Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds

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The doctor came out of the room, leaving the large sliding door open, he approached the people that had made it evidently clear were there for Penelope. He approached and smiled warmly. Although he smiled, everyone could tell there was going to be a whole load of bad news, his smile was a comforting smile, one that tried to make them relax before they got full throttle of everything Penelope was suffering.

'Right I'm not going to bore you with multiple medical jargons, I am going to say this for now but Ms Garcia is extremely critical for the mean time. I am amazed at how well her breathing is considering the multiple punctures that we had to repair earlier this morning. I am also pleased with her alertness to everything. She has a crushed fracture to her wrist, multiple bruising to her entire body. She has burns and lacerations to roughly 45% of her body, all should heal without leaving scarring. We had to repair multiple internal tears that appear to have occurred due to forceful kicking to her abdomen and chest. Her trachea is slightly crushed but that will repair itself, she has an enormous amount of bruising to her throat clearly evident with being strangled on numinous occasions over a drawn out amount of time.' He breathed in deeply. 'She has suffered a massive prolonged bout of starvation and is, therefore, highly dehydrated and is lacking in nutrition and vitamins. She is, therefore, getting these things through a tube in her nose, as her throat cannot tolerate more than liquids for the time being.'

Everyone looked at one another, all the women were crying, all men being strong even though Reid looked ready to bolt and cry. Hotch, Rossi and Morgan looking ready to punch something forcefully. They knew she could only get better here but it was getting there that would be the struggle.

'Now for her head injury, we had to insert a small draining tube into her skull while we were repairing her other injuries, this is taking the excess blood from the hematoma that she has sustained and allowing the brain to heal on its own. So far it seems to be having positive effects and she is not suffering from any form of brain damage. I'd like to keep her up here, and I'm afraid on high alert, until I can guarantee no further complications.'

'Is that everything?' Hotch asked, everyone stunned into complete silence after hearing the running list of what Penelope had suffered in the four months she had been gone.

'Yes, you're welcome to go in but for now she is extremely weak and highly drugged. She needs to be kept calm for the obvious reasons. She is awake; I'm not sure how long for but talk to her by all means.' He smiled and waited for further questions, when they were done he left and Derek and Hotch entered Penelope's room.

She looked at them the best she could, she didn't want them to be here and see her like this, she wanted to be back home in all her glory, her happy self. Yet she knew that that person may never truly be again. Hotch and Derek saw the look and vowed to never let her sink into herself and no longer grace them with her humour and personality that kept them sane and happy every day.

'Hey baby girl.' Derek said composed as best he could do as he sat one side and Hotch sat the other.

'Hey.' She said trying to suppress a tear as her voice came out long, dry, raspy and pain filled again. He touched her hand and felt her flinch slightly. 'Sorry.' She said as a tear escaped her eye. The only human touch she had had for 4 months was one that wanted to hurt her. She did however grab Derek's hand and give it a weakened squeeze, at that moment Derek knew why she apologised, initial touches for now were what scared her.

'Don't be... you have no reason to apologise.'

'Penelope I know it's still a little raw but what can you remember?'

'A basement... a big house... I can't remember where...'

'That's okay.'

'I just remember seeing Chicago and thinking there was one place I could go.' She felt Derek catch a tear as she closed her eyes.

'I'm glad you took it baby girl.'

'Pen, how did you get out?'

'He left the door open, I took my chance.' She coughed slightly, still getting the sticky sound from excess blood.

'Okay well you get some more rest, we'll all be here.' Hotch left Derek in the room and went to the group that was gathered. 'She knew to go to you.' He said to Fran.

'She called it a safe haven.'

'Garcia... Penelope Garcia.' A man's voice said from behind them. 'My sister, Penelope Garcia was brought in earlier.'

Everyone looked confused, Penelope had said her brother's didn't really care much for her but here was one in an evident mess. 'Can I help you?' Hotch said stepping out and departing the large group.

'If you know where my sister is, then yes.'

'Penelope's in the room here. I'm Aaron Hotchner, her friend and boss.'

'I'm Antonio Garcia.' Said the forty year old man. 'Is she okay?'

'As can be.' Hotch turned into the room. 'Derek come out, Pen your brothers here.' Hotch didn't miss the terror that rose, and took a decision to question it later. Something suspicious was happening.

Antonio went in and up to the bed. Penelope looked at him confused. He smiled politely at her, giving the impression of the worried big brother.

'It's okay... I'm here now.' He soothed out in a smooth confident tone of voice.

Penelope's face flushed of even more colour, something that should have not be conceivable for how pale she already was. 'But... but how?' Penelope said rasped out, frozen more so than she already was.

'I made a few phone calls.' He sat on the bed and leaned over her weakened body, his face almost touching hers. 'You dare tell... and I will never let you into the light of day again.'