Chapter Six

Sorry for the abrupt ending to last chapter….I legit had to go at that second but I wanted to upload SOMETHING….this taking place right after events of chapter 5, okay?

Garcia's Office

Heart pounding, Penelope tried to once again focus on her computers. After all, she was here to work, right? However, her mind kept flashing back to her interaction with Derek. He was obviously worried about her, and she realized that because he was an excellent profiler, it wouldn't take him too long to figure out what was going on. And that was her greatest fear. It wasn't that she didn't want to be saved from Kevin's wrath; she simply couldn't bear if Derek got hurt, or, God forbid, killed, if he tried to help her.

Not that she didn't think her chocolate Adonis couldn't stand up against Kevin and his stupid toys….it was that she realized that her 'boyfriend' had more assets than Derek. She remembered that Kevin had once told her that he could build high-powered explosives. Of course, Morgan had worked as a bomb tech, but even the best couldn't diffuse EVERY bomb. And then there was the toxicological expertise Lynch (at this point, Penelope couldn't even think of him by his first name) possessed. The sheer number of poisons he could discreetly slip to his perceived enemy…..one drop would be all it would take….

Suddenly, Penelope realized the absolute absurdity of her thoughts. What the hell was Lynch playing at anyway? There was no damn way he'd be able to have CONSTANT surveillance and his gun on him at all times, and still act normal in the FBI building. Geez, she was stupid.

Just then, Kevin burst in.

"Penny, how are you?" His voice was cold, calculating. Yet Penelope was unafraid.

"Fine, thank you." Her tone was equally apathetic.

"I saw you blow off Derek Morgan. Smart move." She suddenly felt a cold, steely object press against the back of her neck. Her next words balled up in her throat.

"I know what you were thinking," Lynch continued. "That there's no way I could hurt him. That he'd beat me. You're wrong. That bullheaded idiot couldn't defuse one of my bombs if I gave him an instruction manual. And one of my concoctions, even one millimeter of it, slipped into his morning coffee, could instantly destroy every cell in his body. So, go ahead, spill your secrets to him. They'll be the last things he hears."

"You're mad," Penelope hissed, temporarily masking her fear. The feel of gun on skin was chilling her to the bone, but she couldn't let her emotions rule her. "And we both know Derek could outsmart you on both those things."

"Maybe, maybe not. Everyone lets their guard down at one point or another during the day. He's no exception. One word, Penny, one word to anyone, and you and the unfortunate soul die."

"Kevin, if you truly love me, then why are you doing this?" This whole situation was more than bizarre. It didn't even seem remotely real, maybe only something out of a really crappy TV show. Even though she was hearing his threats for the second time, it still made absolutely no sense.

"Don't you see, Penny? It's BECAUSE I love you that I am doing this. I'm protecting you from the people who could hurt you. Take Derek Morgan, for example. It's partially his fault you got shot, remember? If he hadn't broken your heart, you never would have gone on the date with that psycho. And Agent Hotchner? I wouldn't trust him to keep you safe. He let his own wife die under his watch just because he wanted the glory for catching the Reaper. Don't you see, Penelope? I'm not like them. I have never hurt you. I'm doing all of this to protect you from them and from yourself."

"No, I don't see, Kevin. You say you have never hurt me, but this"—she gestured towards the gun—"is hardly an act of love. Nor is threatening to kill me or the people I care about. I don't care what you THINK you're going to do, I'm going to tell Derek EXACTLY what's going on. He'll lock you up and I'll be rid of you."

In a blind rage, Kevin raised his gun and smacked the butt against Penelope's cheek. Tears sprung to her eyes as a red welt immediately began to form. Pain radiated outward, almost tangible enough to taste. She tried to let out a moan of pain, but stopped when it became physically impossible to open her mouth more than a millimeter. He'd probably broken her jaw….

"Oh, shit, Penelope, I'm so sorry!" he cried. "Here, let me get you to a hospital!" She tried to protest, but as Kevin was not incapacitated like she was, he was able to wrap his arm around her waist rather snugly and lead her out of her office. The pain in her cheek was becoming unbearable. Black spots started to pinprick her vision, but Penelope fought hard to not pass out.

As they walked past the BAU bullpen, Derek caught sight of his Baby Girl. When he saw her obvious agony, he rushed over to her and Kevin.

"What happened, Kevin? Is she okay?" He reached over to wipe the tears off Penelope's face, but moved his hand away when she visibly flinched.

"I don't know. She was opening her office door for me to come in when I knocked, but I guess she yanked the knob too hard, because the door smacked her really hard in her face. I think her jaw is broken. I'm going to take her to the hospital."

Penelope tried to signal to Derek with her eyes that Kevin was blatantly lying, but, ironically, as a profiler, he failed to notice her pleading expression. She cursed her inability to speak.

"Oh, Baby Girl, I'm sorry. Kevin, you take good care of my friend, you hear? I want her feeling better as soon as possible." He wished he could kiss her, but knew it would be inappropriate.

Derek didn't suspect a thing.

He allowed the lion to lead the lamb away.

BTW…the author doesn't agree with Kevin's statements about Hotch. Put 'em in there to fully emphasize Lynch's complete insanity. I realize that this is pretty OOC for everyone, but come on, we ALL know that it's possible for Kevin to be like this:P Please review, okay? I know I sound like a broken record. Like a broken record. Like a broken record. LOL.