(Hey everyone! I'm sorry the wait for this chapter has been long, even for me. I hope this installment at least partially makes up for the wait. It is a chapter that's a lot more upbeat than the previous ones. The Garcia in my head was being especially naughty, and so it was fun to play around with that. I don't she was quite bad enough to warrant me changing the rating, so I haven't. Hope no one's upset by that. Anyway, enjoy!

I still don't own them, just my little made-up version of how things could go…)

Come Back to Me

Chapter Nine

Two days' time found Morgan being released from the hospital and feeling rather sheepish at the fact that his family and the whole team were there for the event. It was way more attention than he wanted drawn to something that he had to do in a wheelchair. He didn't like having to go anywhere or do anything that he couldn't do of his own power or on his own two feet. But hospital regulations stipulated that patients leaving the hospital left in a wheelchair. He'd learned right off that he wasn't going to get anywhere with his friends or his mom and sisters either, and given up the fight.

Reid was pushing his chair toward the exit, teasing him about who was the muscle now, while Morgan glowered at him silently. But Penelope was at his side, smiling at him beatifically, her hand resting lightly on his shoulder, and so it was easy to let the scowl leave his face, shrug, and let it go. After all, he figured Reid was long overdue for a chance to dish it back out. Morgan knew he'd certainly done his share of teasing the young genius over the years they'd worked together.

As they crossed the threshold and left the hospital's entrance, Morgan marveled at how good it felt to have the

fresh air blowing across his face – it was brisk and cold, with the hint of more snow to come in it, but to him the main thing it smelt and felt like was freedom. He was finally getting out of the hospital and going home.

"So, you guys are headed right to your house?" Hotch was asking Garcia, making sure he'd know where his agents were and that they didn't need any help.

"Yep, that's the plan," Garcia chirped, cutting off Morgan's objection that she felt coming even as he just barely got his mouth open. "I've got Esther parked right over there." She pointed out her vintage car sitting at the curb and Reid started heading the wheelchair in that direction.

"Mama, what are you doin'?" Morgan asked, feeling even more silly when he realized that even now they weren't going to let him take care of himself. "I'll be fine at home. You know you can come over whenever. You don't need to play nursemaid here. I'm fine."

"Whatever, Sweet Cheeks," Garcia answered blithely, brooking no argument. "I know you. You'll be up and around pushing yourself and getting hurt if somebody doesn't make sure you behave. You're coming home with me, and I'm gonna spoil you rotten, and you'll just have to deal with it!" She poked a finger into his chest, not caring if she was playfully lecturing him in front of the rest of the group. She was trying to make a joke of it, but there was raw concern hiding behind the teasing in her eyes. She was worried he'd try to do too much too quickly and strain his body even more, or that something unexpected might go wrong and he'd be at his place alone. She just wanted to have him with her for awhile, so she could see for herself that he was alright.

Morgan, for his part, though he would never admit it, felt the blood pumping through his veins accelerate, heat washing over him, at the tone of her voice. He knew he was whipped, though he planned on trying to keep it a secret as long as he could, but it flat-out turned him on when she got bossy like that. She didn't offer to take charge very often, but he liked it when she did. He felt like all the rest of his life was decision and actions, and so to be able to give up the control and do as she said appealed to him more than he would have imagined possible.

"You win, Goddess," was all he said, not wanting to upset her anyway, and realizing, as he stood from the wheelchair and dizziness almost pushed him back down, that maybe he wasn't quite as back to normal as he'd like to be. Reid, who was still standing close, reached out to steady him by the arm, noticing the way he'd swayed when he stood. "If you want me at your place that much, you've got me," Morgan smiled at her lazily, trying to let her know he was okay, but she frowned, having seen what had just happened and the way he'd faltered.

Morgan turned to look at his partner. "Thanks, Reid," he murmured, sitting down in the seat and forcing himself to sheepishly meet the younger man's eyes. "I'm good now. Coulda taken you right over with me there."

Reid nodded good-naturedly, chuckling with him, and stepping away again after closing the door behind his friend. "No problem," he said awkwardly, not used to Derek Morgan physically needing anyone's help – least of all his, but glad to offer what he could.

"We'll stop in and check on you guys," JJ said, waving them off with the others. Penelope smiled back at her with a wave. "See you next week," she told her friends.

And then they were off, both of them feeling relieved just to be speeding away from there with the sense that life might finally be heading back towards what they were used to again. Morgan laid his head back against the headrest and let out a sigh, grateful just to be outside and for the private comfort of it being just the two of them. He rubbed a tired hand over his eyes, thinking how great it would be when he got his energy back – the current way that the smallest thing completely drained him was maddening.

He opened his eyes again to glance over at her, and she smiled at him wordlessly, taking one hand off the steering wheel to reach over and take his. He swore it was like she could hear his thoughts just as if he'd spoken them aloud. "Don't worry, Hot Stuff," she said lightly, as she pulled into her complex's parking lot, winking at him and leaning over to kiss him on the cheek after she'd parked. "You're on your way back now. Don't sweat it. You'll be kicking in doors and slamming suspects up against cars and worrying them over in interrogation again in no time."

