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He woke up next to her and she had more color in her face then yesterday. This was the first time that he was able to look at her. She was wearing a black tank top and bedtime shorts. The bruises on her shoulder were fading; and cut on her lip - barely there. He thought about the case in Tennessee – he never wanted her in that kind of danger again and yet here we are. She snuggled closer to him and he knew she was going to wake up soon. He held her tighter wishing for more time before the world started spinning again. He started thinking about the unsub from the video. How was he going to protect her? He knew Elle and her team were working the case but now that she's awake we need that SOB behind bars. Her hands started twitching like she was playing the piano and he knew that she would wake up in 4 -3- 2-1.
"Morning Handsome—I mean husband," she said smiling.
Some things never change, he thought, her fingers always tapped imaginary keys before her eyes opened.
"Hey Sweetheart,"
"How are you feeling—any aches or pain?"
"Just a bit, not as bad as yesterday – and before you ask – no new memories?"
"I'll know when you get your memories back."
"How?"
"I'm a profiler, I'll see changes in the way you hold yourself and speak"
"Well Mr. Profiler, when can I go home?"
"We should know by the end of the day—they think another week or so but we'll see."
"A week," she groaned "but, —I hate hospitals," she said getting out of bed and walking towards the window. She stretched and he could see a bruise on her torso. "When do I have my first thingy, maybe I can go for a walk or something stretch my legs."
"You can't leave," he said in a knee jerk bossy tone, "you can't go anywhere by yourself."
"Now why is that, daddy?" she said full of sass, "Last time I checked this was a free country or did that change in the last 7 years," she said with her hand on her hip.
"You have a few test today—you're booked till late afternoon." He said sitting down in the chair next to her bed.
"Uh, huh-You don't have to baby sit me—I'll be fine," she said taking him out of his seat and walking him towards the door, "I'm sure you need to shower or something before this my first meeting with the psychologist. You don't smell yet but I can see the potential and you're scruffy- but don't shave—because I think I like you scruffy. And on the way back," she said with him a few inches from the doorway, "Can you sneak in an ice cream cone—I'm craving something sweet."
He gave her a questioning look and she said, "Really."
As she pushed him out the door she said, "I need to shower and get dressed."
She closed the door and he started laughing to himself.
"What?" Reid said—"she is feisty and bossy like," … he said smiling to himself, "when I met her."
Derek returned about 30 minutes later; Reid and Jackson were in her room, playing on his tablet.
"This is amazing- can I play with it till the end of the day?" She asked as she bit her croissant.
"Sure,"
"Hey Husband."
"Are you ready to head to the Dr. Grey's office?"
"That sounds ominous… yes, I'm ready." She was wearing jeans and a t-shirt with a dash of basic make-up.
They sat in Dr. Grey's office after introductions, "Ok team of truth revealers—what happened." This question was posed to Derek, Dr. Steele, and Dr. Grey.
Derek explained the stalking and abduction and as she took in the details, she felt as if it happened to someone else. She was drugged and held captive for 2 days. He found her with a knife in her back in a warehouse. The story sounded like a made for TV movie – not like her life.
She got up and began to pace, "was I—" she couldn't even get the question out, "was I sexually assaulted?"
"The rape kit came back negative so – you weren't forced sexually," Dr. Grey replied
"But I could have been, compliant—it could have been willing if I was on all of those drugs and - and" she asked.
"We interrogated the two men who abducted you and they did not assault you –"
"But there is a third unsub, and we don't have him."
"Yes." Derek responded, "we are looking for him and we will find him."
"Ok," she said as her pacing came to a halt, "that's why you didn't want me going for a walk this morning." She started to feel dirty and Derek could see some of that Penelope glow disappear.
She returned to her seat, "do we know why – why me?"
Derek went on to explain how it was related to an old case. They went on to explain her injuries in detail. How her body needs to heal. She was overwhelmed with information and it was just too much for her to hear. She placed her hand in Derek's and asked the most important question—"we will find him right?"
"Yes, I promise you that."
The glow returned to her face and she looked to the doctors and said, "So what can I do? I can't really do a lot because of the fractured rib—and I have 4 weeks of recovery. Can I dance? Teach? Have sex—if so what positions should we avoid? What other test do we have scheduled today and when can I go home?" She took out her tablet and prepared to take notes.
The room chuckled at her flurry of questions but answered them one by one.
When he came back at four Dr. Steele was wrapping up, "we want to keep you for one or two more days then you can continue your psychological treatment at home." "Great!" Penelope smiled!
"What the good news" Derek asked.
"Her memories are almost all back and she can continue the psych work at home. We want to observe her motor skills for another day or so. Then we will release he into your custody."
"Also," Penelope added, "the nerve damage has an upshot- I have almost perfect pitch musically—Karaoke Penelope is in the house!"
When the doctor left the room, Derek asked, "So your memories are back?" Her demeanor hasn't changed so he was surprised at this revelation.
"Now, don't be mad—I may have embellished what I remember…. so I can leave,"
"Penelope," he said as if she were a child with her hand caught in the cookie jar.
"They wanted to keep me here till they were all back but that could be months and if I'm around my own things, sleeping in my own bed, doing my normal routine, the memories may just come back quicker"
"How did you fool them?" he asked
"—She asked me a few things and I told them bits and pieces about current events, and our family. When they stumped me, I said it was hazy.
"Penelope you," he couldn't believe he had to explain why this was wrong to her, "we have to tell Dr. Steele your real status"
"No we don't – I want to leave this room and I just feel itchy being here," she said, "I was tortured and being in here is like part two," she said very dramatically.
He looked at her and couldn't help but smile, this is the same technique Chris uses on him.
"Ok, I don't remember the torture yet, but it could take years for me to remember and then what - I can go home. Plus, I remember a few more things kinda well not really but, — I work at University of Pennsylvania teaching Computer Science—I should get back to that too before they never offer me tenure."
"Nice try Baby Girl," he said, "I know Jackson told you that yesterday."
She looked up at him and said, "I read somewhere that just the act of sex can strengthen synaptic nerves thus making my memories come back faster. Granted there are certain positions we can't do but I do remember a few that we can do and what you were good at" she said smiling, "I mean I'm open to all forms of healing aren't you?"
"Yes," he said, "but-"
"Then come show me," she said leaning over and pulling him closer. As her lips touched his, he was surprised by her forcefulness. She nipped his bottom lip and when he opened his mouth, she dived in. He didn't know where to touch or hold her fearing that he may hurt her that he put his hands on the bed right next to her hips. She lowered her self to the pillows taking him with her and she started to kiss his scruffy face. She kissed his neck as she reached up to feel his pecks—as he explored his chest she whispered between kisses "now this I do remember," she said as she returned to his lips. A laughed rumbled in is throat as he touched her hair gently and kissed her back. He cupped her face as feelings of excitement and sheer joy washed over him.
Then they heard someone clear their throat and say, "some things never change."
She groaned a bit and whispered, "crap we have to try harder next time—I remember nothing."