Penelope was—by nature—an over-sleeper. She always had been. However, on this particular Wednesday morning, Penelope was up bright and early.

She wanted to get to work so she could see Derek—even if he had broken her heard and stolen himself and his girls' right out from under her. She didn't need to talk to him. She just needed to see him. One glimpse and she'd be OK. Well, she wouldn't be OK, but she'd be better. And if her schedule permitted, she'd leave early today and stop by the girls' daycare to see them. Penelope sighed. She had a plan now, and it made her feel a little bit better.

And after she'd stopped at the café to get her coffee, things would look up even more!

WWWWW

"Where's Penelope?" Derek asked as he walked out of her office. It was ten o'clock, and she still wasn't there yet. He wasn't sure why, but he had a feeling of foreboding in the pit of his stomach.

Prentiss shrugged. "Oh, you know Garcia. She's always running late," she said dismissively. "Can't help but stop for coffee—even when she knows she won't be on time."

"Yeah," Derek agreed, heading for his cubicle.

Reid was standing in front of the television hanging on the wall in the bullpen watching a special newscast when Derek stopped to stand next to him. "What's goin' on?" he asked.

"There's a hostage situation at the coffee shop down the block," he informed his friend.

Derek's heart dropped to his toes when the news camera swept across the front of the building, stopping to rest on the front door. But not before Derek caught a glimpse of red. It was Esther…Penelope's car.

"HOTCH!" Derek roared.

WWWWW

This just wasn't her day, Penelope thought as she tossed her cell phone and purse into the pillowcase so thoughtfully provided by the scoundrel who'd seen fit to rob her favorite café this morning. Coffee. All she'd wanted was coffee, she thought with a wince.

"Everyone down!" the man ordered.

Penelope leaned back against the wall behind her and slumped down until she was sitting on her butt, stretching her legs out in front of her. She couldn't help but look around at the frightened faces and had to bite back a grin. But it wasn't the situation she found amusing, it was the fact that everyone around her was scared, and she was…impatient. She wanted to see Derek. And dammitt, she wanted her coffee!

WWWWW

"We need to get the area cleared!" Hotch said, yelling instructions to the team he'd been able to assemble.

"Hotch," Derek said. "Penelope's in there! We need to get inside!"

"You know what happens when we go into a hostage situation guns blazing, Morgan," Hotch said.

Derek ran a hand over his face. "I can't…stand out here and try to reason with this guy!" he said.

"You're not going to," Hotch said. "We got David Rossi. He's one of the best hostage negotiators there is."

As far as Derek was concerned, when it came to Penelope's safety…the best still wasn't good enough. "But I think—"

"Morgan, I don't care what you think. Garcia's inside and we're gonna play this as by the book as we possibly can. Now stay out of the way, or get the hell out of here!"

"What is going on with you?" Derek asked.

"I'm trying to get in control of the situation, and you won't get the fuck out of my way!"

Derek laughed bitterly. "You think this is control?" he asked.

"Don't make me take your credentials," Hotch said.

Derek studied his unit chiefs' face for a minute, then pulled his badge off his shirt. "No need," Derek said, taking out his credentials and tossing them at his boss. "I'll give em to ya." He pulled his piece off his belt. "Here's my gun, too."

"Don't get in the way of this investigation, Morgan," Hotch warned.

Derek didn't say anything, but Hotch knew his team. And he knew the look in Derek Morgan's eyes. "Do you want me to take you into protective custody?" he asked.

"I'd like to see you try," Morgan said, sprinting away from Hotch.

"Morgan!" Hotch bellowed.

WWWWW

Derek slid his way along the back of the building, looking for a way…any way in through the back. He finally saw a window that was open just a crack and after wheedling it open just enough so he could fit through, he looked around and then leaned headfirst into the opening, using his hands to push on the wall so his lower body slid through.

After getting to his feet, he stopped, listening for any sound, but he didn't hear anything. He opened the door a crack, then made his way into the hallway outback. He found the lockers, and after a little rummaging, he came up with an apron and an IPOD. They'd do.

