Disclaimer: I own nothing. If I did, CM's writing staff would consist of authors from here and not... never mind.

Chapter 7

Derek left the car but stayed close enough for Penelope to still see him. He talked on his phone but kept his back to her and she couldn't see or hear what he was saying. He made what appeared to be three calls before coming back to the car. He released her from the cuffs and put them back on his belt. He wrapped the blanket more firmly around her and guided her to the edge of the trees. He tugged her down to the ground then sat down next to her.

"Do not scream," he warned. "If you do, we both will be killed. I still have the gag. I don't want to use it but I need you to promise me you won't scream. I do have a mother, two sisters, and a girlfriend to take care of, you know."

"I won't scream," Penelope whispered. "Just... don't hurt my brother." She had no idea why, but she felt jealous and territorial. It had never occurred to her that Derek would be taken, even though he was the best-looking man she'd ever seen.

Derek frowned. "Your brother will be here in a day or so." He had no idea why she thought he would hurt Dr. Reid but from her expression he believed that she would be quiet. He looked back at the large manor and rose when he saw one of the lights on the third floor turn on, then back off, then on again. He counted to ten and pulled Penelope to her feet when the light flicked on and off eight times in quick repetition. He grabbed her cold hands in his and looked at her. He pointed to the stone wall that was almost diagonal from where they were standing. "We need to run. Run as fast as you can. When you get to the wall there, stop. As soon as I open the door, go in. I'll be right behind you." Before Penelope could ask, "what door?" he was running. His iron grip on her hand forced to to run as fast as she could to keep up. He slowed his pace to match hers, keeping her close to him, almost shielding her. He released her seconds before they reached the wall. Penelope pressed her body against it and looked over at Derek, who was forcing a hidden door open. He tugged her hand again and she wiggled into crack and stopped when she felt another wall. She heard stone grinding against stone and looked behind her to see Derek forcing the door shut.

"Stay here," he ordered. He jogged down the dark tunnel. Penelope squinted, trying to see in the pitch darkness. She flinched when a light suddenly filled the tunnel and Derek came around a bend that she didn't know was there. He had a flashlight and shone it on his watch. He nodded at the time, then thrust the flashlight into her hands. "I have to go," he explained. "I'll be back as soon as I can."

"Wait!" she cried. She clutched the flashlight and the blanket dropped to the ground. "You can't leave me here!"

Derek frowned and picked up the blanket. He shook it off and placed it back around her shoulders. "I'm not leaving you. I will be back for you. Don't try and find your way through these tunnels. You will get lost and I may not find you in time. Don't try and go out the hidden door. You will be shot if the guards see you."

Derek turned back to the hidden door and looked back at her. She looked scared, although she tried to hide it. Derek felt a surge of emotion and before he knew what he was doing, he grabbed the princess and kissed her hard on the mouth. It was her slight gasp that drew him back. He looked horrified for a second as he pushed himself away before clearing his throat and turning back to the door. "Turn the light off," he ordered. "When you hear three knocks on the wall, you can turn it back on." He waited for Penelope to nod before forcing the door back open, squeezing through, and closing it again. She listened for the three knocks and when she heard them, she counted eight steps toward the bend before sliding back to the ground. She turned on the light and shone it away from the direction of the door.

Penelope was exhausted. She knew her body was finally crashing from the numerous rushes of adrenaline over the past two days. She had no sense of the time but she sang and hummed lyrics to songs to keep her mind occupied. The tunnel was drafty and it didn't take long for the damp blanket to become stiff from the cold. Penelope began to shiver but continued to sing softly. She curled up in a ball and touched a hand to her lips. She closed her eyes and replayed the kiss over and over in her mind. She wasn't even aware that she had drifted off to sleep with a smile on her face.

Derek ran back to the car and started it up before executing a perfect three-point turn and driving back to the road. He traveled another mile before turning off. He stopped at a guard tower and showed his badge to the guard, who nodded before lifting the gate. He drove down a long, paved driveway before coming up to a garage. He ran his badge through a sensor and typed in his personal identification number. The garage door opened and he drove down an incline and past numerous cars before sliding the SUV into a spot reserved for the government-owned vehicles. He locked up the SUV before walking briskly toward the elevator. He patted the hood of his personal vehicle, a truck, parked in its usual spot, as he walked by it. He entered the elevator and ran his badge into its lock. The elevator hesitated, then closed its doors. Derek waited for it to ascend and re-open before calmly walking down the hallway.

He unlocked his own office before dropping his go-bag into a chair, then walked up to his desk and sat down. He made several phone calls and after the last one he lifted his prized autographed baseball from its stand on his desk. He grabbed the key hidden there and just as he replaced the ball and rose to leave, there was a knock on the door. Before he could open his mouth to grant the visitor permission to enter, the door flung open. Derek stifled a groan as his girlfriend marched in and slammed the door closed behind her. "Hi, Savannah," he managed to say with a little emotion, but a big smile. He stealthy slipped the key into his pocket.

"'Hi, Savannah'?" Savannah repeated with disdain. "That's all you have to say, 'hi, Savannah'? I haven't seen you in weeks and you don't even have the courtesy to call me and let me know you're home?"

