A few weeks later, she was woken up by her phone ringing at one in the morning. Groggily, she said, "Hello?"
"Penelope Garcia?"
"Yes. Who is this?"
"Dr. Marc Waite at Community General. I have a patient here who would like you to pick her up. She said you would understand."
Instantly, she was awake. "Oh, god, is Erin okay?"
"She will be. I'll explain more when you get here. Come to the emergency room entrance and ask for me."
She hung up and quickly threw on some clothes, then she stuffed her cell phone in her purse. Penelope ran out the door without putting on her coat. She drove as fast as she could to the hospital and parked in the closest parking spot she could find. She moved at a fast clip, going in the entrance and approached the orderly sitting behind the glass. "Dr. Waite called me, told me to come in."
"Ms. Garcia?" She nodded. "He's waiting for you in exam room three. Sarah will take you there." A young woman came up to her side and led her back. Penelope stepped inside the room and gasped as she saw Erin.
"Hello, Ms. Garcia, I'm Dr. Waite. Thank you for coming so quickly. Mrs. Strauss has several fractured ribs, though none so badly as to cut or puncture any major organs, which is fortuitous. It will take her a long time to recover physically, but I also worry about her emotional health. She'll need a good friend right now to see her through this." He dropped his already low voice to just above a whisper. "Here's the emergency PPO against her husband. The judge faxed it over a few minutes ago. You'll need to go down to the courthouse tomorrow to get the official one. I just wanted you to be aware of it being in place." He handed her a sheaf of papers. "I've also included information on how to wrap her ribs to allow them to heal. She's not to go to work for at least three days."
"I'll make sure she won't. May I take her home now?"
"Of course. Thank you again for coming so quickly." He shook her hand and left the room.
She stuffed the papers into her purse and then went up to Erin. She was asleep, as far as Penelope could tell, and she reached out to smooth back the hair from her face. There was a livid bruise on her cheek that ran up to her forehead. "Erin, you have to wake up now. I've come to take you home," she said as she gently shook her shoulder.
Erin's eyes fluttered open and she looked up at Penelope. "You came," she whispered as her eyes filled with tears. "I was afraid you wouldn't, that you had forgotten."
"I never forget a promise, Erin. The doctor said it was okay to bring you home. If you're ready, I'll go get a nurse to bring you to my car," she said as she wiped away a few tears of her own. "Here, hold on to my purse so you know I'm coming back for you." She stepped outside the room and found a nurse. As Penelope watched, the nurse gently transferred her into a wheelchair. "I parked as close as I could," she told the nurse, who followed her outside.
Erin slipped into her car, wincing slightly as she tried to get comfortable. Penelope drove home as carefully as she could, avoiding as many bumps as she could. "They took pictures," Erin whispered.
"I'm sorry?"
"The police, they took pictures of me. It wasn't enough that he humiliated me once, he had to make sure it would happen over and over. Don't look at me with pity, please. I couldn't bear it if you pitied me."
Penelope's breath caught in her throat, and she struggled not the burst into sobs. "I won't." She reached out her hand and Erin took it, holding on tightly the rest of the drive home. It took them a long time to get up to Penelope's apartment as the stairs jostled Erin's ribs unmercifully. She was in tears once more by the time Penelope opened the door, leading her inside.
"May I take a shower? They wouldn't let me at the hospital."
That small voice broke Penelope's heart, and she shut her eyes as she understood what Erin wasn't telling her. "Of course you may. Just let me find out what we have to do first. I don't think you can shower with the wrappings on." She pulled out the documents she'd been given and read about how to care for fractured ribs. "I'm sorry; I do have to unwind you. It's going to hurt like Hell until I can wrap you up again." Erin nodded and they went into the bathroom.
She managed to get her blouse unbuttoned, though Penelope could tell it pained her to do so. Penelope slipped the garment off and let it fall to the floor. "Turn, please," she said, and Erin did so. She undid the two clips that held the wide bandages in place and slowly began to unwind the binding. Once it was off, she unhooked Erin's bra. "I'll be right outside if you need anything. Just call and I'll come running."
Erin nodded and Penelope left the room, closing the door behind her. She went into her room and grabbed out the flannel nightgown Erin had worn last time, setting it on the bed. Then she changed back into her pajamas before settling on the couch with her laptop. Logging in to the FBI mainframe, she changed both her and Erin's personal time to the following week. Then she called her overnight tech and let him know that something had come up and she would be out for the next week and to get her sub to cover her.