WWWWW

It had been nearly two hours since she'd sat down, and Penelope's ass was killing her. She had no idea what this guy wanted—and she was pretty sure he didn't, either. She caught a movement out of the corner of her eye, and when she realized what it was, her eyes almost popped out of his head. Was he crazy?

Derek moved slowly into the room wearing an apron, headphones in his ears, the mop in his hands gliding easily across the floor.

"Hey!" the man yelled.

Derek spun around, fear in his eyes. The mop clattered to the floor, and he pulled the headphones from his ears, his hand flying up in the air. "Whoa, whoa, whoa," he said in a shaky voice. "What's going on?"

"What in the hell are you doing here?" the man asked.

Derek's eyes swept the room, and he nearly sighed with relief when he saw Penelope safely sitting against the wall, eyes wide. "I just…punched in," he said. "My shift started at noon."

"How in the hell did you get in here?" The man was getting agitated now.

"Someone…left…the back door unlocked," Derek said nervously. "I locked it behind me," he said, then scoffed. "It was probably Manny."

"Are you sure it's locked?"

"Yes," Derek said solemnly.

The man lifted his gun and Derek's eyes widened. "Are you gonna shoot me?" he asked.

The man used his gun to point towards Penelope. "Over there," he said, much to Derek's relief. There was nowhere he'd rather be right now than by her side. He moved slowly, making his way to Penelope's side inch by inch before sitting down next to her. When the man looked away, Derek turned to her, looking her up and down. "You OK?" he whispered.

"What in the hell do you think you're doing?" she whispered back.

"I'm gonna get us out of here," he told her.

She sighed. She had no doubt about that, but what kind of a man told you to move away, then broke into a building to be taken hostage so he could save you? Derek Morgan had never made less sense.

"The sooner, the better," she muttered.

"You didn't answer me. Are you OK?" he repeated. His eyes looked as if they were begging her to say yes.

"I'm OK," she said. Except for the whole broken heart thing, she thought.

"I'm sorry," Derek whispered.

"That I'm OK?" she asked in disbelief.

"For being a prick," he clarified.

Penelope didn't say anything, just pursed her lips and turned to look ahead.

"Will you marry me?" Derek whispered.

Penelope's head flew around to face him again and she was sure her eyes were as big as saucers. OK, this guy had to have the worst timing in the world. "Are you crazy?" she hissed.

"Only about you," he answered. "If we get out of here alive, we're getting married," he informed her.

She looked at him in disbelief. "Derek, if we get out of here alive, I'm going…to kill you!" she promised.

But he just grinned. "I think Chessie gets her flare for melodrama from you."

Penelope didn't say anything, just sat there, her mind racing. Number one, she was being held hostage.

Number two, Derek had broken in so he could be held hostage with her. Granted he probably had a plan, but still…

And number three, he'd just asked her to marry him. This, in theory, was fantastic. But the problem was…he still hadn't told her he loved her.

WWWWW

"What's goin' on over here?" the man asked, stalking towards Penelope and Derek.

"Nothing," Penelope said nervously. He was pointing his gun at her, so she was pretty sure she was entitled.

"You!" he yelled. "Up!"

Penelope did as he commanded her to do, and he reached forward, grabbing her by the arm. He spun her around so her back was against his chest and Penelope heard the gasps and sobs from around the room. He lifted the gun to her temple. "Who are you?" he asked Derek.

"I told you, I work here. I punched in out back, and when I came out—"

"I'm gonna give you one last chance to tell me the truth before I start shooting."

Derek slowly moved to his feet. "My name is Derek Morgan," he said quietly. "I work for—"

"I don't feel so good," Penelope said weakly, interrupting him. "I think…" She hoped against hope that Derek was ready to spring into action. Pretending to faint, Penelope's entire body went limp. The man wasn't prepared for dead weight, and his hold on her tightened. And so did the finger on the trigger of his gun that was pointed straight at Derek. Penelope shrieked as she went sprawling backwards.