Derek paced the waiting room like a mad man. He couldn't shake the images of Penelope out of his mind. Once he got her to his truck, he drove faster than he ever had, breaking laws left and right. She had been slipping in and out of consciousness through the drive, and more blood would escape her soft lips.
He could still hear her soft voice from beside him in the truck.
"Derek."
"Don't talk baby," he said as he swerved in and out of traffic.
"Derek. I need..." Penelope moved to grip his arm or thigh, but found herself too weak to do so.
"Baby Girl, you will get help as soon as we get to the hospital."
"No, that's not..." Penelope coughed and caught the blood that escaped her. "I want you to know something."
Derek couldn't hear this. He didn't want to hear her last words. Her final goodbye. "Baby, don't you do this," he said looking briefly at her now pale form.
Penelope couldn't stand the heartbreak beneath her lover's eyes. He looked like a tragic combination of heartbroken and determined. "It's always been you," she said with a sad smile. "It's always been you."
"Mr. Morgan?"
Derek's head shot up as he escaped his memory and he moved quickly toward the doctor. The doctor had blood on his scrubs which left Derek feeling uneasy. "How is she?"
"We have her stable. From what we could tell, one of the ribs had punctured the right lung, causing the sudden expelling of blood. This could have happened for a variety of reasons. Our next move is to take her into surgery and see if we can repair the lung. If we can't we will remove it."
"She can live with one lung?" Derek asked, surprised and saddened.
"It does happen. But I won't lie to you, it is risky."
"Can she receive a donation? Be on some kind of list?"
"The type of injuries Ms. Garcia don't qualify her to be on a donation list. Those lists are mainly for patients who have intense diseases or are bordering death."
"I found her unconscious on our bathroom floor. She is coughing up blood and slipping in and out of consciousness. I believe that this is serious enough for an organ donation," Derek said sharply.
Instead of indulging Derek's outburst, Doctor Johnson continued his explanation of Penelope's pending condition, stating, "If we do extract the lung, she will move around slower, reduce her exercise regime dramatically and learn to function relying on one lung. She can sustain a successful life with one lung, but she will be limited."
Derek nodded taking in the information piece by piece. "Is there a chance you can repair the lung?"
"We won't know until we take her into surgery."
"And when will that be?"
"As soon as you give as the okay." Doctor Johnson replied. "Penelope has fallen under unconsciousness. We need your permission to continue with surgery since you are her next of kin."
"Do whatever you need to do to save her," Derek said with all seriousness.
The doctor began walking away when Derek called out to him. The older man took in the ragged appearance of the agent and couldn't help but pity him.
"Can I see her?"
"For a few moments. She is going to be under anestesia, so she won't be responsive. But I will let you see her."
Derek nodded in gratitude and followed the doctor diligently. When Penelope came into his sight, his took in a sharp breath. Her body was prepped for surgery. No longer was she breathing on her own, but with the assistance of a breathing tube. The blood that had been dripping from her lips was no longer present. She looked so pale in comparison to her blue hospital gown. Her long blonde hair was trapped in the confines of the surgical cap. She appeared so fragile and lifeless, making his heart ache in fear.
"Hi Baby," he whispered coming toward her. The sound of her heart beating was all he heard in reply. No witty response. No comforting smile. Just her breathing.
"You keep scaring me, you know that?" He moved beside her and touched her hand softly. He was stunned how cold it was. It reminded him of how close to the border of death she stood. It tore at him piece by piece. "You're so beautiful," he whispered, hoping she could hear him.
Derek glanced at the clock and knew she needed surgery quickly. Pressing a delicate kiss upon her forehead, he allowed his fear filled tears to fall. "You need to come back to me, Penelope. It has always been you." He shook his head as thoughts of her not surviving plagued him. Kissing her one more time, he whispered, "I love you," against her, praying she heard him before she was fixed.
Penelope was in a forest, much like where the team had been when they traveled to Alaska. She could smell the vibrant earth which surrounded her with enormous trees and she could hear the life surrounding her. Opening her eyes, she looked upon a water fall. Its power and majestic qualities took her breath away. Pressing a hand to her chest, Penelope let out a gasp as she looked at her appearance.
In a gown of white silk and diamonds, Penelope stood in a sleeveless dress. In a dress made for a princess, Penelope found that it accentuated every curve upon her body. Her skin glowed with energy and life. Her feet were bare, and her finger and toe nails were painted with a light glittered finished. Touching her face, she was comforted to find no cuts or bruises. Her hands traveled down her body and she smiled when she found no gauze wrapping her midsection or a wrap surrounding her foot. She was healthy and vibrant.
Her curiosity peaked as she heard a woman's voice from the waterfall. Making her way through the trees and bushes, she could detect the presence of two people. A woman's singing voice and the silloutte of a man. Stepping behind the falls, she was shocked to who she found.
Standing before her were her parents. Looking more passionate since the night of their death, they shared a smile with one another before looking back at their daughter. Her father was dressed in a pair of jeans and a blue dress shirt. It wasn't similar to his style before his death, but she knew him instantly from his smile.
Her mother wore a green gown that was covered in flowers. Her hair was falling down around her shoulders and she possessed a smile that one could only define as serene. Penelope hadn't realized that she looked so much like her mother until this moment.
