Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds

'Stop watching me.' Penelope said as they sat on the plane, they'd all taken turns watching her sleep not knowing that she was on to them, she stretched stiffly and then looked at them. 'You're like vultures.' She teased. 'I'm sleeping soundly and you watch me like hawks.'

'What is this baby girl? See how many animals you can call us in a minute?'

'We can make it that? Like guard dogs so vigilant.'

'Okay just stop, all that thinking will tire you out.'

'Rossi, she doesn't need to think them, they're just there.' Derek told Rossi and they laughed. They'd been on the plane a good couple of hours now and were in the range of descent for Quantico, they had left Penelope to sleep. Knowing that between the markings on her back, the broken ribs, burns, cuts and whatever else she was in pain. They could only be, as Penelope put it, vigilant and look out for her how they all thought they'd failed.

Penelope settled and watched them all settle back down; she had her family around her all along. One biological member, the rest conventional and for intent and purposes family. Her true family.

In Joel, she had the brother that had always protected her growing up, the man that reminded her of their mom, that still strived for her happiness and safety, the man that yearned for her love, and made her be wanted. The man that had now left his bachelor life in California and had decided to move to Quantico, telling her, he'd let her slip away too easily, now he had her back he was not going to lose her again.

In Hotch, she had her boss man, and in a way a best friend. She had a confidante, an almost fatherly figure in him, even if he wasn't that much older than her. Hotch was the leading man in her life, his decisions and his action affected her and he was a prominent fixture for them all.

In Rossi, she had the man that was always there to pick them up, put them on the straight and narrow, make them see their wrong doings and make them see clearly. Rossi was the main man to straighten any issue out and she knew she had trust in him to be like that.

In JJ, she had a sister, a friend, a woman that offered her strength in every way possible. JJ was the one out of her and Emily that offered warmth from the word go, always knew how to use her words wisely and she was yet to fail her.

In Emily, she had a sister to an extent, a woman that was a woman to keep on side, a woman to fight your side when you were just too tired to it yourself. Emily was the big sister type, protective, over bearing and loveable. A trustworthy companion to behold.

In Reid, she had a kid brother, the one that needed reassurances upon reassurances and the one that needed to be loved to give love. Reid was the one that spouted facts to hel but got himself confused sometimes with it all. Reid was the one that could offer support with his facts about injuries and experiences.

Then there was Derek. In Derek she had everything. She had a best friend, strength, family and a home. He was the one that straightened her out entirely. The one man that had taken her heart and held it, he was the man she ran to for sanctuary and he was the man she loved so much that it hurt her to think about. He was her future.

So she settled back, minding her pains and woes and just watched them all interact together until she felt a foot tap hers and she was looking into Derek's big brown eyes and she was completely lost again.

'You okay Baby Girl?'

'Strong pain meds.' She feigned. 'I just want to stare and do nothing.' Penelope smiled at him and looked at him lazily. 'Guess I'm tired as well.'

'Well get some more sleep in before we hit Quantico ground.'

'Hmm Quantico, the homeland.'

'Definitely is Baby Girl. Our home with our family.' He told her and she just nodded and went back to watching the others on the plane. Derek just got up and moved from his seat opposite her to sitting next to her. He then just let her lay against him until she was comfortable and waited for her to go heavy.

When it happened it made him smiled. It showed to him every time she did it that she felt safe in his arms, that she knew that while she slept and let her walls down, left her disguises and shields behind that she was safe and feeling like she was well and truly protected that he was her hero like she claimed.

With her in his arms, Derek felt like the hero for once. He was Penelope's hero and he always would be. Penelope got her true family back and with it she made a man realise that he was a true hero.

The End!

A/N: So the muse kinder decided to die and I wanted to wrap it up guys!! So here is what came from the muse!

Hope you liked!!! =)