AN: Thank you all for sticking by me with my stories. I almost gave up so many times. I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart. You all make me want to keep writing.

Derek felt pain and soreness coursed through his body. He knew he was in the hospital. He could hear the deeps of the machines. If he thought, he felt bad the first time he woke up in the hospital. He was damn wrong. His side was killing him. His ribs actually felt like they had ripped through his body.

He couldn't open his eyes. He tried, but they wouldn't open.

Penelope…

He thought of Penelope. He remembered going to her apartment and the look she had for him when he stood in the doorway. The hatred he saw.

No.

He remembered the bathroom and even though she had boxed him away. She still cared enough to help him. To love him. He remembered after she went to bed, he placed everything that was in the box back where it had once belonged. No matter what he had to do. He was going to fix them. He was going to get them back on the right track. He messed up. He knew he did. He just needed to open his damn eyes and fix this.

He felt someone grab his hand.

"I don't know if I can do this, Derek. You hurt me more than I have ever been hurt before. But I am willing-"

Penelope! he thought. He quickly squeezed her hand. She was here. She didn't leave him like last time.

She was here.

He opened his eyes slowly, looking towards the side of the bed. He could see a blurry ball of blonde hair.

"Penelope?" he rasped.

"Derek." She looked up into his eyes.

"You're here." He tried to sit up, but she stood up to push him back. When she tried to let go of his hand, he used all the strength he had to keep her there.

"Don't move," she huffed.

"You stayed."

"You are the biggest, most stupid idiot I have ever met. You know that Derek Morgan? You stupidly left the hospital against medical advice. You then took a cab all the way to Virginia from New York, and then…" she glared at him. "Then you force your stuff back into my life."

"I love you," was all he could say.

She finally pulled her hand away from his.

He went to say something when the doctor walked in. "Nice to see you awake, Agent Morgan. You certainly know how to make yourself known."

Derek wouldn't take his eyes off Penelope. He stared at her, not wanting to be interrupted. They needed to finally work this out.

"You gave us quite a scare. I know you left against medical advice last time, but I am strongly going to urge you not to leave this time. We need to make sure your body can handle it. The damage you caused with leaving, could have been much worse."

"I had something I had to do," Derek remarked still not moving his gaze from Penelope.

"I understand," The doctor said. "But this time it'll have to wait."

"She's here," he said. "I'm not going anywhere unless she leaves."

He watched as Penelope looked to the doctor. He followed her gaze and finally looked back at him. "I'll make sure he stays," she said.

"Good. Now, Derek, how are you feeling?"

They continued the exam until the doctor had ordered the nurse to retrieve some more pain medicine and went on his way.

Derek looked back at Penelope. "You said you were willing to try." He recalled thinking of what she had said at his bedside.

"To forgive you," she clarified.

"I love you," he repeated.

"You have a messed up way of showing it." She stood next to him, pulling the chair closer. "Also, I am pretty sure Hotch is going to ring your neck once you're healed."

"As long as you're there I don't care what he does to me."

"You've lost your mind, Morgan."

"I couldn't agree more. The second I took that stupid fucking job, I lost my mind. I don't know why I ever thought I could leave you. And then…" He looked her in the eyes making sure she held his gaze. "… then you gave me the best night of my life and I still left. I should be in the psych ward."

"Ohh," she said, nodding her head. "I agree with you there. Anyone who purposely does more damage by what you did after you were tortured needs to be in the psych ward."

"I will do whatever it takes to make this up to you."

He turned to the door as he heard people moving in.

"Good to see you are alive and kickin'," Rossi remarked moving into the room with the rest of the team.

"Getting better every moment," he answered.

"You know, I normally don't say this, but you are one stupid ass idiot," Rossi said.

"I completely agree," Derek responded.

"Second that," came from Penelope.

When Derek saw Hotch sit down, he looked directly at him. "I want back on the team. New York isn't for me. I know you haven't replaced me yet and the positing is still there. If you can give me a few weeks to get back in the green, I'll come back."

"Who said we want you?" Hotch remarked.

Derek could feel his face pale.

"You were reckless, stubborn, and you placed yourself in danger on purpose. You left your unit behind."

"I had to leave. I had no choice."

"There are always choices in life, Morgan. You purposely placed yourself in more danger."

Derek looked at Penelope. "I'd do it again."

Hotch sighed. "I know. That's why before we even came in here Rossi and I were already putting your paperwork through. They have a replacement lined up for you in New York already. They seem to have known you weren't coming back."

Derek smiled at him. He knew Hotch had pulled a lot of strings to get him his old job back at the BAU. Hell, if Hotch couldn't have gotten him the job, he still would have left New York. There was no way he was leaving Penelope ever again.

"Thanks, Hotch. As soon as I get the all clear I'll be back to work."

"Mr. Morgan," the doctor reappeared. "I've got you recent test results back. If you can actually stay," he looked at him. "this time, we should be able to release you within a week as long as you have a place to go."

"I'll figure something out."

"You will have to take it easy. The week here will help tremendously, but for the next month or so your gonna need to take a step back. Maybe have someone stay with you, and help you for a while."

"He'll have it," Penelope spoke up.

"Good. I feel better knowing he will have the care he needs."

"He will, Doctor. Thank you for all you did." Penelope looked back at Derek.

Derek stared at her. He loved her. He didn't know how he could have ever walked away.

"I love you," he said.

"I know," she answered. "And somehow, someway. I still love you, too."

AN: One more chapter :)