He couldn't help smirking at her words; she was right, and knew him well enough to realize how good that sounded. He was sick and tired of feeling weak. However, what he wasn't sure she realized was that on the job wasn't where he was currently most anxious to exercise his passion and aggression. "Hey hey, Sexy Girl," he said, chucking her under the chin and then gritting his teeth as he turned away and managed to heave himself out of the car and onto his feet unaided. "I'm ready to be back in the saddle. No use denyin' that. But that's not the action I'm missing most right now."

"Oh, no?" she asked, widening her eyes as if she had no idea what he was talking about, all playful innocence mixed with sex-kitten teasing, masterfully balanced in a way he'd never seen anyone do as well as her. "Why, whatever could you mean?"

Frustrated that he didn't quite feel up to showing her and yet laughing at her antics despite himself, he struck out toward her front door, wishing he could at least walk at normal speed. She jumped out of her seat and caught up with him easily, unlocking the door for him as he paused at his destination.

They'd barely stepped in when he was on her, having to taste her just then, regardless of the pain that shot through his abdomen at the sudden movement. His lips crashed into hers, his body pressing her up against the wall of the entryway as she just barely managed to shove the door closed behind them before she lost her senses.

"Don't tease me when I'm not sure I can follow through on doling out the punishment for it, Mama," he warned between kisses, voice fierce, low and gravelly, as he easily held her in place – not that she was complaining.

He might not have been able to move as fast as he usually would have, but suddenly the dizziness he was experiencing was more from lack of air at refusing to break their kiss that from the injuries he'd sustained. His hands came up both sides of her neck, cradling her face as he tried to hold her even closer, so desperate was the need that they not part for even a second.

Garcia was busy running her hand up his arms to clutch wildly at his shoulders, wishing she didn't need to breathe or pull her lips away from his devouring ones, but, gasping for air, she managed for a second. Then she glanced up, eyes flashing, for just a second to tease back, "I wouldn't worry about that," she purred, "I think your talents are completely up to par."

Morgan's gaze had gone fiery dark with desire – twinkling dangerously as humor mingled in with lust. "You think so, do ya, Kitten?" he murmured, sweeping her hair off her shoulder to attack her neck and nibbling the sensitive spot just below her left ear, hands mussing the silky blond strands as he held them out of his way. "Cause I don't think I'm done testing my limits yet."

This time, a throaty groan was the only answer her got, the very prospect of rendering her speechless spurring him on, her coat had already hit the floor when they started, now he was working with the hem of her shirt, ready to whip it up over her head. And that was when pain erupted in his shoulder again, freezing his arms in mid-motion and embarrassing him ridiculously. He absolutely could not raise his arms any further than straight out in front of him and the sudden shot of pain almost bowled him over for a second. There was nothing to say, and he couldn't seem to lift his eyes to meet hers.

There was one long, weighted moment; both of them panting, her hands on his face, her chest heaving, but other than that she was as still as if she'd frozen right along with him. Then, Penelope put her hand in his and she started tugging him along behind her, pulling him farther into the house. At the living room, still without a word, she led him to the couch, gently pushing against his chest until he sat heavily, still angry at his own weakness and refusing to meet her gaze.

"Derek, babe, look at me," she whispered, an achingly tender note in her voice. "Stop that. Get over yourself. You don't have to be in top form, superhero perfect all the time. Okay? You got that, Studmuffin? I love you. I'm crazy about you. There's nothing to be embarrassed about right now. We're fine. We're still here together. You're hurt like this because you saved my life. So don't be acting all ashamed and not looking at me. I won't have it." She reached out and turned his face up to meet hers as she spoke, making sure her point was taken.

He did finally look at her then, hearing the emotion and sincerity in her voice. And once he'd met her eyes again, the hurt and the disappointment seemed to fade away and he couldn't take his eyes off her. Reaching out to take her hand, he drew it to his lips and kissed her palm reverently, not finding anything to say.

Garcia knelt before him, scooting herself in between his knees, and she rested her forehead against his for a second, as if proving to herself that they were both solid and real and going to be fine. Then, she pulled back, seriousness gone as fast as it had come. "Now," she cooed, her hand slipping down to his chest and beginning to unbutton the shirt he wore. With each button, she kissed further down a path of newly bared, tautly muscled skin. Letting his head fall back against the couch, Morgan let her go, feeling his nerve endings crackle as she started setting them back on fire. Then, she was pushing the shirt completely open and pulling it off his arms, careful of his shoulder, but eager to get the job done. "I do believe I promised to do all the work tonight anyway." Her tongue flicked out, tracing along his sculpted pectoral, teeth grazing highly sensitized skin as her mouth moved down his torso, causing his stomach to tighten pleasurably this time. He sucked in a breath, feeling like he'd received an electric shock. His head shot up, having to watch her, mesmerized by her bright red fingernails brushing across his naked chest and stomach and then going to work on the drawstring of his sweatpants.

Before long, Penelope glanced up to find that Derek's eyes had gone slightly unfocused and his hands were clenched into the couch cushions as he very obviously fought not to beg her to keep going. Her expression was positively, impishly evil as she took him by the chin and turned his head back to face her, to make sure he was still hearing her. "Try not to let me blow your mind, Sugar," she grinned wickedly. "Enjoy the ride."

A muscle in his jaw worked as he gazed back at her, and he sat, riveted, as she proceeded to make good on her word…