Bring Them Home, Morgan Chapter 9

Potomac General – Garcia's Room – Morning

Morgan hadn't gotten much sleep his mind still running a mile a minute. He couldn't keep his eyes off of her as she slept peacefully in the bed. When he did close his eyes all he could see was Garcia's body hanging limp from the rafters. His heart had stopped at the sight; he would never forget it…ever.

Hotch and the others had left the hospital after seeing Alex vowing to return this morning. Morgan refused to leave Garcia's room even though he was certain that there was no remaining threat to her or the rest of the team, still he insisted on staying making himself as comfortable as possible in the small leather recliner in the far corner of the room. He was happy that she was being discharged today; JJ had promised to bring a fresh change of clothes when she returned.

Morgan dreaded the thought of seeing Hotch; he'd insisted yesterday that Morgan give up Elle, which he'd refused to do. He knew that quite possibly he would lose his job but he wasn't going to turn against a friend and he couldn't believe that Hotch would insist on it. Both of them were stubborn and hard headed so for at least one of them the impending showdown would not go well.

Garcia had begun to stir reaching for her glasses on the side table next to her bed. He stood and approached her bed.

"Good morning, Baby Girl."

"I'll show you a good morning, Hot Stuff."

He chuckled looking down on her and falling into a comfortable silence. He took her hand in his and moved to sit next to her on the bed.

"How'd you sleep?" He asked.

"Not bad considering this mattress is narrow and hard as a rock."

"Well, you'll be in your own bed tonight and I'll personally tuck you in, Angel."

"Wow, the thought of being tucked in by a gorgeous chocolate god can only be bested by that aforementioned chocolate god being tucked in next to me."

"Don't start silly girl."

JJ's light knock interrupted the banter between the two friends. She entered smiling and carrying an overnight bag with fresh clothes and toiletries for her friend.

"Good morning you two."

"Hey JJ." Morgan answered.

"Ahh…JJ, you're an angel! Thank you." Garcia said reaching for the bag.

"I think that's my cue to leave. I'm going get a cup of coffee and check on Alex."

Morgan stood, placed a light kiss on her forehead and headed toward the door.

"Oh, sugar, I thought you were going to help me get dressed." She teased.

"I'd rather help you get undressed, gorgeous." He teased back.

"Goodbye, Morgan." JJ added sternly.

Chuckling, he headed down the hall toward the cafeteria. Just as he entered his phone rang. He checked his watch…8:45…he wasn't expecting this call for another fifteen minutes.

"Hey Hotch."

"Good morning. Just calling to check on Garcia and Alex."

Puzzled he pulled his phone away from his ear and looked at it. He was expecting another order for Elle's whereabouts.

"Uh…Garcia is fine. JJ just got here with fresh clothes. I'd planned on checking on Alex in a few minutes. I'm just grabbing a cup of coffee."

"Good. I'm on my way there now."

"Is that all?"

"For now. I'm serious about our conversation yesterday. I want to know where Elle is. I hope you're prepared to give me that information when I get there."

"Hotch…you know I can't do that."

"I'll see you soon."

The phone went dead and Morgan leaned against the wall in disbelief. If it had not been for Elle he would not have been able to rescue them and now he was expected to turn her in for a case that had already been closed by the authorities.

Garcia's Room –

Garcia was happy to be going home and putting the horror of the day before behind her. She noticed that JJ still looked tired and had not quite shaken off their ordeal either.

"So, how'd you sleep last night, P?"

"Not bad, I guess. I'm just glad to be going home."

"I hear you. You scared the crap out of us, you know."

"I'm sorry. I'm not trained to bounce back after getting my bell rung like the rest of you."

"Well I'm just glad you're better."

"Me too."

Garcia buttoned her blouse while JJ put her toiletries back in the bag. JJ noticed that Garcia was not her normal bubbly self.

"What's going on with you this morning? You seem a little preoccupied."

"I'm worried about Morgan, JJ."

"Why? What's going on?"

"You know him; he's going to over analyze what happened, blame himself for me and Alex getting hurt…for us getting kidnapped in the first place."

"Yeah I hear you but that's Morgan. He wants to protect everybody even though realistically he knows he can't."

"It still doesn't stop him from trying."

"Morgan is Morgan…you gotta love him."

"I still think there's something else bothering him."

"I saw him talking to Hotch while we were all here at the hospital, it looked pretty heated."

"Why?"

"I'm sure it has something to do with Elle."

"Elle? What's Elle got to do with anything?"

"She's the one that helped Morgan rescue us."

"What? You're kidding! Where is she? I want to see her?"

"She's gone, disappeared after she and Morgan got us out."

Alex's Room –

Morgan quietly stood at the foot of Alex's bed while the injured agent slept. No one had been able to locate her husband and he wondered if that was for the best. He remembered finding her still, lying on the cold cement floor. There was so much blood he was certain that he was too late.

He regretted not getting to know her better she always seemed to have an impenetrable wall up protecting herself and preventing them from getting too close. The two of them had not started off well either. He wondered what had happened to her in the past that caused her to fight so desperately to keep them all at arm's length. In spite of the fact that he missed Emily, perhaps more than he expected to, he had begun to accept Alex as a teammate. She was good at her job and had seemed to be the confidante that Reid needed.

Without turning around, he knew it was Hotch who had entered the room. The two men stood momentarily watching Alex without saying a word yet their silence acknowledged each other's existence.

"How is she?" Hotch whispered breaking the silence.

"The doctors said she had a good night; her vitals are stable and they expect her to wake up soon."

