A/N: I'm so sorry for the long delay with this chapter. I could not upload it because of all the problems with the site this past week. Everytime I tried to update the story or send PM's the site would boot me out telling me to log back in. I could do nothing but sit and wait for the site to be back up and running properly. The last couple of days seemed to be almost back to normal, so I decided I'd give it one more day to make sure the site was completely glitch free. However, in that day I ran into combative issues in the forums section of the site, which had me having to step back for an additional day to get rid of the all the toxic and vicious negativity thrust upon me, so it would not be reflected in my editing of this chapter and writing of the rest of this story. My deepest apologies for needing to do that and forcing my loyal readers to wait for this chapter. I truly hope you find this chapter worth the wait. I'd suggest because of the delay, you might want to go back a chapter or two to refresh the storyline in your mind before continuing on with this chapter, but of course, that is only a suggestion and up to you. :-)

ps - Thanks to everyone for their wonderful PM's of support, you know who you are, and HUGE thanks to PO and H for surrounding me with all your good vibes every day while I cursed the site and negative people. Luvs ya lots and lots! xoxo

It's not true, I know who I am damn it!

The thought screamed violently inside Angel's head as Derek's words landed direct hits to her fragile thoughts and memories, fracturing off pieces of them one by one. Her whole life like a water balloon riddled with pin-prick holes; the liquid centre that made her who she was, beginning to slowly trickle out. No matter how much she wanted, she couldn't completely deny the truth behind his words, but at the same time, couldn't fathom how he could possibly have such intimate knowledge of her body - sight unseen. The thought had her heart taking off, racing like an unbroken steed thundering towards the promised freedom of an open gate. Her hand moved to her chest of its own accord, as an unforeseen heat suddenly sparked from within its beating centre and fanned out from that single focal point. It traveled from the molten core of her inner being to the outer most layer of her now sensitized skin, in mere seconds. Sweat began to bead across her upper lip and along her hairline; her mouth now sand-dry like the Mojave Desert. Then Derek spoke again. Her already weakened water balloon gave way and burst.

Baby Girl

Her head started to spin and she closed her eyes to try and regain her equilibrium, mildly disoriented by the sudden and inexplicable feelings evoked by those two simple words. Instead, distorted and tangled images materialized behind her closed lids, flipping from one impression to the next, too quick to allow her to fully grasp entire content. She pressed her fingers tightly to her temple in a feeble attempt to stem the onslaught, but the pictures continued to flow faster and faster, rushing through her mind like a movie clip stuck on fast-forward. Feeling somewhat overwhelmed, Angel couldn't seem to catch her breathe, couldn't speak, couldn't swallow. Her knees buckled a bit and she had to drop her hands to the table for balance, leaning heavily against it for support. Ensuing panic had her ripping open her eyes and like magic, the cascading images faded away to nothingness in less than a heartbeat. She slowly released a shaky breath before sinking gradually into nearby chair, but kept her eyes cast downward, not wanting anyone to see how badly Derek's words affected her. She sensed movement beside her and she knew without looking that it was Derek and she braced herself accordingly. Within seconds, self-preservation had her viciously yanking herself back under total control once more... at least on the outside.

"Baby Girl..." He began gently, crouching down beside her once more.

"Don't. Don't call me that. Not now, not ever. My name is Angel. You call me that, or you call me nothing at all." She raised her head with the last sentence and her cool, hardened eyes met Derek's shocked ones head on, without waver. Her stoney gaze didn't match the calm and docile tone of her quietly delivered words, but nonetheless, made them entirely and unequivocally beyond contestation with just a single look.

Derek couldn't have been more stunned if she'd reached out and slapped him across the face, something his Baby Girl would never have done, but he couldn't say the same for Angel – not with any degree of certainty. Even at her most angry, Penelope's eyes never held that chilly level of control, at least never directed at him. Looking at Angel like this, she no longer bore any resemblance to Penelope Garcia. Seeds of doubt began to sow themselves into his head, warring for control with the conviction in his heart. He stared in her eyes for a few more minutes, searching for anything that would confirm or deny his supposition, but could only find carefully schooled blankness. He opened his mouth, part of him thinking for a split second of forcing her to prove him wrong, but in that moment he realized even if he was right, in the end it didn't really matter and he closed it again with an audible snap. Penelope was gone and in her place stood nothing more than a stranger with her face. Her body might be one in the same, of that he had no doubt, but the part that made her his Baby Girl no longer existed, rightfully buried a year ago along with his heart. His shoulders sank in somber dejection and defeat, the passion firing in his eyes moments ago fading to nothingness as he wordlessly nodded his compliance with her demand. Rising to his feet, he calmly pivoted on his heel and silently returned to his seat, the wall around his emotions once more firmly in place and higher than ever.

J.J. however, was furious and wasn't above letting it show. Incensed beyond anything she could ever remember being before, she fought hard for some semblance of restraint. She knew Derek and she knew he never made assumptions. If he was certain Angel was Penelope, then that was good enough for her. And if she wasn't sure before, Angel's reaction to Derek's words removed all doubt. What she couldn't figure out was why she was being deliberately cruel and why on earth Derek was letting her get away with it. Both attributes were in complete opposition of their natural personality traits. And in her books that was unacceptable and so was "Angel's" treatment of Derek. She'd be damned if she'd sit idly by and let someone run roughshod over her best friend... even if it was his former best friend and the woman he loved. It was past time she stepped away from her own peace keeping nature. Gone was any representation of diplomacy and tact. Without any hesitation, J.J. marched over to Angel's seated form and with one quick flick of her wrist, she spun her around, the fury in her words unmistakable.

"You listen to me and you listen good. I don't really care what you want to call yourself, and believe me when I say right now I have a few choice names for you myself, but as of this minute, you are done calling the shots. Last time I checked, you worked for this team not the other way around. We have 13 women and children missing and a case to solve in order to get them home safe and alive. Your true identity plays a major role in making both those things happen. The FBI retains fingerprints of each and every employee, past and present. You are going to get the hell up out of that chair, keep your mouth shut, and you are going to come with me. We're going to find out who the blazes you really are, one way or another, and we're going to do it right now."