She had just hung up with him when she heard Erin call for her. Springing up, she went over to the door and opened it. The water was off and she grabbed a towel, reaching around the curtain to hand it to her. Penelope took another towel off the bar and pulled back the curtain. She helped Erin to step out of the tub and then dried off her legs and arms. Once Erin was dry, Penelope had her drop the towel, while she grabbed the bindings from where she'd left them.
When she turned back, Erin's face was bright red and her arms were crossed over her chest. "I need you to hold this end over your navel," Penelope said hesitantly, not wanting to embarrass her further. Erin did as Penelope said, and she pulled tightly, like the instructions had said. Soon, Erin was all wrapped up and Penelope slipped the nightgown on her.
Together, they shuffled out to the bedroom, and Penelope helped Erin get comfortable on the bed. She sat with her until she was fast asleep, and then she checked her clothes to see what size she wore. "Hey, Em, I know it's early."
"Early, Pen? That's not the word for it. This had better be important."
"It is. I have a friend who was attacked and beaten by her husband, and she needs a change of clothes. She's your size. Will you bring by something sharp looking in the morning? We have to go to the courthouse and get the official PPO."
"Of course I can do that, Penelope. I'll be by about eight."
"Thank you, Emily." Penelope hung up and then curled on her side on the couch, quickly falling back asleep. Morning came much too early, and she woke up to the sound of knocking at her door. She got up and blearily looked out the peephole to see Emily standing there. She opened the door and stepped out into the hall.
"I brought a skirt and pants, not knowing which she'd prefer," Emily said as she handed the clothes over. "Is your friend going to be all right?"
"I hope so. I'm taking the week off so I can help her out. The bastard…" Penelope broke off, staring off into the distance. "I should get back inside. Thanks again, Em." Emily nodded and she slipped back inside, locking the door behind her. She set the clothes on the sofa and then moved over to her bed. Erin was still asleep, the bruising on her face more mottled and angry-looking in the early morning light. Carefully, she sat and brushed her hair back, looking more closely at the bruise. It will be hard to cover with makeup, but I should be able to do it, she thought. As she watched, Erin's eyes opened and she struggled to sit up.
Penelope helped her to get up. "How long have I been sleeping?"
"Only about six hours. You should try to nap after we get back today."
"Where are we going?"
"To the courthouse first, to get your notarized PPO. Then, I want to take you over to your home and grab some clothes and things for you. You're not going in – I will, and I'll get whatever you tell me.
Erin nodded and swung her legs off the bed, standing up wobbly. "I wish I had fresh clothes for this."
"You do. I had a friend drop something off before she went to work. I checked, and you were her size."
"Thank you." They went into the living room and Erin picked the skirt suit up. "I feel so helpless, but I think you're going to have to dress me. It hurts too much to bend."
Penelope nodded and took the skirt off the hanger. She had Erin brace herself against her shoulders as she stepped into the skirt. Penelope drew the skirt up over her hips and pulled the zipper up, fastening it. She let the nightgown fall back down to Erin's ankles as she ran into the bathroom to grab her bra.
She stood behind Erin and pulled the nightgown off. She handed the bra to her and Erin slipped it on while Penelope fastened it. Then she helped her into the blouse and jacket. "Please sit on the chair here, and I'll do your hair and makeup." Penelope went to her room and grabbed her brush and makeup bag. Carefully, she brushed Erin's hair, taking time to not pull on the snarls, working them out strand by strand. Once that was finished, she pulled out the necessary things to do Erin's face.
She opened the jar of liquid foundation and dabbed her fingers into it, smoothing it over the bruise as gently as she could. She was able to cover up much of the ugliness her husband had wrought, reducing it to a slight smudge. Then she pulled out her tube of bright red lipstick, painting her lips with a brush. "There, now people will be drawn to your lips first," she said.
Erin smiled slightly and leaned forward, wrapping her arms around Penelope. "I'm so lucky you're in my life. What would I ever do without you?" she whispered in her ear. Penelope gently returned the hug, not wanting to hurt her.
"Come on, let's get going. We'll want to be at the house while your husband is at work." She helped Erin to stand and together they walked down the stairs, Penelope refusing to go fast, knowing it would hurt Erin. As she got in the car, Penelope pulled out the faxed document, looking to see which courthouse they'd need to go to. Thankfully, she knew where it was and she drove there as quickly as she could. She pulled into a parking spot and fed the meter with coins, then took Erin's arm, leading her inside. She walked with her up to the clerk's desk and handed her the fax. "Where do we pick up the notarized one?"
