Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds

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The night followed through with no evidence of awkwardness, the team watched as Penelope was pulled from person to person and accepted back, they realised how many people Penelope had in her life as they watched her get hugged over and over again. They had met her brothers and felt a definite pull to them, quite like the one they felt for Lance, Owen, Jimmy and Kat. The team had to leave as another murder was rung in, by 1 in the morning the team were completely worn out and decided to head to bed, that night they all found sleep easily.

The next morning after they got breakfast in at the office, they separated, Penelope staying behind while the team headed off to the crime scenes again. Jimmy was back and forth from his work to check in on Penelope, he had been alerted by Derek that something wasn't right with her and he had to admit she didn't look great.

'Penny why don't you go take some tablets and have a lie down?'

'Because the team needs me.'

'Still the hard head.' She smiled and pushed on her side. 'Penny, how bad is the pain?'

'It's just a slight pain, it will go.' She answered definite to not giving up, she knew she was telling him a lie and she couldn't quite believe he was buying it.

'Okay, I'll be back in 15 minutes, if its no better you are taking some tablets.'

'Okay.' She answered and kept her attention on decoding the mass of letters, numbers and symbols.

'Jimmy wasn't joking that you looked like crap sis.'

'Thanks Carl.' Penelope said as she continued to work. 'It will pass.'

'Is that the bullshit you told Derek and the others when they headed off?' She nodded. 'Penelope...'

'Carl...'

'Just promise me you'll take it easy?'

'I have too; I have an important event to attend tomorrow.' She said smiling up at her brother.

'You don't realise how much those two spoke of you last night.'

'No more than usual.'

'You're a gem kiddo and you don't realise it... hence why everyone loves you.'

'Apart from Lara and Nick.'

'Who needs them?'

'Exactly.' She said as she stood up breathing in deeply to manage the pain and walked to the table to take the next file, she pushed on her side some more.

'Going to take anything for that?'

'Nope.' She said as she walked back, he stood silently watching her; he panicked as she grabbed the table, swayed and gasped painfully. 'I don't feel so good.' Was all she said as she collapsed.

'Jimmy!' Carl called out as he dropped to the floor next to Penelope. 'Jimmy quick!'

'What is it?' Jimmy asked rushing in. 'Penny!'

'Get an ambulance... she's burning up and get Derek.'

'On it.' Jimmy said rushing from the room, throwing orders around.

'Penny... come on kiddo, open your eyes for me.' Carl pleaded, he looked up at the door as Jimmy came back in. 'She won't wake up.'

'I couldn't get hold of Derek or the others but an ambulance is on its way.' Jimmy said as he came into the room and put his jacket under her head to support it. 'Has she woken up at all?' He asked to double check.

'No... not yet.' Carl said a little frantic but able to gain control of himself. 'We can't lose her Jimmy.'

'And we won't.' Jimmy said as he kept a constant check of her pulse, her breathing and if her fever was escalating or dropping. 'She's got too much to live for.' They heard a commotion and Jimmy stood up. 'Derek!' He yelled out. 'Quick!'

'What's happened?' Derek said rushing in, only to freeze at the sight of his wife. 'What's wrong with her?' He asked as he sprung into action.

'We don't know... the pain in her side got worse and she collapsed.'

'Where's the ambulance?'

'It's on its way.' Jimmy said as Derek settled down next to Penelope and took her hand and tried to coax his wife to open her eyes, he then watched out of the window as Hotch and the team tried to get everyone to settle back down, it wasn't fair to ogle like they were, when nothing happened he stood up again and marched out of the room. 'You're not paid to stand around! Now get back to work. Now!' He bellowed with authority and everyone sparked into life and ignored the urge to watch EMT's as they ran in and helped.

In a matter of moments Carl and Derek were pushed to stand on the sidelines with the rest of the team and Jimmy, they watched as an IV drip was set up and an oxygen mask was placed over Penelope's face. The EMT's didn't speak, they just worked, before one disappeared and the next thing the team know was they were following the stretcher out of the police department, Derek next to Penelope, Carl and Jimmy close by. Only Derek was allowed in the back of the ambulance, the others, after Hotch's orders once he put the phone down to Strauss followed. For now their heads weren't in the game, so another team plus tech was being sent to carry on the job.

