The next day, they went out at one, stopping for lunch before heading over to the lawyer's office. Erin checked in with the receptionist and sat next to Penelope, drumming her fingers on her thigh. Penelope reached out and grabbed her hand gently, smiling at her. "Everything will be all right. This is the right decision."

"I know. It's still nerve wracking, though." Penelope continued smiling at her and nodded, not letting go of her hand. After a few minutes, a tall woman came out of an office and went over to them, sticking her hand out.

"I'm Miranda Reynolds," she said as she shook their hands. "Please, follow me back to the briefing room." They got up and went with her to a cozy room, taking seats in front of the fire. "So, Erin, you're here to seek a divorce. Do you know anything about Virginia divorce law?"

"Not really," Erin replied.

"In Virginia, there are two types of divorce – absolute and limited.

"It will definitely be absolute," Erin interjected.

"All right; has your husband cheated on you at all, to you knowledge?" Erin shook her head. "Then, unfortunately, the law states you must be separated for a year before we can go any further. Has it been that long?" Again, Erin shook her head. "Then I'm afraid there's not much I can do for you right now. If you do find out he's been cheating, I can get things moving right away. If not, come back in a year, and I'll get everything in order."

"So, even though she's put up with his abuse for all these years, she can't get a divorce? She has to stay shackled to him for another year? There's absolutely nothing you can do?"

"Penelope…"

"No, Erin, it's not fair to you at all."

"I'm afraid that's the way the law is written. Do you have a PPO?" Erin nodded. "To some degree that will keep you safe. Make certain your employer know about it as well, so they can keep you safe at work. I'm sorry, I wish my hands weren't tied like this."

"I understand. What's one more year if I'm free of him in the end?" She stood and pulled on Penelope's arm, indicating she should come with her. Penelope stood, a slight frown on her face, and followed Erin out. "We can't change the law, Penelope; we can only abide by it."

"But it sucks!"

"I know it does, but we can't go tilting at windmills. It won't solve anything."

Penelope's shoulder slumped a little. "I'm sorry; my heart keeps trumping my head. It's why Kevin took that job with the NSA. I was just too emotional for him."

They got back in the car, and Erin spoke once more. "I highly doubt that, my dear. You've been amazingly resilient when dealing with me and my issues this week."

Penelope smiled. "That's because you need sunny optimism, not a mopey me." She pulled out into traffic. "Is there anything you want to do before we head home?" Erin shook her head. "Do you mind if we stop at the grocery store? There are a few things I need to pick up."

"That would be fine." She sat back and closed her eyes, and Penelope listened as her breathing evened out and she fell asleep. Penelope went to the closest grocery store to her apartment and parked near the entrance. She waited until Erin's eyes fluttered open before opening her door and stepping out. Erin joined her and they went in. Penelope grabbed a basket and headed into the produce section.

After a few minutes Erin came back to her and put a few things in the basket. Penelope picked up a gallon of milk, and Erin put a hand on her wrist. "Two percent, please?" Penelope nodded and put the fat free milk back, taking the two percent instead.

"Is there anything else we need?"

"Not that I can think of," Erin replied, wincing a bit.

"Did you take your painkiller at lunch?" Erin shook her head. "Then let's get home so you can take it and rest. I'll make us something for supper." They got in line, and Penelope saw that they had a slow-moving cashier. "Here are the keys, go wait in the car while I pay for this."

Erin nodded and left, and Penelope tapped her foot impatiently as the cashier seemed to go even slower. Finally, she was getting her things rung up, and she saw the cashier raise his eyebrow when he picked up the pregnancy test. "I didn't know dy—"

"Stop, right there. I want to speak with your manager." She put on her best imitation of Erin's face when something angered her and stared the young man down. As he fumbled with the phone, his face first turned white, then red. He rang up the rest of her items while they waited, not daring to say another word.

"May I help you, Ma'am?" the manager asked as Penelope was pulling out her credit card.