More silence both men uncomfortable dreading the conversation that would take place once they left the room.

"Morgan, we need to talk."

"Hotch, there's nothing to talk about. I'm not giving up Elle."

"Morgan…"

"No Hotch! She saved your life, the team's lives and I'm not turning her into you so that you can do what exactly?"

"She has to be held accountable for what she did, Morgan!"

The two men where so caught up in their discussion that they did not realize that Alex was awake and watching them go at each other.

"Boys, boys, take it outside!" She said in a painful whisper.

"Sorry, Alex." Morgan said ashamedly.

"Yeah. Sorry…" Hotch reluctantly echoed.

"How are you feeling?" Morgan asked.

"Well, I've been better. Maybe I should be asking you the same question. What's going on with you two?"

"It's nothing…nothing, really." Morgan began. "I'm glad you're awake. You look a lot better than the last time I saw you."

"Thanks."

"I better go see if Garcia is ready to leave. I'll be back later, Alex."

Alex nodded still puzzled with her two partners. Hotch stoic remained silent looking down at his shoes like a little boy who'd just been scolded by his third grade teacher. Morgan stepped out of the room without another word and disappeared down the hallway.

Before Alex could question her boss further her doctor and nurse entered her room and shooed him away so that she could be examined. She wondered what could have made the two men, both whom she'd grown to respect and admire, so angry at each other.

Home of Mabel Henry –

Mabel sat quietly at the small kitchen table sipping on a freshly brewed cup of peppermint tea. It was good for relieving stress and always seemed to settle her stomach. Each day that Derek Morgan walked the streets nearly made her stomach turn and ball up into one big knot. He had to pay for destroying her family and taking the only people that had meant anything to her.

She closed her eyes and allowed the warm minty brew to slide down her throat and she felt a little relief. She knew it would take more than a cup of her favorite tea to make things right again. She felt hopeful that her plans would bring her the real comfort she so desperately needed and had waited for fifteen years to receive.

As she sat warmed by the sun as it crept through the pale yellow curtains that hung from the small window next to the table, she thumbed through a large worn family album. She seemed unaware of the steady stream of tears that had now begun to flow down her weathered face. The pictures reminded her of the family that had long passed away. She stopped at a picture of her sister Natalie and her husband Mitchell. The twins on each side smiling and happy; they had been sweet, precocious boys surely not destined for such a disgraceful and tragic end. She had to make it right she wouldn't rest until she did. The day was here to do what only she was left to do.

Mabel took another sip of the tea that had now cooled to lukewarm and glanced at the open cabinet that held her collection of teas; some mixed by her own hands. They had served their purpose over the years and it was time to call them into service again. She had a special brew in mind for one Derek Morgan. It would not relieve his stress; on the contrary it would lull him into a state of heaviness and pain then after several hours of agony…it would end his life. Now the tears that ran freely down her face were tears of joy. She nodded her head, closed the photo album stood, grabbed her purse and keys and headed toward the door.

BAU – Late Afternoon –

Hotch ordered Morgan back to the office immediately after taking Garcia home. JJ volunteered to stay with Garcia until he returned. Not that Garcia needed a babysitter but Derek was in overprotective overdrive and insisted that she not be alone at least for tonight.

Hotch was waiting when Morgan arrived. Rossi was in his office and Reid had decided to stay with Alex at the hospital. Hotch was fully engaged in the pile of files on his desk when Morgan knocked on his door.

"Come in."

Morgan opened the door and entered the office.

"Have a seat."

Morgan had to admit he was nervous. There was no way out for him and he hadn't changed his mind.

"Morgan…"

"Look Hotch." He interrupted. "I haven't changed my mind. I can't tell you where Elle is."

"Then I have no choice but to suspend you until you change your mind."

"Why are you doing this? Elle was cleared of any wrongdoing. She saved your life!"

"I'm sorry…"

"Don't do this!"

"I'll need your credentials and your gun."

Morgan stared at him unbelievingly. After a few more seconds he stood and placed his credentials on the desk and then reaching for the gun on his waist placed it next to them.

"Hotch you're making a mistake."

"Morgan, Elle shot a man in cold blood. She needs to be held accountable for that!"

Without saying another word, Morgan left Hotch's office slamming the door behind him.

Mabel waited patiently in the parking lot for the agent. He seemed in a hurry as he approached his SUV. Just as he got into view she attempted to start her car. She knew that he'd come running to her aid when he heard her stalled engine. He couldn't help himself he was a hero after all.

Morgan glanced at the late model car two rows over. The engine sounded as if it had long outlived its usefulness. It was Mabel, stressfully pounding on her steering wheel; that never worked he half chuckled to himself. He walked over to her car to offer his assistance.

"Mabel?"

She jumped as if she had not heard him approach.

"Oh! Agent Morgan, I didn't hear you come up. You almost gave an old lady a heart attack."

"I'm sorry. Sounds like your engine is shot. Pop your hood let me take a look."

"Sure." She smiled.

After several minutes, Derek realized that there was nothing he or anyone for that matter could do for her car without a major overhaul.

"I think you're going to need a tow."

"Great! I have my ladies guild coming over in an hour. I'm screwed!"

"I'd be happy to give you a ride."

"I don't want to put you out. I'm sure a handsome single man like yourself has much better things to do than give an old lady a ride home."

"Well if there was an old lady around I'd be willing to give her a ride home too. So since it's just you and me, how about it?"

Such a sweetie, she thought to herself.

"Well, if it's not too much trouble…"