Disclaimer: I don't own Criminal Minds or the characters. Some "guest stars" are based on or the named after people in my life while others are totally made up, as are some places and events.

Chapter 5

"Thanks for taking me to lunch," Penelope grinned over her milkshake. Her grin faltered as she caught Derek again staring off into space again. She knew something was bothering him, but she didn't know what. "Morgan?"

"Hm? Oh, yeah, you're welcome, Baby Girl." He paused. "Did I ever tell you about my father's death?"

"Just that he was killed trying to stop a robbery and you saw it all," Penelope frowned and wondered why he was thinking such morbid thoughts but continued to drink her shake until it was gone.

After they were finished, Derek paid for them and opened the car door for her. He glanced around before closing the door and hurried to the driver's side.

"Derek Morgan, what is going on? I may not be a profiler but I am not stupid. Something happened in Hotch's office this morning. Are you going to tell me or am I going to have to hack your life to find out what it is?"

Derek sighed and rested his head on the steering wheel. "The man that murdered my father escaped from prison," he whispered.

"Oh, my gosh, Derek! Do you think he'll try and come after you?"

"I hope he does, because it'll be over quickly," he growled. "But I'm not his only target."

"Your mom...?" she began.

"Is protected," he finished. "And so are my sisters."

"Is it Savannah?"

"No, Savannah and I called in quits last month," Derek blurted out.

"Derek! Why didn't you tell me? Wait, I'm sorry, that was stupid for me to say, considering... "

"It's all right. It was fine. She just found someone at the hospital who was able to be there more than I ever was." He shrugged.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. I'm not. But no, she's not the target." He lifted his head from the steering wheel and gazed at her.

"Then who is?

He reached out and cupped her cheek in his hand. "You are."

"Me?" she laughed scornfully. "Why would he come after me? I'm just your friend."

Derek closed his eyes tightly. "It's because of what you witnessed."

"'What I witnessed'?" she repeated. "I'm confused. I didn't witness anything."

"Yes, you did. You witnessed a murder."

For once, Penelope was speechless. She opened and closed her mouth twice before a proper thought formed. "Derek, this is wrong on so many levels," she whispered.

"Tell me you don't remember what happened in Chicago," he whispered back.

"Nothing happened in Chicago," she replied as her eyes filled with tears, showing Derek that yes, she did remember.

"Baby Girl, you don't remember the store and the candy and the man with the mask?" he asked.

Penelope shook her head, "No, this is a mistake!"

Derek grabbed her hand and kissed it. "You don't remember the little boy?"

"Derek... " she started to cry.

"Because he never forgot you."

"No!" she yanked her hand away and got out of the car. Derek got out too and ran over to the passenger side.

"Derek, I don't know where you heard that, but it took a long time to come to terms that that was a dream. It never happened! I got bad dreams from watching too much Murder, She Wrote and MacGyver on TV. The boy wasn't real."

"You did witness a murder."

"Derek... "

"Penelope Garcia, I was that little boy!"

"Derek, I..."

Derek dropped to his knee in front of her and grabbed her hand. "I swear it's true. I helped you pick up the Kit Kats. I pulled you into the corner. I fought a grown man who tried to take you away. And it was my father who was shot and killed in front of us."

Penelope stared and promptly burst into tears. Derek gathered her in his arms and let her cry against his shoulder. He let her cry until he felt her shivering. He helped her into the car and got into the driver's seat.

"Are you going to be OK to go back to work?" he asked as she wiped her eyes with a tissue.

"Yeah, just drive slow," she replied.

"I have so many questions..." she whispered and she stared out the window.

"I know. And I promise to answer them as best as I can," he replied. "Can I come over tonight so we can talk?"

"Yes," she said. "Maybe I won't be so confused then."

"Ain't that cute?" the pock-marked man sneered as he stared at the couple from the backseat of the white sedan. "He still likes blondes, I see." His

"She's pretty enough," his companion agreed. "I wish we could hear what he's saying."

"She must mean a lot to him. Look at him kneel down in front of her," Montgomery mused.

"Holy shit! What was the name of that girl who testified against you again?" the companion asked.

"Penelope Garcia," Montgomery snapped. "Why?"

"It's her!"

"Who's her?"

"Look," he shoved his tablet in Montgomery's hands. Montgomery watched the video of the woman holding a press conference. His jaw dropped as she addressed herself as Agent Penelope Garcia. His eyes nearly bugged out of their sockets as the camera panned out and he saw none other than the man they were watching standing next to the blonde agent at the podium. He looked up at his companion with glee.

"It is her!"

Penelope asked to be left alone after Derek walked her back to her office. Derek respected her wishes as he wanted to be alone with his thoughts as well.

He no sooner got comfortable in his chair when there was a knock on his door. "Come in," he called wearily. He was surprised when Hotch came in, followed by a large man with a receding hairline.

Derek stood up as the men stood in front of his desk.

"Hello, Agent Morgan," the large man greeted.

"Gordinski," Derek greeted and nodded. "Can I help you with something?"

"I wanted to come and explain myself in person. I swear I didn't know that Montgomery had escaped. They didn't tell me until his name was brought up during Simon Dart's murder investigation. The older cop sighed as he continued: "I was also informed just before my flight here that someone else had escaped with Montgomery. The prison didn't piece two-and-two together until then."

"Who else escaped?" Morgan's heart pounded.

"Malcolm Ford."

A/N: Thanks for reading.

Xoxo,

Pita(High-Tech Redneck)Cake

*I updated both stories earlier this evening but they didn't post for some reason. I apologize for that. I only have three-minute breaks and I haven't been able to look at my phone during this wonderful chaos that I love.