Chapter Seven
As soon as he was finished with his last report, Derek wasted no time in getting to the hospital. Knowing the outrageous wait times to be seen to for something non-life threatening like a broken jaw, he figured Penelope and Kevin would still be there. True to his prediction, the couple were sitting together in two equally uncomfortable chairs. Penelope's jaw was noticeably swollen, but the smudges and smears of black, blue, and purple shades almost made Derek sick. Kevin was holding her hand, running his thumb around the curve of her wrist.
"Hey, Garcia, how you feeling?" Derek asked as he came over to her. Not wanting to anger Kevin, he'd abstained from any pet names. The latter seemed to be biting his tongue in frustration. Penelope could sense the tension, but in her present condition, could say nothing. It took a great effort, however, to keep the tears from flowing. She knew if she started crying, Derek might be able to discern the truth. And then all hell would break loose.
"Has she been seen to yet?" Morgan queried, if only to ease Kevin's brooding state. After all, he had come only to comfort his best friend. Not start another world war.
"Obviously not, Agent," Kevin snarled slightly. "Don't you think she'd have a bandage or something?" Derek took a step back, hands raised slightly in defensive mode.
"I was only asking," was his somber reply. "I guess you two don't need me around, then." He turned to leave, when-
"N-no." Both men turned to look at Penelope. Even through the intense pain, she'd managed to speak, if only to say one word. The one word she hoped could save her. Derek looked rather perplexed, but shrugged.
"I guess she's spoken." Derek took a seat next to Penelope. He desperately wanted to kiss her forehead or stroke her hand, but didn't want the wrath of Kevin.
A Few Hours Later
The doctors had wrapped Penelope's jaw after determining that it was indeed a nasty fracture. Luckily, all of her teeth had remained intact (of course, Kevin knew it was a sheer miracle that the gun hadn't knocked all her molars out). She would have to stay the night, because her inability to swallow fluid meant she'd need an IV. Surprisingly, Penelope made no attempt to argue with the doctor, which surprised Derek enormously.
Now, she was lying in bed, an IV protruding from her arm. She wore the traditional hospital gown, a costume that hardly fit her flamboyant personality. Kevin had excused himself to get something to eat, which left Derek alone with her. This was the opportunity Morgan needed to talk with her privately.
"Baby Girl, don't try to talk too much. But if you can, could you tell me what happened to you?" Though Derek had no reason to believe the whole thing was nothing but a painful accident, something in his gut told him to ask her anyway. Much to his surprise, Penelope shook her head. And then relinquished a solitary tear. She wished that it could speak for her. That it could tell Derek EXACTLY what had happened. That it could beg him to save her.
"It's okay, princess. Don't be embarrassed. If it was just a dumb accident, don't worry about it. We all do stupid stuff sometimes." Oh, it wasn't that. Why couldn't he see? Why couldn't he see what was right in front of him?
"Stay." It was all Penelope could say before the pain near enough overwhelmed her. She hoped the word in itself would symbolize much more. Derek still looked puzzled.
"Of course I'll stay with you. Whatever you want, Baby. Why would you think I wouldn't?" She shook her head again.
"Sweetheart. Look at me. Did something else happen today?" Penelope's heart began to race. Should she just tell him and risk it all? Should she lie? Should she even try to speak at all?
"Please. Help." And then the pain, the biting, feral, agony that had resulted from not just her current injury but from all of the verbal threats and torture Kevin had thrust on her, overtook her. She grew dizzy, and then her world turned black.
As if it wasn't dark enough already.