Chapter 10
"So you haven't seen Penelope in twenty years?" Morgan asked.
"Look," Michael started, "it wasn't my choice."
"Morgan," Hotch explained, "Gabriel and Lucas have been hurting them for a very long time."
"So they made you cut contact with her?" JJ asked.
"Yeah. Look, I never meant for this to happen," Michael lamented.
"Michael, it's not your fault," Rossi said, "they were just evil. Now, I understannd being upset aabout the death of Mr. and Mrs. Garcia, but what they did was pure evil. No remorse."
"When someone wants revenge, they will go to any lengths to get it," Hotch explained, "you had no way of knowing that they would take it this far."
Michael put his face in his hands.
"So..what else did they do to my sister?"
"You don't—you don't wanna know," Hotch said, "just trust us, son."
Right then and there, Michael knew he had a family in Garcia's team, too. He looked up/
"You—you really love her?" Michael asked.
"Yeah, I do," Hotch answered.
"A brother knows," Michael replied, "just take care of her Agent Hotchner."
"I will. And Michael, it's Aaron."
"Excuse me?" the doctor asked, "but we're ready to discharge Miss Garcia."
"Hotch, man, go on," Morgan coaxed.
"I can follow you to her house," Michael offered, "and help you guys get settled in."
"Good," Hotch answered, "the rest of you guys, head home. You've done more than I've asked you."
"So, are you ready to go home, Penelope?" Hotch asked.
"As, ready as I'll ever be, SSA Hotstuff," Garcia retorted.
"SSA Hotstuff?!" Michael exclaimed.
"Don't ask," Hotch smirked.
"Oh, please tell me that's not what I think it is!" Garcia exclaimed, pointing to the wheelchair that Michael was holding.
"I'm sorry, Penelope," Hotch said, "but it's standard procedure.
"Standard procedure, my foot," Garcia grumbled.
"No whining, little sis," Michael playfully scolded, "hop in."
Garcia reluctanltly got in the wheelchair.
"Just like old times," Michael reminisiced.
"Michael," Garcia pleaded, "for the love of God, do NOT tell that story. If you do, you'll be the one in a hospital next!"
Hotch's ears perked up.
"What story?"
"When Penelope was five, she snuck out of the house in the afternoon and got in her red wagon. Now, I was always a stickler for the rules, so naturally, I objected. Pen, here didn't really seem to care."
Garcia rolled her eyes.
"Now, she was trying to push herself in her wagon, but I told her not to go too far and to let me help her. Well, that didn't go over so well. Next thing I know, Penelope crashes into Mr. Johnson's mailbox. Mr. Johnson comes out and yells at us. Pen runs over his foot and sticks her tounge at him. That's how I got grounded and Penelope wasn't allowed to drive anything until she was sixteen. And Mom and Dad were reluctant to let her drive!"
Hotch laughed.
"I believe it," Hotch quipped, "how do you think she got into the BAU anyway?"
"I hacked into their database," Garcia bragged.
The three found themselves laughing.
"Oh! Oh!" Garcia exclaimed.
"What is it sweetie?" Hotch asked.
"It hurts to laugh...with the burns on my chest."
"I'm sorry," Hotch apologized.
"If it helps," Michael offered, helping Garcia into the van, "I have some contacts from the university. I know some top doctors. I can see about getting you some skin grafts."
"Skin grafts?" Garcia whispered.
"Honey, you know it was gonna have to happen sooner or later," Hotch said, kissing her face.
"Hey, we're gonna fix this one way or another," Michael assured.
The three entered the apartment with Hotch and Michael carrying stuff.
"It's not fair!" Garcia whined, "I should be helping you."
"Sit," Hotch commanded. Garcia instantly retreated to the couch.
"Wow, she really listens to you," Michael noted.
"You have no idea," Hotch chuckled.
"I sat your medication on the kitchen counter," Michael called, "you need to take it every day."
"That means every day," Hotch clarified, "no cheating."
He saw tears well up in Garcia's eyes. What was wrong? Had he been too hard on her?
"I miss Fluffles!" Garcia cried.
"Oh," Hotch whispered, pulling her close to him.
"Fluffles?"
"My cat," Garcia answered, "he-"
Michael just nodded.
"Everyday, he would greet me with a purr and get up on the table," Garcia said, "and now-"
"I'm so sorry," Hotch said, "I know it's hard losing a pet."
"I didn't just lose him" Garcia cried, "they took him from me! Just like they took my face and my innocence away!"
"Oh, Penelope," Hotch assured, "you will get it back in time." He rubbed her back and held her close. As if to emphasize the point, he kissed her cheek.
"I don't know when," Hotch said, "but things will get back to normal. Trust me."
"How long did it take you?" Garcia asked.
"I never really stopped going through it," Hotch answered, "but eventually, I found a way to keep going. I had to for Jack. And you'll have to as well. It might not be next month or next year, but it will happen. It will hurt less. It won't ever go away, but eventually you'll be able to look in the mirror without seeing Gabriel. And you have me, the team, and Michael and Antonio. You will not go thorugh this alone."
Garcia breathed deeply and stared into his eyes. He would know. He's been there. So she laid her head on his shoulder and fell asleep. They stayed in that position all night.