friends.
Hotch remembered how Derek got up and walked to the podium, he remembered Derek taking a deep breath and saying, "my baby girl, ohhhhhhhh how I loved her, she was the other part of my heart". Derek looked down at Penelopes body laying in the coffin and said, "Penelope was the kind of person that once she was your friend she was your friend for life", everybody nodded their heads in agreement.
Derek continued by saying, "Penelope loved her family, her 4 brothers", he pointed to them in the front row and said, "she loved you Payton, Parker,
Peter and Paul and I know that you all loved her just as much". Her brothers wiped away tears and nodded their heads yes, Derek said, "baby girl loved her sisters JJ and Emily and her other brothers, Hotch and Reid and the man that she loved like a father David Rossi".
He took a deep breath and then said, "and then there was me, her hotstuff, I don't know what I'm going to do without her, she was my rock, my beacon and my guiding light and without her I'm lost". Derek looked up and said, "we love you Penelope and you will never, ever be forgotten" and then he walked back over and sat down beside his mom.
Strauss said, "Aaron you need to let the team know that she is coming back and why", he said, "no mam, you need to do this, you are the one that made the decision to do this, you and the director". She nodded her head and said, "you're right Aaron and I will take care of filling the team in on what had to be done".
She looked at him and said, "when I find out that Penelope has arrived at the building I will have the team meet in the round table room and then fill them in on everything". Hotch nodded his head and said, "thank you mam", she stood up and walked to his door and said, "I know that this is going to be hard on everyone especially agent Morgan but it had to be done", he sighed as she walked out of his office.
A couple of hours later the team was asked to assemble in the round table room, Hotch was standing there when they walked in and JJ said, "is there a case"?, he nodded his head and said, "yes but there is something that Erin wants to talk to you about first". He watched as one by one the team made their way into the room.
After Derek sat down Erin said, "a decision was made 7 months ago and it was made by the director and me", Dave said, "decision, what kind of decision Erin"?, she said, "as you know Emily, JJ and Penelope were all three injured and their injuries were very serious". They all listened as she said, "we were informed that Penelope knew the kidnappers complete plan so the decision was made".
JJ smiled and said, "sh sh she's alive, Penelopes alive"?, Erin smiled and said, "yes JJ, she is alive so if anybody has issues", Derek stood up and said, "issues, hell yes I have issues". Erin said, "what was done was done for Penelopes safety not to hurt you, any of you", Reid smiled and said,
"Ga Ga Garcia" and pointed to the door.
Derek turned around and for the first time in 7 months he felt alive because standing there was his baby girl and she was looking as beautiful as she did the last day he saw her.