Disclaimer: I own nothing. So many thanks for the new story followers and reviews. I've been bad at responding to reviews because we are not in a happy place in the story yet... but gosh darnit we will get our HEA.

As they discuss the case, Fran returns with a tray of coffee.

"We have two men in custody." Elle says, "One posed as the Verizon man and placed the cameras and the other admits to the abduction."

"What about Leif?" Rossi asked.

"He wasn't in the country—he was at a TED talk in Paraguay with 100 witnesses."

"So who was the third guy?" Hotch asked.

"Penelope stabbed someone, but we can't find him in the system—and Leif's DNA is not in the system either."

"Can't we just follow the money? Who paid for the cameras, the vehicles? Can Ford give any thing." Emily asked very frustrated.

"That's the thing no one is giving him up. They are falling on their swords and we offered them a good deal," Elle said perplex.

"He can't get off scot-free. Can we place him at the scene of the crime? That bastard has to pay—" Derek said full with venom.

"Mr. Morgan," Dr. Steele said

They all rose, "Derek," he said trying to be friendly.

"Derek," she said smiling, "The surgery was a success. We were able to drain the excess liquid from the brain and restore the bone structure of her skull. The damage to the thoracic cavity was minimal – our biggest concern was the vagus nerve – we won't know the extent of the damage until she wakes up. We gave her a full body scan and repaired her one fractured rib. We injected her sprained muscles with steroids to speed up the repair. When she wakes up - we want the body to focus on healing major injuries. We gave her a rape kit and pregnancy test due to the circumstances surrounding her admittance here and they both came back negative. She in recovery on fifth floor ICU. When she is moved to ICU she can have two visitors at a time."

"I don't want to alarm you but since we are almost out of the woods—I need you to be prepared - if, I mean, when she wakes up she may have – how do I say this, problems with her brain functionality. The fractures were in two different hemispheres of the brain and the bone fragments were in the motor skill area. That on top of the level of drugs that were in her system could have all sorts of after effect that we won't be able to identify till she wakes up."

"We are almost out of the woods," she said taking his hand and giving him a smile and a squeeze.

"Any questions?" she asked.

He shook his head and said "Thank you doctor."

"I will be here till 7pm so if anything comes up you can have them page me."

The rest of his family arrived; Desiree, Sarah, Izzy and Chris; along with Jackson and her two brothers. Derek greeted them and gave them the updates- minus the doom and gloom.

"Grandma said mommy got hurt can we see her," Chris asked.

"Not yet – she just got out of surgery and she needs time for the medicine to work."

Izzy was reaching up at her dad wanting him to pick her up. After he picked her up, she hugged him and looked around, as if she was amazed by the view up there.

"You should take them to lunch baby and get out of the hospital," Fran said as Izzy played with his ear.

"I can't" he whispered, "I'm not leaving—" he said as he put her down and she ran to Emily.

"Derek," his mother said chastising him, "they haven't seen you for 4 days and they need you too."

"She flat lined twice mom—I don't think – I can" Fran interrupted her son and said,

"You have to have faith baby boy—She is going to wake up and be just fine." She said it, as if it was a universal fact- Penelope would wake up and he would have his baby girl back. She rubbed his back and said, "I saw a Friendly's 3 blocks away and Chris wants a sundae for lunch."

"Ok," Derek said turning around and finding Izzy and Chris playing with Reid and Emily.

"Lunch time my little munchkins—" he said trying to be positive.

"I'm hungry, too," JJ and Reid said at the same time not wanting Morgan to be alone.

Chris started to cheer, "it's a party!"

Derek smiled as he picked up Izzy, "Come on princess, pancakes for you."

"With strawberries," Izzy said happily, "that's how mommy likes them. Should we bring her something back?"

"She likes it with whip cream too." Derek added

"But only for mother's day and birthdays 'member?" Chris said

They walked out of the hospital planning their meals.

When they were out of earshot, Fran turned to Hotch and Rossi, and asked how is she really?

"There are too many variables to say confidently either way." Hotch replied tightlipped.

"Her body made it through the surgery, now she just has to wake up. When she wakes up they are concerned about he mental state – because of the fractures and drugs." Rossi puts an arm around her and says, "but we will take it one day at a time, Bella."

PS. i have no idea why Rossi is hitting on Erin and Fran in my story-