Penelope was on the phone to Emily in the lobby hoping she had done the right thing by leaving him there to talk to Jessica, but his confession that afternoon explained his fear of commitment and tendency to aim only for short term relationships. Whatever was between them was proving to be a road block for him, one that he needed to learn to climb over and as his best friend she wanted him to deal. Whatever the fall out, she would be there. She had always known that Jessica's impact was a big one, and now she finally understood. Soul ties run deep and this was no exception. She guessed that Jessica was the woman in which he measured all women by and she understood that. She could see that the love between them still existed and would forever be a part of them. She knew that the one mistake that Jessica made would be the one that she would regret for the rest of her life. Derek though fiercely loyal was equally unforgiving when betrayed. For all of his attributes, one of his failings was unwillingness to forgive those who have hurt him. After everything she understood it and felt sorry for those in the receiving end of his wrath.

"So does it suck as much as you anticipated?" Emily asked amused after enduring days of Penelope's whining.
"Yes," she answered stubbornly before taking it back,
"Actually it's bearable." Penelope bit her lip from adding it was because other things were occupying her mind.
"See, I told you it wouldn't be so bad."
"Easy Tiger, just because I'm not wanting to slit my own wrists doesn't mean it's fun." Penelope retorted earning a chuckle from her friend.
"What are you up to this weekend?"
"Providing there's no case I am hoping to just stay home and try and kick this sore throat that keeps lingering. How about you? Just hanging out with the family?"
"More or less I think. No set plans. We were thinking of driving back on Sunday, if we make it back early enough you up for a Girls Night at mine? We have Monday off anyway."
"Sounds like a plan. Let me know, we can always get the party started without you and you can just catch up."
"True, will keep you posted. I better go back in there before he starts looking for me."
"Enjoy the rest of your evening PG."
"I will do my outmost to try."

"How are you Derek? You're looking well." Jessica said in observation, a distinct sadness lingered in her eyes.
"I'm well thank you. Working like a dog,"
"You don't look any worse for wear for it."
"Because I love it, and trust me there are plenty of bruises to sport it, but as I said, I do love it. You're looking good too Jess. How's Michael?" he asked after her son. She had named her son after his late father, for all that he was in both their lives and it meant a lot to all of them. Still to the day, it tugged at his heart.
"He's great, growing like a weed, he's crazy smart."
"Beauty and brains from his mother of course."
"Well…how can I argue with that? Listen Derek," she began,
"Jess, it's okay."
"Is it really?" she countered.
"I won't deny that it hurt, but I know I wasn't the only one who was hurt. I hurt you too." Jess dropped her gaze to the floor.
"I understood that you were hurt and angry, but Derek I lost more than my boyfriend that day. I lost my best friend too. I think that hurt more than any beating I took from Charlie." Derek clenched his fist at the mention of the garbage he had arrested.
"Thank you by the way." Derek looked up at her with forced innocence.
"I can still read right through you Derek James Morgan. Don't even deny it. It wasn't at all coincidental that Charlie was taken into custody by one of your boys from the precinct. I appreciate that after everything, you would still do all that for me."
"It was no big deal," he said with a shrug, but Jess placed a hand on his arm.
"But it was a big deal. Not only was it that you cared despite what happened between us, but also because I'm sure if Freddy hadn't burst through the door that night, Charlie would have killed me emotionally if not physically. I made Freddy promise not to tell you how bad I was, because I knew you would have killed Charlie in your anger, and I think we have all paid enough price for my mistake." Derek shook his head knowing she was right.
"Penelope seems great."
"She is," he said looking towards the door that led to the lobby.
"How much does she know?"
"All of it." He answered without hesitation. Jessica smiled at him,
"I'm glad. I wish I could say that I hated her, after all she's not only taken over where I sat as your best friend, she's surpassed me. But I don't. Because I see just how much she cares about you, and you're lucky Derek. You're really lucky."
"I know." He agreed with a smile at the thought of Penelope.
"She's totally restored a part of you I had always felt to bad in breaking. Your faith in human kind and ability to love."
"She has. With what we do at work, when I'm drowning, she's the one waiting with a life vest, she is my vest. After everything, Buford, us, I wasn't sure if I could ever trust anyone again and she proves to me daily that I can. She challenges me, and she doesn't take no for an answer, nor is she scared to kick my ass when it needs kicking."
"Wow, I'm impressed. Would it be weird if I said I'd really like to get to know her?"
"No, the chances are the feeling would be mutual." He answered with a chuckle,
"You mean she doesn't hate me for what I did?"
"That's not Pen. And for the record Jess, I've never hated you. Ever." He said solemnly,
"Thank you Derek. That means more to me than you could ever possibly know."

After their talk, Penelope in good timing had come back into the ballroom. As she approached them Derek gave her a reassuring smile to answer the questioning look she gave him.

"I'll get you ladies a refill." He said dropping a kiss on her temple as she joined them,
"Thanks Dirk." She replied after his retreating figure,
"Dirk?" Jess asked with curiosity,
"The first day we met, he didn't know my name. One of the guys told him my name was Gomez and of course when he called out Gomez, I didn't answer. So he screams out Baby Girl in the middle of the bull pen which was a tad embarrassing, so ever since he introduced himself to me as Derek, I've been calling him Dirk as a payback. It sounds stupid out loud, but it worked at the time."
"It's not stupid at all." Jess said kindly.

The rest of the evening was spent catching up like three old friends. Penelope felt somewhat a kindred connection to Jessica and vice versa. Derek watched them in great amusement. Years had healed his heart, and having Penelope in his life taught him that life was too short to carry such a huge baggage of bitterness, that it was a choice to drop those baggages. He had to admit, having that talk with Jessica released him.

"Hey P." Derek said catching her hand in his before she could open the front door,
"Yeah hon?" she replied.
"Thank you." He said pulling her into his arms and engulfing her in an almost bone crushing embrace, his gratitude could not be conveyed in words but she caught it,
"You're welcome. You'd do the same for me. It's what friends do." She murmured into his chest as he buried his face on her shoulder.