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

Chapter 6

"Hold up. Malcolm Ford and Anthony Montgomery met in prison?"

"Yeah. Montgomery must've had someone feeding him information from the outside. According to the guards and informants, he befriended Ford right away. They spoke of you constantly."

"Like I told Hotch, I'm not worried about me," Derek to Gordinski.

"I also put protection on your aunt and cousin and her son."

"I appreciate that and I know they'll feel safer for it. Ford is a pansy. He was probably more than happy that a cop killer befriended him. Montgomery has had thirty years to think about revenge and I'm not the one he really wants.

"I'm assuming you mean the little girl witness. I read the file. He blamed an eight year-old girl for him getting caught and put away."

"Yes."

"You need to find her. She's needs to know she's not safe."

"What do you mean?"

"He talked about doing everything he could to find her, to anyone who would listen. There are files missing from his old lawyer's home office. Even though he was retired he still checked on cases from time to time."

"I bet the file from Montgomery's trial is missing, which means he knows her name. And Ford knows me and where I work. It won't take long for them to put two-and-two together."

"You know where the girl is?" Gordinski asked disbelievingly.

Morgan and Hotch shared a look. "Yes," Hotch said tightly. "She's our Technical Analyst."

"The lady you guys talked to on the phone? That's the little girl from Chicago? How...?" Gordinski looked confused.

"I have no idea, honestly. I just found out myself. But she is an FBI agent in my unit and she's safe with us," Hotch reassured the police captain.

"Does she know?"

"Yeah, she knows. I actually just got back from telling her. The memories were repressed because she was told the whole thing was from nightmares from watching too many crime shows on TV, so she eventually didn't believe it really happened. Hell, for a long time I thought I made her up. She was there and gone so quickly I thought she was an angel sent to help me deal with my father's death. I dreamed about her, though, and she helped me out with... stuff," Derek explained.

Penelope believed me today because I knew everything about that night and we never discussed it. I tried bringing it up years ago but the only thing she remembered was visiting Chicago as a child and that it was the first time she saw snow. I didn't think it was right to say

I realized who she was a couple weeks after Hotch hired her. When I first suspected it I looked at the police files and trial transcripts for the first time. Everything matched and that's when I knew. Penny was always

"How do suggest we approach this to the team? Hotch asked after Gordinski left.

"The team?" Morgan asked stupidly.

"Two of our members are being threatened. I think it's important to tell everyone so we can all watch out for each other."

"Hotch..."

"Morgan, a threat to one of us is a threat to all of us. A threat to two of us and there is no keeping this a secret. You and Garcia are important to all of us."

"I'm going over to Garcia's tonight. She was incredibly emotional when I told her at lunch. Now I have to tell her about Ford and everything else. Maybe tell them all in the morning and in the meantime tell everyone to give her some space. I'll ask Garcia what she wants to do."

"Why don't you and Garcia go home now? We don't have any cases and I'll arrange for Team B to work with another tech for awhile."

"Really, Hotch?" Morgan was surprised.

"Yes. You need some time and so does she. Go."

"Thanks." He gathered his bag and a few files and walked out with Hotch.

"If you need anything, let me know." the Unit Chief nodded at Derek as he walked the opposite direction to his own office.

Derek took a deep breath and knocked on Garcia's office door.

"Enter," she called out. It broke his heart to hear her voice strained.

He let himself in the room and walked over to where Penelope was sitting and watching a video of kittens dancing. She looked up at him with watery eyes and a tiny smile.

"Hey, Baby Girl." Derek turned her chair around and knelt in front of her.

"Hey yourself. Did you come here to check on me?" she asked.

"Sorta," he replied. "Feel like getting out of here?"

"We just got back..." she protested.

"Yes, I know. And we've been sprung."

"What?!"

"Hotch just told me we could go home. So get your stuff. You're coming with me."

"I can't. Team B is in Knoxville and I'm waiting..."

"Hotch said he'd take care of it," Derek interrupted.

"Oh, thank God. I feel like my brain has been replaced with tapioca," she said as she turned off her babies and grabbed her bag. In the elevator he took her bag from her and put his arm around her shoulders. He pretended not to notice her stiffen at his touch.

His phone rang as he started up the car. He looked at the caller I.D. and braced himself for the oncoming storm.

"Hey, Mama," he greeted. He glanced over to see Penelope looking out the window and smirking. "I'm driving. Can I call you back in a little while? Thanks, Ma. I love you." He hung up the phone and looked over at Penelope.

"How pissed is she?" she asked.

"Ehh... I think she's more worried than anything."

"She's not the only one, " Penelope muttered. Derek pretended not to hear that as his heart tightened.

"My house or yours?" he asked.

"Does it matter?" she asked. "Yours," she said after his pleading look.

He drove to his house and parked in the driveway. He motioned for her to wait and looked around as he walked around and helped her out.

Derek let them in and reset the alarm. He turned to face her and saw she was trying not to cry. He gathered her in his arms and enveloped her in a big hug. He felt the tears wet his shirt as she wept into his shoulder. He led her to the couch and put her in his lap. "I'm sorry," he whispered as she stopped shuddering and her breathing regulated. He gently pushed her away and saw she had cried herself to sleep.

He kissed the top of her head, picked her up in his arms and took her upstairs to the spare bedroom. He chose the room next to his because he wanted her close. He laid hey on the bed and took her shoes off. He tucked her into bed and kissed her again, this time on the forehead.

Derek signed as he went back downstairs and called his mom back.

"Hey, Mama," he greeted.

"Hey, Baby Boy," she answered.

"How mad are you?" he asked.

"I'm not anymore. I was but Sarah said that you may be on a case and couldn't call."

"I wasn't, but you all found out before I did. I didn't know until I got to the office this morning and after lunch Gordinski himself came by to tell us Malcolm Ford escaped, too."

"Did you tell Penelope yet?" Fran asked. She was the only person he ever told about his and Penelope's connection.

"Yes. I took her to lunch. She is scared and upset. Hotch sent us both home early. I brought her to my house and she cried herself to sleep."

"Do you want to come home?" Fran asked.

"Yes, but I don't want to make you guys targets, too. There's been no sightings so far and CPD think they may still be in the area. Until they've been caught again, I don't want to risk it," he sighed.

"I get it. Call me if you need anything, do you hear?"

"Yes, Mama. I love you."

"I love you too, Baby Boy."

Derek turned on the TV and flipped it to ESPN. He wasn't even aware of his eyes closing until an earsplitting scream echoed through the house.

A/N: I received some disturbing news tonight that I can't wrap my head around. My muse was struggling even before this and now she's off somewhere around Pluto. I'm not sure when I'll update this and PP&F but I won't leave for long, I hope. Until then,

Xoxo,

PitaCake