"Let me look through Judge Temperle's files. It should be in there. Wait here a moment, please." She turned and rifled through the files, then pulled out a folder. She brought it back to the desk and opened it, looking through the half dozen or so orders until she pulled out Erin's. "Mrs. Strauss, I need you to sign this copy here for our records," she said as she handed Penelope the paper. Penelope handed it to Erin, who quickly signed it and then handed it back to the clerk.
"Thank you, Mrs. Strauss. This here is your copy. Your husband is to stay five hundred feet away from you at all times. If you see him, make certain to call the police right away." Just then, Penelope saw what Erin hated – the look of pity that crossed the woman's features.
"We need to get in the house while he's not there. Is there any way we could have an officer accompany us, just in case he were to come home early from work?" Penelope asked, a bit more sharply than she'd intended.
The woman blanched a bit and nodded. "James!" she called out. A handsome man came up to them, smiling broadly. "James, will you escort these ladies, please. Mrs. Strauss has a PPO, and would like some protection as they enter the home."
"Certainly, Sylvia. After you, ladies." They turned and he followed them out, getting into a cruiser while they got back into Esther.
As they drove, Erin started telling Penelope what she wanted and Penelope realized they'd both have to go in. "I could have told you that," Erin said a bit peevishly, staring out at the passing homes. She sighed and turned to look at Penelope. "I'm sorry. The closer we get, the more anxious I am. I don't mean to take it out on you." Penelope nodded, keeping her eyes on the road. She followed Erin's instructions and led the officer to the house.
Everything appeared quiet as they pulled in the drive of a beautiful home. Erin pulled out the keys and stepped out, going up to the door. After she'd unlocked it, James opened the door, stepping inside first. After he'd declared it clear, they entered and Penelope helped Erin upstairs. Opening the closet, Erin grabbed a suitcase, putting it on the bed, while Penelope took out the suits, blouses, and dresses hanging there. Moving quickly, they soon had everything she wanted packed up and Penelope picked up the bag, carrying it downstairs while Erin took her jewelry box. From downstairs, Erin took pictures of her children off the mantle, then went over to the safe. Opening it, she took out her passport and other important documents that she thought would be necessary to have. She put the papers in her purse and then handed the pictures to James.
"Is there anything we've forgotten?" Penelope asked.
"No. I'll get the rest during the divorce proceedings. This will sustain me until then," she replied, setting the wooden box on the back seat. Penelope set the suitcase in the back as well and then took the pictures from James.
"Do you need an escort anywhere else, ladies?"
"I don't think so. He has no idea where I live. Thank you, though."
"Not a problem. Keep her safe."
"I intend to." Penelope drove home, the somber mood keeping them from talking. Once she'd parked, she handed Erin the keys, and placed the photo frames in the suitcase. As she carried it up the stairs, she saw Erin further up ahead of her, and she couldn't help but smile. Hurriedly, she caught up with the other woman, the bag smacking against her legs. Together, they went into the apartment, and Penelope placed the bag in her bedroom. The first thing she did was to take out the pictures of Erin's children and set them out on the shelf next to the photos of her team.
She felt Erin's hand on her back and turned to face her. She was crying once more and Penelope reached out, wiping the tears away. "Thank you," Erin whispered as she leaned forward and kissed Penelope's cheek softly. Penelope sighed, smiling. As if something else possessed her, she turned her head slightly and pressed her lips against Erin's. Neither pulled away from the tender kiss, and she felt Erin's arms wrap around her, holding her close.
Penelope hadn't kissed like that since her childhood, though she had always been the one to receive comfort kisses from her parents; never had she been the giver. She broke the kiss and Erin sat down on the sofa, refusing to look at her. Penelope took this in stride and began to rifle around on her desk for a pad of paper and a pen. "We need to make a list of things to do," she said as she sat in the chair next to the couch. "First and foremost is hiring a divorce lawyer."
"I should probably tell my girls that I've moved out. I don't know how they'll take the news, but I should tell them." She tried to stifle a yawn and Penelope tried not to cock her eyebrow.
"I told you, you need to take a nap. I'll wake you in a little bit for lunch." As she watched, Erin took off the suit jacket, folding it and setting it on the coffee table. But rather than go around the other side of the sofa, she brushed past Penelope, holding out her hand. Penelope squeezed it gently before letting go.
