"He's going to pull through you know."

Penelope wiped a tear that had escaped from her eyes as she turned toward the voice. She was so deep in thought that she hadn't heard the woman enter the room.

"Oh…um…I didn't hear you come in."

"He's going to be okay." She repeated.

Penelope noticed the woman's name tag, Savannah Hayes, M.D., and her heart sank. She stood trying to gather herself without revealing her sudden insecurity to the gorgeous woman before her.

"You must be Savannah…Derek's Savannah…Of course you are…your name tag says…"

"And you must be Penelope." She interrupted.

Savannah stood next to Derek on the opposite side of the bed and looked down on the sleeping man. She gently stroked the side of his face fighting back her own tears.

Penelope watched her wondering how she was with him when everything was going good. He had been lying here for almost six hours and this was her first time coming to see him. That was strange; how do you love someone and not be present in the room, she thought to herself.

"Are you sure?"

"Excuse me?"

"Are you sure…that's he's going to be okay…"

"Of course I am. If all goes well tonight we'll be taking him off the medication that's keeping him in the coma. If all goes as expected he'll begin waking up shortly afterwards."

"That's good news."

Savannah quickly resumed her professional air and looked at Penelope examining her carefully looking for her secret. There had to be a secret that kept Derek talking about her non-stop. His words of admiration and…and something else…she didn't dare give it a label, then she'd have to question too many things…most importantly she'd have to question her place in his life.

"He talks about you all the time. It's good to meet you Penelope."

"It's good to meet you too I just wish it were under better circumstances."

"Me too."

The two women watched him in silence both in their own trances temporarily blocking out the other's presence in the room. Penelope knew that perhaps she should leave after all, Savannah was Derek's girlfriend and even though she'd obviously had a good reason for not stopping by sooner, this was her place…not Penelope's.

"I'll let you have some privacy. I'm sorry for staying so long…"

"Don't apologize, I should have been here sooner but we are slammed downstairs."

"Yes…busy…okay, well, again, it was a pleasure meeting you…Savannah."

"Thank you, same here. I'm sure I'll see you around."

Penelope stood and headed toward the door. Savannah watched as she left the room and headed down the hallway. So many questions rushed through her mind. She'd never felt the need to ask them before but now her heart would not rest until she did.

Potomac General – Saturday Afternoon

Once again Savannah found Penelope at Derek's side. She obviously hadn't left the hospital because she was still dressed in the same clothes now wrinkled and disheveled. She hadn't slept either her mascara had been cried off and what was left was smeared under her eyes. The attending physician had already ordered the medication that had forced his body to remain asleep to be discontinued. Savannah wanted to be the first face he saw when he opened his eyes but there she sat staring at him waiting for him to wake up.

Savannah watched unnoticed from the doorway. Penelope held his hand in hers with her eyes fixed intently on him as if she were willing him awake. What hadn't he revealed to her about this woman? Again, questions invaded her once comfortable space. Savannah decided to leave and return later, what difference would it make if he saw her face first, he was her man. Derek Morgan belonged to her…or did he?

It had been three hours, forty-five minutes and eight seconds since the doctors had stopped the medication. Still he lay motionless in the bed. She was exhausted and she hadn't slept since he had been brought in. Her head felt heavy as she laid it on the edge of the bed finding sleep almost immediately.

The day had finally come. It was the day she'd dreamt about for the last eight years. She'd settled so long for just being his friend certain that it was all she could have with him. But now here she stood dressed in a beautiful light flowing white gown. She looked intently at her reflection in the full-length antique mirror and had to admit that it was true. She was gorgeous! He'd told her that millions of times but she couldn't see it until now…today.

She smiled as her two best girl friends appeared on each side of her dressed in identical lavender tea length dresses. They nodded, smiled and agreed that she was indeed beautiful.

"It's time." JJ said with joy in her voice.

"Let's not keep him waiting." Emily chimed in.

" Yes, you've kept him waiting long enough." A voice from the background said.

She turned to see the warm smile of David Rossi dressed in a black tuxedo his hand extended to her. She glanced at her girls and walked toward him and took his hand.

The door opened onto a beautiful tropical courtyard. The lush foliage and oversized brightly colored flowers created an enchanting path that lead to a large area filled with all of their friends and family seated in white chairs. She paused momentarily at the top of the white clothed path that had been littered with purple, red and yellow roses. There he stood at the other end dressed in a black tuxedo. Reid and Hotch stood next to him smiling and shooting glances at their teary-eyed tough guy friend. He took her breath away as their eyes locked on each other. She didn't remember taking another step yet somehow she was standing before him beaming crying tears of joy.

"Penelope…Baby Girl."

He squeezed her hand gently trying to wake her.

"Penelope…wake up, Baby."

Startled, Penelope jumped jerked awake and away from the most amazing dream she'd ever had in her life. She looked into his sleepy eyes and prayed that God would let it come true.

"Good morning Handsome."

He couldn't have prayed for a more beautiful vision, smeared make up and all it didn't matter. She was here for him and he was grateful.

"What happened?"

He wanted to sit up but the pain reminded him of the accident from the night before.

"Don't move!" She insisted. "Let me go and get the nurse."

Nervously she jumped up but he held tightly on to her hand. Their eyes met and the silence between them forced her back to her seat.

"Don't go, please."

Savannah checked her watch. She knew he should be awake now as she anxiously headed toward his room. She wanted so desperately to see him with her own eyes. It didn't matter that Penelope no doubt would be with him she just wanted to reaffirm her place and to confirm what she so needed to believe that she was his and he was hers.

"No tears, Baby Girl." He said quietly as he brushed away the tears that were now flowing freely from her eyes.

She had abandoned the chair and was now sitting on his bed their hands intertwined. Ignoring the pain he pulled her hand to his lips and she smiled deeply into his eyes. No words were needed in that moment. He kissed her hand again and she knew that nothing else mattered now.

He saw what he had only thought he'd imagined before in her eyes, beyond the tears that had washed away her normally perfect makeup. His new alertness and his heart would not allow him to explain it away. He wasn't quite sure why he had allowed himself to settle for anything or anyone less than her.

She wanted to tell him about her dream and she wanted to tell him about all the other dreams before. For the moment she just stared into his eyes thankful that he was awake, that he'd come back from the brink of death. Why had she let fear steal her joy and a life with him away? It didn't matter now…he was here and so was she…nothing else and no one else mattered.

Savannah stood and watched the truth play out before her eyes. He'd never looked at her the way he was looking at Penelope. He never belonged to her and she could no longer pretend that his heart had been claimed long before she'd stepped foot into his life. She had secretly wondered if patience would win him over in the end and if silence and denial would help her live a life with this man whom she loved completely. She knew the answer, and she knew the questions had already been answered each and every time he had mentioned her name.

Penelope. She'd always loved that name. Her parents had given her a doll named Penelope when she was a child. She was so beautiful with her painted red lips and bright brown eyes. She was her favorite doll…she so loved the name, Penelope…but not any more.

To be continued…