Disclaimer: I own nothing, just the little plot bunny (kinder!)
A/N: Thanks as always for the reviews, alerts and favourites =) Hope you like what's instore!
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- When The Sky Falls -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
"We're nearly there," Derek coached as they rounded yet another destroyed corner. Even with the amount of disruption around they could both just about make out the area and judging by prior experience, Reid's house was a couple of blocks away.
"Funny how today panned out really," Penelope said after a couple of minutes silent. "It looked like such a gorgeous day and now look where we are. We're pregnant, the apocalypse is upon us and still my husband manages to save my life."
"Possibly our worst timing ever," Derek laugh, "But I've never been happier and I promise I will do anything to make sure we meet our baby one day."
Penelope smiled, even though she was happy, she couldn't help but feel saddened by the state of the world in which their child would be brought into, if they were to survive. If they found some safe place then their baby would be born into a world in the throes of rebuilding some sort of civilisation. It would be classed as the new generation, the ones that survived the most and would help to rebuild the world back up to what it was.
She just couldn't let her hope burn out entirely, not until she knew her little family were safe and together.
As Derek helped Penelope around yet another corner they saw that Reid's street was almost intact apart from a few large cracks in the concrete and houses damaged from nearby impacts. Reid's house still stood strong and tall and Derek saw it as their first haven around for miles.
"If our boy has any sense he stayed in there," Penelope spoke softly, hoping that Reid hadn't left his home. "I want them all to be safe, Derek."
"I know you do, Princess," Derek told her back as they neared closer to the house. "If any of them have common sense they did the right thing and stayed inside or if it's like me and you, they found the nearest home to get to."
"What about your mom, Handsome? And Desiree and Sarah?" Penelope fretted as they climbed the stairs that led to Reid's porch.
"I'll try and see if cell connections still up, and broadcasting, but I can't do much from here," Derek replied solemnly, hiding his fear at what was going on in Chicago. He let Penelope go for a moment and knocked on Reid's door before trying the handle to see if it was open. Pushing the door ajar he stuck his head in, "Reid!" Derek shouted out, "Kid you in here?"
Reid came running towards the hallway, almost disbelief masking his face, "You're alive?"
Derek laughed and then went and got Penelope, "Alive and kicking, Spence and that's how I want it to remain."
Breaking free for a moment, Penelope wrapped her arms around Reid's neck, "I'm so glad you're okay, Spence." She gushed happily and then released him. "I knew you wouldn't do anything stupid."
"Like go outside?" Reid asked and was left to speculate about what had happened to Penelope as Derek took her into the house a bit more.
"Exactly like that," Derek responded.
Walking in behind them, he watched Derek help Penelope sit down at the dining table and put her leg up on a chair before he turned to his TV. "The news is still broadcasting," Reid pointed out, "Most of America is gone."
"Oh God," Penelope whispered as she watched the footage that was broadcasted, the limited amounts said everything necessary.
"Cell reception is slowly cutting out over the country, soon we won't have any, but right now, it just seems that America is disappearing bit by bit."
Derek pulled Reid away as Penelope became evidently upset with the news displayed on the TV. He knew this would happen. The moment Penelope saw it displayed on the screens, the reality that this was happening everywhere, would be the moment that reality hit home, hard. He could see Reid itching to make sense of this however he knew how to.
"The Mayans' prediction was calculated for the twenty first of December 2012. Not thirtieth of July 2011. This can't be right. This wasn't documented in any literature that I've read."
"Hey Pretty Boy," Derek stopped Reid in his tracks, "Now is not the time to base your life on books. It's happening, the Mayans were wrong, as were a lot of people on this. We have to somehow get to the others. We need to stick together here, Pen needs us to. Can you do that?"
Reid looked over to Penelope as she sat at his dining room table, a flash of lightening beckoned through from the back of his house and he just nodded a little before making it more pronounced. Derek was right, it was happening and it didn't matter how many books he had read, or how much he remembered, not one of them prepared him for what was unravelling around them at that moment.
"H-How are we going to do this then?" He asked quickly.
Derek smiled his appreciation, "Right, JJ and Will are closest, then it's Rossi. Once we've got them with us, then we'll have to make a plan for Hotch and Emily."
"What about Seaver?"
"Reid," Derek started slowly and almost apologetically, "She lives too far out for us to reach. Pen's already hurt; she won't make it all the way there. We'll be slowed as it is." He looked down at the floor, gaining some composure and then looked back up, straight into his friend's eyes. "We don't know how hurt the others are either."
"Let's help Garcia first, and then we'll have to leave," Reid said a little disconnected as he tried to get his head around what was happening.
"Where's your first aid kit, kid?" Derek asked going into the kitchen.
"I've got it, you get some ice or something to reduce the swelling on Penelope's ankle." Reid advised, thankful that some of the knowledge he had acquired was allowed to play some importance around even in their predicament. "We'll keep her ankle elevated whilst we get the things what we need."
Grabbing the first aid kit, Reid went over to Penelope and placed it down.
Penelope looked up and smiled at him, "Don't you dare doubt your abilities, Sweetie. You're more than book smart." She told him honestly and she could read his disbelief at that, "Does Penelope Garcia ever lie to her favourite genius?"
"No, but none of this was supposed to happen," Reid argued back, still relying on the knowledge he had.
Smiling, Penelope put her hand out to cover his, "Listen to me now," She started. "No one could've predicted this, much like no one can predict what sicko is going to go out and kill someone. We deal with those almost every day and work."
"This isn't some psychotic, ruthless killer."
"Is it not?" Penelope asked, a bit of sarcasm laying slick within her tone. "We out run the baddies all the time, I think we can outrun this one for a bit longer. Whatcha say Sweetie?"
"Ice for my lady's leg," Derek said as he came out with a tea towel wrapping around ice. He stood in front of Penelope, shot her a look, "This is gonna be cold, Baby." He told her simply and placed it down on Penelope's swollen ankle. "And she's got a point Reid; this hasn't beaten us until we say so." He then stood up straight, "You keep that there while me and pretty boy go and get some stuff to take with us."
Penelope watched the two men disappear for a moment; she could hear them amongst the noises from outside. She could hear the screech of car tyres on the roads, the sounds of multiple crashes, the thunder ripping through the clear skies, the sound of people running. Penelope just found herself getting lost in all the sounds.
"Pen," Derek spoke as he tried to break her concentration, "Penelope," He said but got no response, "Mrs Morgan," He called out sternly and Penelope's head snapped up to look at him and Reid standing there. "You okay?" He asked and she nodded, "I'm gonna sort your ankle and we're gonna head to JJ's." He got the bandages and knelt down by her leg but looked up at her before doing anything. "You sure you're okay?" He asked surveying her features.
"I just wanna go home," Penelope said and she felt the irony of the moment stick in her gut some. "That's all."
"I know you do, Baby," He said and found, that for once, he was completely wordless to calm her woes. "We'll get there soon," He spoke quietly, more to himself, as he lifted the ice off of her ankle.
It was as Derek was just about to start to wrap Penelope's ankle, to secure it the best he could, just as a loud ripping sound came from around them. They all looked at one another as the house seemingly split in two. The three watched as the part in front of them appeared to fall into a massive hole in the ground.
Reid felt like he had been caught lucky as he looked down and saw how near the edge he was. At how close a call he had had with what the world was inflicting upon them. He began to smile, when he felt the floor below him weaken under his weight.
Neither Penelope nor Derek could react as Reid fell.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- When The Sky Falls -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-