Disclaimer: I own absolutely nothing, just the plot bunny ;)
A/N:So it seems to be heartbreak galore... Thanks for the reviews, have some more you guys!
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- While In Wonderland -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Looking up at the sun he wondered how this life was perfect now. He'd found a sense of comfort here now.
There were no bad things, no bad people, no people, there were no cases, no worries, no cares. There was almost always perfect weather, a feeling of contentment to sit next to the feeling of loss and isolation, a sense of calm. But the biggest void, the one factor ripping through this limbo, causing a mass black hole in this personal perfection was the lack of one person; Penelope.
There was no way out.
Glancing back down, his eyes adjusting from the bright intake they'd just been subjected to, he looked up the shoreline, sighing, he had to admit it: he was at peace here. However much his heart ached and broke at the lack of Penelope around there, there was something special about this place and he wondered if it were the memories he stored up with Penelope here.
Allowing his vision to settle he saw a figure in the distance. Shaking his head harshly he stood, slipping some on the sand below him. He ran down the sand dune, watching the figure as it walked up the shore towards him.
He was scared to smile. He was sure it was Penelope, but then he had to wonder: Was it really Penelope or just a figment of his imagination? Would this type of place allow for such mirages?
With each new blink Penelope became more vivid, more alive, more real. He could see her smile, her light ruby lips smiling brighter and brighter as he began to run towards her, he could see her eyes twinkling, could make out the sea breeze whisking her curly hair about and all he could do was run, faster and faster.
The moment he was close enough he captured her into his arms and spun her around, settling her back down only to kiss her, to feel himself catapulted to the heavens above.
Panic overtook his senses quickly, he was angry she was here, confused of her existence, grief stricken, but above all, he was overwhelmed to have her in his arms again.
Pulling away he looked at her, "Why are you here?" He asked her, his hands roaming her body, taking in her form against his. "Why?" He asked pulling apart completely, looking at her, seeing her looking stunning, unhurt, perfect. "You shouldn't be here."
"Handsome," Penelope said as she stepped towards him.
"No!" He shouted, his voice quaking with fear and his hands went to his head, "You're here because something's gone wrong. You shouldn't be here, Penelope, what the hell have you done?"
"I'm saving you," She said and put her hands to his face. This time, as she watched Derek's downfall, she took control. "I know what I'm doing." She replied sternly, confidence exuding her. "Really I do."
"What are you doing?" He asked her warily, not wanting to break this moment, their connection.
Smiling tightly, not knowing how this was going to go down, Penelope took a deep breath and began, "You needed a liver transplant." She started and took his hand, taking him away from the incoming shore and sat him down. "Waiting wasn't an option," She continued and she could feel the tears burning her throat, clawing away ready to fall. "Everyone got tested, I was told by your mom it wasn't an option for me, I'm still too weak so she wouldn't let me." She stopped and looked up at him, "No one was a direct match, so I spoke to the doctor privately. We're the same blood type and after another test we were an identical match."
"Pen..."
"You can't tell me not too. It's too late," She shrugged at him, "I'm under and in surgery as we speak."
Derek's eyes widened then, a new rush of fear overtook, "Baby Girl, this has to be risky."
"As risky as watching you die in that bed?" Penelope asked as she began to cry. "I've sat by your bed for two days straight begging you to come back to me and you never responded and the only reason you haven't and won't is because your body's shutting down."
"How is this going to work?" He asked her incredulously, "Just by you giving me a piece of your liver and I'm going to wake up."
Penelope looked out to the sea, feeling it's calming effect. "The damage was allowing toxins to be released into your body. There wasn't a problem when we were first admitted, it wasn't noticeable, but slowly it's been getting worse. You've been getting worse, but doing this it'll save you, it'll reverse the damage."
Derek knew he couldn't do a thing, she had given a sacrifice to have him back, and for the moment it was just them and he had to thrive in it. "How long do we have?"
"Depends," She shrugged at him, "Four hours give or take, but that's so much longer when we're here." She watched Derek look at her clueless, "When I woke up, we'd been there four days already; not going on seven weeks."
"All these weeks here have only been just days?" Derek asked her, his voice almost a whisper.
Penelope could only nod.
"How bad is it?" Derek asked as he took her hand in his, gripping it tightly. "I mean us, how badly hurt are you?" He asked, ignorant of his own injuries at that moment.
"Enough damage to have us both out of work for the next couple of months." Was all Penelope told him, "It's bad, believe me, but it could be worse. We couldn't be getting the chance to go back at all."
Derek nodded his head at her and leant in, stealing a kiss he felt a bit of him slot back into place. He had his life here; he had his object of perfection that eclipsed this place. "I've wanted you for what feels like a lifetime."
"Eternity could be between us, Handsome, and we'd love each other." She started, "It's worth the wait."
Derek smiled for the first time since she had left. It was one that full of genuine happiness, not one that was edged with worry and concern and panic. As he had Penelope in his arms he knew he was happy and wherever she was, his happiness would be.
"Thank you," Derek told her, "For doing this, for coming back, for saving me."
Penelope turned to Derek; going onto her knees so that she was could look at him fully. "I would do it again, believe me I would. I would give you anything to just have you with me. You need to believe that I couldn't do anything without you, that doing this, coming back, was my only option."
"I believe you," Derek told her honestly and pulled her close to him again, not letting her go. Refusing to let her go again even though he knew when the time came he had no say in the matter. She'd already gone with the wind once; there was nothing to stop her from going like it again.
"I really do want to be here," She told him honestly, her voice quiet, resigned, "I don't want to go back there." She knew it was an empty thing to say, a hallow declaration, but for the moment she was willing to live in this moment.
Revel in, and pray to God that this would be worth it.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- While In Wonderland -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Said sit down with me before you go
That's the wrong thing I know
But I don't know when I will see you again
and it gets so lonely...
See you'd be foolish if you stayed here now
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- While In Wonderland -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Song:Wakey!Wakey! – Almost Everything