"Yes. I do not appreciate clerks making comments on what I purchase, nor what they suppose my sexual orientation is. Joshua, here, has no idea why I need that pregnancy test. I do not need his ignorance being spoken aloud."

The manager looked askance at the cashier and then back at Penelope. "I'm sorry that happened, ma'am. Can I offer you anything in compensation?"

"No, just please see that he's given sensitivity training. I would hate for him to go through life wallowing in his uneducated state." She signed for the purchase and picked up the bags, stalking out of the store. She could tell that nothing she'd said had gotten through to either of them.

Penelope put the bags in the back seat and sat down behind the wheel, trying to calm down. "What's wrong?"

"People are stupid in their assumptions. I'm so glad you went out here and didn't have to hear that." She breathed deeply and smiled when she felt Erin's hand touch her shoulder. "Bigotry is such an ugly thing." She backed up and drove home. Erin took one of the lighter bags and carried it upstairs. Penelope let them in and they dropped off the bags on the kitchen counter. As Penelope put the groceries away, Erin opened her pill bottle and took one out, dry-swallowing it.

"The doctor at the emergency room said I should take the test about a week after, since there's an infinitesimal chance I could end up pregnant. I don't think I will be, I just want to know for sure, and I couldn't take the morning after pill."

"Peace of mind, I understand. Though, I think I would take that pill, if I were in your shoes. I don't think I could raise a child if… Listen, I never told you, but we're not going back to work until Monday," she said, taking out the ingredients for a chicken casserole.

"How did you arrange that?"

"I used our personal time. I have a way into the system at work and finagled it."

"Penelope."

"What? I only use it in extreme cases. I know enough not to take advantage of it."

Erin made a non-committal noise in the back of her throat, and went into the living room. Penelope finished her preparations and then joined Erin. She was reading from the Nook once more, and Penelope picked up her laptop, logging on to her game. She went through a few levels, then found herself saying, "I listened to some of the voicemails he left."

"I did, too."

"Is that his normal?"

"Yes, when he's angry. And he's very angry right now. I shudder to think what would happen if he found out where I was."

"I won't let that happen. I will do everything in my power to make sure you are safe."

"I know," Erin replied, not looking up from what she was reading.

Their days fell into an easy rhythm, and by Monday, Erin was more than ready to return to work. Her ribs still hurt, or so she had told Penelope as she rewrapped her after her shower Sunday evening. Penelope set her alarm for six the next morning and they turned in early. The next morning, they got up and dressed. Penelope styled Erin's hair, pinning one side back with three crystal-studded bobby pins. Erin eschewed the bright red lipstick Penelope offered in favor of a more muted tone.

"I feel like I should be sitting in the back seat, since I keep getting driven places," Erin joked as they got in the car.

"As long as you don't call me Jeeves, you can sit anywhere you like," Penelope retorted, a bright smile on her lips. This strange give and take was quickly becoming natural to her. As she drove, Erin checked her work voicemail, and Penelope saw her face lose color after one of the messages. "What is it, Erin?"

"He's been leaving messages for me at work. He's upset they won't tell him where I am."

"Did you remember to bring the PPO?" she asked, worry creeping into her voice.

"Yes."

"Good. After you get settled, have Mike in security come up. He'll be discreet."

"Do you know everyone on staff here?"

"Only the important people," Penelope answered as she pulled into her parking spot. They went through security together, and then parted ways, getting on different elevators. As she rode up to her floor, a hard pit of dread formed in her stomach. She walked up to her office and set her purse down on a chair, logging in to the system. She was just about to go grab a cup of coffee when Reid came in, a bemused smile on his face.

"Hey, you're back. Did everything go okay with your friend?"

"She's still with me, but getting better. We both went back to work today. Why's your sweater wet?"

"Oh, Strauss' husband nearly ran me down once he cleared security. He looked pissed off about something."