The ride was silent and non chaotic for most of them, they all sat with scenarios of what was wrong with Penelope, they had seen her that morning, flushed complexion, tiredness, feeling ill, pain in her side. They thought to what Derek might have been going through as he sat in the back of the ambulance, as he sat watching over his wife as she remained in the unresponsive state. When they rushed in they found Derek immediately, hands on his head, his face scrunched up in an evident panic.

'Derek, what's happening?'

'I don't know, they wouldn't let me go through with her.' He said his voice quivering slightly. 'I'm her husband for Christ sake, I should be allowed in there.' His patients were now thinning as he spoke.

'Derek, you need to stay calm, for Penelope.' Hotch said tapping Rossi and then Jimmy's arm. 'We need to get information, Derek's in no frame of mind to get it.'

'I'm known here so let me try but you're badges will definitely get you someone, I'll call you over if I need any help.' Jimmy said and Hotch and Rossi agreed and stood and watched as Jimmy got nurses to move and disappear, coming back asking and answering questions. He then approached the men. 'They think her appendix may have ruptured which caused the pain and would have caused her to collapse.'

'Is that it?'

'When they may have found something else that has contributed to her sky high temperature. Has she been sick at all?'

'I don't know.' Hotch said looking at Rossi who shrugged. 'Derek.' He said on approach.

'What is it? Is she okay?'

'You need to calm down; they think her appendix has burst but has she been sick at all?'

'Is that it her appendix? She can't die can she?' He looked desperately at Reid.

'Derek... ask those questions in a moment, has she been sick at all?'

'Quite a lot during the night.'

'What about her appetite?'

'Well she didn't eat much dinner, or her breakfast.' Derek looked at them and felt pangs of worry and guilt. 'I should've realised something was wrong.'

'Oh no you don't!' Emily said as he near enough pinned him to the wall. 'Do not blame yourself. We've seen Pen go hard headed before so don't you dare!'

'But this is worse.'

'Worse than Battle?' Emily said ignoring the fact Carl and Jimmy were listening, Derek just remained silent. 'See, this isn't worse.'

'But the signs were all there.'

'And I'm going to bet, she brow beat Jimmy to leave her alone.' They looked at Jimmy who nodded. 'See... just because you didn't notice doesn't make it your fault.'

'I can't lose her.'

'And you won't... I mean come on Morgan, you two have got through a shooting, a bomb clad ambulance and Kevin Lynch together! Penelope Garcia, as we knew her the other day, will not give up to this.'

'Good speech Prentiss... you can back down.' Rossi said.

'Morgan, go call your mom, let her know.' Hotch said, he knew Derek to keep occupied. 'We'll try and get another update.' Derek just nodded and headed out of the doors, they all knew he needed the space and the air to clear his head. When he got back in JJ and Emily were seated, the men standing like gargoyles, they all looked at him. 'She's just been rushed into surgery, but come on we can go upstairs and wait.' Derek nodded. 'Get hold of your mom?'

'Yeah, she's getting Des and getting a flight here.'

'Really? You're mom would do that for Penelope?' Carl asked.

'Derek's mom loves Penelope.' Hotch said smiling, before they all picked their selves up and headed for the new waiting room.

'Appendicitis surgery shouldn't take longer than 20 minutes but seeing as...'

'Reid.' Hotch warned, this was not the place for facts and statistics about surgeries and recovery, and he knew once Reid started the young agent wouldn't be able to stop himself from trailing off.

'Sorry.'

'No Reid... but seeing as?' Derek prompted; he wanted to know what they were up against.

'I was just going to say that seeing as Garcia's, can we call her that? Anyway seeing as Garcia's ruptured it may take a lot longer.'

Derek sighed heavily. 'Kid if that brain of yours comes up with anything that is remotely helpful and optimistic... then tell otherwise keep it shut away.'

'Will do.'