Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds

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The next morning Penelope was awake, Fran had long since dragged everyone but Hotch and Derek away, feeling they needed mothering just as much as the next person. It was light outside and she felt better, the sun making it appear a better day.

Her hand was still enclosed in Derek's, she took strength off him, not just from his presence, but he never gave her a look of pity but of love and comfort. Same with everyone else, although she knew Reid was struggling, he couldn't look at her without his eyes welling up and for that she wanted to wrap him up in a hug.

She felt him begin to stir and so squeezed his hand; she watched Derek's head shoot up as she kept the grip for a longer time.

'Morning baby girl.' He said with an award winning smile that made her melt every time.

'I'll show you a good morning hot stuff.' She smiled slightly as her voice flowed out stronger.

'Now that is like music to my ear.' He said with an enormous smile on his lips. 'How you feeling?'

'No headache... it's got to be a good sign.' She blinked, still slightly tiredly.

'A very good sign.' He looked at Hotch who was slowly waking up. 'I think someone slept awkwardly.'

'I'd agree with that.' Penelope said as she looked at the boss, she reached up and pulled the mask down just as Hotch's eyes fully adjusted to the light. 'Morning boss man.'

Hotch smiled immediately at the sound of the nickname as it escaped from Penelope's lips. 'Morning Penelope... you look a lot better I must admit.'

'I think she's feeling it too Hotch.' Hotch looked from Derek to Penelope and saw her nod slowly. 'You're grips stronger too P.' She smiled again. 'You just can't take it slow can you?' He joked.

'You know me.' She said and then coughed, both men worrying.

'Should we get someone?'

'No... don't... I have a sore throat.' She said looking at them. 'It's to be expected, what with the lungs and this stupid thing.' She said pointing to the tube in her nose.

'Positive?'

'Positive.' She replied honestly. 'I'm sorry I didn't tell you about Antonio.'

'Penelope it's okay... but why didn't you?'

'I was scared of what he would do.' She closed her eyes as she remembered what he could do. 'But you all got here and I didn't want to be scared.'

'You did the right thing... Derek near enough beat him to death.' Penelope looked at Derek and smiled. 'Plus Rossi got some words in there.'

'Seems you all had a good go.'

'I'm pretty sure if let them, the girls would have finished him.' Hotch added, knowing both other women of the B.A.U. were furious at the perpetrator of all this. Penelope smiled a bit more before beginning to get prolonged blinks, evident exhaustion claiming her fragile body again, it was like her body thrived temporarily but then the energy dispersed again and she wilted.

'It looks like you're ready for some more sleep Penelope.' Hotch said standing. 'I'm going to ring guys see when they are coming back... but sleep yeah?' Penelope nodded and he left the room.

'Go on baby girl... want anything for the pain?'

'No.'

'Pen?'

'It's all good handsome.'

'Okay, but just get some more sleep.' He kept her hand in his as she succumbed to the tiredness; he just sat and watched her as she slept.

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'So they're going to take the feeding tube out?' Emily asked Hotch as they stood outside the room with everyone else that was made to stay at Fran's

'Well from her nose, so she'll have more movement, by putting it in her stomach they can detach her from the machine so she's in less discomfort.' Hotch said, he and Derek had been with the doctor when he felt it would be easy to take the tube out and replace it. 'Yeah it will be uncomfortable for the first couple of days but it would mean that Penelope doesn't run the risk of nose bleeds and the such.'

'Okay, so it's going to make her better?'

'In some sense yes.'

They watched the door open and Derek walk to them. 'They're going to take her down now, they said it should take 30 minutes and then she'll be back up.'

'Did he say anything about her head injury?'

'Well there is less and less blood, so they're going to arrange a MRI and CT scan later to rule out if the bleeds gone and if the swelling is still causing pressure but the fact her headache's going and her grip is stronger it's all looking positive.' He said with a smile, they then all watched as the bed was rolled out and down the corridor. 'It's a routine procedure, so we only have to think of the benefits for Pen.'

'Well I for one think Derek and Hotch should go and get something to eat.... who agrees?' Fran said once Penelope was out of sight, everyone agreed. 'You've got 30 minutes, so go.' She gave the look Derek knew not to mess with, so he smiled and left with Hotch.

'How are we going to get them to leave to get rest?' Sarah asked.

'We leave them to it... we don't push them.' Fran said looking at her. 'They're both battling demons and they need Penelope close so we'll give them that until such time as they look like its getting one bit too much.'

They all took seats and waited, soon after Derek and Hotch were back, which didn't surprise any of them in the slightest. The 30 minutes came and passed and they all started to worry. Emily and Fran went to ask returning with relaxed expressions.

'They've just done the MRI and CT scan; and now they're bringing her back up.'

'Did they say anything else?'

'That it's all fine.'

The sight that greeted them this time round was immensely different, no tube or oxygen mask, all Penelope had was the minimal tube propped under her nose to deliver oxygen. They all waited for the doctor to approached before even attempting to enter.

'Well it was successful. She may be sleepy for a couple of hours as we had to sedate her, when she is awake I liked her to try and drink as much water as she can so that her throat gets used to swallowing again. The MRI and CT showed significant changes, another 24 hours and I'd like to remove the drain and then I think we can move her to a normal room.' He smiled and then left, and everyone entered the room, Derek led the small colony and entered with a smile. Penelope practically beamed back.

'Now that is a smile we've missed.' Was the first thing he said.

'Yeah it really is.' There was a round of agreements and more smiles. 'Do we get to see it more?' Emily asked hopeful.

'If you want to see it sweetie you can see it.'

'Good.'

'Yeah, I think we've all missed it.' JJ said, her eyes welling up as she thought back to the past 4 months.

'Aw kitten don't cry.' Penelope said with a dry voice, she felt herself welling up at the sight, she the felt Derek take her hand and entwine their fingers together, it was a feeling both had missed immensely.

'I'm sorry... but you're back! They're happy tears!' JJ said laughing slightly. 'Promise!' Emily put her arm around JJ and pulled her close.

'We're all happier for you being back.' She said with a smile.