Derek willed his patience and temper to hold. He was still on his mission and thoughts of Princess Penelope finally being home and safe calmed him. "Savannah, I just got back. I was going to call you here in a minute," he lied. "I just told Rossi I am on my way to see him to debrief, and I was planning on calling you on my way there. But now that you're here, I can give you this instead." He walked around his desk and grabbed his girlfriend in his arms before dipping her slightly and kissing her sensually. Savannah kissed him back hungrily and moaned. Derek straightened up and hugged his girlfriend. "I'm still going to be a few hours," he explained. He grimaced as the woman stiffened, them pushed herself away.

"But, Derek...!" she whined. "I haven't seen you in weeks!"

"I know, and that's the point," he explained as he walked her out of his office and toward the elevator. He got on with her and pressed the button for the first floor, then pressed another button and swiped his badge. "I haven't seen anyone in weeks. There's a lot of catching up to do."

"I thought you had to meet with the king," Savannah narrowed her eyes as she looked up at Derek after he swiped his badge. She was astute enough to know that one didn't need to swipe a badge to access the offices once inside the building.

"I do, but it's late and Rossi has already left for the day. He told me to meet him at his office in the residence."

"Oh, ok," Savannah nodded. The elevator dinged and he held the door open while he gave her another long, lingering kiss. She stepped off and the last thing he saw before the doors closed again was her walking away without a glance back.

Derek rubbed the back of his head, his habitual move when he was frustrated. He closed his eyes and tried to keep his emotions in check. As beautiful and sexy as his girlfriend was, all he could think about was his princess. His princess? When did I start thinking of her as my princess? he thought to himself. Derek knew he had no right for the feelings of possessiveness he felt over Penelope. She's the princess. Everyone's princess. Not just mine. He kept repeating it over and over but he could not get their kiss out of his mind. Kissing Savannah was safe. Normal. Kissing Princess Penelope was like an explosion. Her shy smile, her selflessness, her strong, yet naive view of the world, her innocence, and her quick wit drew him like a month to flame. She was beautiful, not just physically, but her heart was pure and good. He'd couldn't admit it out loud, but he believed his princess was the sexiest woman he'd ever met.

The elevator finally stopped and instead of going right in the direction of the king's private office, he turned left toward a different wing. It was a rarely used part of the manor; the only people that came through here regularly were the staff who cleaned it. He looked around briefly before taking the key out of his pocket and unlocking a door. He entered a small, cold, dark, and musty-smelling room. He quickly re-locked the door behind him and walked past sheet-covered furniture to the far wall. He felt around and when he found a loose brick he pushed it and opened another secret door. He squeezed inside and closed the door behind him, replacing the brick from inside the tunnel. He grabbed a flashlight from a hook and going by memory, jogged down and through the tunnels to where his princess was waiting. He looked down at his watch and swore at the time. Almost two hours had passed since he had left her. He felt his heart clench and ran faster. He didn't like the idea of Penelope trapped in the tunnels, alone and scared. He knew she was safe but she didn't. He couldn't wait until she would know everything and why he had to do what he did. He couldn't wait until she was no longer afraid of him.

Derek's heart jumped when he slowed down to make the final turn to where he had left Penelope, then sank when he saw she wasn't there. His heart hammering in his chest, he walked slowly past the hidden door. He approached the bend and felt a surge of relief when he saw the beam of a flashlight and bundle of a blanket.

"Penny?" Derek whispered. He knelt down and frowned when he saw her curled up in a ball and shivering in her sleep. He felt the blanket then ripped it away from her when he felt how cold it was. He grabbed her in his arms and gently shook her awake. She opened her eyes and smiled slightly. He picked her up and carried her up through the tunnels, trying to use his body heat to warm her. He retraced his steps and she wrapped her arm around his neck and held on but was still shivering when he finally stopped. He set her down and pushed the loose brick again to gain access to the musty room. He pulled her inside and re-sealed the secret door. He took her hand again and peaked out the door before guiding her into the hall. He locked the door and turned her around to face a set of double doors directly across the hall. He opened them and still holding her hand, led her inside. He then closed the doors behind them.

This room was large and although it was plain, it was warm and bright and inviting. Penelope looked around, seeing the room was a living space with a couch set up in front of a large, flat-screen television. Two cushioned chairs with a table set up between them sat in front of a fireplace. Penelope could feel the warmth from the fireplace although the fire had burned down to little more than hot coals. Next to the fireplace was a brass fixture holding several logs. A square table with four matching chairs sat in front of a large window on the opposite side of the room, next to the wall near it was a serving buffet.

Penelope watched Derek go to the fire and pick up a poker before stirring the coals, then adding a fresh log. He replaced the poker and turned to look at her. "You moved," he accused. "Back in the tunnel."

She nodded. "I didn't want the light from the flashlight to be close to the secret door. I counted my steps and didn't go far at all."

Derek shook his head in amusement. Although he knew the hidden door wouldn't have allowed light through, she didn't, and took steps to protect herself. His princess was smart, very smart.

Penelope jumped and whipped around when someone knocked on the doors. Derek walked to the doors and said a few words before allowing an older lady inside.

"Penny, this is Fran. She'll be looking after you. I have to go now." He nodded to both women and left.

A/N: Happy Winter Solstice, y'all. It's been brutally cold and snowy and icy and I've been writing up a storm. I'm hoping to update all three of my stories again for Christmas Eve. In case I don't, have a blessed Christmas.

XOXO,

Pita(NotDesignedForBelow-ZeroTemps)Cake