The Road Less Traveled

by jenny crum

What happens when an injured Derek Morgan stumbles upon Penelope Garcia, add to that the unsubs are still looking for him but to top that the unsubs also have the rest of his team captured, will Derek and Penelope be able to save the rest of the team or will they be lost forever

13. Chapter 13

The Road Less Traveled-Ch 13

Zach smiled as he stepped into the kitchen, he inhaled and said, "I know you're hereeeeee Penelope, come on out", Penelope sat stock still beside Derek and listened as Zach continued calling for her. The team were scattered around the room with their guns aimed just in case he was able to find the hidden door.

Derek gently squeezed his baby girls hand trying to ease her fear, they could tell that Zach was walking down the hall toward the hidden room and with each step he took it was making their heartrate quicken wondering if they were going to be able to escape the brothers. Zach stopped right in front of the hidden door and said, "huh, where are you Penelope, you're not in the kitchen, you're not in the living room, ahhhh maybe you're in the bathroom taking a bath" as he headed on down to toward the bathroom.

Penelope looked up at Derek and whispered, "maybe I should go out and see if I can get rid of him"?, Derek shook his head and whispered, "not a chance sweetness, if he gets his hands on you it's hard to tell what he'll do". She then turned white as a sheet because she knew that he was telling her the truth.

Hotch peeped out the little slot and saw Zach heading into the bathroom and he said, "when he comes back up the hall we need to get him under control". Dave said, "and we need to do it before his brothers get into the house because with the number at 3 brothers and us with an injured member the odds will be better for us".

Emily said, "what's the plan"?, Hotch said, "we'll wait till he gets close to the door and then we'll grab him and make sure that we can get him hidden before the others come to check on him". As the team readied to grab Zach Derek pulled Penelope closer to him and wrapped his good arm around her and whispered, "I'm here and I won't let him hurt you, no matter what".

Penelope took a deep breath and nodded her head as she watched the team get into their positions, Zach turned around and headed back up the hall and said, "hmmm, maybe she just stepped out, maybe we'd better" and before he could finish his sentence the hidden door opened and Hotch and Dave stepped out and were quickly able to get control of him and knock him out before he could utter a word.

They dragged him into the hidden room and Reid smiled and said, "1 down and 2 to go" as they closed the door and waited, JJ said, "now what"?, Hotch looked at her and said, "now we wait for the other brothers to come looking for him". Emily said, "and if they come looking"?, Dave said, "then we do the same to them as we did this one" as he pointed to Zach laying unconscious on the floor.

Hotch said, "we need to get out and get ready for the other two brothers", Reid and Dave nodded their heads in agreement and Hotch looked at Emily and JJ and said, "I need you two to stay here with Penelope and Derek". JJ and Emily nodded their heads in agreement as they watched the others opening the hidden door and sneaking out into the hall.

Thomas and Seth waited for the signal from Zach but it hadn't come yet and they were starting to worry about their brother, Thomas motioned for his brother to go check and then they met in front of the house. Seth said, "something's not right, where is he"?, Thomas said, "that is what we're going to find out brother" as they made their way through the front door.