Potomac General Hospital –

He sat at her beside, holding her hand in his staring intently and waiting. He couldn't erase the vision of her hanging from the rafters in the old rundown warehouse that had once been a vibrant film school but had since been forgotten left to be occupied by dust and ruin the holding cell for his friends that had become family. He prided himself in being strong and fearless but the thought of losing her, them would have changed him, destroyed him even.

The past was a place that had not been kind to Morgan; he'd been victimized and convinced that he was nothing; nothing that needed to be protected, loved and so he had believed it to be true and taught himself to be hard and to build a wall around his heart. Just when it seemed as if the wall would crack he'd back away and close ranks around that small part of him that he still controlled.

But she had found a way in; he didn't know how she had managed it but she'd done it with ease and without so much as a warning shot. Penelope Garcia had conquered the giant, taken the treasure yet she refused to consider his heart as the spoils of war. Instead she cared for him even when he desperately protested. She waited patiently until he ran out of excuses and allowed her to love him and to wrap him in that love that was one of the few sane and consistent things in his life. He didn't know what he had done to warrant her but he had finally stopped trying to figure it out.

The doctor said she would be fine, full recovery was the prognosis and for that he thanked God, whom he had only a casual acquaintance. He had come close to losing his family and for a while he'd doubted himself. They were safe now and for that he was grateful.

Morgan felt a soft hand on his shoulder. He hadn't heard her enter so deep in in thought.

"How's she doing?"

"JJ, I thought I had lost her. All of you."

"Well you didn't. You saved our lives, Derek. Thank you."

Never breaking his stare that was focused on Garcia, he shook his head.

"Not necessary. I'm just glad I made it on time."

"How about you go and get something to eat. I'll sit with her."

"JJ…I can't…"

"She'll be fine. I won't leave her." She interrupted.

"Okay, I'm just going to get some coffee. I'll be back."

Reluctantly he stood and stepped out of the room.

"If you think he's over protective now, Garcie, just wait." She said to her sleeping friend as a small smile of relief crossed her face.

As Morgan headed towards the waiting room, Hotch was ending a call. He looked tired. Rossi was nodding in a chair nearby while Reid was thumbing through one of the outdated magazines on his lap.

"Morgan, we need to talk." Hotch said hastily.

"Sure. I was just going to get some coffee."

"Let's take a walk."

The two headed down the long hallway toward the cafeteria.

"What's up, Hotch?"

"Morgan, how long have you been in contact with Elle?"

"Since always."

"Morgan, you need to tell me where she is."

"Hotch, are you serious, man?"

"She needs to answer for her actions!"

"She just saved your life!"

"I know that and I'm grateful but it doesn't change the fact that she shot a man in cold blood."

"That shooting was ruled self-defense."

"You and I know that was not the case."

"Listen, as far as I'm concerned that is exactly the case!"

"How do you plan on explaining the facts of this case?"

"The facts of the case? Hotch, all I was thinking about was finding you guys and bringing you home safe!"

"You're still going to have to account for your actions and anyone else who may have been involved."

"I can't believe we're having this conversation!" Morgan began pacing in front of the cafeteria door. "Listen, Elle is my friend and all I know is that when I needed her she came through! End of discussion!"

"I know we're all tired and worried about Garcia and Blake but this is not over! I'm giving you until nine a.m. tomorrow to tell me were she is."

"And what if I don't?"

"Then I'll suspend you…indefinitely!"

Morgan stood staring angrily at Hotch and Hotch unflinchingly returned the glare. He couldn't believe that after all that had happened over the last several hours that his boss would make a demand like this. He had to know that he wouldn't betray Elle. He'd risked his life and hers to save them and he had yet to hear a thank you from the man whom he'd grown to respect and consider family.

Morgan turned and headed into the cafeteria leaving Hotch in the hallway without uttering another word.

Mabel had followed the two men not close enough to hear the conversation but close enough to know that it was a heated one. Poor Morgan, he could probably use a friend about now, she thought to herself as she continued down the hallway and into the cafeteria, past a still fuming SSA Aaron Hotchner.

Morgan had gone straight to the coffee pot and poured himself a large cup. After paying the cashier he found a small table in the far corner and sat.

"Agent Morgan!" She said cheerily.

"Mabel."

She was the last person he expected to see in fact, he hadn't thought about the elderly tech analyst since she'd helped him earlier.

"What are you doing here?"

"May I join you, agent?"

"Uh… sure…I'm sorry. Sit, sit."

"I just heard that you found your team and got them out safely!"

"Yeah…they're all fine… well, accept Agent Blake, she's still in surgery."

"You did it! I'm proud of you! I knew you could do it!"

He couldn't help but think how much she sounded like his grandmother; always good for a pep talk just at the right time.

"It was close; too close."

"Well you brought them home and that's what counts."

"Thanks Mabel."

"Oh, it's nothing. Since the hospital is on my way home I thought I'd stop by to check on you."

"Well I appreciate it."

Distracted Morgan looked down at his cup in deep thought. Mabel noticed.

"For a man who just accomplished the near impossible, you look like you've lost your best friend."

"I hope not."

"You want to talk about it?"

"No but thank you; I'll work it out."

"Okay, but if you change your mind you know were to find me."

He smiled and continued to stare at his cup of coffee that was now growing cold. Mabel stood and headed out and into the busy hallway. Turning to look at the still troubled agent she renewed her determination to do what her nephew had failed to accomplish.

She had always took great pride in her intelligence; she wasn't young or strong and she didn't have the means to hire someone to shoot him dead on the street all she had was her mind and the element of surprise. Time was of the essence the longer she waited the more likely that she would be discovered for the fraud that she was.

It was settled then, Mabel would make sure he died a slow painful death but first he would learn how it felt to lose the ones he loved.