Fourth Story: She's All He Ever Wanted

He couldn't believe they were back here again. Another hospital bed that she was laying in fighting for her life. Two and a half years after she was shot- after he nearly lost her forever and felt a fear he didn't even know he could feel- and now Derek was sitting vigil again.

Waiting for Penelope to open her eyes and come back to him another time. Because if she didn't then he was done for and he knew it. He'd hand in his badge and leave everything behind. He wouldn't be able to function without the light in his world being there to keep him from sinking into the darkness that always followed him.

He held her hand and stared at her, like he had been doing for days now.

A nurse walked in. She was one he hadn't seen before. She asked "Mr. Garcia?"

"Morgan. Derek Morgan, hi."

"Oh, I thought you were her husband. My mistake. I'm sorry."

"Its fine. How is she doing?"

The nurse looked at the chart. "It says they will lift the sedation today so she should be awake by this afternoon, if it all goes well."

Hope filled his eyes as he looked at the stranger. "Thank you." Then he bent and kissed Penelope's hand.

His baby girl was nearly ready to come back to him.

XXXXXXXXXXX

At first she couldn't talk, because her throat was too sore from the tube that had been down it, but she could see him there, feel him holding her hand, and see the concern in his eyes.

He kept her from freaking out when the fear of what kind of injuries she suffered in the car crash set in.

Derek saw the worry on her face and, rather than the doctors who were also there doing it, it was him that calmed her down and assured her that she would make a full recovery. That she was as beautiful as ever and as perfect as ever and that when she was well he would take her dancing.

She felt like chuckling at that. She didn't like to dance in public but she just might make an exception this time because Derek look so earnest when he told her that.

He tried to hide his fear from her but she could see that too in his eyes. He was trying to be strong for her. She had only the team as her family and she needed them desperately in times like this.

All of the team stood by her through her recovery but it was Derek who stayed the closest. And Derek who whispered, while she lay in that hospital bed, "I don't know what I'd do if I ever lost you from my life. I need to be able to pick up a phone and know you're on the other end with all the answers."

By then she could speak so she told him "I'll always answer when you call, hot stuff."

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

He took her to his home to finish her recovery. Though she protested and said she'd stay with JJ there was no way Derek was having that. He wanted Penelope with him.

This time he was seeing her through the other side of this crisis and then he was finally really asking her if she'd be with him. Seeing her laying in that bed brought back all the feelings he had when she was shot. That sharp wake up call that told him to open his mouth and spit out those three little words, because maybe she didn't know how he felt.

He did it but it was already too late, it had seemed. In her mind she wasn't someone he would date or he wasn't someone she would because, despite saying she loved him back, she immediately fell for another man the moment she saw him, at the same time when Derek had thought they made a turning point in their relationship.

Now Lynch was out of her life and Derek was single too. If he hadn't been the day Penelope went into the hospital he would have made sure he was the day she came out because now his life was all about her.

He didn't want to end up in the hospital a third time, holding her hand, and wondering if she would die not realizing she was the love of his life. Seeing her like that, feeling out of control and helpless, shook this man's faith in the world. He was already on shaky ground anyway. The thing he believed in most was not God, but instead it was his connection to Penelope.

Yet, for her, he went to God and asked for her to be healed. His prayer was answered and that's how he was able to bring her back to his little house with his slobbering dog that she loves as much as Derek does.

Sitting on the couch he tries to feed her soup. "Come on, baby girl, one more bite."

"I'm not hungry anymore. I've had more than enough."

"I know you have no appetite right now but you have to keep your strength up. How about, if you finish this soup, then I'll run out and get us some chocolate ice cream?"

Her face lit up in a smile and she let him finish feeding her the soup. Just to run out and get that ice cream made Derek nervous. He doesn't like letting her out of his sight anymore. He doesn't know how he'll ever go back to work. Maybe when she's well and she can be the voice in his ear again they can get back to how they used to be once more.

But a part of him knows there is no way he can go back to the status quo another time. Its too hard to pretend he is just another one of her friends. Maybe she sees him that way now. Maybe all her interest died in Kevin Lynch's arms but Derek will never see Penelope as just a buddy. She's been the intriguing, sexy Goddess lighting up his life since the day they met.

When Derek came back he finds Penelope looking extremely tense and angry. He stopped

cold and asked "What's wrong, baby girl? I do something to piss you off?"

She glared at him.

He walked toward the kitchen, while saying, "Something has you looking ticked. Care to let me in on it?"

Out of her pocket she pulled a diamond engagement ring. Derek about passed out. Sitting down the bags he quickly walked over to Penelope and took the ring. "You were snooping in my room?"

"Of course not, Derek! I wouldn't do that. Clooney had the ring box in his mouth and I had to get it away from him. You should be more careful with such expensive jewelry."

"Oh.....I'm sorry for accusing you, baby girl. I just....I didn't expect you to find this."

"Obviously. I know its not my place to judge you. I don't want to cross any of your precious lines but I thought we were friends....why couldn't you tell me you're in love with someone?"

"Lets sit down, sweetheart."

"I think I should leave. I'm in the way here. You haven't been able to see or talk to your girlfriend since I got here. Or else you've had to sneak out after I'm asleep....is that what you've been doing?"

"You know better than that. I would never leave you in this condition."

"I'm plenty strong enough to go home, Derek."

"Maybe but I want you here. I need you here. I hate not knowing if you're in danger or hurting or sick."

"I'll be fine. I have to go home sometime after all."

"Do you, baby girl?"

"Of course I do. I can't live here forever."

"Here? Maybe not. With me...you could if you wanted to."

"With you and your future wife? I don't hardly think so."

Derek let out a short, shaky breath, looking down and then looked back up. "I bought this ring for you, Goddess. I know we're not ready for it yet but when you were unconscious in that hospital bed I kept thinking that when you woke up...when not if cause I had to believe you were coming back to me...I would do what I've wanted to do for years now. Find a way to make you my woman and make me your man....a way where no one can ever get between us again....cause that's what I need,' he pulled her against him "I need to know, Penelope, that you belong to only me...all of you. Could you ever give me that?"

"That's my ring?"

"Your size and everything. You just gotta say you want it."

With her lips quivering she admitted "I want it, my love."

Then he started to kiss her. They shared some teary kisses. "I love you, baby girl. I've loved you so long too. You're my sunshine and I never want to go without you in my arms again."

"I..."She was crying full force now.

"Come on, baby girl, don't leave me hanging here."

"Love you too." They kissed again.

He was about to kiss her another time when his cell phone rang. Thinking it might be work he answered it, keeping his eyes locked on hers, "Yeah?.....As a matter of fact, Mom, I did finally ask her and I believe she's going to say yes....hold on...."

He got down on one knee. "Baby girl, will you spend your life with me? I know you might not completely believe in my love right now but I promise you its real and its strong and its all yours for the rest of this lifetime, no matter what your answer is.....Knowing I can't go on without calling you my wife....will you marry me, sweetheart?"

"Are you sure this isn't just because I almost died?"

"Its because I love you, that's all. I love you, silly girl. Don't find ways to talk yourself out of what you see in my eyes....Now I'm waiting for an answer.....will you become my wife one day when you're ready and your sure of my love for you?"

"Derek...hot stuff....I've been waiting for years to be able to tell you this....yes. Now hand over that rock."

With shaking hands he slid it on her finger, kissed her and then picked back up his cell and told his Mom "Looks like you're getting those grandbabies after all."

THE END

Inspired by Hello. Sung by Lionel Richie. Mvid by vidaddict82.