Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds

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When he opened his eyes he realised it was still dark outside, he hadn't remembered falling asleep, he remembered his mom going home and leaving him and Hotch there in the room with Penelope, she had long since fallen asleep but now something had awoken him. He heard the whimper, and a sharp intake of air like the breath being ripped out of someone's lungs on impact. It then hit him.

'Penelope.' He said as he shot up from his chair. Sure enough, Penelope was midst throes of a nightmare, they had begun. He moved to the bed, cautious to touch her, if she was dreaming about the 4 months the touch would worsen things. So he placed his hands either side of the pillow and soothed with his voice. 'Baby girl... it's Derek... come on goddess wake up for me.' Her thrashing lessened yet she continued to bit down pain and whimper. 'P... open your eyes, it's all a nasty dream, he can't hurt you.' With those words said she opened her eyes and looked at him, in that instance the tears built and fell before either of them could stop them. 'You're okay baby.' He sat on the bed and wiped the tears away. Then he leant forward, him and Penelope had mastered a way in which they could hug without her hurting too much. Broken ribs or not she wanted to hold on to Derek when she needed it, and he was willing to do it without inflicting mass pains to her.

She sobbed for what felt like forever before she calmed down, he gently place her back down, and looked at her, he pushed some free hair back the best he could and wiped her face of the tears. He looked at Hotch who was stirring and then turned back to Penelope, she looked wide awake now. 'You going to get some more sleep?' He saw the scared look to her eyes. 'I know your scared but I'm going to be here and Hotch.'

'It felt so real.'

'Everything okay?' Hotch asked sleepily.

'Nightmare.' Derek said in response. 'I know it felt real but it can't get you baby girl.' He looked into her eyes and gave her the option which she had laid out on the table numerous times for him. 'Want to talk about it or sleep?'

'I don't know.'

'Penelope maybe talking will help you sleep.' Hotch said placing a hand on her fractured on, him and Fran had mastered the art of doing so without hurting her fracture.

She closed her eyes and swallowed before opening them again. 'It was when he had my hands tied about my head.' She swallowed the tears the best she could again. 'Then he used the bat over and over again and I felt the pain from the impact and I couldn't... breathe.' She said as the flood gates released and the tears poured out.

'It's okay baby girl... you don't have to tell us anymore.' He said knowing full well there wasn't a lot more to be told, the sound of the air being ripped from someone's lungs was the sound of Penelope losing air as the base ball came into contact with Penelope's ribs, it was all a replay, half memory, half reality. She nodded and closed her eyes again. 'Just sleep... we aren't going anywhere.'

When the men were both sure she was asleep, they resumed positions, both pulling closer. Hotch's hands still remaining on Penelope's and Derek's entwined again, this time it was to give her the hands to hold when the dreams over took her damaged mind and she felt alone and the only touches she would get in the dreamlike state would be Antonio's.

Both men fell asleep soon after and the next time they awoke it was to daylight as it streamed in through the slits in the blinds. They both blinked at the brightness and as they took their hands to their face they halted, then they realised that their hands had remained on Penelope's and no other nightmares had interrupted her sleep. They looked at one another with the same expression.

'I think we just acted like dream catchers.'

'I'd say that plausible.' Derek smiled as he realised he had managed to help his baby girl skip out on the memories she didn't need to gracing her mind ever again. He had worried about helping her if this were to occur but he had realised he had just helped her the one way that felt the most natural to them both, the simple action of holding hands had pushed dreams, nightmares and the likes well away for the night. He hoped that his touch alone would help nightly. Whatever he was going to do it.

'What time you got to go?'

'Well soon, but I want to go when Penelope's awake.'

'Fair enough.' They resumed silence and soon Penelope began to wake up. 'Morning baby girl.' Derek said with a smile.

'Hey.' She said with a hoarse throat. Derek instinctively grabbed the cup and placed the straw to her lips and they watched her drink with ease. 'Thanks.' She said as she swallowed the cool liquid. She quickly lavished the feel as it rand own her sore throat.

'You okay after last night?' Hotch asked concerned.

'Yeah... it was that one and then nothing.' She blinked tiredly. 'I hate how real they feel.'

'Yeah that's the problem and the worse part about them.' Hotch agreed with a quick agreement from Derek. 'Right, as much as I want to stick around, I can't.' Hotch said solemnly. 'It's either I go or I get my head on a plate with Strauss.'

'Yeah... we wouldn't want that.' Derek quipped back.

'No... you're too valuable.'

'As are you Penelope as are you.' The boss said sincerely. He then bent down and kissed her cheek. 'See you soon Penelope. Keep her safe Derek... I'm trusting you.'

'You know she's in good hands between me, my mom and sisters.'

'I know... we'll be back the moment we can.'

'I'm not going anywhere.' Hotch laughed slightly at Penelope's sarcasm, looked at his work and left the room hesitantly. Penelope's hand looked for Derek's the moment their boss had left the room, she found it and squeezed it as tightly as her weakened hand would allow her, she felt it wasn't very but Derek noticed the significant growth of strength to it.

'You proved to be a knight in shining armour last night handsome.' She mused to him with a carefree smile. 'Thank you.'

'If I could I would go into you dreams and fight them for you but seeing as I can't I'll protect you anyway I know how...'

'Even holding my hand nightly?'

'Even holding your hand nightly.' He confirmed and saw the smile play across her lips, feeling better for evoking a smile on her face once again. Baby steps he told himself.