Once Erin was asleep, Penelope opened the suitcase again and began to hang up the other woman's clothes, taking care to shake out the wrinkles. After that task was finished, she opened a dresser drawer, shoving her things to the side and putting Erin's undergarments inside next to hers. Frothy lace somewhat surprised Penelope, but everyone needed some way to feel pretty, even if it was hidden away from the world, she supposed.
That task completed, she went back into the living room. Pulling out her laptop, she updated her blog and then began to play one of her RPGs. She had just leveled up when her phone began to ring. Setting her laptop on the table, she answered it. "Hello?"
"Hey, Baby Girl. How come I didn't see your smiling face here at work today?"
"I had something more important come up."
"More important than hunting down information on unsubs? Are you developing a life outside of the BAU?"
She laughed a little. "Nothing like that, Sugar. I'm taking care of a friend. She needs some sunny optimism in her life right about now, and you know I'm good at giving that."
"Of course you are; it's one of the things I love about you. How long are you going to be out?"
"Until next Monday, most likely. It's all the time we could afford to take off of work. Morgan, I know this is a sensitive subject for you, but how do you make certain you don't pity someone who's been abused? She asked that of me, and I want to keep my promise to her."
"Don't think of her as another victim, or think of her as some statistic. If she wants to talk, let her, but don't push her to do anything she's not comfortable with. Just be yourself, Penelope, and the rest will come naturally to you. You're a sweet person, to take care of her at a time like this. She's lucky to have such a good friend in her life."
"Sugar, there's no luck about it. Everything happens for a reason, even if I don't know what the reason for this is. I'll never wrap my brain around how someone could to this to the person that they're supposed to love."
"I don't know either, Sweetheart. I'm sorry, I have to go. We're getting called in to brief a new case. Don't hesitate to call me if you need anything else."
"Thank you, I'll keep that in mind. Stay safe out there."
"I will." He hung up and she put her phone next to the laptop, getting up from the chair. She went into the kitchen and scrounged up something to make for them for lunch. As she put soup on the stove to warm up, she then went into the bedroom and touched Erin's shoulder. Instantly, her eyes flew open, panic on her face. "Erin, it's me, Penelope. You are safe. He can't find you here, I promise."
Erin took a few short breaths, trying to calm herself down. Penelope smiled at her gently, watching as she relaxed and her breathing returned to normal. "What time is it?" she asked.
"Time for lunch. I made some soup, I hope you like it. I don't really know what you do or don't like yet."
"I'm a guest here, anything you make for us will be fine."
"But –"
"Let me guess, you took in a lot of strays when you were little."
Penelope could feel herself blushing, and she ducked her head. "My parents hated it. But I had to help. They deserved someone to look out for them. Everyone does." She tucked a piece of hair behind her ear, looking down at the bedspread.
"Everyone?" Erin asked softly as she stood up.
Penelope got up as well, thinking pensively for a moment. "Yes, even if that someone is a hardened criminal." She went into the kitchen and stirred the pot. Erin joined her, leaning against the counter. "If I honestly believe that there's even a mustard seed of goodness in everyone, I have to believe we all deserve kindness. It's a case by case basis, though, once I meet someone."
"And where do I fit?"
"Don't you know by now? You, my dear, are deserving of care, concern, and love. While you might try to keep everyone out, shielding yourself from being hurt once more, your heart is tender, like mine," she replied, not looking up from the soup. "People underestimate me because I'm just a computer geek and I look the way I look. I've learned to see people differently, to try and see who they hide beneath the layers they put on to keep from getting hurt. God knows I've done the same thing to myself." She sighed deeply and tested the soup. "Could you grab two bowls from the cupboard behind you? The soup's ready."
Erin turned and picked out two flower-decorated bowls, handing them to Penelope. Neither said anything as their hands brushed, or when Erin lingered close to her for longer than necessary. Penelope served Erin first, and she sat at the table. After Penelope had served herself, she took a seat next to her, smiling to see she had waited for her before eating.
A comfortable silence fell over them as they ate. When they'd finished, Erin helped with the dishes, washing them while Penelope put them away. The job finished, they went into the living room and sat down. "So, about the divorce lawyer. Do you have a phone book where I could look one up?"
"No. I usually look everything up online." She pulled her laptop off the table and brought up a search engine. Quickly, she tapped away and brought up a list of lawyer websites. "Here," she said as she handed the machine to Erin.
