Chapter Nine

"I really see no reason to keep Ms. Garcia in the hospital another night. She's recovering quite nicely. Just keep the bandages and ice on and be sure she doesn't talk very much. I'll get the discharge papers ready." Derek nodded, and glanced at Penelope, whose expression hadn't changed a bit as the doctor spoke.

"You ready to leave, Penelope?" he asked, abstaining from pet names as Kevin was also in the room. She barely acknowledged Derek's question, shrugging her shoulders an infinitesimal amount. At this point, she'd nearly broken from reality. She didn't care anymore, she just didn't care. She would go home with the man who had made her life hell. He could do with her as he pleased. Her tenacity, her fighting spirit, the strength that was uniquely hers-it had long since left her body. Now even Death would be a dear friend.

"I'll go put your things in the car, all right?" Kevin murmured gently. He picked up the duffel Emily and JJ had brought for her and walked out of the room.

"Baby, are you sure you're going to be okay?" Derek asked, walking over and gently placing his hand on her shoulder. Penelope nodded slowly.

"Love you," she whispered, wincing slightly.

"I love you too, my Baby Girl." He reached into the bag he'd been clutching and pulled out a single white lily, Penelope's favorite flower. Her eyes widened as he placed it in her hand.

"I found this in the little garden outside the hospital. I know I'm not usually a sappy person, but I wanted to give this to you because I wanted to remind you that you have me. Penelope Garcia, you will never, ever, be alone in this world, because I'll always be there for you. Always. Never forget that, Baby." He had to give her something, anything, to let her know that he still worried about her, still loved her, even though she was in a relationship with another man.

"Thank you," she murmured. "Thank you so much." She clutched the lily tightly in her fist, as though it was her one link to this world.

Little did either of them know that the beautiful, innocent purity of the lily would soon be destroyed.

Later

"You all right, sweetheart?" Kevin asked as he helped her inside the house. He kept a firm grip on her wrist, in what Penelope hoped and prayed was just a protective gesture. Tucked away in her pocket the lily remained hidden from view.

"I'm fine, Kevin," Penelope replied as evenly as she could. The cruel, bitter irony of his question struck her particularly hard. She found she was starting to feel more emotion now that Derek had given her the lily.

"Are you mad at me?" The query was inexplicably genuine.

"What do you think?" was the chilly response, though the icy tone was also due to the pain in her jaw.

"Penelope, dear, I didn't mean to hurt you. It was an accident, remember?" he soothed. He reached out to pat her cheek, but she slapped his hand away.

"Accident, my ass!" She felt angry tears collecting in a heated pool in her eyes.

"Penny, you're confused….and you're probably tired. Why don't you lie down for a bit?" He wrapped his arm around her waist in a grip too strong for her to break free from. He led her to the bed and helped her under the covers.

"Rest, Penny. I'll take care of you now."

These words would be the truest that Kevin Lynch would ever speak.