Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds

With gritted teeth Penelope pulled herself up, it was the middle of the night and she was alone. She distinctly remembered sending Derek home but his cologne lingered in the air around her room yet he was nowhere to be seen.

Pulling herself off the bed slowly she found herself stopping and pausing every few moves to get the new bounds of pain to settle, she had to admit they weren't as bad as they were but she'd quite happily stay still for as long as it took if that were an option. She knew she shouldn't have been moving on her own, but after waiting too long for a nurse to help her to the bathroom she took matters into her own hands.

Placing her feet on the floor and standing up fully she near enough crippled herself as she felt her ribs implode from the pressure that gathered, the pressure that had been non-existent for the last 3 days, she hadn't had to stand, hadn't had to move much but now she felt the con's of what was called rest.

Giving up she slumped into the chair next to bed, exhausted and pain riddles and felt the tears begin to pour over her cheeks. Trying to tell herself things were only going to get better didn't work, she couldn't see past these momentary weak moments that made her vulnerable and dependable.

'Baby girl what's a matter?' Came the hushed tones of Derek's voice and Penelope looked up, straight into his eyes and she couldn't help but cry harder. 'You have a nightmare? In pain? What's a matter?' He asked concerned, and then his worry escalated as he looked at her in a chair not bed. 'What are you doing up? And on your own?' When Penelope went to speak, she couldn't find the words or the voice.

Derek got on the floor next to her and took her hands. 'Hey princess, talk to me, come on, calm down and talk to me.'

'All I needed was to go to the bathroom, but no one came.' Penelope said as she settled down. 'This is pathetic, I shouldn't be crying over this.'

'You can cry over whatever you want to P.' Derek soothed and she sniffed as she tried to calm herself down. 'Right, want my help?' She just nodded her confirmation and Derek straightened up before bending back down and gently lifting Penelope into his arms. 'How's that?'

'Painful.' She said as she put her head to his shoulder. 'Better than walking.' When he finally got her to the bathroom he placed her down gently and she grabbed the basin to steady herself.

'You want me to stay? I don't mind if you do.' Penelope just looked at him, unable to respond. 'I'll be outside the door when you're ready.' He said and left her be.

'Derek.' Penelope's voice rang out, thick with exhaustion, he peered in and found her slowly making her way to the door.

'Why didn't you wait?'

'Because I realised that if I don't start this, I'm not getting out.'

'You realised that while going to the loo?' He asked her sarcastically and she laughed. 'The nurse just came in, she's worried about you being up, and she's bringing in something for the pain.' He walked her more or less slide her bare feet rather than lift them to walk. 'Want some help?'

She looked up, her mouth pursed together as she tried to hardly the pain. 'Yeah.' She answered and Derek lifted her up into his arms and quickly and swiftly placed her on the bed. He pulled the sheets up over her and then sat on the edge of the bed.

'Better?' He watched her get comfortable and nod all at once, he looked up to see the nurse come in and administer the pain relief. 'Why did no one come along when the button was pushed?' Derek asked and the nurse looked up at him shocked.

'We're a nurse down tonight and we're run off our feet.' She responded and saw Derek almost ooze the drive to protect and demand answers.

'I made it didn't I?' Penelope asked tiredly and placed a cool hand on Derek's, she noticed he was really hot and she looked at the nurse as she finished up and left. 'You feeling okay? You're really hot.'

'I'm fine.'

'Derek...' Penelope asked worried, trying to escape her sleepiness.

'Promise I'm fine.' He said and saw her getting more and more sleepy. 'How about you sleep and let us worry about you.' He then watched her settle into a sleep before he joined her and settled back into his chair.

When Penelope opened her eyes she saw the chair that Derek had pulled close now empty, the sunlight feeling the room. She could feel her actions of the night wreaking havoc on her now, giving up she looked to her other side, straight out of the door and saw Hotch, scarily in non business wear. She had to smile at the man, even in jeans and a casual t-shirt he looked quite dashing and charming.

As though noticing the attention on him, he finished his call and entered the room. 'Look who wakes up now.'

'Morning to you too boss man.'

'Not morning Penelope.' He told her, and then smiled. 'It's coming up 3 in the afternoon.'

'Wow.' She replied and pushed back into the pillows, seeking some sort of give ot her pains. 'Where is everyone?'

'Around.'

'This is the talk you wanted right?'

'If you're up for it.' He told her and saw her go to speak. 'How you feeling today? The nurse had to give you something pretty high to get you to settle, Derek said you were having a nightmare at one point, oh and getting up on your own.'

'Where is Derek?'

'We'll get there... how you feeling?'

'Clouded, pained, ill.' She saw him frown. 'What?'

'Nothing.' He said and pulled a seat closer to the bed. 'Right you, I want to know why you couldn't tell me about the baby. I don't understand why you felt that was something that needed hiding.'

'I wasn't hiding it, I just didn't want to admit that I was pregnant and lost it.'

'You know acceptance is the only way to move on.'

I didn't want to accept it.' Penelope said and coughed. 'As for the rest, I gave Sam a bit of what I thought of her.'

'And I heard you gave a man Derek's size a taste too.' He said and Penelope laughed. 'Derek reckons with a kick like that you could be a field agent.'

'I like my computer thanks boss man.' Penelope quipped. 'I am really sorry that I didn't tell you the whole story, that I lied like that... if I could redo it I would tell you everything.'

'Well you don't need to worry, Sam's been detained and Rossi wants to lead the interrogation, seems she got a few skeleton's in her closet.'

'No kidding.'

'You found a lot on her in a short time, it makes me thankful you work for me all over again.' He told her and turned serious, placing his hand on hers. 'But it makes me realise that you're going to be out of action for a bit.'

'I'll bounce back, you know me.' She said with a slight grin. 'Now, what happened to Derek?'

'He's got the flu; nurse found him burning up in here and ordered him to leave. He objected but he was more worried about giving it to you and making you worse.' He then stood up. 'How you really feeling?'

'I didn't lie Hotch, I do feel clouded, pained and ill.'

'What way ill?'

'Like my chest's tight, my heads a little funny.' She saw him frown again. 'Why?'

'I think you and Morgan have shared one too many things again.'