Erin looked through the links, clicking on a few. "I think I found one," she said after a few minutes. "Would you hand me a phone?"
Penelope handed over her cell and Erin dialed the number. As Penelope listened, she scheduled an appointment for the following day. When the conversation finished, Erin handed the phone back.
"Will you take me tomorrow? The appointment is at three, and I'd drive, but we didn't take one of the cars."
"Of course I will." Penelope heard a loud buzzing come from Erin's purse and both women looked at it. Hastily, Erin took her phone out of her purse and looked at the caller id. She sent whoever it was to voicemail and put the phone on the table. When the phone rang for the sixth time, Erin got a panicked look on her face.
"Can we do something?" she asked, her face ashen.
"Yes. Let's go see a movie. There's that new rom-com with Anne Hathaway playing." She looked down at her hands. "Or, we could go see the new Darren Aronofsky film," she said in a rush, biting her lip.
"Whatever you want to see if fine," Erin replied, picking her purse up off the table, leaving the phone behind. "Let's go." They grabbed their coats and went down to Esther. Erin moved with a little more ease, though she still winced a bit by the time she got to the bottom of the stairs. Penelope drove to the nearest theater and parked close to the doors. When Erin slipped a bit on the slush, Penelope took her arm, not wanting her to fall completely. Erin leaned into her, and together they entered the building.
Penelope pulled out her wallet to pay when Erin stopped her. "No. You've done too much already. Let me get this." Penelope nodded, knowing that tone of voice. Both passed by the snack counter and went to the theater, entering the dark space. The previews had already begun and they made their way over to seats as quickly as they could. Sometime during the movie, their hands touched, and neither drew away. Instead, Penelope poked Erin's hand and held up her hand. Erin slipped her hand on top of hers, threading her fingers in between Penelope's. They sat like that the rest of the movie.
Once they were home, Erin curled up on the couch and Penelope made them a pot of tea to chase away the lingering cold. She handed a cup to Erin and then sat down in her chair. "He called twenty five more times while we were gone. I haven't dared listen to the voicemails he left." She pursed her lips slightly. "He wasn't always like this. When I started with the Bureau, he seemed so happy, so supportive of me. But when I started rising in the ranks, he changed. At first, it was just control issues – how I had to wear my hair, what clothes I could buy, who my friends were. But then, the verbal abuse started, and I drew within myself, trying to not let it bother me.
"When he saw that I wasn't reacting like he thought I should, that's when the physical abuse began. You've seen my back. I've had it torn open like that more times than I can count. He was none too happy that someone had cleaned up the wounds. I never said who did, though. I refused to let him have that power over me." She looked over at Penelope. "And you're crying again. I swear, it's not my intention to keep your eyes puffy and red."
Penelope took a sip of tea. "Erin, I don't think I could ever be as strong as you are."
"What strength have I? I couldn't leave him, even though I knew he might kill me someday."
"You survived. You rose in the ranks of the FBI to Section Chief, and are on the fast track to become Director when Shepperd retires. Those things do not a weak person make. And now, you are going to leave him." Penelope wiped her eyes. "It takes strength to trust someone you're not sure of with your life."
"But I am sure of you, Penelope. I don't know how, but I know you would never do anything to hurt me. It's not in you to be mean, and therefore I know I can trust you."
She smiled. "Erin, you sure do know how to flatter someone." Erin blushed in response, looking down into her tea. An awkward silence descended on the room. "I don't know how to unwind and be with a friend for this long," she whispered as she drank some more of her tea.
"Occupational hazard. We're at work so much of the day that being normal is a struggle. Even your volunteer work revolves around the job you do."
"You know about my volunteering?"
"Yes," Erin said simply, a smile on her lips.
"Do you like to read?" Penelope asked suddenly, and Erin nodded. "Here's my Nook, see if there's anything that interests you."
Erin slipped on her glasses, then thumbed through the contents, occasionally glancing up at Penelope and then back down at the device. Finally, she found something and settled back, reading quickly. Once Erin was engrossed in whatever she'd chosen, Penelope slipped her phone off the table and went into the bathroom. She listened to the first few voicemails, increasingly disturbed by the vile words Erin's husband was calling her, was hoping were happening to her. She had to stop listening or else she would go insane. How Erin had lived with that for so long, she would never know. And now, more than ever, she intended to protect her friend.