Disclaimer: I own absolutely nothing, just the plot bunny ;)
A/N:Now let's hope this site's picked up! Sorry if you couldn't read the previous chapter =) You should be able to if you haven't already =) You would've got this before now, but I have the flu so going near a laptop yesterday was not one of my best ideas =P
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- While In Wonderland -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Penelope felt somewhat disconnected from her body when her eyes opened once more. It was a complete livewire to every single stimulus. Opening her eyes a little bit more, she looked around her surroundings, closing her eyes to the sense of impending doom she tried to rationalise what had happened.
Gathering perspective she realised she was in a bright, stark room. Not out on the sandy shore of perfection.
She felt a hand come into contact with hers and her eyes shot to look at who was there, she saw a blurry face unknown to her. Kind eyes, kinder smile, a comforting ease swept across her from this person.
"Penelope," He started calmly, "I'm Doctor Barnard, it's good to see you finally awake." He told her casually as he leant in, "How you feeling?"
"Tired," She grimaced, her voice dry and she found it painful to speak.
He released her hand and check over her vitals, doing about his job as he normally would. "You're throats going to be a bit painful for a couple of days. We had to keep you on a ventilator until we were sure your lungs could cope."
Closing her eyes she took a deep painful breath, "What happened?" She asked trying to think back, but her entire mind was filled with the time she had had with Derek, alone, with no work, no people, just them.
"You were caught up in an explosion, faulty gas piping." He verified the reason for her being in a hospital bed. "Your injuries were extensive but with the right rest and aftercare I see no reason as to why you shouldn't make a complete recovery in time."
"How bad?" Penelope asked as she finally looked at him, in refusal to look down at her own broken body. She tried to stop herself from crying, from wanting to be back with Derek wherever he was. "Derek?" She finally asked, her tone panicky, "Where's Derek?"
Noticing her panic, the doctor tried to console her, "Your partner is just two rooms down. He's alive, but has remained in a comatose state for the past three days, but he is responsive and brain activity is high. He's stable, but you need to worry about yourself if you want to recover."
Penelope was tiring quickly, her emotions bubbling away faster. Hoping that if she closed her eyes and fell back asleep then she would somehow wake up with Derek, be with Derek, and be able to be away from what reality had set for them.
"Penelope, I'm going to give you something for the pain and I want you to sleep, rest is vital for you right now. I'll let your family know that you have woken up and get them back up here."
Without another answer Penelope just slipped back into an easy sleep, allowing herself to shut down somewhat to what was going on. She didn't want to know what damage had occurred, what was going on with her body underneath the sheets, and the gown and the bandages she could feel wrapping her body.
Except once the sleep ebbed in she was confronted with bright lights, the loud bang, the momentary searing pain, the calls of her names and then the complete oblivion before she blinked and found herself walking into the unfinished master bedroom again.
Now it made sense, she was aware of reality the entire time without knowing it. Subconsciously she had known, much like Derek, that something wasn't quite right. How one moment everything was chaotic and much like home and then it was secluded and mirrored her and Derek's ideal domestic life. There were no dangers after that first day, no worries, no Clooney, no team, no family, no work. It was just her and Derek and whatever they wanted out of life but never had the time to do.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- While In Wonderland -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Derek didn't move, he couldn't. He was completely paralysed by what had happened. How he let her leave without him telling her everything that sat firmly in his heart. How he allowed her to be taken without even giving it a try to keep her. Even if that was an empty action, he could've done more.
Now – here he was in paradise without the one thing that made this wholly complete.
Putting his head into his hands as he began to feel completely lost, completely broken. He didn't know what she had to slipped back to, and he was no physicist, no theorist, no magician. He had no knowledge on what they had been living in and whether it was real or not.
He was just Derek Morgan. He was an agent, a humble man; and a man that was in so love with one woman that a day without her petrified the life out of him. He was nothing more.
As he sat and looked out at the sea, he saw no solace in it; he saw no break in the emotional pain that surpassed even his imagination. He felt like some ghost trapped here now, he had no idea what was reality and what wasn't. He had no sense of time anymore, no sense of feeling, no sense of anything. He was physically numb, unable to realise that the sea breeze was getting stronger.
As he tried to comprehend his next actions, it hit him. He had no idea if he was ever going to slip back to her. He had absolutely no clue if he would be taken like Penelope was and with it, he had no idea if he was ever going to be reunited with Penelope again.
This world suddenly felt twisted, it felt wrong and unnerving. This world now seemed more like limbo than ever. It was like the waiting ground for heaven to invite you or for hell to swallow you.
Getting up, he walked to the sea and stood there, just looking out, praying an answer would hit him, that something would spark in his mind and arouse an idea or a plan would hatch.
Yet the perfectly blue sky remained answerless. It didn't even change.
For once, Derek felt consumed, alone, and he had the ball of dread rolling around in his stomach as though he was waiting on something to come along, for something, anything to happen.
But the thing was: it wouldn't. It was just him until judgement was done and he either carried on or was drawn back to the land of the living.
Sinking to his knee's Derek felt himself curse God, for both taking Penelope and saving her. What more could he ask for anyway? His baby girl, his heart, the love of his life wasn't dying.
Yet with her there and him here he was left to ponder.
What was Penelope dealing with back there now and without him?
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- While In Wonderland -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Well Now I'm told that this is life
And pain is just a simple compromise
So we can get what we want out of it
Would someone care to classify,
Of broken hearts and twisted minds
So I can find someone to rely on
And run
To them, to them
Full speed ahead
Oh you are not useless
We are just
Misguided ghosts
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- While In Wonderland -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Song: Paramore – Misguided Ghosts