"Derek." Kevin greeted him as he looked at him from head to toe. He pushed up his glasses and cocked a brow at Derek who was silent. "Hey," Derek replied after a couple of seconds, "uh, is Penelope here?" he asked trying to look into her apartment. "You just missed her..." Kevin shrugged. Derek cocked a brow at him.
Where could she have gone? Did she not remember Derek was picking her up? "Uh, Can I come in and wait for her?" Derek asked. He shook his head stepped away from the door and grabbed the door knob, ready to close it. Before he could close it, Derek put his foot between the door and the door frame, "No?" Derek asked as he looked at Kevin. Kevin looked down at Derek's foot then back up at him. "No." Derek crossed his arms, "And why is that?" Kevin kept looking at him. "b..because," Kevin stuttered and looked at the wall next to Derek, "I don't know how long she'll be gone for.'' Derek didn't believe Kevin but he nodded and moved his foot. "Well can you tell her I stopped by?" Kevin looked back at him and nodded. "Okay." Derek turned around and walked enough for Kevin to close the door. He stopped and turned back. He took his phone out and called Penelope. He pulled the phone from his ear when he heard Penelope's phone ring. It was coming from inside the apartment.
Inside, Penelope lay on the floor. She sat up and leaned against the door. She pulled her knees up to her chest and cried silently. She wanted to step out of her room and yell out Derek's name. Why didn't she? She didn't know. She was still processing what had just happened. She thought she knew Kevin, she thought he loved her. She never thought Kevin would be capable of hurting her. She had thought wrong. She had been wrong about many things.
Derek went around to the driveway. Penelope's bedroom was there. He found her window but it was too high for him to look in. He heard a loud bang that made him jump a little when he was calling Penelope again. He heard Penelope scream and immediately ended the call. He rushed back into the hallway. He began banging on the door but there was no answer.
Kevin had managed to push Penelope away from the door so he could get into the bedroom. He had Penelope cornered, again. She was shaking as he yelled at her. She was scared. She didn't know what to do, she just want it to be over. She wished someone, anyone, would burst through the doors and save her. Save her from the last person she had expected to be saved from. "Please..." she whispered while looking into his dark eyes, "stop..'' He shook his head and chuckled. He pushed her onto the bed. "Stop it!" She yelled and tried to push him off. He clenched his teeth and slapped her. She looked up at him, not noticing the tears flowing down her face.
Derek got tired of banging on the door. He was now furious. He hoped what he thought was happening wasn't If Kevin had dared hurt his baby girl he didn't know what he was capable of doing. He twisted the door knob, hoping it was open and he could get in. He punched the wall and stepped back. He looked at the door and kicked it open. It flung open and he rushed in. He looked around but didn't see Kevin or Penelope. He was quietly making his way over to Penelope's bedroom when he heard her shriek. He opened the door. His facial expression quickly changed and his eyes widen..
Kevin had Penelope straddled, "Kevin!" She yelled as he pulled her by her hair. "Shut the hell up!" he yelled, teeth clenched. Penelope shut her eyes tightly. He quickly balled his fist up and swung as hard as he possibly could. Penelope opened her eyes from the pain. He looked at her and chuckled as blood appeared from the corner of her mouth. He heard the door open and his smirk quickly disappeared.
Derek rushed over, grabbing him by the neck of his shirt, he threw him against the wall. Penelope sat up on the bed, somewhat relieved. Derek took a few swings at Kevin, ''you bastard!" He yelled as he kept punching the nearly unconscious man. He punched and punched until two police men barged in and immediately pulled him off. ~One of Penelope's neighbors had called the police when he heard the commotion coming from the bottom apartment. ~ Derek wanted to run and hold Penelope in his arms but the police officer who had pulled him off didn't let him. The other officer was in the bedroom questioning Penelope. Derek sighed and sat down in the living room. He ran his hand over his head, a police officer then stepped out, escorting Lynch out as well. Derek looked at Kevin with disgust. The officers left and Derek waited for Penelope but she never came out. He ran into the bedroom and found Penelope sitting on the bed staring at the wall, blankly. He slowly made his way over to her sadness noticeable in his eyes and pain in Penelope's. "Baby.." he looked down at her, she didn't say anything or move. He squat down in front of her, "Penelope." She turned her head slightly so that she could look into his eyes. Her lip began to quiver. Derek frowned and wrapped his arms around her as tight as he could She broke down, even more, and started bawling, crying uncontrollably, into his neck. He didn't say anything; he let her cry as he gently rubbed her back in a circular motion.
Several minutes later, she had finally calmed down a little. He released his grip around her, "How are you feeling?" She looked at him and all it took was those four words to have her crying again. He frowned again, he didn't mean to make her cry, "Shh.. baby, please don't cry." He crying began to get quiet and she nodded. "What happened?" he tried asking. She wiped her tears and looked into Derek's eyes. She shook her head, "He said I didn't love him… love him the way he loved me!" She sniffled and looked down. Derek shook his head, "That didn't give that ungrateful crap dog the right to do this to you!" She nodded and looked up at him, "Thank you." She whispered. He gave her a soft smile and shook his head.
Her sighed and got up. He went over to her closet and grabbed one of her traveling bags. She observed him carefully, confused. "Uh, what are you doing, handsome?" "I'm getting you some clothes.. you are spending the night at my place." He turned to her. "I'm fine here, Morgan.'' He shook his head as he threw a pair of her sweat pants and a t-shirt into the bag; he went to her closet and grabbed her favorite pink bunny slippers. She nodded, watching him, she was tired, and she didn't want to do anything but sleep.
He walked over to her and helped her up. They walked out of her apartment and to his SUV. He opened the door for her. He buckled her seatbelt for her and kissed her forehead softly. He put her bag in the back and got into the driver's seat. They drove to his house; the ride was quiet, quieter than usual. He occasionally looked over at her and she gave him a fake smile. He was well aware of the fake smiles but didn't say anything. They finally arrived at his house. He ran over and opened the door for her, he grabbed her bag and they walked to his porch. He opened the door and Penelope stepped in. Clooney immediately rushed over and jumped on Penelope. She smiled a little, "Clooney, down..'' She looked at him; he gave Penelope her bag, assuming she was tired, so that she could go get dressed. She grabbed the bag and went to get changed in the bathroom. It wasn't even ten o'clock yet but so much had happened. He sat down on the couch and waited for Penelope. She came out five minutes later. He turned to her and held his arms out. She slowly walked over to him and sat down next to him. He wrapped his arms around her and stayed quiet.
"Let's go upstairs... get you some rest" She nodded and got up. They walked up the stairs and into his bedroom. She usually slept in the guestroom whenever she stayed over but she didn't care right now. She was still scared and the last thing she wanted at that moment was to be left alone. "Lay down.'' He told her as he kicked his shoes off. She did as she was told. He lay next to her and pulled her close. She cuddled up closely against his chest and took a deep breath in. He pulled the blanket over them, "Good night, baby girl.'' "Good night.'' She replied as she slowly drifted into a deep sleep.
"I love you.'' He whispered into her ear and closed his eyes.