Penelope felt the blood drain from her face and she rummaged through her purse for her canister of mace. "Come with me, please. She hasn't had time to give the PPO to Mike," she said, panic causing every nerve in her body to hum. "And keep your hand on your weapon, you may need it." She bolted for the door and ran down the stairs, then went out the double doors. Ignoring the elevators, and the looks she received, she burst into the stairwell, taking them two at a time. She heard Reid following her and she kept up her pace, climbing the three flights of stairs that separated her from Erin.

She stepped into the hall and didn't see him there. Then she heard the stifled scream come from her left. She turned and hurried down the hall, stopping in front of Erin's office. Penelope tried the knob and found the door locked. "Reid, break the door down," she hissed, not wanting to alert him to their presence.

"What?"

"Just do what I say and you may save her life."

Reid nodded and began to ram at the door. It took him four tries before the door came loose and they jumped into the room. She gasped when she saw Erin, her blouse torn from her body, bruises already appearing on her skin. Her husband turned to glare at them. "Who the fuck are you?" he growled, making a move towards them.

Penelope whipped out her mace and nailed him in the eyes. "Your worst nightmare." She turned to face Reid. "Get him out of here and send Mike up to us as soon as possible." Without waiting for his reply, she went over to Erin, sinking to her knees. Gently, she lifted Erin's head and set it on her lap, brushing the hair out of her eyes. "I'm so sorry, Erin," she whispered, tears falling down onto her face.

"What are you sorry for?" she asked hoarsely.

"I should have seen this coming. I should have protected you."

"Self-recrimination gets us nowhere, Penelope. Believe me, I know." She closed her eyes and a few crystal tears slipped down her cheeks. Softly, Penelope wiped them away, then helped Erin to stand up. She led her over to the couch, and as she sat, Penelope shucked off her sweater.

"Reid's sending Mike up to us, and after we've given him the PPO, we're going home. Don't worry, Reid won't speak out of turn. He's a secret keeper, like me," she said as she helped Erin into the sweater. It hung from her frame, but at least she had something to cover her, to keep her from further embarrassment.

Reid returned ten minutes later with Mike and her purse. As Mike spoke with Erin, Reid said, "I figured you would be taking her home after this. I was discreet, no one saw me come out of your office. I also switched it so the calls would go directly to your cell phone. Did I forget anything?"

"No, you were perfect. Thank you for trusting me, Spencer."

"I knew it was bad when I saw how white your face became. I'm just glad we got here in time."

"So am I." He hugged her and turned to leave. Mike finished up with Erin a few minutes later and left them alone. "Are you ready?" Erin nodded. "Wait a moment, actually," Penelope said, pulling out a comb from her purse. She fixed Erin's hair and wiped away the smudges of mascara from her cheeks. "Now we're ready."

She followed Erin out of the room and they rode down to the parking garage entrance. Mike nodded at them as they walked past, and Penelope couldn't help but smile at him. She got in Esther and drove home quickly, getting Erin situated in the bedroom. Then she turned on her laptop, connecting to the FBI mainframe. Thankfully, it was a slow day, so when Erin woke up from a nightmare, she was able to go right to her side.

"Erin, I'm right here," she said soothingly as she touched the other woman's shoulder. Erin sat up and wrapped her arms around Penelope's waist, burying her head in Penelope's hair.

"They're waiting for my word to press charges against him. It's a felony, what he did to me. I don't want to testify against him, though. I-I can't do that." She clung to Penelope and sobbed, her shoulders shaking. Penelope gently rubbed her back, crying herself for the pain Erin felt.

When the sobs lessened, she felt Erin pull back from her. Letting go slightly, Penelope looked into Erin's blue eyes. She felt herself drowning in them, unconsciously leaning forward. Erin met her halfway, brushing her lips against Penelope's. This kiss was tentative at first as they tried to sort out where they were going with it. Erin took the lead and deepened the kiss, burying her hands in Penelope's hair, holding her close.

"Erin," Penelope breathed when they broke the kiss, resting her forehead against the other woman's, trying to catch her breath. A strange lethargy swept over her as Erin kissed her once more, gently this time, as if she had found her answer to a question never spoken.