Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds
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Derek didn't have to think twice about what was going to happen, he was seeing red at that moment if he could he would tear the man, who's hand he was currently crushing, limb for limb. Not only was he a ghost from the past but they had just witness him beat Penelope. He looked at her and saw her weakening, the beating catching up with her now that part of the threat that had been so close to the surface was no longer prominently there, yet she looked him in the eyes and then manoeuvred herself to untie ropes, she went for Hotch's first then, then Rossi and when both men were free she allowed herself to collapse against the wall as everything took its toll. She sat emotionless, not caring that at that moment in time Derek was beating the living daylights out of a man, her mind clocked that another man was now avenging for her and all she felt from it was pure love.
Hotch allowed Rossi to get Derek off Chase, the man was nearly unconscious and therefore evidently not going anywhere, whilst Rossi did this he and the others surrounded Penelope and untied her, her wrists chaffed from the harsh movements that had occurred from being dragged about. They looked at her and she just stared ahead, all the time her mind going over whether or not she had indeed taken on Chase McClusky and basically succeeded. Hotch surveyed Penelope the best he could, he noticed a strong bruise appearing on her jaw line, the split lip, the blood that was on her lips was evidently from the inside of her mouth, he then noticed that although her arms had not long been untied one was indeed covering her protectively, almost as though holding on in an attempt to eliminate pain of some kind.
Rossi had made Derek get to Penelope while he took rope and tied Chase up in the fashion that Penelope had been. He then left the man to himself and joined the group. Derek was now next to Penelope, she was so silent and still that it was hard to make the connection that that was indeed their Penelope Garcia.
'Baby girl.'
'Can we just get out of here? Please.' She said in a painful whisper.
'Yeah come on.' Then he froze, and looked at Hotch. 'What about the other people around?'
'We'll get out... they didn't check my ankle for my gun.' Hotch smiled and took the gun out. 'Come on.'
They all stood and Penelope tried but winced strongly telling them that beating was worse than they wanted to acknowledge. Derek and Hotch both knelt down and helped her stand, both noticing her shortness of breath that followed her gasping. Hotch put the girls in between himself and Derek and Rossi and Reid. They found the door open and pulled it sharply, then they closed it and wedged it shut with a piece of scrap metal. They all saw the open door at the end of the corridor and made that their aim. They all halted when they heard laughter from one of the rooms. Rossi pressured Derek to get Penelope out, followed by JJ and Emily. There Derek would keep guard and protect the girls until all 7 of them were outside. As they ran Penelope froze as she looked into an open door, paralysed by the past as she stared into the room where it had all happened before. She snapped out of reality and ran as fast as she could and released her pent up breath as the wind hit her face and her lungs drew in fresh air, she then allowed herself to slide down a wall and await while everyone got out. When JJ and Emily made it out Derek literally forced them to Penelope while he carried on as look out for the remaining 3 to get out.
'Pen... you okay?' Emily asked as she crouched down. Penelope just nodded affirmative with her head. 'Come on Pen we need to start finding our way out of here.'
'Yeah... let's get you up and then we can go.' JJ tried to encourage her.
'I know how to get out.'
'What? How?'
'This is where he did it.' Were the only words that escaped her lips. Both JJ and Emily exchanged looks, they knew why Penelope had frozen in the corridor now, they looked over just as Rossi left the building followed by Hotch.
'Come on... let's get you out of here.' JJ said as she helped Penelope stand up.
'Baby girl you okay?' Derek asked as he came to assess the state Penelope was in from the previous beating. He stepped in front of her. 'Are you able to walk far?'
'It's not that far.' She said and looked up at him. 'It's about 10 minutes in that way and you're on the road.' The men all looked confused. 'This is Chases' place; this is where he did it to me... so I know.'
Derek nodded, kissed her forehead in comfort and then helped her walk towards the road. They all walked warily and watchful and made it to the road side faster than they expected.
'We can't walk because it will take us too long to hit any neighbourhood in either direction but we need that one to get us back anywhere near Quantico.' Penelope told them and point in the left direction.
'We're going to have to flag someone down to help us.' Hotch said and kept his eye out, luckily it was day and so visibility was clear.
'Police! Now that might work better.' Reid said trying to keep spirits high. They watched the police pull to a halt and the two officers get out.
'David Rossi?' The older one said on approach.
Rossi breathed out the biggest breath ever and smiled. 'Thank God it's you Ben.' Rossi said looking at the others. 'We need your help urgently.'
'Well I can see that... what are you doing out here?'
'Kidnapped.'
'By?'
'Chase McClusky.'
The police officer looked at each of the teams faces and stopped on Penelope who was hugging herself while Derek kept her close to him with his right arm. 'Let me get an ambulance and back up.'
'I'm going to come with you.' Rossi said. 'This person needs to have justice served once and for all.' The officer nodded and got on the radio.
'I'm going to come with you... Morgan, Reid go with the girls to get Penelope checked over.' Whilst Hotch said this the younger officer went to the back of the car and got out three bottles of water, the men pushed him to give them to the women.
No longer than 15 minutes later were Hotch and Rossi giving the group of officers a rundown of what had happened and why it had happened. They all looked at Penelope and understood why she looked like she had taken a beaten from a pro boxer.
'Pen you need to go to the hospital.'
'No... I just want to go home.'
'Ms Garcia I would advise you to go to the hospital so that your ribs can get examined, you already have bruising of a large amount coming out and it would be best to make sure you have no breaks or fractures.'
'Fine.'
'Derek an officers going to take us to the hospital you go with Penelope and we'll meet you there.' Derek nodded and got in the back of the ambulance with Penelope and never let go of her hand. Thankful for her safety, praying that McClusky would still be in the room awaiting justice of past and present to be slapped upon him with full throttle.