Penelope didn't stop her tears as she cautiously stepped toward these figures. She didn't believe they were real. It seemed too much to believe.
"Hello, Penelope," her father spoke.
"Daddy?" she asked in disbelief.
He only nodded and looked toward his wife. She said softly, "Hello, my princess."
Penelope timidly stepped closer and made her way toward the woman's extended arms. Her heart raced as the woman's hand grew closer. Penelope fell weak to the power of the moment and collapsed into her arms, crying in relief and longing. Far too long did Penelope go without the touch of her parents, and now they were before her.
"Hush now," her father said in a calm voice. "Everything is okay, Penelope."
Sniffling, Penelope lifted her head and kept studying her parents. The same looks of love and compassion consumed them. "How is this possible?" she asked.
Grasping her daughter's hand softly, the woman spoke, "I think you know, honey."
Penelope bit down on her lower lip and allowed reality to sink in. "Am I dead?" she asked.
"You haven't crossed over yet," her father answered.
Penelope opened her eyes and touched both of their faces. She couldn't believe that they were standing before her. "I have missed you so much."
"We have always been with you," her mother said.
"We are so proud of you," her father spoke with quieted passion.
Penelope smiled sadly as she shook in relief. "Things are so different now."
"We know," her mother said.
"So much has happened."
"We have seen," her father said with a smile, motioning toward the falls.
Penelope looked toward the water and gasped at what she saw. Before her were memories of her life in the living. From her earliest years to life with her BAU family, she was overwhelmed by what appeared before her.
She watched as she watched Jack's soccer games and Henry's first steps projected upon the water. Sounds of her team's laughter filtered through the cave. She saw her rebellious teenage years and the sad reality of her strained relationships with her brothers.
Penelope was stunned as she watched some of her most painful memories flash before the water. She watched as she was shot by Jason Battle Clark. She watched them bury Emily beneath the ground, her placing a red rose upon her grave and Derek clutching her hand in comfort. She watched as Kevin beat her and tortured her that fated evening. Penelope couldn't stop the tears that came to her eyes.
"Never again do you have to experience that pain, sweetheart," her father spoke protectively.
"You have lived an eventful life my beautiful girl. You can come with us now," her mother said placing a comforting hand upon her shoulder.
Penelope took her hand and squeezed it softly. It reminded her of many moments with her mother from before.
However, her breath caught as she glanced upon the waterfall again. Flashes of moments with Derek overwhelmed her sights. From the first time they met when he called her Gomez, to him whispering he loved her in her apartment after she was shot. Penelope took in their movie nights and long drives down the eastern coast. She watched herself wipe her own tears after fearing for the safety of her Noir Hero. She watched as he held her in Alaska, pressing kisses upon the crown of her head. Penelope watched as they took comfort from one another the day they buried their Emily. She took the time to look at his face and witnessed the love that lived within his onyx eyes. She watched as his hands touched her reverently as they rolled upon her bed, Penelope allowing him within her body. She studied the strength in his arms and he rocked them toward completion and healing, her body shaking with passion and desire. Her focused shifted to him kissing her in her living room, the way his hands cradled her face in love and adoration. She witnessed their fight and him convincing her that he loved her. She watched as he kissed her softly. However, her heart stopped as she watched him find her upon the bathroom floor. His panic and fear were evident upon his face. She watched him drive her to the hospital. He looked lost and petrified at the thought of losing her. Penelope bit down upon her lip as these memories flashed before her, her senses overwhelmed.
Penelope turned from the falls and glanced at her parents. They appeared to be at peace, in an eternal sense of calm and fulfillment. "Im not ready," she said sadly.
"You can come with us now," her father said with a smile.
"I can't," she said tearfully.
Her mother stepped before her and gave her the same smile, however, her eyes seemed more resigned. "I know," she whispered. She leaned forward and pressed a maternal kiss upon Penelope's lips. "You love him," she stated.
"I do," Penelope said with a tearful smile. "I love him with everything in me."
"Then you need to return to him."
"Will I ever see you again?" she asked fearfully. She didn't want this to be her only opportunity to be with her parents.
"You will," her father said stepping beside her mother. "When you are ready."
"We are always with you," her mother said placing a hand upon Penelope's heart. "Always."
Penelope held them close, each with a deep hug. Penelope wanted to memorize the way they felt against her body, their smells and their voices. She wanted to remember every detail of this forest.
When their hug ceased, she found that her parents seemed to glow brighter. However she looked down upon her body and found old wounds returning to her. "What do I do?" she cried out.
"Walk through the falls and return to him," her mother replied.
"I'll fall!" Penelope yelled in disbelief.
"He will catch you," her father said with a smile.
Penelope shook her head and found herself with her back to the falls. She could feel her body transforming back to its prior form. "I love you," she said with one more look at her loved ones.
They nodded toward her, her father giving a loving wave while her mother blew her a kiss.
Penelope sighed as she turned her back to them to face the falls. Before her was an image of Derek by her beside, his form exhausted and worried. He clung to her hand tightly and pressed his lips against it. Penelope extended her arms outward and took one final look at her life in the forest. Exhaling, she closed her eyes and took the leap off the waterfall, knowing Derek would be waiting for her as she landed.