Still don't own them…

Thanks again for the great reviews and suggestions. Keep them coming! It keeps my muse from getting too lazy

Chapter 4

After what had proven to be a very long day, Penelope set her babies to 'hibernate' and headed up to the room to try and get some rest. It was after one in the morning and Derek and the team still had not returned to the hotel for the night. As she left her temporary office, two police officers stepped in behind her and took the elevator with her up to the room she and Derek were sharing.

"Thanks, guys. Sorry I won't be asking you in for a drink," She teased as she unlocked her door and watched as they both took their posts on the hall for the night, neither one cracking a smile. "Wow, I could have at least gotten a goon squad with a sense of humor," she muttered as she entered the dark room and reached for the light.

As the lights came on, Penelope stood paralyzed in fear as she took in the horror of the scene in front of her. Blood was splattered everywhere; the walls, the bed, the floor. Dozens of black rose petals had been strewn around the room and a display of photographs of the five dead women had been taped to the far wall. A sixth photograph of only a chalk outline of a woman's body on the floor of a similar hotel room hung with them. On the adjacent wall drawn in blood was an hourglass with most of the sand run out of it. The words 'Your Time is Coming" were written below it, also in blood.

Penelope had no idea how long she stood there before the screams that were going off in her head finally made it to her vocal chords and she screamed out in terror.

Derek and the team had just returned to the hotel, none of their leads having panned out, when they stepped off of the elevators and heard Penelope's screams. Ice ran through Derek's veins as he automatically drew his weapon and ran towards the horrifying sound.

As the team reached the door, Hotch placed himself to the left of it, with Rossi to the right. Derek jumped directly in front of the closed door and without a moment's hesitation, kicked it in.

As the door flew open, Penelope screamed louder in reaction and Derek quickly scanned the room and then ran to her and grabbed her into his arms, enfolding her into his chest. "You're ok, Baby Girl, I've got you." he tried to soothe as the screams continued to flow from her. 'C'mon, I'm getting you out of here, " Derek said as he glanced in horror at room around him. Holding her tightly and keeping her head down, he led her out into the hallway, trying to shield her from the images that she knew had already been burnt into her mind.

Once in the hallway, Derek immediately pulled back from Penelope and looked her up and down. He had to make sure none of the blood had come from her. "Are you all right, Baby? Are you hurt?" he asked as he looked into her frightened eyes.

"No, I don't think so. I just came into the room and turned on the light and…" Penelope couldn't finish as sobs took her over and she began to fall as her knees buckled under her. Derek caught her and gently sat her down on the floor. "Stay with me Baby Girl," Derek urged as he gently pulled her close again.

JJ knelt down beside them, "Is she okay?" she asked with concern.

"Physically, yeah, but she can't take much more of this JJ," Derek answered as he listened to Penelope's crying and felt her trembling in his arms. "JJ, can you stay with her for a minute, I've got to go back in there and try to find something that will tell us where this bastard is so I can put a stop to this here and now!"

"Don't leave me, Derek" Penelope pleaded.

"It's okay, Penelope, I'm only five feet away, I' promise. JJ's here, honey." Derek stood as he watched JJ sit down next to Penelope and take her hands in her own. He vowed to himself, right then and there, he would get Averitt no matter how long it took or what he had to do. Averitt would pay for the damage he had done to Penelope Garcia, and he would pay with his life if Derek had anything to say about it.

TBC

Sorry for the short chapter but it just seemed like a good place to end it. I've already started on the next one so it should be up soon! Please R&R.